Bill > SB5843

This bill amends existing harassment laws to expand protections for election officials and signature gatherers by adding specific criminal penalties for those who harass or threaten individuals involved in the election process. The bill broadens the definition of an "election official" to include staff members of the secretary of state's office and county auditor's offices who work with voter registration or vote processing, and importantly, now explicitly includes signature gatherers for initiatives and referendums. Under the proposed changes, harassing such individuals could result in increased criminal penalties, potentially escalating from a gross misdemeanor to a class C felony depending on the circumstances, such as previous harassment convictions or threats made with intent to intimidate. The bill also ensures that election officials and signature gatherers who are targets of threats or harassment can be eligible for the address confidentiality program, which helps protect their personal information. This legislation aims to safeguard the democratic process by creating legal deterrents against intimidation of people involved in collecting signatures or administering elections.

Justice

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5843&Year=2025&Initiative=false