Wisconsin committees advance election protection bills amid bipartisan support
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The Senate Committee on Shared Revenue, Elections, and Consumer Protection convened on January 25, 2024, to discuss critical legislation aimed at enhancing protections for election officials in Wisconsin. The meeting highlighted the urgent need for measures to safeguard election workers amid rising concerns about harassment and threats.
Edgar Lynn, Wisconsin policy lead for Protect Democracy, emphasized the importance of the proposed bill, which includes provisions to protect the personal information of election officials from public disclosure and prohibits doxing—an act of publicly revealing private information with malicious intent. Lynn noted that these protections are crucial for ensuring the safety of election workers, particularly in light of fears expressed by long-time poll workers about returning to their roles.
The committee reviewed Senate Bill 632 and its amendments, which aim to bolster the security of election officials by allowing them to pursue legal action if they are targeted by doxing. Lynn praised the bill's improvements, including a confidentiality program for election officials and fee-shifting provisions for those seeking harassment injunctions.
The discussion also touched on the bipartisan support for Assembly Bill 577, which passed the assembly unanimously. Jefferson Davis, representing the Election Integrity State Ad Hoc Committee, underscored the necessity of the whistleblower protections included in both bills. He stressed that election clerks must be able to report irregularities without fear of retaliation, a sentiment echoed by other committee members.
As the 2024 election cycle approaches, the committee's efforts to finalize these protections are seen as vital to maintaining the integrity of Wisconsin's electoral process. The proposed legislation aims not only to protect current election officials but also to instill confidence in future candidates and workers, reinforcing the democratic process in the state. The committee is expected to continue refining the bill, with hopes of sending a clean version back to the assembly for further consideration.
Edgar Lynn, Wisconsin policy lead for Protect Democracy, emphasized the importance of the proposed bill, which includes provisions to protect the personal information of election officials from public disclosure and prohibits doxing—an act of publicly revealing private information with malicious intent. Lynn noted that these protections are crucial for ensuring the safety of election workers, particularly in light of fears expressed by long-time poll workers about returning to their roles.
The committee reviewed Senate Bill 632 and its amendments, which aim to bolster the security of election officials by allowing them to pursue legal action if they are targeted by doxing. Lynn praised the bill's improvements, including a confidentiality program for election officials and fee-shifting provisions for those seeking harassment injunctions.
The discussion also touched on the bipartisan support for Assembly Bill 577, which passed the assembly unanimously. Jefferson Davis, representing the Election Integrity State Ad Hoc Committee, underscored the necessity of the whistleblower protections included in both bills. He stressed that election clerks must be able to report irregularities without fear of retaliation, a sentiment echoed by other committee members.
As the 2024 election cycle approaches, the committee's efforts to finalize these protections are seen as vital to maintaining the integrity of Wisconsin's electoral process. The proposed legislation aims not only to protect current election officials but also to instill confidence in future candidates and workers, reinforcing the democratic process in the state. The committee is expected to continue refining the bill, with hopes of sending a clean version back to the assembly for further consideration.
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