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Bill to criminalize threats to election officials draws support and ACLU concern; S729 held
Summary
Senate Bill 729 would add election officials and poll workers to the list of public officials protected from threats and harassment. Secretary of State representatives supported the measure; the ACLU expressed concern about elevating the offense to a felony. The committee held the bill for further study.
Senate Bill 729, a measure to add election officials and poll workers to Rhode Island's protected-class statute for harassment and threats, was presented to the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 27. Supporters said the measure is needed to protect election workers from escalating threats; civil-liberties advocates said they support criminalizing threats but questioned elevating the offense to a felony and urged caution about expanding felony penalties.
Senator DeCoyan introduced the bill on behalf of the Secretary of State's office, saying the measure would treat "election…
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