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House committee signals support for bill to criminalize interference with voters and election officials
Summary
On Jan. 29 the House Government Operations & Military Affairs committee reviewed H 541, which would create a state criminal offense for intimidating or coercing voters or election officials; presenters said Judiciary narrowed the bill to an "intentionally or recklessly" standard, removed civil investigatory provisions, and proposed penalties of up to two years in prison or a $2,000 fine. The committee held an informal straw poll finding the bill favorable.
The House Government Operations & Military Affairs committee reviewed H 541 on Jan. 29, a bill that would create a state criminal offense for "intentionally or recklessly" intimidating, threatening or coercing voters or election officials.
Representative Ian Goodnow (Brattleboro), a member of House Judiciary, told the committee the measure was intended to fill a gap between federal election statutes and Vermont law so prosecutors "have a criminal penalty for interference with voters and election officials around the time of an election and at the polls." He said Judiciary substantially narrowed the original draft and removed broad civil investigatory provisions to focus the bill on criminal conduct.
Goodnow said Judiciary adopted language informed by First Amendment guidance and case law. Quoting advice the committee received, he summarized the operative standard: "no person shall intentionally or recklessly…
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