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Attorney briefs board on new election law; Zoom bomb forces cancellation of public comment
Summary
Attorney Barbara Schellenberg told the Board that Public Acts 26-42 and 26-76 (effective July 1, 2026) generally bar law enforcement from being within 250 feet of defined election sites; a Zoom bombing of the Aug. 3 meeting interrupted the discussion and prompted cancellation of public comment.
Attorney Barbara M. Schellenberg briefed the Board on two recently enacted state laws that took effect July 1, 2026, explaining they broadly "prohibits federal, state, municipal law enforcement, or anyone directing law enforcement, such as police commissioners, to be within 250 feet of an election site which is broadly defined and includes drop boxes." She said the Secretary of State's Office issued guidance describing exceptions, including that the moderator can grant permission when law enforcement presence is necessary and that certain routine activities (for example, someone passing near a site to go to a restaurant) are not covered.
During discussion of the new rules and early-voting logistics, an outside party disrupted the online meeting (a "zoom bomb"), rendering the board unable to continue the public-comment portion; First Selectwoman Mahr canceled public comment and the Board proceeded to executive session. The Board packet also included State early-voting schedules and guidance; the meeting record references the Secretary of State's materials and notes a seven-day early-voting schedule for the State Primary (Aug. 3–9, 2026, per the packet).
