Shaheen, Group of Senators Introduce Comprehensive Legislation to Address the Rise in Threats Targeting Election Workers

**Bill is endorsed by coalition of state Secretaries of State, as well as current and former election officials from both major parties**

(Washington, DC) - U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and a group of Senators led by U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) introduced the Election Worker Protection Act, which would provide states with the resources to recruit and train election workers to help ensure their safety, while also instituting federal safeguards to shield election workers from intimidation and threats. The bill includes provisions from the Freedom to Vote Act, voting rights legislation supported by Senator Shaheen.  

“Election workers across the country face an ever-growing number of threats and harassment from people who hope to undermine our elections. Election workers are on the frontlines of democracy and while they have bravely endured this abuse and continued on with their work, they should not have to,” said Shaheen. “This legislation is critical to protect our public servants and safeguard the democratic process.” 

The legislation would establish grants for states and certain local governments to use for poll worker recruitment, training, and retention, as well as election worker safety. Further, it would direct the Department of Justice (DOJ) to provide training regarding the identification and investigation of threats to election workers. It also works to protect important information about election workers and extends the federal prohibition on doxxing to include election workers. It would also establish threatening, intimidating, or coercing election workers as a federal crime.  

Shaheen, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, co-led a bipartisan bill to reform outdated election law & safeguard U.S. elections that was included in the fiscal year 2023 government funding bill that was signed into law. Following the insurrection at the United States Capitol, Shaheen sponsored a bipartisan amendment to fund election security measures. She has led calls in the Senate for investment and reforms to prevent attacks on our democracy which includes introducing legislation that would require presidential campaigns to report foreign interference in U.S. elections.  

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