Padilla, Feinstein Advocate Federal Protections for Poll Workers – Orange County Register

Less than two months before the midterms, lawmakers in Washington, DC are pushing for legislation to protect poll workers.

California Sens. Alex Padilla and Dianne Feinstein are co-sponsors of the bill that would provide grants to state and local governments for recruitment, retention, training and security measures for poll workers; Place poll workers under federal doxxing bans; and to protect the ability of election officials to remove election monitors attempting to disrupt an election.

Among other things, the bill would make coercing or threatening a poll worker a federal crime, Padilla’s office said.

“As a former California Secretary of State, I know that poll workers are the backbone of our democratic elections,” said Padilla, a Democrat who took office in January 2021, ‘just for doing the critical work of administering our elections.’

“The Big Lie,” as Padilla referred to, refers to the oft-repeated but erroneous claim by former President Donald Trump and his supporters that the 2020 election was fraudulent.

Numerous efforts are being made to ensure the safety of poll workers in Southern California, especially after the 2020 election.

In a recent interview with the Southern California News Group, Orange County Registrar Bob Page said his office is working on additional training for those who work with constituents. And a bill by Senator Josh Newman, D-Fullerton, that would allow poll workers to keep their home addresses private has made it through the state legislature and is on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk.

One in six poll workers said they had received threats, and more than 75% said the federal government should do more to protect them, the Brennan Center, a nonprofit and public policy institute, found in a March poll.

The bill, introduced just last week, is being led by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Minnesota Democrat.

“Election workers face a barrage of threats from those who seek to undermine our democracy,” Klobuchar said. “We need to respond to these threats head-on and make sure poll workers can do their jobs. This legislation would ensure state officials and law enforcement have the tools and resources they need to protect those on the front lines defending our democracy.”

In a recent letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, 15 secretaries of state implored legislative leaders to push for greater federal protections for poll workers, citing death threats and the disclosure of private addresses.

“Election officials are critical to the administration of our elections, and every election we rely on citizens from every state to help and help ensure the free exercise of the right to vote,” the Democratic Coalition said. “The safety of these poll workers is critical to the health of our democracy.”

California Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber was not among the signatories to the letter. Her office did not respond to a request for comment Monday.

Staff writer Alicia Robinson contributed to this report.