U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff introduces legislation to protect election workers, polling places from threats

This week in Congress, Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff introduced legislation that would prevent acts of violence and threats against election workers and at poll places.

Georgia election workers Shaye Moss and her mother Ruby Freeman were threatened after the 2020 election. In December 2023, a judge ordered Donald Trump associate Rudy Giuliani to pay the pair $148 million in damages in after he falsely accused them of election fraud in 2020.

The Election Worker and Polling Place Protection Act helps increase protection for poll workers and volunteers responsible for running the country’s elections.

According to a press release on Thursday, March 14, 2024, the legislation prohibits “damage to election infrastructure, such as polling places and tabulation centers, with the intent to interfere with an election.”

Ossoff explained the need for the legislation at the U.S. Senate Rules Committee hearing on Wednesday, March 13, 2024.

“I’m introducing this week the Election Worker and Polling Place Protection Act. It would create criminal penalties for threats of violence to intimidate voters or election officials,” he said.

Also, at the committee meeting, Ossoff discussed with state and local election officials the effects of threats to election workers on elections and voter turnout.

The Election Worker and Polling Place Protection Act is among the legislation and initiatives that Ossoff has helped introduce in Congress to protect the voting rights of citizens nationwide. 

Other initiatives include the Right to Vote Act and the John R. Lewis Voting Advancement Act, and advocating for more funding for state and local governments for the security and administration of elections.