The House Courts and Criminal Code Committee heard SB 170 on crimes and election workers authored by Sen. Walker and Sen. Glick and sponsored by Rep. Meltzer and Rep. Negele. The bill defines “election worker” and makes it a Level 6 felony under certain circumstances to: (1) threaten an election worker; or (2) to obstruct, interfere with, or injure an election worker. The Committee amended the bill by consent to do the following:
- relocate and modify the definition of “election worker”;
- provide that certain provisions in the bill do not apply to an offense that occurs at a health facility; and,
- require, as an element of an offense concerning obstructing or interfering with an election worker or a voter, that the obstruction or interference occur on: (1) election day; or (2) a day on which voting is permitted to occur before an absentee voter board.
Indiana Vote by Mail, the League of Women Voters, Common Cause Indiana, the Indiana Association of County Clerks, and the Association of Indiana Counties testified in support of the bill. The Indiana Public Defender Council provided neutral testimony. The amended bill passed 11-0.
Read the bill at: https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2024/bills/senate/170