The "Election Official Protection Act" aims to enhance the safety and integrity of election officials in South Carolina by establishing specific offenses related to interference and intimidation of these officials. The bill outlines unlawful actions such as threatening, coercing, or physically obstructing election officials while they perform their duties. It also prohibits unauthorized access to or tampering with election-related systems and mandates that personal information of election officials be protected from public dissemination, especially when it poses a threat to their safety. The Attorney General or an election official is authorized to bring civil actions to prevent violations of this act.

Additionally, the bill includes provisions for penalties, stating that violations can result in misdemeanor charges, fines, or imprisonment. It allows for civil actions to recover damages and imposes civil penalties for violations. The bill also repeals Section 7-13-1920, which previously addressed tampering with voting machines. Overall, the act seeks to create a safer environment for election officials and uphold the integrity of the electoral process in South Carolina.

Statutes affected:
12/05/2024: 7-13-1920
Latest Version: 7-13-1920