The bill amends Section 276.019 of the Election Code to establish stricter regulations against the unlawful alteration of election procedures by public or election officials. It explicitly prohibits these officials from creating, altering, modifying, waiving, or suspending any election standards or procedures mandated by law unless expressly authorized. The bill introduces a civil penalty for non-compliance, detailing a process for investigation by the secretary of state upon receiving information about a potential violation. If a violation is confirmed, the official will receive a notification and instructions for compliance.

Furthermore, if the official fails to comply within two days of receiving the notification, the secretary of state is required to notify the attorney general, who may impose a civil penalty. The penalties are tiered, with fines of up to $1,000 per day for the first week of non-compliance and $5,000 per day thereafter. The bill also stipulates that any collected penalties will be deposited into the state treasury and establishes confidentiality for documents related to the investigation unless certain conditions are met. The act is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Election Code 276.019 (Election Code 276)