Assembly Bill 515 aims to criminalize specific disruptive behaviors intended to interfere with election activities, such as voting and registration at polling places. The bill outlines that individuals engaging in loud, boisterous, or harassing conduct, or actions that cause serious emotional distress or fear of bodily injury during polling hours, can face penalties of up to $10,000 in fines or nine months of imprisonment. Additionally, the bill amends existing statutes to include these new provisions under section 12.09, which is now titled "Election threats and disturbances," and creates a new section 12.09 (4) detailing the prohibited conduct.

Furthermore, the bill introduces a penalty enhancement for crimes like stalking, disorderly conduct, and harassment when the victim is targeted due to their involvement in voting or election-related duties. Under this enhancement, a stalking offense that would typically be classified as a Class I felony is elevated to a Class H felony, while disorderly conduct or harassment offenses are raised from a Class B misdemeanor to a Class A misdemeanor for first offenses, and to a Class I felony for subsequent offenses. This legislative measure seeks to protect the integrity of the electoral process by imposing stricter penalties for those who threaten or disrupt it.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 12.09(title), 12.09, 12.60(1)(bm), 12.60