This bill criminalizes the intimidation of election officers, officials, and workers, as well as improper influence over the electoral process and tampering with electronic ballot counting devices, voter lists or rosters, voter registration systems, and voting system components or passwords. It amends RSA 659:40-b, I to include not only election officers but also election officials and workers, and it specifies that no person shall use force, violence, coercion, or intimidation to discourage or interfere with their duties or retaliate against them for performing their duties. The bill also amends RSA 640:3 to make it a class B felony to threaten harm to a public servant, party official, or voter to influence their discretion, and it introduces a class A misdemeanor for making personal information about election officers, officials, or workers publicly available if it poses an imminent and serious threat to their safety.

The bill further amends RSA 659:42 to expand the definition of tampering to include unauthorized access to electronic ballot counting devices and other election-related systems. It outlines various offenses related to tampering with voter registration lists, rosters, and voting system components, and it establishes that violators are guilty of a class B felony or a felony, depending on whether the violator is a natural person or another entity. The bill also includes provisions for authorized vulnerability disclosure programs and bug bounty programs, and it sets penalties for failing to comply with the section. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2025, and the fiscal note indicates that there is an indeterminable impact on state, county, and local expenditures, with no impact on revenues.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 659:40-b, 640:3, 659:42
As Amended by the House: 659:40-b, 640:3, 659:42