Republicans, Democrats agree on new protections for Wisconsin election workers

(The Center Square) – The plan that would add protections for election workers in Wisconsin, including a felony charge for anyone who assaults a poll worker, is bringing Republicans and Democrats together.

The Assembly Committee on Campaigns and Elections held a hearing on a series of election bills, including AB 577 that would expand protection for frontline election workers throughout the state.

“By protecting this personal information, addressing harassment, and ensuring appropriate penalties for those who cause harm, his legislation strengthens our Democratic process and the individuals who make them possible,” Rep. Joy Goeben, R-Hobart, told lawmakers.

The legislation would make sure election workers’ personal information, like addresses, would be off limits for public information requests. There are also protections for whistleblowers in local election offices who report election fraud, and a new felony penalty for anyone who attacks a poll worker.

“I spoke to several election workers, including Milwaukee County Clerk George Christienson, about challenges and the fears that people experienced during the 2020 election,” Rep. Sylvia Ortiz-Velez, D-Milwaukee, said. “Workers in our state experienced situations where they had to have law enforcement at their homes to keep them safe to do their jobs.”

Ortiz-Velez said many of the recommendations in the new election worker safety plan came from other pieces of legislation, and the legislature’s look into the 2020 election.

“We need to protect the front line of our democracy, and we need to ensure that people feel protected in their roles. That they feel protected in doing their jobs because we need people doing these jobs,” Ortiz-Velez said. “[Because] some people are very discouraged right now to continue to play this very important role in our democracy.”

The Assembly Committee on Campaigns and Elections also considered two other 2020-election related pieces of legislation. One would update the rules for maintaining Wisconsin’s voter rolls, add training requirements for election clerks and would clarify the rules for long lines on election day. The other would target what Republicans call loopholes for election fraud in the state.

Those two plans don’t have the bi-partisan support.