Penalties increased from Gross Misdemeanor to Felony, and Maximum Civil Penalty raises to $10,000
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Today, Thursday, March 5, Vice Chair Bonnie Westlin (DFL – Plymouth) introduced Senate File 3893 in the Senate Elections Committee, a bill to increase penalties for voter intimidation and election interference.
Existing law passed in 2023 established that intimidation and interference with voters, election officials, election equipment, or election administration is punishable by a gross misdemeanor – including costs equal to any damages as well as a $1,000 civil penalty. Senate File 3893 proposes increasing those penalties from gross misdemeanors to felonies and increasing the maximum civil penalty from $1,000 to $10,000.
“Minnesota has the strongest election system in the nation, with high voter turnout, secure processes, and a long tradition of civic participation. As we heard from testifiers today, the Trump administration is actively threatening the integrity of our voting processes. We are clear-eyed about what is happening and ready to fight back.
“This bill is one of several measures the Senate Elections Committee is advancing to stand up for our democracy alongside Minnesotans. We take voter confidence seriously, and the consequences for voter intimidation and election interference should be severe. Democracy is the foundation of our society, and we must protect it.”
Penalties would apply to:
- Intimidation or interference in an attempt to compel an individual to vote, register to vote, or abstain from voting or registering to vote.
- Deceptive practices within 60 days of an election which are knowingly false and are intended to impede or prevent an individual from exercising their right to vote.
- Intimidation or interference against an election official in the performance of their duties.
- Dissemination of personal information of an election official without consent, if the person sharing the information reasonably knows that doing so would pose a serious threat to that official.
- Obstructing access of an election official to a polling place.
- Tampering with voting equipment, ballot boxes, the statewide voter registration system, registration lists, or polling place rosters. This includes unauthorized access to the state voter registration system.
- Vicarious liability for attempting or conspiring to aid another individual in any of the above actions.
The bill passed the committee on a 11-0 unanimous vote. It was referred to the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee.
Additionally, today’s committee discussed the potential impacts of federal actions on Minnesota’s elections. National experts testified that the Trump administration continues to target its critics and political opponents, how Republican election legislation aims to consolidate political power for themselves and disenfranchise millions of Americans, and how sending federal law enforcement to polling locations is illegal.
You can view the entire committee hearing and bill presentation here.
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Learn more about Sen. Westlin.
