Washington election workers still face violent threats. We need to protect them | Opinion

The belligerent threats against Washington’s state elections director in fall of 2020 still shock the system. A state official — a constituent of Rep. Leavitt — had publicly challenged lies about elections, and as a result had their personal information put on a website, which had a photo of the official’s face in crosshairs.

In the two years since, the situation on the ground for election workers has gotten no easier.

Workers have been targeted by vitriol and harassment simply for performing their job of conducting fair, safe, secure and transparent elections. In fact, one in four election workers has experienced violent threats since the 2020 election, according to the Elections and Voting Information Center at Reed College and the non-partisan Democracy Fund.

This is a nationwide issue that is being experienced by election workers in our state. Successful elections depend on professional, experienced staff who understand the nuances of this important process.

The Legislature is now considering Rep. Leavitt’s bill, House Bill 1241, which sends a strong message that the major issue of harassment of election officials is completely unacceptable. It is vitally important that this bill becomes law so that our election workers can get the protection they need.

The bill builds on important work from last year’s legislative session and aligns two statutes addressing harassment of election workers. In the 2022 legislative session, lawmakers made harassing election workers a class C felony under the state’s cyberstalking law if the method of communication of the threat is electronic. As necessary as that change was, it did not address threats delivered in person or on paper.

Under the 2022 law, if an election worker gets a credible threat via email, it’s a felony. If they get an identical threat in a letter, it’s a misdemeanor. This bill is necessary to correct this discrepancy. It shouldn’t matter how a threat is delivered. A threat in letter and a threat online are equally dangerous. Unfortunately, we currently treat these threats, and the danger they pose, differently.

It is also important to recognize that in law, harassment isn’t as simple as an uncomfortable interaction with the public, a snide remark, or name-calling. Harassment is clearly defined as an action that “places the person threatened in reasonable fear that the threat will be carried out.”

We should also make it easier for election workers to enter the Address Confidentiality Program (ACP) through the Office of Secretary of State. Washington’s ACP was the nation’s first program to protect victims of stalking, domestic violence, trafficking, sexual assault and criminal justice employees who have been threatened or harassed because of their work. Many states now employ a similar system. But under the current law, election workers would not be eligible for ACP participation if they have been harassed in person or on paper. That’s why HB 1241 is a vital corrective.

Turning back the tide of election worker harassment and lies about elections is a big job. Thanks to the diligent work and feedback of Secretary of State Steve Hobbs and Thurston County Auditor Mary Hall, we are in a position to ensure people who harass election workers face real consequences for their actions.

We owe it to the seasonal staff, the front-line staff and the election officials who work to ensure that elections are accurate and above reproach.

They need to feel safe and protected, and we need experienced election professionals. HB 1241 should advance before it is too late to protect election workers.

Mari Leavitt represents the 28th Legislative District in the Washington state House of Representatives, where she has served since 2018.

Lori Larson is the Stevens County Auditor and co-chair of the Washington State Auditors Association.