Paul Ziriax
OKLAHOMA CITY — Election officials across Oklahoma are accorded new security protections in recently enacted legislation.
Senate Bill 481 by state Sen. Dave Rader (R-Tulsa) and state Rep. Jeff Boatman (R-Tulsa) was signed into law by Gov. Kevin Stitt on May 1.
The new statute makes it a crime to harass, intimidate, threaten or “dox” an election official. (“Doxing” is the release of personally identifiable information with malicious intent.)
“It is unfortunate that even here in Oklahoma, election officials have been doxed, harassed and even threatened by people who believe false claims about the conduct and administration of elections,” State Election Board Secretary Paul Ziriax said.
“As one those who has been doxxed and threatened, I can tell you that election officials across this state are grateful to the Legislature and the governor for taking these threats seriously and enacting this legislation to deter and punish such actions in the future.”
Additionally, the new law makes it a crime to impersonate an election official with the intent to influence an election. SB 481 also allows certain election officials to apply for restricted voter records status – preventing their residential addresses from being publicly disclosed.
“All election workers should be able to serve our state and perform their civic duties without fear of threats and harassment,” Ziriax said.
SB 481 decrees that any person who directly or indirectly threatens or intimidates any election official with the intent to improperly influence an election will be guilty of a misdemeanor. Punishment will be a fine up to $1,000 and/or incarceration in the county jail for up to six months.
The same punishment awaits any person who falsely impersonates an election official and performs any of their duties with the intent to improperly influence an election.
The new law also provides that any person who intentionally damages or attempts to damage any part of an election related system will have committed a felony crime.