Elections: election worker protections.

Existing law makes interfering in any manner with the officers holding an election or conducting a canvass or with a voter lawfully exercising their right of voting at an election, in order to prevent the election or canvass from being fairly held and lawfully conducted, a crime punishable by imprisonment for 16 months or 2 or 3 years. This bill would specify that for purposes of this crime, "officers holding an election or conducting a canvass" include, but are not limited to, the Secretary of State and their staff, in their performance of any of their duties related to administering the provisions of the Elections Code, an elections official and their staff, including temporary workers and poll workers, or a member of a precinct board, in their performance of any duty related to holding an election or conducting a canvass in order to prevent the election or canvass from being fairly held and lawfully conducted. The bill would clarify that "holding an election or conducting a canvass" for purposes of this crime includes the election observation process. By expanding the scope of an existing crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.