Our Washington State Legislature is in the throws of considering a bill that would increase protections for election workers from being harassed. It is House Bill 1241, and it will ensure that threats and harassment suffered by election workers will be handled the same regardless of how they are received, whether by email or directly to a person’s face. Currently, if a threat is received by email, it is a felony. Conversely, if someone threatens an election worker in person (to their face), it is only considered a misdemeanor, not a felony. Do we need all types of harassment towards election works to be just one type of crime, either a felony or a misdemeanor? Does it make sense to have in-person harassment a simple misdemeanor and harassment by email a felony? Why the difference, and doesn’t simple logic say – at a minimum – that the punishment levels should be reversed? At any rate, it seems that HB 1241 is intended to send a clear message to election workers that they will be protected from unwarranted harassment just for working on our state elections. Obviously, election worker safety is of paramount importance in our democratic society.
If you or a loved one is in a bind because of a criminal charge, immediately contact a Seattle Criminal Attorney. A Criminal lawyer is not going to judge you and understands that everyone makes mistakes. Hiring a Seattle Criminal Lawyer to help can – at a minimum – reduce penalties and can help direct people on how to best deal with their criminal charge, and many times even get them dismissed. So, it should go without saying that someone cited for a misdemeanor or felony should hire a qualified Seattle Criminal Lawyer as soon as possible. Criminal charges can cause havoc on a person’s personal and professional life. Anyone charged with a crime in Washington State should immediately seek the assistance of a seasoned Seattle Criminal Lawyer. SQ Attorneys can be reached at (425) 359-3791 and/or (206) 441-0900.
