Victims of voter intimidation would have rights to sue under bill passed by Pa. House panel [View all]

Victims of voter intimidation in Pennsylvania would have legal standing to sue people criminally convicted of interfering with polling places under a bill passed Tuesday by the state House Judiciary Committee.

Sponsored by Rep. Stephen Kinsey (D-Philadelphia), House Bill 461 would allow victims to sue for punitive damages and attorney fees. The law would apply to defendants who are convicted of violating the Pennsylvania Election Code’s provisions against voter intimidation.

The passed 14-12 in a party line vote, with Republicans in opposition, and now goes to the full House for consideration.

Kinsey said during a Judiciary Committee meeting on Tuesday that voter intimidation has been a longstanding problem, as communities of color have faced intimidation since the 19th century and remains an issue today, with extremist groups posting watchers at drop boxes in Arizona last year.




https://penncapital-star.com/briefs/victims-of-voter-intimidation-would-have-rights-to-sue-under-bill-passed-by-pa-house-panel/