S. 5644 Summary

• Establishes new crime of voter intimidation (felony up to 3 years prison and $100,000 fine) for using force, violence, coercion or threats to affect voting decisions or voter registration.

• Establishes new crime of voter suppression (felony up to 2 years prison and $50,000 fine) for knowingly preventing or deterring voting or registration through fraudulent or deceptive information, including false information about election dates, times, places or procedures.

• Requires local election supervisors to post a voter's bill of rights at all polling places and include it with sample ballots, listing seven voter rights including assistance in voting, replacement ballots, provisional ballots, and freedom from coercion.

• Mandates the State Board of Elections create and distribute a uniform manual of polling place procedures covering ballot handling, emergency procedures, provisional ballot processing, security measures, and voter rights.

• Implements preclearance requirement where any changes to voting qualifications, prerequisites, standards or procedures must be submitted to the Attorney General for approval within 60 days or face court challenge; establishes vote dilution protections preventing voting practices that deny or abridge rights based on race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation or disability.