ORDINANCE NO. 240568

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Sponsor: Councilmember Melissa Patterson Hazley

Amending Chapter 50, Code of Ordinances, by enacting a new section 50-176 for the purpose of prohibiting certain acts that interfere with the performance of an election worker's official duties.

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WHEREAS, election workers serve an important role in our democratic process; and

WHEREAS, in recent years, incidents of targeted threats and harassment towards election workers for simply performing their legal duties have increased in occurrence and intensity; and

WHEREAS, such incidents have contributed to a significant election workforce shortage across the country and threaten the integrity of our local elections; and

WHEREAS, an April, 2023 survey of approximately 850 local election officials conducted by the Brennan Center for Justice revealed that 11% of respondents said they are very or somewhat likely to resign before 2024;

WHEREAS, the City Council believes it is vital to enact provisions for the protection of election workers; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:

Section 1. That Chapter 50, Code of Ordinances of the City of Kansas City, Missouri, is hereby amended by enacting a new Section 50-176, to read as follows:

Sec. 50-176. Election Worker Protection.

(a) Purpose. The purpose of this section is to regulate and punish acts of aggression, violence, threats of violence, interference, or intimidation, or acts of disorderly conduct that disrupt or interfere with the conducting of an election or an election worker in the discharge of an election worker's official duties. This section is not intended to prohibit a person's constitutional right to legally protected speech.

(b) Definitions.

(1) Domestic partner means an adult, unrelated by blood, with whom a person has an exclusive committed relationship, maintains a mutual residence, and shares basic living...

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