This bill aims to protect the integrity of federal elections by placing limits on how state officials can remove local election workers and by tightening rules around voter eligibility challenges. The core concern is that some states have given their statewide election boards the power to fire local election administrators too easily, potentially allowing political parties to remove election workers who don't favor their interests.

Under this bill, state officials could only remove a local election administrator for legitimate reasons: inefficiency, neglect of duty, or actual misconduct in office. They couldn't remove someone just because they disagree with how they're running elections. If a local election worker is fired in violation of these rules, they can sue in federal court to get their job back, and the federal government's Justice Department would be notified and could step in to investigate. The bill also requires states to report removals to the Justice Department within 30 days (or 48 hours if it happens close to an election), including details about who was fired and why.

The bill also creates new restrictions on voter eligibility challenges—the kind where someone claims another person shouldn't be allowed to vote. Going forward, only election officials can challenge someone's eligibility on election day itself. Regular citizens can still challenge eligibility before the election, but they must have written documentation and sign a sworn statement saying they have a genuine factual reason to believe the person is ineligible. They cannot challenge someone's eligibility based on race, ethnicity, national origin, or language minority status. These voter challenge rules take effect for federal elections starting in 2024.

Preventing Election Subversion Act of 2023

Sarbanes, John P.

Preventing Election Subversion Act of 2023 This bill prohibits the removal or suspension of local election administrators except for specified reasons and sets forth additional requirements for federal elections. Specifically, the bill restricts the ability of a statewide election administrator to remove a local election administrator. A statewide election administrator may suspend, remove, or relieve the duties of a local election administrator only for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance while in office. Further, the bill directs statewide election administrators to report any removals or suspensions of local election administrators to the Department of Justice. The bill also establishes certain requirements for challenging an individual's eligibility to register to vote or vote in federal elections. In particular, the bill prohibits any person (other than an election official) from challenging an individual's voting eligibility unless the challenge is supported by personal knowledge.