Harassment of election workers prohibited

(a) In general Chapter 29 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 612. Harassment of election workers (a) Election worker For purposes of this section, the term election worker means an individual who is an election official, poll worker, or election volunteer in connection with an election for a Federal office. (b) Harassment of election workers It shall be unlawful for any person, whether acting under color of law or otherwise, to intimidate, threaten, coerce, or attempt to intimidate, threaten, or coerce an election worker with intent to impede, intimidate, or interfere with that election worker while the election worker is engaged in the performance of official duties, or with intent to retaliate against the election worker on the basis of the performance of such duties. (c) Penalty Any person who violates subsection (b) shall be fined not more than $100,000, imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both. (d) Special agents The Attorney General, acting through the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, shall assign a special agent to each field office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation to investigate threats against election workers.. (b) Clerical amendment The table of contents for chapter 29 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 612. Harassment of election workers..