Tougher punishment for harassing election workers passes the Washington House twice, now confronts the Senate

Less than three months ago, the Spokane County elections office received an envelope containing a white powdery substance that tested positive for fentanyl, forcing the evacuation of the building and halting ballot counts for a day. But the gravity of this crime is punishable by up to one year in jail and a maximum $5,000 fine. Now, Washington legislators are working for the second year to toughen this penalty. The proposal to elevate the offense of harassing an election worker from a gross misdemeanor to a class C felony is steps ahead of neighboring bills, swiftly passing through the House of Representatives with an 86-11 vote on Jan. 11. Lauren Rendahl, The Spokesman Review. 

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