SSB 5684
In CommitteeSenate
Electioneering/auditors
Concerning prohibitions on electioneering within buildings containing the division of elections for county auditor offices, including any adjacent county owned and operated parking lots routinely used for parking at the buildings.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill expands existing electioneering restrictions to include parking lots and access routes to county auditor election offices during the 18 days before and including Election Day, and strengthens enforcement of buffer zones around voting centers and ballot drop boxes to prevent voter intimidation and election interference. It makes electioneering in these zones a gross misdemeanor and requires law enforcement to intervene when violations occur.
- Extends the existing electioneering prohibition to include parking lots adjacent to county auditor election offices and routes between the office and those lots during the 18 days before and including Election Day.
- Prohibits activities like suggesting how to vote, handing out literature, soliciting petition signatures, and using electronic amplification in the 100-foot zone around voting center entrances and 25-foot zone around ballot drop boxes.
- Bars obstruction of doors or access points to voting centers or ballot drop locations.
- Requires county auditors to post signs notifying the public of the electioneering ban at voting centers.
- Authorizes law enforcement officers to stop prohibited activity and make arrests; violations are a gross misdemeanor punishable under state law.
- Clarifies that the law does not restrict authorized political party observers from observing election processes.
Who is affected
- Voters — Voters who go to county auditor election offices, voting centers, or ballot drop boxes may no longer be exposed to campaign materials or solicitations in parking lots and nearby areas during the 18 days before and including Election Day.
- County auditors and local law enforcement — Must ensure no electioneering occurs in prohibited zones and may need to post required signs; law enforcement must enforce the restrictions.
- Political campaigns and organizations — Cannot place campaign signs, hand out literature, solicit signatures, or use loudspeakers near election offices or voting locations during the 18-day window before an election.
- Individuals engaging in electioneering — May be subject to arrest or prosecution if they engage in electioneering activities in prohibited zones during the voting period.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (4)
The expansion of buffer zones—including parking lots and access routes—reduces the risk of voter intimidation and psychological pressure at critical points in the voting process, especially for vulnerable populations such as elderly, low-income, and non-English-speaking voters who may be more susceptible to unsolicited campaign interactions near election offices.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 2(1)(a), (2), (5)By preventing obstruction of access and unsolicited political messaging within 25–100 feet of voting locations, the bill strengthens the fundamental right to cast a ballot free from coercion or undue influence, reinforcing equal access to the franchise.
Rights & LibertiesPeopleRef: Sec. 2(1)(a)(i), (a)(iv), (c)Mandatory posting of clear signage and law enforcement authority to intervene provide standardized, transparent procedures that reduce confusion and improve consistency in election administration across counties.
Local GovernmentPeopleRef: Sec. 2(2), (3)Classifying violations as gross misdemeanors provides meaningful deterrence and accountability, reinforcing the seriousness of election interference and supporting public confidence in electoral integrity.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 2(4)
Potential Concerns (4)
Expanding the electioneering prohibition to include parking lots and access routes may increase the risk of confrontational encounters between voters, campaigners, and law enforcement during high-stress election periods, especially in areas with polarized politics or limited law enforcement presence.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 2(1)(a)(i)-(iv), (2), (3)The bill imposes new enforcement and potential prosecution responsibilities on county law enforcement and auditors, increasing local government costs for training, staffing, and legal processing—costs likely borne by counties with constrained budgets, especially rural ones.
Local GovernmentPeopleRef: Sec. 2(3), (4)While narrowly tailored, the expansion of prohibited zones (e.g., parking lots and access routes) may chill constitutionally protected expressive activity for some individuals who interpret the boundaries ambiguously—especially those with limited legal literacy—potentially leading to self-censorship or unintentional violations.
Rights & LibertiesLean peopleRef: Sec. 2(1)(a)(ii), (a)(iii)The vague phrasing of “interferes with the freedom of voters to exercise their franchise” ( subsection 1(a)(iv) ) may lead to inconsistent enforcement across counties, depending on local law enforcement discretion, risking arbitrary or politically motivated application.
Public SafetyLean peopleRef: Sec. 2(1)(a)(iv), (c)
Who Is Most Affected
Voters—especially those who rely on county auditor offices for registration, early voting, or ballot drop-off—benefit from reduced exposure to campaign pressure and intimidation at critical access points. This enhances equitable access and confidence in the voting process.
County auditors gain clearer legal authority and standardized procedures to manage election office access, but face added administrative and enforcement burdens, especially in counties without dedicated election security units.
Political campaigns and organizations lose the ability to engage voters in high-traffic areas near election infrastructure, potentially reducing outreach to last-minute or first-time voters—though this is offset by continued access to other campaign methods.
Individuals who regularly engage in grassroots advocacy (e.g., community volunteers, student groups) may be disproportionately affected by enforcement due to limited legal awareness, even though the law does not target them intentionally.
Local governments (especially rural counties) may face increased costs for enforcement and prosecution, but benefit from reduced liability exposure and improved public trust in election integrity.