The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.West Virginia Bill 126 criminalizes interference with election workers and voters and raises maximum fines
Last action · January 14, 2026: To JudiciarySponsor: Mike Woelfel
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What This Bill Proposed
West Virginia Senate Bill 126 criminalizes interfering with election officers, workers, or voters through force, intimidation, or physical acts, and doubles the maximum fine for these offenses to $2,000. The measure applies to anyone who blocks an election from taking place, prevents workers from entering or exiting polling locations, or stops voters from freely casting ballots.
The bill alters criminal penalties and defines new specific offenses related to election administration, directly changing legal liability for individuals who disrupt polling places or election duties.
- State legislatures frequently review and update laws governing election security and polling place conduct to address emerging safety concerns for election personnel. context
Who It Would Have Affected
Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
election officers and election workers
Their duties, polling place access, and protection from obstruction and intimidation are explicitly addressed and defined under criminal law.
voters
Their right to attend elections and freely exercise suffrage without prevention or intimidation is protected by new specific criminal provisions.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What new actions are considered criminal offenses under this bill?
What are the penalties for interfering with election workers or voters?
Does the bill change existing penalties regarding refusal to assist at the polls?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in Senate committee.
Procedural history
4 actions- Jan 14, 2026SenateCommitteeTo Judiciary
- Jan 14, 2026SenateIntroducedIntroduced in Senate
- Jan 14, 2026SenateCommitteeTo Judiciary
- Jan 14, 2026SenateIntroducedFiled for introduction
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
www.wvlegislature.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 65)
- Controversy40Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
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