New York Lawmakers Advance Election Safety Legislation Ahead of Midterms

Legislation aims to protect election officers from intimidation and threats

Feb. 20, 2026 at 9:34pm

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New York lawmakers have advanced several pieces of legislation in the State Senate aimed at increasing election safety and protecting election officers ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. State Sen. Kristen Gonzalez, chair of the Senate Elections Committee, cited a recent poll showing that 38% of election officers nationwide have experienced some form of intimidation or threat, and said the legislation is intended to be proactive in meeting this challenge.

Why it matters

Ensuring the safety and security of election officers is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the electoral process, especially in the wake of increased threats and intimidation targeting these officials in other parts of the country. The proposed legislation in New York seeks to address this issue proactively and help safeguard the state's elections.

The details

The legislation advanced in the New York State Senate includes measures to protect the private information of election officers and prevent them from being targeted. This comes in response to a 2024 poll from the Brennan Center for Justice that found 38% of election officers nationwide have experienced some form of intimidation or threat.

  • The New York legislative session began in early 2026.
  • The legislation was advanced in the State Senate ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

The players

Kristen Gonzalez

A Democratic state senator representing the 59th District and the chair of the Senate Elections Committee.

Murad Awawdeh

The president and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition, which has resisted 287(g) agreements that allow for collaboration between local law enforcement and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

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What they’re saying

“Private information can be shared about election officers and it's something we've seen in other states. There was a nationwide poll done recently that said 38% of election officers nationwide had already experienced some sort of intimidation or threat. So while in New York we haven't seen a significant rise in it, I think it is really timely and important to make sure we're proactive here, and we're actually introducing legislation to meet this moment.”

— Kristen Gonzalez, State Senator, Chair of Senate Elections Committee

“Our local and state taxes should be going toward making us all safer, and making our communities more thriving, as opposed to harming our families and our communities here. So it's really to make sure that we're using our resources wisely, and that we're continuing to uphold public safety.”

— Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO, New York Immigration Coalition

What’s next

The proposed election safety legislation will continue to move through the New York State Senate, with the goal of being enacted ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

The takeaway

New York's proactive approach to protecting election officers and the integrity of the electoral process is a timely and important step, especially given the increased threats and intimidation targeting these officials in other parts of the country. The legislation aims to safeguard the state's elections and ensure they are conducted in a secure and trustworthy manner.