This program was established following the allegations of interference in the 2016 Presidential Election. In September of 2018, President issued E.O. 13848 which created a new sanction program to address the threat imposed by foreign persons interfering in or undermining public confidence in United States elections, including through the unauthorized accessing of election and campaign infrastructure or the covert distribution of propaganda and disinformation. 

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This E.O. created reporting obligations for the Director of National Intelligence, the Secretary of the Treasury, and some others in the government. As an example, you can see a Periodic Report on the National Emergency With Respect to the Threat of Foreign Interference in the United States Elections to Congress. 

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In April 2019, OFAC codified the regulations related to this program under 31 C.F.R. Part 579. In September 2019, OFAC added several individuals, entities, aircraft, and a vessel to the SDN list under this program (along with other programs). (here)

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Those targets added under this program carry the tag of [“ELECTION-EO13848”] next to their name on the SDN list. 

 

​It is important to note that paragraph (b) of section 3 of E.O. 13848 anticipated the possibility of introducing of sanctions other than blocking sanctions.