Sponsors (3)
Introduced March 17, 2026 by Raul Ruiz · Last progress March 17, 2026
The bill strengthens safety and deterrence at federal election sites by banning firearms near polling places and increasing penalties, but it restricts lawful gun owners' access near those sites and raises federal enforcement costs.
Voters and election workers are safer because the bill bans unauthorized firearms within 100 yards of federal election sites, reducing the risk of intimidation or violence at polling places and ballot-counting locations.
People who plan crimes at election sites are deterred and face tougher federal penalties (up to 5 years), which strengthens deterrence against election-related violent or criminal activity.
Federal jurisdiction and enforcement authority over protection of polling places and ballot-counting locations are clarified, giving federal agencies clearer legal basis to act to secure federal election sites.
Lawful gun owners who are near polling places may face arrest or prosecution if they misjudge whether a location is a covered 'Federal election site' within 100 yards, creating legal risk from uncertain boundaries.
Traveling voters and others who lawfully carry firearms could lose immediate access to their firearms while near polling places because the vehicle exemption requires firearms remain secured and not be removed or brandished.
Increased federal criminal enforcement around elections could raise prosecution and incarceration costs and expand Department of Justice workload, imposing additional costs on taxpayers.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates a federal crime to possess or be present with an unauthorized firearm in or within 100 yards of entrances to Federal election sites, with penalties up to 1 year and enhanced penalties for intent to use.
Creates a new federal crime for unauthorized possession or presence of a firearm in, or within 100 yards of the entrance to, a known or reasonably believed Federal election site. Violations carry up to 1 year in prison (or a fine or both), with an enhanced penalty of up to 5 years if the firearm is possessed with intent to use it in a crime; killings during such violations are prosecuted under existing homicide statutes. The bill defines Federal election sites as buildings (or parts of buildings) where a federal, state, or local employee administers a polling place for federal elections or processes or counts ballots for those elections, and it lists several narrow exemptions for on-duty authorized law enforcement, certain private security, firearms kept in vehicles (not removed or brandished), and lawful possession inside residences, places of business, or private property located within the 100-yard zone.