Protect our Ballots Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 7680
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Immigration
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-02-25: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2026-03-13T15:32:57Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The Protect our Ballots Act of 2026 aims to ensure that certain tax-exempt nonprofit organizations verify the employment eligibility of individuals they pay for political activities, promoting compliance with U.S. immigration laws in politically related work.
Key Provisions
- Targeted Nonprofits: Applies to organizations recognized as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (charitable, educational, or similar nonprofits that do not pay federal income taxes).
- Trigger for Compliance: These nonprofits must participate in the E-Verify program if they compensate any individual for "personal services" tied to political purposes, such as active involvement in political management or campaigns (e.g., paying for voter outreach, ballot handling, or campaign support).
- E-Verify Requirement: Participating entities must enroll in E-Verify—a free, web-based federal system that allows employers to confirm whether new hires are legally authorized to work in the U.S.—and follow its rules, including checking eligibility for relevant employees.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends Section 402(e) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 by adding a new subsection (4).
- Expands E-Verify mandates beyond traditional for-profit employers and federal contractors to include specific nonprofits engaged in political activities, closing a potential gap in verifying workers for election- or politics-related roles.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Increases workload for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (which administers E-Verify) due to potential new enrollments; may enhance oversight of nonprofits by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in verifying tax-exempt status and compliance.
- On Citizens: Could indirectly protect election integrity by ensuring only legally authorized workers handle ballot-related or political tasks, potentially reducing risks of unauthorized labor in sensitive areas; however, it may limit nonprofit hiring flexibility.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it reinforces U.S. immigration enforcement, which could influence perceptions of domestic policy abroad.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Nonprofit Organizations: Particularly 501(c)(3) groups involved in political advocacy, voter registration, or election support (e.g., civil rights organizations, advocacy nonprofits), who must now use E-Verify or face penalties.
- Workers and Employees: Individuals paid by these nonprofits for political work, especially immigrants or those with work authorization questions, who may face eligibility checks.
- Federal Agencies: USCIS (E-Verify operator), IRS (tax-exempt overseer), and the Department of Justice (enforcement of immigration laws).
- Voters and the Public: Potentially benefits through safeguards on election processes, though it could affect nonprofit operations that engage in civic activities.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens immigration enforcement in the nonprofit sector without altering core tax-exempt rules; potential for enforcement challenges if "political purpose" is broadly interpreted, leading to litigation over what qualifies as compensable services.
- Constitutional: Raises First Amendment questions about restricting nonprofits' political involvement, as it could be seen as indirectly limiting free speech or association in advocacy work; however, it focuses on employment verification rather than banning activities.
- Political: Introduced in a divided Congress (119th, 2nd Session), it may spark debates on election security versus nonprofit autonomy, especially amid concerns over voter fraud or foreign influence; referral to Judiciary and Education/Workforce Committees signals bipartisan scrutiny on immigration and labor issues.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2026-02-25: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-02-25: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-02-25: Introduced in House
- 2026-02-25: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Protect our Ballots Act of 2026 — issued 2026-02-25 — PDF (2 pages)