Vote Without Fear Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 7965
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-03-17: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-14T08:08:09Z
AI-Generated Summary
H.R. 7965: Vote Without Fear Act
Purpose
This bill aims to enhance safety at federal election sites by prohibiting unauthorized possession of firearms near these locations, reducing potential intimidation or violence during elections for federal offices (such as U.S. President, Senate, or House).
Key Provisions
- New Criminal Offense: Adds Section 935 to Chapter 44 of Title 18, U.S. Code (which covers firearms), making it illegal to knowingly possess or bring a firearm (or attempt to) inside or within 100 yards of an entrance to a "Federal election site."
- Penalty: Fine, up to 1 year in prison, or both.
- Exceptions:
- Law enforcement officers or authorized private security guards on duty.
- Firearms stored in a vehicle (not removed or brandished) within the 100-yard zone.
- Lawful possession in a residence, business, or private property within the zone.
- Aggravated Offense: If possession is with intent to use the firearm in a crime, penalty increases to up to 5 years in prison.
- Homicide Penalty: Killing someone during a violation, or in an attack on a federal election site using a firearm (including attempts or conspiracies), is punished under existing federal murder, manslaughter, or related statutes (sections 1111–1117).
- Definition: A "Federal election site" is a building (or part of it) where a U.S., state, or local government employee is administering a polling place, or processing/counting ballots, for a federal office election.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces a new federal crime specifically targeting firearms at federal election sites, with a 100-yard buffer zone—previously, no such nationwide prohibition existed in federal law.
- Amends the table of sections in Chapter 44 for reference.
Potential Impacts
- Citizens/Voters: May increase sense of safety at polls but restricts lawful gun carriers from bringing firearms near voting sites (with exceptions).
- Government Agencies: Election officials and poll workers gain added protection; federal, state, and local law enforcement must enforce the new rules, potentially requiring more resources for monitoring and prosecution.
- No notable impact on international relations.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Election workers and voters at federal polling places (primary beneficiaries for safety).
- Gun owners and carriers (face new restrictions near election sites).
- Law enforcement and private security (exempted when on duty).
- Property owners near election sites (limited by exceptions for residences/businesses).
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Creates enforceable buffer zones, likely leading to federal prosecutions; "reasonable cause to believe" standard allows flexibility in enforcement.
- Constitutional: Could face challenges under the Second Amendment (right to bear arms), balancing public safety against gun rights—courts may scrutinize the 100-yard zone and exceptions.
- Political: Promotes secure elections amid concerns over violence or intimidation, but may spark debate on federal overreach into state election administration and gun policy.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (3)
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Amo, Gabe [D-RI-1], Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]
Recent Actions
- 2026-03-17: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2026-03-17: Introduced in House
- 2026-03-17: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Vote Without Fear Act — issued 2026-03-17 — PDF (3 pages)