Hands Off Elections Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9306
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-11: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-22T21:21:52Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This legislation seeks to bar employees of executive branch agencies from participating in the administration of elections for federal offices, with limited exceptions.
Key Provisions
- Prohibition: Federal employees of an executive agency are prohibited from participating in or directing others to participate in election administration for federal offices, unless they are specifically authorized under existing federal laws such as the Help America Vote Act of 2002, the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, or section 1566 of title 10 of the United States Code, or unless their involvement is not connected to their federal employment role.
- Enforcement: State chief law enforcement officers may file lawsuits in federal district courts seeking court orders to stop violations.
- Rule of Construction: The prohibition does not apply to federal employees providing cybersecurity support to protect voting systems.
- Definition: "Executive agency" follows the meaning in section 105 of title 5 of the United States Code but excludes the United States Postal Service.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces a new restriction on federal employee involvement in election processes, where no such broad prohibition previously existed in statute. It carves out specific authorizations under listed federal election laws but otherwise limits employee actions tied to their official duties.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Executive agencies would face limits on directing staff to assist with election administration tasks, potentially requiring agencies to review and adjust internal policies on election-related activities.
- On Citizens: Voters might see reduced federal involvement in certain election support roles, though authorized activities under existing laws would continue.
- On International Relations: No direct effects are outlined in the legislation.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal employees in executive agencies.
- State chief law enforcement officers responsible for enforcement.
- Election administrators and officials managing federal elections.
- Agencies involved in authorized election support, such as those handling voter registration or overseas voting.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- The bill establishes a civil enforcement mechanism allowing states to seek injunctive relief in federal courts, creating a new avenue for state-federal interaction on election matters.
- It preserves certain federal roles in election integrity through the cybersecurity exception and referenced statutes.
- The exclusion of the United States Postal Service from the definition of executive agency maintains its separate status under the law.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (5)
Rep. Bynum, Janelle S. [D-OR-5], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2], Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Rep. Randall, Emily [D-WA-6]
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-11: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- 2026-06-11: Introduced in House
- 2026-06-11: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Hands Off Elections Act of 2026 — issued 2026-06-11 — PDF (3 pages)