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To prohibit the unauthorized possession of a firearm at a Federal election site.
Summary
This bill makes it a federal crime to possess a firearm at or within 100 yards of a polling place or ballot-counting facility used in federal elections. The law includes exceptions for law enforcement officers and security personnel on duty, as well as firearms in vehicles that are not removed or brandished. Violations carry penalties of up to one year in prison, or up to five years if the firearm was possessed with intent to use it in a crime.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
2 cosponsors
- Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA] (D-CA)
- Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH] (D-NH)
Actions (2)
- Mar 17, 2026 Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. · senate
- Mar 17, 2026 Introduced in Senate
Similar bills (6)
Bills with similar text or summary — includes reintroductions across Congresses. Ranked by semantic similarity of the bill text (computed locally); a neutral discovery aid, not a claim the bills are duplicates.
Full text
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 17, 2026
Mr. Murphy (for himself and Mrs. Shaheen) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
A BILL
To prohibit the unauthorized possession of a firearm at a Federal election site.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Vote Without Fear Act”.
SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON UNAUTHORIZED FIREARM POSSESSION AT A FEDERAL ELECTION SITE.
(a) In General.—Chapter 44 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: “Sec. 935. Prohibition on unauthorized firearm possession at a Federal election site
“(a) Definition.—In this section, the term ‘Federal election site’ means a building or any part thereof at which an employee of the United States, a State, or a political subdivision thereof is engaged in—
“(1) the administration of a polling place in an election for Federal office; or
“(2) the processing or counting of ballots cast in such an election.
“(b) Possession of Firearm Near Federal Election Site.—
“(1) Offense.—
“(A) In general.—Except as provided in subparagraph (B), it shall be unlawful for an individual to knowingly possess or cause to be present a firearm in, or within 100 yards of an entrance to, a place that the individual knows, or has reasonable cause to believe, is a Federal election site.
“(B) Exceptions.—Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to—
“(i) the possession of a firearm by a law enforcement officer employed by the United States, a State, or a political subdivision thereof, or a private security guard hired or arranged for by the owner or manager of a building in which there is a Federal election site, who is authorized by law to possess a firearm and who is on duty;
“(ii) the possession of a firearm in a vehicle within 100 yards of an entrance to a Federal election site, if the firearm is not removed from the vehicle or brandished while the vehicle is in, or within 100 yards of the entrance to, the Federal election site; or
“(iii) the otherwise lawful possession of a firearm in a place of residence, in a place of business, or on private property, in or within 100 yards of an entrance to a Federal election site.
“(2) Penalty.—Any individual who violates paragraph (1), or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both.
“(c) Possession of Firearm Near Federal Election Site With Intent for Use in Crime.—
“(1) Offense.—It shall be unlawful for an individual, with intent that a firearm be used in the commission of a crime, to knowingly possess or cause to be present the firearm in, or within 100 yards of an entrance to, a place that the individual knows, or has reasonable cause to believe, is a Federal election site.
“(2) Penalty.—Any individual who violates paragraph (1), or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.
“(d) Homicide.—An individual who kills any other individual in the course of a violation of subsection (b) or (c), or in the course of an attack on a Federal election site involving the use of a firearm, or attempts or conspires to do so, shall be punished as provided in—
“(1) section 1111, in the case of murder (as defined in that section);
“(2) section 1112, in the case of manslaughter (as defined in that section);
“(3) section 1113, in the case of attempt to commit murder or manslaughter (as those terms are so defined); or
“(4) section 1117, in the case of conspiracy to commit murder (as so defined).”.
(b) Clerical Amendment.—The table of sections for chapter 44 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
“935. Prohibition on unauthorized firearm possession at a Federal election site.”. <all>
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