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119-hr-10497119th Congress

Protect Our Polls Act

Sponsored By: Representative Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6]

Introduced

Summary

Requires explicit Congressional authorization before deploying troops or armed persons at polling places. This bill would lock in a formal, expedited joint-resolution process and add short-term limits on federal access to election records while preserving voting rights.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Congress must approve armed election deployments

If enacted, agencies would have to send Congress an unclassified report at least 48 hours before sending troops or other armed personnel to an election site to repel armed enemies. The report would identify who, where, why, the legal authority, training, supporting intelligence, and why state or local forces could not respond. A deployment would be allowed only after Congress enacts a joint resolution under an expedited review with short committee and floor timelines. If Congress is adjourned, leaders could ask the President to reconvene it and top national security officials would give a classified briefing after reconvening.

Limits on election-record access and voting rights

If enacted, the bill would bar making funds available to the armed forces or an Executive agency to authorize or order armed personnel to access election records that officers or custodians are required to keep. That ban would apply no matter when those records were received and would end on January 20, 2029. The bill would also say it cannot be used to stop members of the armed forces or people under Executive agency control from voting in a district where they otherwise qualify under State law. These changes would take effect upon enactment and the Civil Rights Act amendments would sunset on January 20, 2029.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6]

PA • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 10/1/2026

  • Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]

    DC • D

    Sponsored 10/1/2026

  • Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 10/29/2026

  • Rep. Goodlander, Maggie [D-NH-2]

    NH • D

    Sponsored 9/17/2026

  • Rep. Whitesides, George [D-CA-27]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 9/17/2026

  • Rep. Ryan, Patrick [D-NY-18]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 9/17/2026

  • Rep. Tran, Derek [D-CA-45]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 9/17/2026

  • Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 9/17/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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