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119-hr-10907119th Congress
Stop Harassment and Intimidations in Elections through Legal Defenses (SHIELD) Our Elections Act
Sponsored By: Representative Whitesides, George [D-CA-27]
Introduced
Summary
Protecting federal elections from harassment and interference. This bill pairs new legal tools with operational safeguards by creating civil remedies for election interference, extending criminal time limits, restricting seizures of ballot materials, and funding state absentee ballot tracking programs.
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- Voters: Establishes a “Qualifying Absentee Ballot Tracking Program” that lets voters check receipt and status of absentee ballots. The system must show dates of key ballot actions, say whether a ballot was counted, and explain why if it was not. It must also be reachable online or by a toll free number.
- Private plaintiffs and courts: Creates a private right of action tied to 18 U.S.C. sections 592, 593, and 594 so aggrieved people can seek declaratory or injunctive relief. Courts may award reasonable attorney fees to prevailing private parties but not to the United States and the statute of limitations for these offenses is extended to 9 years.
- Election officials and evidence handling: Limits seizure of ballots, records, and equipment until recounts audits and legal challenges finish unless a judge finds clear and convincing evidence of imminent destruction. Seized materials must be held in joint custody with chain of custody controls and election official access.
*Authorizes $50.0 million in grants for FY2027 to support state ballot tracking under HAVA, increasing federal spending by that amount.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
New ballot tracking and grants
If enacted, the bill would create rules for state absentee and mail-in ballot tracking programs. These programs would confirm when a ballot or application arrived and give voters dates for key steps. The reason a ballot was rejected or not counted would be available no later than 1 day after that decision. Political parties and voter registration groups could buy ballot-sent and ballot-counting data at cost to help return or fix ballots under state rules. The bill would also authorize $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2027 in grants to help states set up or run qualifying programs. Any money Congress provides under the authorization would remain available until spent.
Stronger legal protections for elections
If enacted, the bill would let a person harmed by certain federal election interference crimes sue in U.S. district court for orders to stop the harm. A prevailing party other than the United States could be allowed reasonable attorney fees and costs. The bill would also generally bar law enforcement from seizing ballots, records, or equipment used in a federal election until any recount, audit, or legal challenge is finally resolved. A judge could allow an earlier seizure only if clear and convincing evidence shows the items risk destruction. Items seized under that exception would remain in joint custody, require a chain-of-custody record, and must be accessible to the election official.
Longer prosecution window for election crimes
If enacted, the bill would require that an indictment or information for certain federal election offenses be brought no later than 9 years after the offense. The 9-year deadline would apply to offenses under 18 U.S.C. 592, 593, and 594 and parallel provisions in the Voting Rights Act and the National Voter Registration Act. The prosecution deadline would run from the date the offense was committed.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Whitesides, George [D-CA-27]
CA • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39]
CA • D
Sponsored 10/29/2026
Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18]
CA • D
Sponsored 10/22/2026
Rep. Pelosi, Nancy [D-CA-12]
CA • D
Sponsored 10/22/2026
Rep. Waters, Maxine [D-CA-43]
CA • D
Sponsored 10/22/2026
Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32]
CA • D
Sponsored 10/22/2026
Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7]
CA • D
Sponsored 10/22/2026
Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8]
CA • D
Sponsored 10/22/2026
Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26]
CA • D
Sponsored 10/22/2026
Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10]
CA • D
Sponsored 10/22/2026
Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36]
CA • D
Sponsored 10/22/2026
Rep. Torres, Norma J. [D-CA-35]
CA • D
Sponsored 10/22/2026
Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44]
CA • D
Sponsored 10/22/2026
Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24]
CA • D
Sponsored 10/22/2026
Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46]
CA • D
Sponsored 10/22/2026
Rep. Cisneros, Gilbert Ray [D-CA-31]
CA • D
Sponsored 10/22/2026
Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9]
CA • D
Sponsored 10/22/2026
Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49]
CA • D
Sponsored 10/22/2026
Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51]
CA • D
Sponsored 10/22/2026
Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42]
CA • D
Sponsored 10/22/2026
Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37]
CA • D
Sponsored 10/22/2026
Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15]
CA • D
Sponsored 10/22/2026
Rep. Friedman, Laura [D-CA-30]
CA • D
Sponsored 10/22/2026
Rep. Liccardo, Sam T. [D-CA-16]
CA • D
Sponsored 10/22/2026
Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12]
CA • D
Sponsored 10/22/2026
Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-5]
NY • D
Sponsored 10/22/2026
Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9]
TX • D
Sponsored 10/22/2026
Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5]
PA • D
Sponsored 10/22/2026
Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4]
NV • D
Sponsored 10/22/2026
Rep. Fletcher, Lizzie [D-TX-7]
TX • D
Sponsored 10/22/2026
Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6]
PA • D
Sponsored 10/22/2026
Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5]
GA • D
Sponsored 10/22/2026
Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1]
NM • D
Sponsored 10/22/2026
Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11]
OH • D
Sponsored 10/22/2026
Rep. Hoyle, Val T. [D-OR-4]
OR • D
Sponsored 10/22/2026
Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7]
CO • D
Sponsored 10/22/2026
Rep. Goodlander, Maggie [D-NH-2]
NH • D
Sponsored 10/22/2026
Rep. Blair, Everton [D-GA-13]
GA • D
Sponsored 10/22/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov