# 119-hr-10907: Stop Harassment and Intimidations in Elections through Legal Defenses (SHIELD) Our Elections Act

119-hr-10907, Stop Harassment and Intimidations in Elections through Legal Defenses (SHIELD) Our Elections Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Whitesides, George [D-CA-27] (D-CA); status introduced (as of 2026-10-31).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-10907
- As of: 2026-10-31
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-10907
- Congress: 119
- Title: Stop Harassment and Intimidations in Elections through Legal Defenses (SHIELD) Our Elections Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-10-22
- Sponsor: Rep. Whitesides, George [D-CA-27] (D-CA)
- Cosponsors: 37
- Policy area: unknown
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-10-31

## 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. - 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.*

## Cosponsors (37)

- Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39] (D-CA), 2026-10-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18] (D-CA), 2026-10-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pelosi, Nancy [D-CA-12] (D-CA), 2026-10-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Waters, Maxine [D-CA-43] (D-CA), 2026-10-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32] (D-CA), 2026-10-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7] (D-CA), 2026-10-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8] (D-CA), 2026-10-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26] (D-CA), 2026-10-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10] (D-CA), 2026-10-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36] (D-CA), 2026-10-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Torres, Norma J. [D-CA-35] (D-CA), 2026-10-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44] (D-CA), 2026-10-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24] (D-CA), 2026-10-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46] (D-CA), 2026-10-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cisneros, Gilbert Ray [D-CA-31] (D-CA), 2026-10-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9] (D-CA), 2026-10-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49] (D-CA), 2026-10-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51] (D-CA), 2026-10-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42] (D-CA), 2026-10-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37] (D-CA), 2026-10-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15] (D-CA), 2026-10-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Friedman, Laura [D-CA-30] (D-CA), 2026-10-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Liccardo, Sam T. [D-CA-16] (D-CA), 2026-10-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12] (D-CA), 2026-10-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-5] (D-NY), 2026-10-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9] (D-TX), 2026-10-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5] (D-PA), 2026-10-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4] (D-NV), 2026-10-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Fletcher, Lizzie [D-TX-7] (D-TX), 2026-10-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6] (D-PA), 2026-10-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5] (D-GA), 2026-10-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1] (D-NM), 2026-10-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11] (D-OH), 2026-10-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hoyle, Val T. [D-OR-4] (D-OR), 2026-10-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7] (D-CO), 2026-10-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Goodlander, Maggie [D-NH-2] (D-NH), 2026-10-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Blair, Everton [D-GA-13] (D-GA), 2026-10-22T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- New ballot tracking and grants: benefit, low. 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 d…
- Stronger legal protections for elections: benefit, low. 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 enforceme…
- Longer prosecution window for election crimes: cost, low. 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 Natio…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act
- 119-hr-15: Equality Act
- 119-hr-1810: Safe Schools Improvement Act
- 119-hr-4611: EACH Act of 2025
- 119-hr-14: John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2025
- 119-hr-20: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-hr-10907 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/10907)

## Related
- [119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7973)
- [119-hr-15: Equality Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-15)
- [119-hr-1810: Safe Schools Improvement Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1810)
- [119-hr-4611: EACH Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4611)
- [119-hr-14: John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-14)
- [119-hr-20: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-20)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-10907 (as of 2026-10-31).