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119-hr-10927119th Congress

Ballot Box Protection Act

Sponsored By: Representative Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]

Introduced

Summary

Creates federal criminal penalties for destroying or damaging ballot drop boxes used in Federal elections. It would also make conspiring to commit those acts a crime and ties penalties to each box or ballot affected.

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  • Voters and local election workers: Damage or destruction of secured, clearly labeled drop boxes done with intent to destroy or damage voted ballots would become a federal offense. Convictions could bring fines up to $20,000 per box and up to 20 years in prison.
  • People who damage ballots or boxes and their co-conspirators: Would face fines up to $20,000 per damaged ballot or box and up to 20 years in prison for each box or ballot involved.
  • Prosecutors and courts: Establishes a clear federal charge tied to Federal elections for attacks on drop boxes and explicitly extends conspiracy liability to those provisions.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

New crimes for damaging ballot boxes

This bill would make it a federal crime to intentionally destroy or damage an in-person, secured, clearly labeled ballot drop box used in a Federal election when the person intends to destroy or damage a voted ballot. If no voted ballot is damaged, the person would face a fine up to $20,000 for each box, up to 20 years in prison, or both. If a voted ballot is damaged or destroyed, the person would face a fine up to $20,000 for each such ballot, up to 20 years in prison, or both. The bill would also make conspiring to commit the offense punishable under the same penalties.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]

NJ • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Malliotakis, Nicole [R-NY-11]

    NY • R

    Sponsored 10/29/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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