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119-hr-8825119th Congress

Democracy Without Intimidation Act

Sponsored By: Representative McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6]

Introduced

Summary

Prohibiting troops at polling places is the bill's core aim. It would remove a statutory exception that allowed the use of force at polling locations and add stronger enforcement tools and private remedies to back that ban.

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  • Voters: The bill would tighten the ban on deploying forces at polling places by removing the exception in 18 U.S.C. 592 that allowed force to repel armed enemies. That change is meant to reduce the presence of federal forces around voting sites.
  • Federal enforcement and courts: It would require United States attorneys, marshals, deputy marshals, magistrate judges, and other officers to prosecute violations of 18 U.S.C. 592 and related statutes at the government's expense. It would also increase the number and authority of magistrate judges to handle arrests and warrants for these offenses and let them appoint people to execute warrants and summon aid, including bystanders, militia, or portions of U.S. forces as necessary.
  • Private lawsuits and expedited review: The bill would create a private right for people harmed by a violation of section 592 to sue certain "covered persons" for injunctive relief. Covered persons are defined as Senior Executive Service officials or political appointees of federal law enforcement agencies, and appeals from final orders would be eligible for direct, expedited review by the Supreme Court with a notice of appeal filed within 10 days.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Ban on troops at polling places

This bill would remove the clause that let force be used to "repel armed enemies" at polling places. That would strengthen the ban on troops and similar force at voting sites. If you were harmed by such a violation, you would be able to sue certain high-level federal law enforcement officials or political appointees in U.S. district court for an injunction. A final district-court order could be appealed directly to the Supreme Court within 10 days, and courts would be required to move these cases quickly.

Federal prosecutions and magistrates

This bill would require U.S. attorneys, U.S. marshals, some magistrate judges, and officers authorized by the President to bring federal prosecutions for a list of voting and civil-rights crimes. The United States would pay the costs of those prosecutions. District and territorial courts would increase the number of magistrate judges to speed arrests and first hearings for these offenses. Those magistrate judges could exercise full powers over these offenses, appoint people to execute warrants, and summon bystanders, a county posse, or portions of U.S. forces or militia if needed. Warrants could be executed anywhere in the State or Territory where issued.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6]

MD • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 10/19/2026

  • Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7]

    CO • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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