# 119-s-5491: Freedom from Intimidation in Elections Act

119-s-5491, Freedom from Intimidation in Elections Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA] (D-CA); status introduced (as of 2026-10-16).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5491
- As of: 2026-10-16
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-5491
- Congress: 119
- Title: Freedom from Intimidation in Elections Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-09-23
- Sponsor: Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA] (D-CA)
- Cosponsors: 8
- Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-10-16

## Summary

**This bill creates a new federal prohibition on intimidation** of voters, election workers, and election officials. It also creates strong legal presumptions when a visible, imitation, or antique firearm is displayed in election-related settings and lets courts impose temporary limits on carrying firearms in enforcement cases. - Voters and poll workers: The bill presumes someone has intimidated a voter if they display or carry a visible, imitation, or antique firearm while interacting with or observing a person voting or trying to vote. That presumption makes it easier for private lawsuits to challenge intimidating behavior at polling places. - Election officials and election workers: The law expands protections for people who count, tabulate, canvass, or certify federal elections and for staff of the Election Assistance Commission. Carrying or displaying a firearm while performing those duties triggers a rebuttable presumption of intimidation. - Courts and law enforcement: Courts may grant relief in enforcement cases, including temporary limits on carrying firearms by defendants. State and local officers acting within official duties are generally excepted from the presumption, but National Guard members are not exempt regardless of duty status.

## Cosponsors (8)

- Sen. Kim, Andy [D-NJ] (D-NJ), 2026-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT] (D-CT), 2026-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI] (D-RI), 2026-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT] (D-CT), 2026-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD] (D-MD), 2026-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI] (D-HI), 2026-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA] (D-CA), 2026-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA] (D-WA), 2026-09-23T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- New protections for election workers: benefit, medium. If enacted, this would make it illegal to intimidate, threaten, coerce, or try to intimidate anyone who administers federal elections. It would cover counting, tabulating, canvassing, and certifying federal election results. It would also protect people because of their current or past role in runn…
- Visible guns at polls treated as intimidation: mixed, medium. If enacted, this would create a rebuttable presumption that someone intimidated voters or election workers if they display a visible firearm, imitation firearm, or antique firearm while near voters or while people are doing election duties. The person would have to prove otherwise by a preponderanc…

## Related bills

- 119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026
- 119-s-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act
- 119-s-5108: Right to IVF Act of 2026
- 119-s-1503: Equality Act
- 119-s-2295: Child Care for Working Families Act
- 119-s-2377: EACH Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-s-5491 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/5491)

## Related
- [119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5066)
- [119-s-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-51)
- [119-s-5108: Right to IVF Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5108)
- [119-s-1503: Equality Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1503)
- [119-s-2295: Child Care for Working Families Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2295)
- [119-s-2377: EACH Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2377)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5491 (as of 2026-10-16).