Vote Without Fear Act
Sponsored By: Representative Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-25]
Introduced
Summary
Bans unauthorized firearms within 100 yards of Federal election sites. The Vote Without Fear Act would create a federal crime for knowingly possessing a firearm at, or within 100 yards of an entrance to, a building used to administer a polling place or to process or count ballots in a Federal election.
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- People who bring guns to these sites without an exception would face fines and up to 1 year in prison. If the firearm was intended to be used to commit a crime the penalty rises to up to 5 years.
- Killings, attempted killings, or conspiracies tied to these violations are punishable under existing major crime statutes for murder and manslaughter.
- A “Federal election site” is a building where a federal, state, or local employee runs a polling place or processes or counts ballots.
- Narrow exceptions apply for on‑duty law enforcement and private security employed by the building owner. The bill also allows a firearm kept inside a vehicle if it is not removed or brandished and permits lawful possession in nearby residences, businesses, or private property.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Stronger murder penalties for election attacks
If enacted, the bill would make a person who kills someone during a covered firearm violation at a Federal election site, or during an attack on such a site involving a firearm, punishable under existing federal homicide laws (sections 1111, 1112, 1113, and 1117). Attempts and conspiracies to commit such killings would also be covered. This would let federal murder and related penalties apply to killings tied to attacks on federal election sites.
Ban on guns near voting sites
If enacted, the bill would make it a federal crime to knowingly have or cause a firearm to be present in, or within 100 yards of, an entrance to a "Federal election site." A general violation would carry a fine and/or up to 1 year in prison. The penalty would increase to a fine and/or up to 5 years if the person intends the firearm to be used to commit a crime. Exceptions would include on‑duty federal, state, or local law enforcement and private security authorized by the building owner, a firearm kept inside a vehicle so long as it is not removed or brandished, and otherwise lawful possession in a nearby home, business, or private property. The bill would define a "Federal election site" as a building where a U.S., state, or local employee runs a polling place or processes or counts ballots for a federal election. The rule would apply when a person knows or has reasonable cause to believe the location is a Federal election site.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-25]
CA • D
Cosponsors
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 3/17/2026
Rep. Amo, Gabe [D-RI-1]
RI • D
Sponsored 5/12/2026
Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]
NY • D
Sponsored 5/13/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov