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DOL Rewrites Disability Rules for 'Merit-Based Opportunity' Push
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S4845119th Congress
Protect Our Polls Act
Sponsored By: Senator Slotkin, Elissa [D-MI]
Introduced
Summary
Strict congressional review and tight limits on deploying troops or armed personnel to polling places. This bill would require detailed notice, intelligence, and an expedited congressional approval process before federal or other armed forces go to polling sites, and it would tighten rules on agency access to election records with a built-in sunset.
Show full summary
- Voters and communities: Would require at least 48 hours' notice and an unclassified summary plus a classified annex explaining the threat, the number and units involved, training for interacting with civilians, and why state and local forces cannot respond.
- Congress and oversight: Would create an expedited joint-resolution pathway with a committee report due within 20 hours and limited floor debate of 10 hours to approve or block deployments.
- Federal agencies and election officials: Would amend the Civil Rights Act of 1960 to bar funding for armed forces or Executive agencies to obtain certain retained election records and make those amendments expire on January 20, 2029.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Congress must OK troops at polls
If enacted, the bill would require agencies to send an unclassified report at least 48 hours before sending troops or armed personnel to any election site. The report would list number, unit, duties, and duration, and include an unclassified intelligence summary plus a classified annex. It would also say locations, legal authority, training for civilian contact, and why state or local forces cannot repel the threat. Troops would not be allowed for this purpose unless Congress passed a joint resolution first. Committees would have 20 hours to report the resolution and the originating House would have a 10-hour debate and vote window; the other House would report 12 hours before deployment and vote within 6 hours. If Congress is adjourned, leaders could ask the President to reconvene it and top officials would give immediate classified briefings.
Ban funding for armed access to records
If enacted, the bill would bar using any federal funds to authorize armed forces or Executive agencies to access election records that officers are required to keep. The ban would apply regardless of when the records came into the officer's possession. These changes would take effect on enactment and would cease to have effect on January 20, 2029.
Service members keep voting rights
If enacted, the bill would clarify that nothing in the amended rules prevents a member of the armed forces or a person under Executive agency control from voting in the district where they belong if they meet State law. This clarification would take effect on enactment and would end on January 20, 2029.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Slotkin, Elissa [D-MI]
MI • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]
WI • D
Sponsored 6/18/2026
Sen. Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ]
AZ • D
Sponsored 6/18/2026
Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ]
AZ • D
Sponsored 6/18/2026
Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
MN • D
Sponsored 6/18/2026
Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/18/2026
Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV]
NV • D
Sponsored 6/18/2026
Sen. Warnock, Raphael G. [D-GA]
GA • D
Sponsored 6/18/2026
Sen. Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO]
CO • D
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
IL • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME]
ME • I
Sponsored 9/24/2026
Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA]
CA • D
Sponsored 9/24/2026
Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
NJ • D
Sponsored 9/24/2026
Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
NY • D
Sponsored 9/24/2026
Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT]
VT • D
Sponsored 9/24/2026
Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
NH • D
Sponsored 9/24/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov