H.R. 7965

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7965 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7965

To prohibit the unauthorized possession of a firearm at a Federal 
election site.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 17, 2026

Mr. Ruiz (for himself and Ms. Norton) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To prohibit the unauthorized possession of a firearm at a Federal 
election site.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Vote Without Fear Act''.

SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON UNAUTHORIZED FIREARM POSSESSION AT A FEDERAL 
ELECTION SITE.

(a) In General.--Chapter 44 of title 18, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 935. Prohibition on unauthorized firearm possession at a Federal 
election site
``(a)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), whoever knowingly 
possesses or causes to be present a firearm in, or within 100 yards of 
an entrance to, a place that the individual knows, or has reasonable 
cause to believe, is a Federal election site, or attempts to do so, 
shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 1 year, or 
both.
``(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to--
``(A) the possession of a firearm by a law enforcement 
officer employed by the United States, a State, or a political 
subdivision thereof, or a private security guard hired or 
arranged for by the owner or manager of a building in which 
there is a Federal election site, who is authorized by law to 
possess a firearm and who is on duty;
``(B) the possession of a firearm in a vehicle within 100 
yards of an entrance to a Federal election site, if the firearm 
is not removed from the vehicle or brandished while the vehicle 
is in, or within 100 yards of the entrance to, the Federal 
election site; or
``(C) the otherwise lawful possession of a firearm in a 
place of residence, in a place of business, or on private 
property, in or within 100 yards of an entrance to a Federal 
election site.
``(b) Whoever, with intent that a firearm be used in the commission 
of a crime, knowingly possesses or causes to be present the firearm in, 
or within 100 yards of an entrance to, a place that the individual 
knows, or has reasonable cause to believe, is a Federal election site, 
or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not 
more than 5 years, or both.
``(c) A person who kills any person in the course of a violation of 
subsection (a) or (b), or in the course of an attack on a Federal 
election site, involving the use of a firearm, or attempts or conspires 
to do so, shall be punished as provided in sections 1111, 1112, 1113, 
and 1117.
``(d) In this section, the term `Federal election site' means a 
building or any part thereof at which an employee of the United States, 
a State, or a political subdivision thereof is engaged in--
``(1) the administration of a polling place in an election 
for Federal office; or
``(2) the processing or counting of ballots cast in such an 
election.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for such chapter is 
amended by adding at the end the following new item:

``935. Prohibition on unauthorized firearm possession at a Federal 
election site.''.
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