Padilla, Deluzio Launch Effort to Prohibit Firearms at Polling Places, Protect Voters and Election Workers

In early 2026, 32 percent of local election workers experienced threats or harassment, 52 percent concerned for staff safety WASHINGTON, D.C. — With midterm elections just around the corner and threats to our elections at an all-time high from Donald Trump, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee and California’s former Secretary of State, and Representative Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.-17) introduced bicameral legislation to protect voters and election workers from intimidation and threats of violence at polling places. The Freedom from Intimidation in Elections Act would help further ensure that every voter and election worker has the right to cast their ballot and conduct their official duties free from fear and intimidation. It would update existing anti-intimidation provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to limit the presence of visible firearms at locations where voters cast their ballot or election workers perform their official duties, empowering poll workers and election officials to continue safely administering elections. “No voter should have to walk past a gauntlet of firearms to exercise their right to vote, and no election worker should have to risk armed threats just to do their job,” said Senator Padilla . “Intimidation and violence have no place at our polls. These threats disenfranchise voters, undermine the fairness of our elections, and prevent nonpartisan election workers from doing their jobs. Our bill will keep visible firearms and other forms of violence away from polling places, ensuring every eligible voter can exercise their fundamental right safely, freely, and without intimidation.” “The right to vote is foundational to America’s democracy, and part of protecting that right is keeping official ballot drop sites and polling places free from intimidation,” said Congressman Deluzio . “With the rising risk of political violence and ongoing threats to our democratic system, we need to strengthen the sanctity of our elections. The Freedom from Intimidation in Elections Act of 2026 would help protect the rights of America’s voters and election workers so that they can vote and perform their official duties free from violent threats and intimidation. I’m proud to reintroduce this bill today alongside Senator Alex Padilla and Representative Ruiz.” The right to vote is fundamental to American democracy, but rising threats of political violence against voters and election workers threaten election security. As of April 2026, 32 percent of local election workers have reported experience threats, harassment, or abuse. Armed groups such as the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers who were involved in the January 6, 2021 assault on the U.S. Capitol have threatened to patrol polling places in recent elections. While intimidation is illegal under existing law, this new legislation is important to provide a clearer standard and further ensure safe polling locations. In addition to Padilla, the bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Chris Van Hollen (D- Md.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.). In addition to Deluzio, the bill is cosponsored by Congressman Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.-25). Specifically, the Freedom from Intimidation in Elections Act would: Amend Section 11(b) of the Voting Rights Act to establish a rebuttable presumption that a person carrying a visible firearm while engaging in election-related activities is engaging in voter intimidation; Provide civil remedies for individuals who experience this type of intimidation, including an emergency injunction that would allow the voter or election official to carry out their duties in peace; and Recognize an exception for law enforcement officers acting within their official duties. The Freedom from Intimidation in Elections Act is endorsed by organizations including the Brennan Center, Defend the Vote Action Fund, and the Fair Elections Center. “Congress must pass the Freedom from Intimidation in Elections Act . We are grateful to Representative Deluzio, Senator Padilla, and other members of Congress for their work to keep our elections safe for everyone involved in the process. This legislation would bolster federal protections that empower voters, election officials, and election workers to seek legal recourse if they are intimidated. The bill would help protect our democracy by keeping intimidation and violence out of voting,” said Sean Morales-Doyle, Senior Director of the voting rights program, Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law. “Our ability to hold elected leaders accountable to the people depends on ensuring every voter can access the ballot free from intimidation or harassment, and that election workers can run those elections without interference. Defend The Vote Action Fund applauds Rep. Deluzio and Sen. Padilla for their leadership on this critical bill that protects voters’ rights to cast their ballots free from interference, while ensuring that poll workers and election officials can safely oversee and administer our elections,” said Defend the Vote Action Fund Executive Director Brian Lemek . “To fully realize our civil rights, we need stronger protections against intimidation to make sure that election officials can do their jobs without fear, and that no American is stopped from exercising their right to vote. The Freedom from Intimidation in Elections Act is one way we can defend our voting rights in the face of those who want to take power away from the people,” said Fair Elections Center’s President and CEO, Rebekah Caruthers. As Ranking Member of the Senate Rules Committee and California’s former Secretary of State and chief election officer, Senator Padilla has fought relentlessly to protect our elections and strengthen voting rights. Last week, Padilla led the Congressional response to the bombshell whistleblower report that DHS agents violated state laws as part of the “Unlawful Voter Initiative” and called for an immediate investigation into the agency’s misconduct. He also urged California’s Attorney General to investigate the effects these actions could have on Californians. Also last week, Padilla convened some of the country’s top labor leaders to discuss how to strengthen our democracy and mobilize against election interference. Last month, he led 27 of his Senate colleagues in demanding the Trump Administration stop its illegal voter roll purges before election day. Padilla also joined Schumer in launching the first-ever Senate Election Observer Program to protect the 2026 midterms and maintain election integrity nationwide and serves as part of the Senate Democrats’ Election Protection Task Force. In June, Padilla joined his colleagues in introducing the Protect Our Polls Act to protect the integrity of American elections from federal interference by armed military or federal law enforcement. Full text of the bill is available here . ###