This bill is called the Democracy Without Intimidation Act. It removes a phrase from 18 U.S.C. 592 that had allowed troops to be used in certain situations at voting locations. It changes a prosecution statute to require U.S. attorneys, marshals, and related officers to prosecute violations of several criminal sections, and it says those prosecutions are to be done at the expense of the United States. It directs courts to increase the number of U.S. magistrate judges so arrests and hearings for these offenses can be handled more quickly, and it gives those magistrates the power to appoint people to execute warrants and to summon bystanders, militia, or military forces if needed. The bill creates a private civil right for an individual harmed by a violation of section 592 to sue certain covered federal law enforcement officials for an injunction. That private action may be appealed directly to the Supreme Court within 10 days, and the bill requires expedited consideration.
If enacted, the bill would remove an earlier exception that could allow troops in or near polling places by changing section 592. It would require federal prosecutors and related officers to bring criminal cases for violations listed in the bill. Courts would be instructed to add more magistrate judges and those magistrates would have expanded powers to appoint people to carry out warrants. Individuals who say they were harmed by a violation of the updated section 592 could file a civil lawsuit seeking an injunction against certain senior federal law enforcement officials or political appointees, with a fast appeal path to the Supreme Court.
No publicly available information on overall cost estimates. The bill text states prosecutions under the referenced statute are to be carried out "at the expense of the United States." The bill also directs courts to increase the number of magistrate judges, but it does not provide budget or cost figures.
The bill's short title and its text state the purpose is to prohibit troops at polling places and to strengthen enforcement and remedies related to that prohibition. Sponsors introduced the bill to remove an exception in section 592 and to add prosecution, judicial, and civil enforcement mechanisms described above.
No publicly available information on specific objections or opposition in the provided bill text and metadata.