Summary#
This bill, the "Vote Without Fear Act," would make it a federal crime to knowingly have a firearm at, or within 100 yards of, a building where federal election activities are taking place, unless an exception applies. The main change is a new federal offense with penalties for unauthorized firearm possession near Federal election sites. The stated policy goal is to reduce the presence of firearms where Federal votes are cast, processed, or counted.
- Main change: Adds a new section to federal law banning unauthorized possession of a firearm in, or within 100 yards of an entrance to, a "Federal election site" (a building where election officials run a polling place or count/process ballots for a Federal election).
- Penalties: Up to 1 year in prison (or a fine or both) for general violations; up to 5 years if the person intends to use the firearm in a crime. Homicide during such an offense is punished under existing murder or manslaughter laws.
- Exceptions: Law enforcement on duty; private security hired by the building owner or manager and authorized to carry; firearms kept in a vehicle if not removed or brandished while within 100 yards; lawful possession in a residence, business, or private property within 100 yards.
- Timing: Introduced March 17, 2026, and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
What it means for you#
- Voters and people at polling places: Polling places inside buildings would generally have a 100-yard no-firearm zone for people who are not covered by the exceptions. This could reduce the visible presence of guns near entrances.
- Election workers and ballot counters: The law targets buildings where they work and could add a federal layer of protection around places where ballots are processed or counted.
- People who carry firearms: If you know, or have reasonable cause to believe, you are at a Federal election site, you must not knowingly bring a firearm into the building or within 100 yards of an entrance unless an exception applies. Carrying a firearm inside a parked vehicle within 100 yards is allowed only if you do not remove or brandish it. Lawful possession on private property or in a residence or business within 100 yards is also excluded.
- Law enforcement and private security: On-duty law enforcement and authorized private security hired by the building owner are exempt.
- Building owners or managers: If you hire private security who are authorized to carry, those guards are exempt. Owners should be aware that their security arrangements can affect who may lawfully carry on the premises.
- Local governments and election officials: This creates a federal rule that applies to Federal election sites. It does not detail how it interacts with state or local laws about firearms or local enforcement practices.
Expenses#
No publicly available information.
- The bill text and supplied material do not include a fiscal note or cost estimate.
- It is reasonable to expect some enforcement and prosecution costs for federal agencies and courts if the law is used, but no estimates are provided.
- Potential compliance or training costs for election officials, building managers, or security firms are not estimated in the available material.
Proponents' View#
The bill text does not include statements from supporters. Based on the law’s design, possible arguments for it are:
- The bill appears intended to reduce the presence of firearms where Federal votes are cast, processed, and counted.
- This could be seen as protecting voters and election workers from intimidation or violence near polling places and ballot-counting locations.
- A federal rule can provide a uniform baseline of protection around sites linked to Federal elections, regardless of varying local rules.
Opponents' View#
The bill text does not include statements from opponents. Based on the language of the bill, possible concerns or questions include:
- One concern is how the federal rule will interact with state concealed-carry and firearm-possession laws. The bill does not explain whether it supersedes or works alongside state rules.
- The phrase “reasonable cause to believe” could raise questions about how officers decide whether someone knew they were near a Federal election site. That may lead to disputes over intent or knowledge.
- It is unclear how the law applies to outdoor or temporary polling places that are not inside a building, because the definition focuses on a building or part of a building.
- The bill does not specify which federal agency will handle enforcement or how enforcement will be coordinated with local law enforcement and election officials.
- There is no public cost estimate in the materials provided, so the potential budgetary impact on federal law enforcement and the courts is unknown.