New House Bills Target Threats to Election Workers and Damage to Ballot Boxes
WASHINGTON — Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., introduced two House bills Oct. 29 concerning the physical security of election administration.
H.R. 10926 is titled, “To protect election workers and polling places.” H.R. 10927 is titled, “To amend the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to prohibit destroying or damaging ballot boxes, and for other purposes.” Gottheimer introduced the first measure with Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., and the second with Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y. PUBLIC BILLS AND RESOLUTIONSHouse · 2026-10-29View source
The bills were introduced in the House and referred to the House Judiciary Committee the same day. The listed Republican cosponsors give each proposal bipartisan sponsorship at introduction. Election Worker and Polling Place Protection ActHR 10926 · REFERREDView source To amend the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to prohibit destroying or damaging ballot boxes, and for other purposes.HR 10927 · REFERREDView source
The proposals matter because their stated subjects concern the people and locations involved in running elections, as well as ballot boxes. Based on the available titles and introduction records, they are not proposals to change voter eligibility rules or the procedures for counting ballots.
What remains unknown
The Congressional Record provides the measures’ titles, sponsors and committee referral. It also contains constitutional-authority statements citing Article I, Section 8 for each bill. Constitutional Authority Statement for H.R. 10926House · 2026-10-29View source Constitutional Authority Statement for H.R. 10927House · 2026-10-29View source
But the official bill records reviewed contain no imported text versions, CRS summaries or recorded votes. The records list only introduction and referral actions. That means the available material does not establish the bills’ definitions, enforcement methods, penalties, funding, implementation duties or relationship to other laws. Election Worker and Polling Place Protection ActHR 10926 · REFERREDView source To amend the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to prohibit destroying or damaging ballot boxes, and for other purposes.HR 10927 · REFERREDView source
Those unanswered details would shape the debate. Supporters may emphasize safety for election workers and protection of voting infrastructure. Civil-liberties, election-administration and state-local governance experts may examine how broadly any federal rules would apply, whether enforcement standards are clear, how the proposals would fit with existing laws and what implementation could cost election offices. The available records do not report positions from those groups.
What comes next
The Judiciary Committee would need to consider either bill before it could move through the ordinary House process. Possible committee steps include a hearing, changes to the proposal and a vote on whether to send it to the full House. Referral alone does not ensure a hearing, a House vote or enactment.