Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ)
Ballot Box Protection Act
A Democratic bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is called the Ballot Box Protection Act. It updates the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The main goal is to stop people from destroying or damaging ballot boxes. It sets clear punishments for anyone who damages these official drop-off boxes. This helps make sure our elections run smoothly and safely.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Protects our votes: Section 2 makes it illegal to destroy or damage secured, clearly labeled ballot boxes used for Federal elections with the intent to harm a ballot. This is a positive step because it helps protect people's votes and keeps the voting process safe.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Severe criminal penalties: Section 2 punishes anyone who destroys or damages a ballot box, or conspires to do so, with fines up to $20,000 per box or per ballot destroyed, up to 20 years in prison, or both. This could be seen as a heavy burden if individuals are facing these steep fines and prison sentences, though it targets unlawful behavior.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
No significant interests or groups are affected by this bill.
- 10/29/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Nicole MalliotakisRepublican · New York