Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)
Safe Access to the Polls Act
A Democratic bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
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 Safe Access to the Polls Act. It stops the government from using Federal funds to send certain workers to voting places. Specifically, it bans the deployment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, Customs and Border Protection officers, and National Guard members who are on duty or in uniform. These workers cannot be sent within a quarter mile of an election location during any voting period. They also cannot set up checkpoints on routes to these locations or interfere with eligible voters trying to access their assigned voting spots.
Yes· 3 of 10
- Scored +8
Would immigrants be better off under this?
Prohibiting ICE and CBP personnel near polling locations ensures immigrant communities can participate in elections without fear of immigration enforcement.
- Scored +8
Does this protect the right to vote?
The bill directly protects the right to vote by preventing armed federal agents and National Guard members from operating near polling locations.
- Scored +8
Does this make casting a ballot easier in practice?
Section 2 explicitly prohibits setting up checkpoints on routes to polls or interfering with voters, making casting a ballot easier and safer in practice.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Under Section 2, Federal funds cannot be used to deploy Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, Customs and Border Protection officers, or National Guard members within a quarter mile of an election location during a voting period. This is positive because it helps keep uniformed armed personnel away from places where people are trying to cast their votes.
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Under Section 2(2), these same workers are prohibited from setting up checkpoints along any route to an election location. This is positive because it ensures voters can travel to their polling places without facing government checkpoints on their way.
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Under Section 2(3), these workers are banned from interfering in any way with an eligible voter's ability to access their assigned voting location. This is positive because it protects the right of citizens to get to their polling places freely and without obstruction.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
Based on the provided text, there are no specific sections or provisions identified that create negative consequences or burdens for individuals or groups of people in the United States.
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.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would immigrants be better off under this? — Prohibiting ICE and CBP personnel near polling locations ensures immigrant communities can participate in elections without fear of immigration enforcement. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — Prevents ICE and CBP agents from operating near polling places, which significantly reduces fear of enforcement actions among Hispanic communities during elections. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — Protects Black voters from potential intimidation or interference near polling locations. Would Asian Americans be better off under this? — Safeguards Asian American voters from potential hindrance or surveillance near voting sites.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this make casting a ballot easier in practice? — Section 2 explicitly prohibits setting up checkpoints on routes to polls or interfering with voters, making casting a ballot easier and safer in practice. Does this protect the right to vote? — The bill directly protects the right to vote by preventing armed federal agents and National Guard members from operating near polling locations. Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — By prohibiting the deployment of immigration and border enforcement personnel near polling places, the bill helps protect minority communities from voter intimidation.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make elections run better? — The bill ensures a more secure and accessible electoral process by keeping armed federal and military personnel away from polling stations. Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts? — By banning checkpoints and interference on routes to polling places, it protects citizens from unwarranted stops while exercising their civic duties. Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — It clearly restricts the use of federal funds for deploying specific security personnel near elections, establishing clear boundaries.
- 9/23/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
Andy KimDemocrat · New Jersey