Reps. Lofgren, Whitesides Introduce Bill to Protect Elections from Intimidation Tactics and Inference

WASHINGTON D.C. - On Friday, Reps. Zoe Lofgren (CA-18) and George Whitesides (CA-27) introduced the Stop Harassment and Intimidations in Elections through Legal Defenses (SHIELD) Our Elections Act, legislation designed to empower state attorney generals and voters to protect against illegal election interference from federal officials, extend the statute of limitations for federal election crimes, and prevent unlawful ballot seizures. The SHIELD Our Elections Act has a senate companion bill(link is external) led by Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA).

The SHIELD Our Elections Act comes as President Trump escalates his rhetoric in the leadup to the 2026 midterm elections, threatening(link is external) to nationalize voting and claiming widespread fraud(link is external) in voter rolls. The President has also continued to repeat unsubstantiated claims(link is external) of fraud and meddling in the 2020 election, an effort to undermine voter confidence in the democratic process. This legislation also comes on the heels of attacks on California's elections, including ballot seizures(link is external) in Riverside County and an ongoing effort(link is external) to stop the state from counting up to 20,000 California ballots.

"Trump is terrified of facing accountability from America's voters who have suffered from his policies, so he's been trying to once again sow chaos and confusion," said Rep. Lofgren. "We need to protect ballots from being improperly seized like we saw in Fulton County and Riverside County. As a former Chair of the House Administration Committee, which oversees federal elections, I'm proud to co-lead this bill with Rep. Whitesides that will defend the integrity of our elections and strengthen accountability for those who commit federal election crimes."

"Every eligible American should be able to cast their ballot without fear of intimidation or political interference," said Rep. Whitesides. "Our elections belong to the people, not politicians looking to hold onto power. We need clear protections that safeguard ballots, hold anyone who breaks the law accountable, and give voters confidence that their voices will be heard. I'm proud to work with Rep. Lofgren and Senator Padilla to protect our democracy and uphold the right to vote."

Specifically, the SHIELD Our Elections Act:

• Allows State Attorneys General and impacted voters to sue when federal officials unlawfully interfere with or intimidate them at polling places.
• Strengthens accountability by extending the statute of limitations from five to nine years for key federal election crimes, including interference by armed forces and voter intimidation, to enable them to be brought by future administrations for past actions.
• Protects ballots from improper seizure by limiting when state or federal law enforcement may seize ballots or election equipment and requiring court-authorized election officials to maintain joint custody whenever materials must be seized, especially prior to the resolution of an election.