H.R. 9306House119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

Hands Off Elections Act of 2026

AI-Generated Summary

Updated June 18, 2026 at 4:19 PM UTC

The Hands Off Elections Act of 2026 seeks to keep federal workers out of the day‑to‑day running of elections for federal offices, unless a specific law already allows them to be involved. It gives state law‑enforcement leaders the ability to sue for an injunction if a federal employee breaks the rule, while still permitting those employees to help with cybersecurity. The rule applies to all executive agencies except the Postal Service.

Key Provisions

Federal employees of executive agencies (except the Postal Service) may not take part in, or tell others to take part in, the administration of elections for federal offices unless they are specifically authorized by existing election laws such as the Help America Vote Act, the National Voter Registration Act, the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, or the relevant military voting statute.
A state's chief law‑enforcement officer may file a civil lawsuit in federal court to obtain an injunction against any federal employee who violates this prohibition.
The ban does not stop a federal employee from providing cybersecurity assistance to protect voting systems.
The definition of “executive agency” follows the standard legal definition but specifically excludes the United States Postal Service.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Oversight and Government Reform Committee

June 11, 2026

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

June 11, 2026

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Oversight and Government Reform Committee

June 11, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued June 11, 2026

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 9306

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 11, 2026

Ms. Tokuda (for herself, Ms. Bynum, Ms. Tlaib, Ms. Craig, Mrs. Watson Coleman, and Ms. Randall) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

A BILL

To prohibit Federal employees from intervening in election administration.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Hands Off Elections Act of 2026.

Prohibition on Federal employees intervening in election administration

(a)

Prohibition

An employee of a Executive agency may not participate or direct another employee to participate in the administration of an election for Federal office unless such employee—

(1)

is authorized to participate in the administration pursuant to Federal law, including pursuant to—

(A)

the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 20901 et seq.);

(B)

the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20501 et seq.);

(C)

the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20301 et seq.); and

(D)

section 1566 of title 10, United States Code; or

(2)

does not participate in the administration in their capacity as an employee of a Executive agency.

(b)

Enforcement

The chief law enforcement officer of a State may bring a civil action in the appropriate district court of the United States for injunctive relief for a violation of subsection (a).

(c)

Rule of construction

Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent a Federal employee from assisting with cybersecurity measures to preserve the integrity of voting systems.

(d)

Executive agency defined

In this section, the term Executive agency shall have the meaning given such term in section 105 of title 5, United States Code, but shall not include the United States Postal Service.