Safe Access to the Polls Act
Restricts federal funds for deploying certain on-duty or uniformed personnel near election sites or along routes to them.
In the Senate Rules and Administration Committee since Sept. 23, 2026, 12 days after it was introduced. Most bills never leave committee.
- INTRODUCEDINTROSEP 23, 2026
- COMMITTEECOMM.IN COMMITTEE
- SENATESENATE—
- HOUSEHOUSE—
- LAWLAW—
What the bill would do, and why it matters
Eligible voters need to be able to reach their assigned voting locations. The Safe Access to the Polls Act would restrict federal funds from being used to deploy certain on-duty or uniformed federal personnel near election sites, at checkpoints along routes there, or to interfere with voter access.
- INTRODUCED ONLY This bill has been introduced and possibly referred to a committee, but it has not passed any vote. Most introduced bills never become law — they die in committee without a hearing.
- DATA NOTE No Congressional Research Service summary was available.
- Restricts federal deployments near elections
During any voting period, the bill would bar federal funds from being used to deploy on-duty or uniformed Immigration and Customs Enforcement or Customs and Border Protection officers, or National Guard members, within one-quarter mile of an election location. It would also bar using federal funds for those deployments to set up checkpoints along routes to an election location or to interfere with eligible voters’ access.
The practical difference would be a federal funding restriction on certain uniformed or on-duty federal personnel near election locations during voting periods. The bill’s stated focus is keeping eligible voters’ routes to their assigned voting locations accessible.
Written from the bill text.
The path it took, step by step
- IntroducedSEP 23, 2026SENATESEP 23, 2026By Sen. Baldwin with 1 original cosponsorReferred to Rules and Administration
- SAME DAYNOWSenate committeeSEP 23, 2026RULES & ADMINISTRATION NOWSEP 23, 2026In committee for 12 daysNo hearing yet
- 12 DAYS SO FARPassed the Senate—SENATE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- House committee—HOUSE—
- Passed the House—HOUSE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- Resolve differencesONLY IF NEEDEDBOTH CHAMBERSONLY IF NEEDEDSkipped if the other chamber passes the same text
- Signed into law—PRESIDENT—10 days to sign or veto
- SEP 232026SEP 23, 2026REFERREDRead twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
- SEP 232026SEP 23, 2026INTRODUCEDSENATEIntroduced in Senate
At day 12, this bill is already older than 3% of the laws passed this Congress were when they were signed.
Where your members stand on it
Support from one state
Plus the sponsor, a Democrat. Every cosponsor is from one party.
Plus the sponsor, a Democrat. Every cosponsor is from one party.
Sen. Baldwin’s record: sponsored 56 bills this Congress. 2 passed the Senate; 0 became law.
- Andy KimD-NJORIGINAL
Coverage at a glance
Outlets that covered this bill, by their lean; 2 more are not rated.
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