United States 117th Congress Status: In Committee 8 D cosponsors

S 4977 — Vote Without Fear Act

Last action — Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 117th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

Vote Without Fear Act This bill establishes new federal criminal offenses for possessing a firearm or causing a firearm to be present in or within 100 yards of a federal election site.

Bill Text

How this bill changes current law

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AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

The bill establishes a prohibition on unauthorized firearm possession at Federal election sites, including specific penalties for violations.

  • 18 U.S.C. Chapter 44

    Sec. 935. Prohibition on unauthorized firearm possession at a Federal election site...

    This adds a new section to prohibit firearm possession at Federal election sites.

  • 18 U.S.C. Chapter 44

    (b) Possession of Firearm Near Federal Election Site.--(1) Offense.--(A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph (B), it shall be unlawful for an individual to knowingly possess or cause to be present a firearm in, or within 100 yards of an entrance to, a place that the individual knows, or has reasonable cause to believe, is a Federal election site.

    This makes it unlawful to possess a firearm near Federal election sites.

  • 18 U.S.C. Chapter 44

    (c) Possession of Firearm Near Federal Election Site With Intent for Use in Crime.--(1) Offense.--It shall be unlawful for an individual, with intent that a firearm be used in the commission of a crime, to knowingly possess or cause to be present the firearm in, or within 100 yards of an entrance to, a place that the individual knows, or has reasonable cause to believe, is a Federal election site.

    This creates an offense for possessing a firearm near a Federal election site with criminal intent.

  • 18 U.S.C. Chapter 44

    (d) Homicide.--An individual who kills any other individual in the course of a violation of subsection (b) or (c), or in the course of an attack on a Federal election site involving the use of a firearm, or attempts or conspires to do so, shall be punished as provided in--(1) section 1111, in the case of murder (as defined in that section); (2) section 1112, in the case of manslaughter (as defined in that section); (3) section 1113, in the case of attempt to commit murder or manslaughter (as those terms are so defined); or (4) section 1117, in the case of conspiracy to commit murder (as so defined).

    This specifies penalties for homicide related to violations at Federal election sites.

  • 18 U.S.C. Chapter 44

    (2) Penalty.--Any individual who violates paragraph (1), or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both.

    This establishes penalties for violating the firearm possession prohibition.

  • 18 U.S.C. Chapter 44

    (2) Penalty.--Any individual who violates paragraph (1), or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.

    This establishes more severe penalties for possessing a firearm near a Federal election site with intent to commit a crime.

  • 18 U.S.C. Chapter 44

    935. Prohibition on unauthorized firearm possession at a Federal election site.

    This adds a reference to the new prohibition in the section table for organization.

Action History

  1. Introduced in Senate

  2. Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 7 co-sponsors · 539 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (7)

Not signed on (539)

539 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

civil-rights elections
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does S 4977 do?
Vote Without Fear Act This bill establishes new federal criminal offenses for possessing a firearm or causing a firearm to be present in or within 100 yards of a federal election site.
Who sponsors S 4977?
S 4977 is sponsored by Blumenthal, Richard (Democratic), Casey, Robert P., Jr. (Democratic), Feinstein, Dianne (Democratic), Gillibrand, Kirsten E. (Democratic), Markey, Edward J. (Democratic), Shaheen, Jeanne (Democratic), Warren, Elizabeth (Democratic), and Murphy, Christopher (Democratic).
What is the current status of S 4977?
This bill died with 117th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track S 4977?
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Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

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