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Ballot Box Protection: Stricter Penalties for Damaging Votes

This new law introduces severe penalties for destroying or damaging ballot boxes, including drop-off boxes. Its aim is to protect the integrity of the election process and ensure every vote cast is securely counted. Citizens can feel more confident that their votes are safeguarded against deliberate destruction.
Key points
Imposes financial penalties of up to $20,000 and imprisonment of up to 20 years for destroying or damaging a ballot box.
Penalties are higher if voted ballots are damaged or destroyed as a result of the act.
The act also penalizes conspiring to destroy ballot boxes, aiming to prevent organized efforts.
The goal is to enhance the security of the voting process and protect every vote cast.
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Status:
Expired
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Additional Information
Print number: 118_HR_10154
Sponsor: Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
Process start date: 2024-11-18
System Note: Lustra is free, publicly auditable civic infrastructure, with full source code available on GitHub. You are reading sterilized legislative data, processed by our radical neutrality engine to strip political spin and retain factual mechanics. We process only official government data. Original documents remain the authoritative source, always verify them if you can.
Summarized by: gemini-2.5-flash-preview-05-20
Source data: api.congress.gov
AI work logs for this document launch

OFFICIAL LEGAL TITLE

Ballot Box Protection Act

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the official ID of this bill?

The official print number for this legislation is 118_HR_10154.

Which chamber initiated this legislation?

This legislation was initiated in the House of Representatives.

When did the legislative process begin?

The process officially started on 2024-11-18.

What are the main provisions?

Key points include:

  • Imposes financial penalties of up to $20,000 and imprisonment of up to 20 years for destroying or damaging a ballot box.
  • Penalties are higher if voted ballots are damaged or destroyed as a result of the act.
  • The act also penalizes conspiring to destroy ballot boxes, aiming to prevent organized efforts.
  • The goal is to enhance the security of the voting process and protect every vote cast.
What is the specific legal status?

The current status is Expired.

Where can I read the full text of this legislation?

The full official text is available at: View full text

Who is the primary sponsor?

The primary sponsor is Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5].

What is the latest detailed status?

The latest detailed status is: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Is this summary verified?

Yes. This content was analyzed by AI and verified by the Lustra Judge System on 2025-12-24.

What is the impact of this bill?

We don't know, that is up to you to decide. Summarizing raw data with AI is fundamentally different from predicting socio-economic outcomes. As of 2026, we believe impact assessment strictly requires a human in the loop to verify and judge.

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Courts and Law