S.Amdt. 6321

This amendment, titled the Protect Our Polls Act, aims to add new requirements and restrictions regarding the use of troops or armed men at polling places during general or special elections.

Purpose and Changes

The amendment proposes the following changes:

• Notification and Approval: It requires the head of the agency in charge of troops or armed men (including Federal law enforcement) to provide an unclassified report to the Senate Majority Leader, the Speaker of the House, and relevant committees at least 48 hours before sending them to a polling place to repel armed enemies. This report must include the number of troops, their responsibilities, supporting intelligence, locations, legal authorization, civilian interaction training, and justification for why state and local forces cannot handle the situation.

• Congressional Oversight: It mandates that the Secretary of Defense, Director of National Intelligence, and Director of the FBI provide a classified briefing to Congress if they are called to reconvene to consider such a deployment.

• Deployment Authorization: It stipulates that troops or armed men can only be authorized to repel armed enemies at polling places if Congress enacts a joint resolution prior to the deployment.

• Funding Restrictions: It amends the Civil Rights Act of 1960 to prohibit the use of funds for the armed forces or Executive agencies to order troops or armed men to access records or papers that election officers are required to preserve.

• Voting Rights: It clarifies that these rules do not stop members of the armed forces or Executive agency individuals from voting if they are otherwise qualified.

• Expiration: The act and its amendments are set to expire on January 20, 2029.