H7434AElections & Voting

Elections - Conduct of Election and Voting Equipment, and Supplies

This bill bans ICE officials from being within 200 feet of voting locations unless they are voting themselves.

Introduced31 Yea7 Nay0 Not voting

Population
Affected

Introduced Jan 30, 2026Committee House Judiciary

Plain-English Summary

This bill prohibits Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) employees, agents, or officials from coming within 200 feet of any polling location during early voting or on Election Day. The only exception to this rule is if the ICE employee or official is at the polling place to cast their own legal vote.

For younger readers

This bill stops people who work for ICE from standing close to places where people go to vote. ICE stands for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which is a federal government group that enforces immigration rules. Under this bill, these workers cannot come within 200 feet of a voting place during an election. The only time they are allowed to be that close is if they are going inside to vote for themselves.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups

ICE agentsVotersPoll workersImmigrantsElection officials

Impacted communities

All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

There is a high constitutional risk under the Supremacy Clause. States generally cannot regulate or prohibit federal agents from executing their lawful duties in public spaces. Banning federal ICE agents from approaching within 200 feet of a polling place likely infringes upon federal law enforcement jurisdiction and could be challenged as unconstitutional state interference with federal operations.

Estimated cost

None

Estimated revenue

None

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints

For Progressives

Protects marginalized communities, particularly immigrants, from intimidation and harassment when exercising their democratic rights or accompanying family members to vote.
Promotes broader civic engagement and voter turnout by ensuring polling places remain safe, welcoming spaces free from the threat of immigration enforcement actions.
Resists federal overreach by prioritizing the state's interest in maintaining secure and accessible local elections over federal immigration enforcement at polling sites.
Does not address the presence of other local or state law enforcement agencies at polling places, which can also intimidate minority and marginalized voters.
The 200-foot buffer zone may not be large enough to completely prevent voter intimidation, as ICE agents could still monitor or gather just outside this radius.
Enforcement of this rule may be practically difficult, as local election officials often lack the authority or resources to physically remove federal agents from the premises.

For Conservatives

Asserts state sovereignty by limiting the jurisdiction and physical presence of federal government agents within local community spaces.
Protects the personal freedom and privacy of all voters from unwarranted federal surveillance or interference while participating in elections.
Establishes clear, objective boundaries for federal law enforcement, ensuring they adhere to local parameters and do not disrupt local civic processes.
Hinders federal law enforcement's ability to apprehend individuals who have broken federal immigration laws if they use polling places as a sanctuary.
May be viewed as showing disrespect for the rule of law by actively obstructing federal agents from performing their sworn duties.
Could potentially make it easier for non-citizens to attempt to vote illegally if immigration enforcement is explicitly banned from monitoring polling sites.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

2 versions

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 6 additions

SECTION 1. Chapter 17-19 of the General Laws entitled "Conduct of Election and Voting Equipment, and Supplies" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 17-19-55. Voting interference. Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement employees, agents, or officials shall not enter or remain within two hundred feet (200') of any polling place at which voting is being conducted, including both early voting and election day voting, except when such Federal Immigration and Customs employee, agent or official is present to vote in compliance with all applicable law, rules and regulations.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.