H.R. 2803 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the House, sent to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned, Apr 9, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryStrengthens protections for election records and equipment
This bill tightens rules around how election officials store and protect voting records and equipment. It requires them to keep electronic records and equipment for 22 months after federal elections, and directs a federal cybersecurity agency to set standards for how that happens. The bill also increases criminal penalties for people who destroy, hide, or damage election records, and adds protections against intimidating people who work with ballots or count votes.
How it affects you
Election officials and poll workers would face clearer rules and better protections against interference with their work. The Department of Justice would have stronger tools to inspect records and equipment and enforce compliance. If you work in election administration, you'd have federal standards guiding how you preserve and secure voting materials.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, Apr 9, 2025)
Protecting Election Administration from Interference Act of 2025
This bill revises preservation and retention requirements for federal election records. It also revises criminal penalties related to election records and the voting process.
Under current law, election officials must, for a period of 22 months from the federal election, retain and preserve all election-related records and papers. This bill extends the requirement to electronic records and election equipment.
Next, the bill directs the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to issue minimum standards and best practices for retaining and preserving records (including electronic records), papers, and election equipment, including protocols for observing their preservation, security, and transfer by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and a representative of each political party.
In addition, the bill revises the federal criminal offense related to election records or papers to include reckless disregard of election record requirements resulting in the theft, destruction, concealment, mutilation, or alteration of a record, paper, or election equipment.
Further, the bill allows DOJ to demand electronic records and election equipment be made available for inspection and generally prohibits DOJ from disclosing this information.
The bill allows DOJ and candidates for federal office to bring an action in a district court to compel compliance with election record requirements.
Finally, the bill extends criminal penalties related to voting interference to include intimidating, threatening, or coercing (or attempting to do so) an individual for processing or scanning ballots, tabulating, canvassing, or certifying voting results.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH. R. 2803
A BILL
Protecting Election Administration from Interference Act of 2025
Sponsor: Rep. Marc A. Veasey (D-TX-33) · Introduced Apr 9, 2025 · Government Operations and Politics · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Apr 9, 2025: “Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.”