Voter Intimidation

What Is Voter Intimidation

Voter intimidation is conduct meant to scare, pressure, or stop someone from voting, or to punish them for it. It is illegal under federal law, whether it comes from a stranger in the parking lot, a campaign robocall, or a government official. It does not have to involve violence: a false warning about arrest, deportation, debt, or surveillance can be intimidation too.

What Counts as Voter Intimidation

You do not need to prove a crime before asking for help. Most activity at a polling place is lawful, and the rest depends on the facts and your state’s rules. Find what you are seeing below, and follow the step under “What to do.”

If you are unsure which row fits, report it. Trained Election Protection volunteers sort the rest.

What to Do If You See Voter Intimidation

The safest response is almost always the same: do not confront anyone, get to a poll worker, and report it. Start with the first question below. This guide is general information, not legal advice, and state rules vary.

Find your situation

Tap the situation closest to what you see.

Someone is in immediate danger

1. Call 911. Move yourself and others away if you can do it safely.
2. When everyone is safe, tell a poll worker and report it to 866-OUR-VOTE so it is on the record.

Physical threats and weapons used against voters are crimes under state and federal law.

Someone is blocking, following, or shouting at voters

1. Keep your distance and do not argue. Your safety comes first.
2. Tell a poll worker or the precinct judge right away. They can call for help.
3. Call or text 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683) to report it.
4. Write down what you saw: time, place, what was said, and a description of the people involved.

Blocking or threatening voters violates Section 11(b) of the Voting Rights Act, whoever does it.

An armed person is near the entrance or the line

1. Do not approach them. Move away and go inside if you can do so safely.
2. Tell a poll worker, and check the rule for your state in the lookup below: 16 states and D.C. ban guns at polling places outright.
3. Report it to 866-OUR-VOTE and your county election office. Call 911 if anyone is threatened.

Even where carrying a gun is legal, using it to frighten voters is not.

Someone is filming voters or photographing license plates

1. You do not have to answer questions or stop to be recorded. Keep walking.
2. Tell a poll worker, who can enforce the no-campaigning zone around the entrance.
3. Note the time, place, and a description, and report it to 866-OUR-VOTE.

A federal court in Arizona barred filming and following voters near drop boxes in 2022 as intimidation.

Someone challenges whether I am allowed to vote

1. Stay calm. A challenge is decided by election officials, not by the person challenging you.
2. Ask a poll worker what the state process is, and bring ID if your state accepts it.
3. If officials still question your eligibility, you have a federal right to cast a provisional ballot.
4. Call 866-OUR-VOTE before you leave if you are unsure what to do.

The Help America Vote Act guarantees a provisional ballot to any voter who says they are eligible when an official questions it.

I see police or federal agents near the polling place

1. Their presence alone does not mean you cannot vote. If you are eligible, go vote.
2. If officers are questioning, following, or blocking voters, tell a poll worker and report it to 866-OUR-VOTE.
3. Write down the time, place, agency markings, and what they did.

Federal law bars any federal officer from bringing "troops or armed men" to a polling place (18 U.S.C. 592).

General information, not legal advice.

You can also report to the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division through its online complaint form or by phone at 1-855-856-1247. Rules on taking photos inside polling places vary by state, so document what you can from outside the building.

Need help at the polls? Call or text 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683). If anyone is in danger, call 911.

Polling Place Rules in Your State

Federal law protects every voter the same way: nobody may threaten, coerce, or intimidate you for voting. State law sets most of the rules you will see at the polls, including whether guns are allowed and how far back campaigners have to stand. That split is why the answer to “is this allowed?” often depends on where you vote.

16

9

25

• Full ban on guns at polling places (16 states) D.C. also bans them
• Ban with exceptions (9 states) Exempts open or concealed carry, or covers only some people
• No clear statewide ban (25 states)

Source: Movement Advancement Project, Bans on Guns in Polling Places, accessed September 22, 2026.

By population, 57% of eligible voters live in a state with a full ban, 14% in a state with a partial ban, and 29% in a state with no clear ban (Movement Advancement Project). “No clear ban” does not mean guns are welcome at every polling place: a school, courthouse, or city hall used for voting can carry its own restriction.

Check the rules where you vote

Choose your state to see two rules that shape what you can see at the polls: guns and the no-campaigning zone. Your polling place may have stricter building rules, so confirm with your local election office before you go.

Choose your state to see its rules Select a state AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming

A quick reference, not legal advice. Rules for police and poll watchers vary too much by state for a single label to be reliable, so use the links to check yours. If something at the polls feels threatening, report it even if the rule is unclear.

Guns at polling placesNo-campaigning zone

Guns at polling places

• Banned (16 states + DC)
• Banned with exceptions (9 states)
• No clear statewide ban (25 states)

Sources: Movement Advancement Project, Bans on Guns in Polling Places (map accessed September 22, 2026; state citations); NCSL, Electioneering Prohibitions (updated September 1, 2026). Verified September 23, 2026.

Guns at polling places

State	Guns at polling places	No-campaigning zone
Alabama	No clear statewide ban	Within 30 feet of the door of a polling place
Alaska	No clear statewide ban	Within 200 feet of entrance to a polling place
Arizona	Banned at polling places	Within 75 feet of polling place or entrance to early voting site
Arkansas	No clear statewide ban	Within 100 feet of exterior entrance
California	Banned at polling places	Within 100 feet of polling place
Colorado	Banned at polling places	Within 100 feet of any building where a polling place
Connecticut	Banned with exceptions	Within 75 feet of the outside entrance to a polling place
Delaware	Banned at polling places	Within 50 feet of entrance of building in which the voting
District of Columbia	Banned at polling places	Within 50 feet of the entrance and exit of a polling place
Florida	Banned at polling places	Within 150 feet of the entrance to a polling place
Georgia	Banned at polling places	Within 150 feet of the outer edge of the building
Hawaii	Banned at polling places	Within 200 feet of the perimeter of any voter service center
Idaho	No clear statewide ban	Within 250 feet of a building where an election is being held
Illinois	Banned with exceptions	Within 100 feet of any polling place
Indiana	No clear statewide ban	Within the polls or the chute (a 50 ft pathway from the entrance to the polls)
Iowa	No clear statewide ban	Within 300 feet of the outside door of the building
Kansas	No clear statewide ban	Within 250 feet of the entrance of a polling place
Kentucky	No clear statewide ban	Within 100 feet of the entrance to a polling place
Louisiana	Banned at polling places	Within 600 feet of polling place
Maine	No clear statewide ban	Within 250 feet of the entrance to the building
Maryland	Banned at polling places	Within 100 feet of the entrance and exit
Massachusetts	Banned at polling places	Within 150 feet of the building entrance
Michigan	Banned with exceptions	Within 100 feet of the entrance
Minnesota	No clear statewide ban	Within 100 feet of the building where the polling place is
Mississippi	Banned with exceptions	Within 150 feet of any entrance to a building
Missouri	Banned with exceptions	Within 50 feet of the building's outer door
Montana	No clear statewide ban	Within 100 feet of any entrance
Nebraska	Banned with exceptions	Within 200 feet of polling place
Nevada	No clear statewide ban	Within 100 feet of the entrance
New Hampshire	No clear statewide ban	No-electioneering corridors at least 10 ft wide extending from all entrances a reasonable distance along sidewalks
New Jersey	Banned at polling places	Within 100 feet of the polling place
New Mexico	Banned with exceptions	Within 100 feet of the building where the polling place is
New York	Banned at polling places	Within 100 feet of entrances to a building
North Carolina	No clear statewide ban	Set by county board: not less than 25 ft nor more than 50 ft from the door of entrance
North Dakota	No clear statewide ban	Within 100 feet of the entrance
Ohio	Banned with exceptions	Area between the polling place and small U.S. flags placed on walkways leading to it
Oklahoma	No clear statewide ban	Within 300 feet of the entrance
Oregon	No clear statewide ban	100 ft measured radially from the entrance
Pennsylvania	No clear statewide ban	Within 10 feet of the polling place
Rhode Island	No clear statewide ban	Within 50 feet of the entrance
South Carolina	Banned at polling places	Within 500 feet of any entrance used by voters
South Dakota	No clear statewide ban	Within 100 feet of any entrance
Tennessee	No clear statewide ban	Within 100 feet of the designated entrance
Texas	Banned at polling places	Within 100 feet of an outside door
Utah	No clear statewide ban	Within 150 feet of the building
Vermont	Banned at polling places	On the walks and driveways leading to a building with a polling place
Virginia	Banned at polling places	Within 40 feet of the entrance of a polling place
Washington	Banned with exceptions	Within 100 feet of the entrance
West Virginia	No clear statewide ban	Within 100 feet of the outside entrance
Wisconsin	No clear statewide ban	Within 100 feet of an entrance to a building
Wyoming	No clear statewide ban	Within 100 yards of any public entrance

See all states in a table

All states Banned (16 states + DC)Banned with exceptions (9 states)No clear statewide ban (25 states) Showing 51 of 51 states

State	Guns at polling places	No-campaigning zone
Alabama	No clear statewide ban	Within 30 feet of the door of a polling place
Alaska	No clear statewide ban	Within 200 feet of entrance to a polling place
Arizona	Banned at polling places	Within 75 feet of polling place or entrance to early voting site
Arkansas	No clear statewide ban	Within 100 feet of exterior entrance
California	Banned at polling places	Within 100 feet of polling place
Colorado	Banned at polling places	Within 100 feet of any building where a polling place
Connecticut	Banned with exceptions	Within 75 feet of the outside entrance to a polling place
Delaware	Banned at polling places	Within 50 feet of entrance of building in which the voting
District of Columbia	Banned at polling places	Within 50 feet of the entrance and exit of a polling place
Florida	Banned at polling places	Within 150 feet of the entrance to a polling place
Georgia	Banned at polling places	Within 150 feet of the outer edge of the building
Hawaii	Banned at polling places	Within 200 feet of the perimeter of any voter service center
Idaho	No clear statewide ban	Within 250 feet of a building where an election is being held
Illinois	Banned with exceptions	Within 100 feet of any polling place
Indiana	No clear statewide ban	Within the polls or the chute (a 50 ft pathway from the entrance to the polls)
Iowa	No clear statewide ban	Within 300 feet of the outside door of the building
Kansas	No clear statewide ban	Within 250 feet of the entrance of a polling place
Kentucky	No clear statewide ban	Within 100 feet of the entrance to a polling place
Louisiana	Banned at polling places	Within 600 feet of polling place
Maine	No clear statewide ban	Within 250 feet of the entrance to the building
Maryland	Banned at polling places	Within 100 feet of the entrance and exit
Massachusetts	Banned at polling places	Within 150 feet of the building entrance
Michigan	Banned with exceptions	Within 100 feet of the entrance
Minnesota	No clear statewide ban	Within 100 feet of the building where the polling place is
Mississippi	Banned with exceptions	Within 150 feet of any entrance to a building
Missouri	Banned with exceptions	Within 50 feet of the building's outer door
Montana	No clear statewide ban	Within 100 feet of any entrance
Nebraska	Banned with exceptions	Within 200 feet of polling place
Nevada	No clear statewide ban	Within 100 feet of the entrance
New Hampshire	No clear statewide ban	No-electioneering corridors at least 10 ft wide extending from all entrances a reasonable distance along sidewalks
New Jersey	Banned at polling places	Within 100 feet of the polling place
New Mexico	Banned with exceptions	Within 100 feet of the building where the polling place is
New York	Banned at polling places	Within 100 feet of entrances to a building
North Carolina	No clear statewide ban	Set by county board: not less than 25 ft nor more than 50 ft from the door of entrance
North Dakota	No clear statewide ban	Within 100 feet of the entrance
Ohio	Banned with exceptions	Area between the polling place and small U.S. flags placed on walkways leading to it
Oklahoma	No clear statewide ban	Within 300 feet of the entrance
Oregon	No clear statewide ban	100 ft measured radially from the entrance
Pennsylvania	No clear statewide ban	Within 10 feet of the polling place
Rhode Island	No clear statewide ban	Within 50 feet of the entrance
South Carolina	Banned at polling places	Within 500 feet of any entrance used by voters
South Dakota	No clear statewide ban	Within 100 feet of any entrance
Tennessee	No clear statewide ban	Within 100 feet of the designated entrance
Texas	Banned at polling places	Within 100 feet of an outside door
Utah	No clear statewide ban	Within 150 feet of the building
Vermont	Banned at polling places	On the walks and driveways leading to a building with a polling place
Virginia	Banned at polling places	Within 40 feet of the entrance of a polling place
Washington	Banned with exceptions	Within 100 feet of the entrance
West Virginia	No clear statewide ban	Within 100 feet of the outside entrance
Wisconsin	No clear statewide ban	Within 100 feet of an entrance to a building
Wyoming	No clear statewide ban	Within 100 yards of any public entrance

Sources: Movement Advancement Project, Bans on Guns in Polling Places (map accessed September 22, 2026; state citations); NCSL, Electioneering Prohibitions (updated September 1, 2026). Verified September 23, 2026.

What Voter Intimidation Looks Like

Voter intimidation is rarely a single dramatic scene, but when it is, the record shows how it happens and how it is handled. Both of these are documented by courts or credible reporting.

Neptune Beach, Florida, October 29, 2024. Police were called to the Beaches Branch Library early-voting site, where Caleb Williams, 18, had approached a 71-year-old woman with a machete raised over his head (NBC News). He was charged with voter intimidation and aggravated assault. Prosecutors later declined to pursue any charge, writing that his actions were “ill-advised” but did not “rise to the level of voter intimidation” (Action News Jax). Laws against intimidation only protect voters when someone enforces them.

Mesa, Arizona, October 2022. Two people in tactical gear, armed, stood watch at a Maricopa County ballot drop box. Others filmed voters, called them “mules,” and photographed their license plates. On November 1, 2022, a federal judge barred the monitoring group from filming or following voters within 75 feet of a drop box and from carrying guns or wearing body armor within 250 feet (League of Women Voters).

Most intimidation is quieter than either: a robocall, a false flyer, a person photographing license plates. In the Wohl case, about 85,000 robocalls falsely warned mail voters that police and debt collectors would track them, and a court found they broke the law without anyone setting foot at a polling place.

The threats reach the people who run elections, too. In the Brennan Center’s 2026 survey, 75% of local election officials said they had received no new state or local resources to replace federal election-security help that was cut (Brennan Center).

What Has Worked Against Voter Intimidation

Intimidation cases are hard to win, but voters have won them, and the protections are growing. The record shows three routes that work: a lawsuit, a court order with specific distances, and state laws that close the gaps federal law leaves.

Lawsuits under Section 11(b). In the Wohl robocall case, civil rights groups sued under the Voting Rights Act, and in March 2023 a federal judge ruled for them, holding that false threats about arrest and debt collection were illegal intimidation even though nobody was physically threatened (opinion text).

Court orders with distances. In Arizona in 2022, the League of Women Voters went to court during early voting. The judge ordered the drop-box monitors back 75 feet and barred guns and body armor within 250 feet, and two of the groups agreed to stop watching drop boxes entirely (League of Women Voters).

State laws. States have been adding limits on guns at the polls. At least six have acted recently: Washington and New Jersey in 2022, then Massachusetts, Michigan, New Mexico, and Vermont in 2024, according to the Movement Advancement Project’s state citations.

Federal Agents Near the Polls in 2026

The 2026 fight is new because the question is about the government itself. On September 1, 2026, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin told reporters in New York that “ICE isn’t there to patrol the polling places,” but said officers could be at a polling place if there is a threat there or they are serving a warrant on someone “that we have been actively tracking down” (NBC News). FBI Director Kash Patel would not rule out agents at polling places, saying they would “follow the law,” according to Government Executive. A Justice Department spokesperson said the department “has never said it would send federal law enforcement to polling locations.”

Two lawsuits followed within ten days, and neither has been decided.

1. Sep 1 DHS secretary says agents could enter polling places for warrants
2. Sep 10 LULAC, Common Cause, UnidosUS, and Denver sue DHS
3. Sep 18 NAACP and allies sue DHS, DOJ, and FBI under VRA 11(b)
4. Sep 23 No ruling in either case
5. Nov 3 Election Day

Sources: NBC News; Democracy Docket; Brennan Center.

The 2026 dispute over federal agents at polling places: Sep 1: DHS secretary says agents could enter polling places for warrants. Sep 10: LULAC, Common Cause, UnidosUS, and Denver sue DHS. Sep 18: NAACP and allies sue DHS, DOJ, and FBI under VRA 11(b). Sep 23: No ruling in either case. Nov 3: Election Day.

September 1: Secretary Mullin’s comments came after weeks of reporting on immigration enforcement in voters’ neighborhoods.

September 10: LULAC, Common Cause, UnidosUS, and the City and County of Denver sued the Department of Homeland Security, citing the federal ban on armed men at polling places (18 U.S.C. 592) and voter intimidation. They asked a court to keep armed agents away from polling places, drop boxes, and counting sites.

September 18: The NAACP, the National Urban League, Mi Familia en Acción, SEIU, the American Federation of Teachers, and other groups sued DHS, the Justice Department, and the FBI in federal court in Washington, D.C., under Section 11(b) (Brennan Center case page).

September 23: As of this update, neither court has ruled. Current status: unresolved.

November 3: Election Day. A ruling after Election Day cannot undo intimidation voters experienced on the way into the polls.

What Federal Law Bans

Several federal laws protect voters, and together they cover private citizens, officials, and the military. The main civil law is Section 11(b) of the Voting Rights Act. It says no person, “whether acting under color of law or otherwise,” may “intimidate, threaten, or coerce” anyone for voting, trying to vote, or helping someone else vote.

The standard for Section 11(b) was spelled out in a 2023 ruling. In that case, National Coalition on Black Civic Participation v. Wohl, a federal judge in New York held that the law has no intent requirement and no need to prove racial motive. It covers threats of arrest, debt, or surveillance, not only violence. The test is whether “an ordinary, reasonable recipient familiar with the context” would read the message as a threat (opinion text).

Before You Vote

A few minutes of preparation makes it easier to vote calmly and to report a problem if you see one.

• Check that you are still registered. A purge or an unanswered address card can drop you from the rolls, and the fixes are in what to check before you vote.
• Confirm your polling place and its hours with your election office. Polling places change.
• Check your state’s rules on guns and no-campaigning zones in the state lookup.
• Save 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683) in your phone, and share it with anyone voting for the first time.
• Bring any ID your state requires, and know that you can ask for a provisional ballot if your eligibility is questioned.
• Leave time in your plan to tell a poll worker and make a call if something is wrong.

What the State Lookup Leaves Out

The state lookup shows two rules, and it is honest about what it leaves out.

• Police and poll-watcher rules vary too much to summarize fairly. Every state writes them differently, so we link to your election office and to NCSL’s state-by-state table instead of flattening them into a label.
• Your specific building can have its own rules. A polling place in a school or courthouse can bar guns even in a state with no general ban.
• Court rulings can change the picture before November. Neither 2026 lawsuit over federal agents has been decided, and this page will be updated when they are.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is voter intimidation a felony?

It can be. Under federal law, intimidating voters in a federal race carries up to one year in prison (18 U.S.C. 594), and an officer who brings armed men to a polling place faces up to five years. Many states have their own felony laws, though charges do not always stick: prosecutors dropped the voter-intimidation charge in Florida’s 2024 Neptune Beach machete case.

Can I bring a gun to my polling place?

It depends on your state and on the building. Sixteen states and D.C. fully ban guns at polling places, nine have partial bans, and 25 have no clear statewide ban. A school or courthouse used for voting can carry its own ban, and using a weapon to frighten voters is illegal everywhere.

What happens if someone challenges my right to vote?

Election officials decide the challenge, not the challenger. If officials still question your eligibility, federal law lets you cast a provisional ballot, which is counted once your eligibility is confirmed.

Who do I report voter intimidation to?

Tell a poll worker first, then call or text 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683). You can also file with the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division or your county election office. Call 911 if anyone is in immediate danger.

What you can do

1. Save 866-OUR-VOTE and share it before Election Day. Knowing the number in advance is what makes a report possible in the moment.

2. Ask your county election office for its plan for intimidation reports, including who staff call and how quickly. Local officials run the polling places.

3. Volunteer as a poll worker or a nonpartisan Election Protection monitor. Trained volunteers are the ones who spot trouble early. 866ourvote.org lists volunteer roles.

4. Ask your state legislators to close your state’s gaps if the lookup shows no clear ban on guns at polling places. At least six states have added limits since 2022.

5. Send the letter below. It asks your members of Congress to get a written commitment from DHS, DOJ, and the FBI that armed agents will stay away from the polls, and a hearing before November 3.