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Bill

HR 8977

EFFIE Act

119th Congress Introduced by Mike Lawler

The EFFIE Act makes knowingly signing ballot-access materials a felony with up to $250,000 fine and up to 5 years in prison.

Introduced in House
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HR 8977

Summary of HR 8977 (EFFIE Act)

Purpose and intent

  • Establishes stricter penalties for fraudulent activity related to ballot access in federal elections.
  • The bill is titled the End Fraudulent Filings that Interfere with Elections Act (EFFIE Act).
  • Its central aim is to deter and punish knowingly fraudulent signing of materials or documentation required to gain ballot access for federal candidates.

Key provisions and changes

  • Amends Section 324 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30126) to create a specific prohibition and penalty regime.
  • Prohibited conduct:
    • Any person who is seeking to be a candidate in a federal election, or an employee or agent of such a person, may not knowingly sign any materials or documentation required to be submitted as a condition of ballot access for that election.
  • Penalties:
    • Violations are designated as felonies.
    • Punishment upon conviction: a fine of up to $250,000, imprisonment for up to 5 years, or both.
  • Effective date:
    • The act's provisions take effect on the date of enactment.

Who would be affected

  • Individuals seeking federal office (candidates) and their employees or agents.
  • Any person involved in signing or submitting materials required for ballot access that would be fraudulent or knowingly false.
  • Election administrators and those who process ballot-access documentation could be affected indirectly by the enforcement provisions.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduction and referral:
    • Introduced May 21, 2026, by Rep. Mike Lawler (with co-sponsor).
    • Referred to the House Administration Committee and the Judiciary Committee for consideration.
  • No specific congressional timeline or action beyond these referrals is provided in the text available.
  • The act would take effect upon enactment (i.e., once signed into law by the President).

Observations for context

  • The bill targets fraudulent signature practices tied to ballot-access documentation, emphasizing fraud prevention in the process of placing candidates on the ballot.
  • It aligns with broader federal election integrity objectives by elevating fraud related to ballot access to a felony level with substantial penalties.

If you’d like, I can—-
- pull related provisions from current law for comparison,
- outline potential enforcement questions (e.g., what constitutes “knowingly fraudulent” signing, or defenses), or
- summarize possible fiscal or logistical implications for election administration.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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