HB0034 (2026): Banning Firearms at Polling Places

What the Bill Would Do

House Bill 0034 would amend the Election Code (10 ILCS 5) to explicitly prohibit the possession of firearms at polling places on election days and during early voting periods^[1]. While many polling places are located in schools, government buildings, or churches that are already gun-free zones under the Concealed Carry Act (430 ILCS 66/65), not all polling locations fall under these existing restrictions. The bill would close this gap by making the polling place itself a restricted zone regardless of its physical location.

The bill has been actively advancing: House Committee Amendment No. 1 was referred to the Gun Violence Prevention Committee on February 11, 2026, indicating substantive legislative work on the bill's provisions.

Current Status

HB0034 has House Committee Amendment No. 1 referred to the Gun Violence Prevention Committee^[1]. The committee amendment process suggests negotiation over scope — whether the prohibition covers only the polling room or the entire building/property, and whether it extends to election infrastructure like ballot drop-off locations.

What to Watch

This bill sits at the intersection of gun policy and election security, making it politically charged beyond the typical firearms debate. Proponents argue that firearms at polling places create an intimidating atmosphere that could suppress voter turnout. Opponents argue the Second Amendment and the Concealed Carry Act already provide the legal framework, and that adding more gun-free zones only affects law-abiding CCL holders. The key practical question is enforcement: polling places are staffed by volunteer election judges, and the bill would need to address how the prohibition is enforced without creating confrontations at voting locations.