Lebanon Election Integrity and Diaspora Voting Protection Act of 2026

This bill aims to safeguard Lebanon's democratic processes by authorizing the President to impose sanctions on foreign persons or entities. Congress finds that free and fair elections are essential for Lebanon's stability and that groups like Hezbollah and corrupt elites have historically interfered with elections, including efforts to obstruct diaspora voting. The President is authorized to impose sanctions on any foreign person determined to have engaged in, sponsored, or materially supported actions that constitute diaspora voting obstruction or otherwise obstruct Lebanon's parliamentary elections. This includes hindering the ability of Lebanese citizens abroad to vote according to Lebanese law. The sanctions described include asset blocking , prohibiting transactions in property within U.S. jurisdiction, and rendering foreign persons ineligible for U.S. visas , admission, or parole, with existing visas subject to immediate revocation. Other measures under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act may also be applied. The bill mandates that the President submit an initial report to Congress within 60 days, identifying foreign persons engaged in such actions, describing efforts undermining diaspora voting, and assessing foreign government or proxy involvement in the upcoming elections. Subsequent semi-annual reports are required to update on new identifications, sanctions imposed, election administration progress, and recommendations for strengthening election integrity. The authority to impose these sanctions will terminate five years after the bill's enactment.