H.R. 7311 — Lebanon Election Integrity and Diaspora Voting Protection Act of 2026

This section states congressional findings that free and fair elections are essential to Lebanon's sovereignty and democracy; that Lebanese law provides for diaspora participation in parliamentary elections; that the Lebanese diaspora—estimated in the millions—plays a critical role in the country's civic, political, and economic life; that Hezbollah, other armed groups, corrupt elites, and foreign actors have unduly influenced Lebanese elections; and that protecting Lebanese voters' rights, including those abroad, serves U.S. national security interests.

This section authorizes the President to impose blocking sanctions under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA; 50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), visa ineligibility and revocation, and other IEEPA measures on foreign persons determined to have obstructed Lebanon's parliamentary elections or diaspora voting (i.e., impeded Lebanese citizens abroad from voting under Lebanese law). It applies civil penalties under 50 U.S.C. 1705(b) (up to the greater of $250,000 or twice the amount of the underlying transaction) and criminal penalties under 50 U.S.C. 1705(c) (up to $1 million fine or, for natural persons, 20 years imprisonment) to violations of the visa restrictions or related regulations.

This section requires the President to submit an initial report to the House Committees on Foreign Affairs, Financial Services, and Appropriations and the Senate Committees on Foreign Relations and Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs not later than 60 days after enactment. The initial report must (1) identify each foreign person determined to have engaged in actions described in section 3(a); (2) describe efforts undermining diaspora voting among Lebanese citizens residing abroad; and (3) assess foreign government or proxy involvement, including Iran-backed entities, in the May 2026 Lebanese parliamentary elections. Additionally, this section requires subsequent reports not later than 180 days after the initial report and semi-annually thereafter covering (1) newly identified individuals or entities engaged in such actions; (2) sanctions imposed in the preceding 180-day period on those newly identified; (3) progress or setbacks in Lebanon’s election administration; and (4) recommendations for strengthening election integrity and diaspora participation.

This section establishes definitions for purposes of the Act, including (1) adopting the meanings of "admission," "admitted," and "alien" from section 101 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101); (2) "foreign person" as any individual or entity that is not a United States person; (3) "diaspora voting obstruction" as any action that directly or indirectly prevents, limits, delays, or manipulates Lebanese citizens residing abroad from voting in Lebanon's parliamentary elections, undermines overseas voter registration or processes, intimidates diaspora voters, or otherwise interferes with election administration inconsistent with Lebanese law; (4) "obstruct," with respect to Lebanon's parliamentary elections, as any action that undermines timely elections, corrupts electoral institutions, engages in political violence or coercion, or materially supports such activities; and (5) "United States person" as a U.S. citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident; an entity organized under U.S. laws (including foreign subsidiaries); or any person in the United States.