VoteSafe Act of 2020
This bill expands vote-by-mail and early in-person voting during the 2020 federal elections. It also directs polling places to follow certain guidance related to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) preparedness.
Specifically, each state and local jurisdiction must permit no-excuse mail-in absentee voting. Among other things, each state and jurisdiction must (1) provide a mail-in ballot with prepaid return postage to each registered voter who requests such a ballot, (2) allow voters to submit online ballot requests, (3) allow voters to cure certain signature discrepancies, and (4) provide secured drop-off boxes from 45 days before the date of the election.
Each state and local jurisdiction must maintain an early in-person voting period of at least 20 days.
Additionally, each state must establish a plan to ensure that polling places are implementing guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention related to COVID-19 preparedness. Among other requirements, each plan must (1) keep as many voting locations open as possible, (2) prepare polling locations to implement social distancing protocols, (3) provide sufficient quantities of hygiene and cleaning supplies at polling locations, and (4) provide hazard pay and protective equipment to poll workers.
The Election Assistance Commission (EAC) must make a payment, within 30 days, to each state to carry out these requirements.
Finally, the EAC must make payments to eligible states to carry out certain activities related to in-person voting, such as ensuring that elections are accessible to individuals with disabilities and implementing curbside voting.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3725 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3725
To expand vote by mail and early voting, and to improve the safety,
accessibility, and efficiency of in-person voting during elections for
Federal office.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 13, 2020
Ms. Harris introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To expand vote by mail and early voting, and to improve the safety,
accessibility, and efficiency of in-person voting during elections for
Federal office.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``VoteSafe Act of 2020''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) The right to vote is the foundation of American
democracy. Voting provides the citizenry with a vital check on
their elected officials and grants people the political power
necessary to exercise and defend the rights guaranteed by the
United States Constitution.
(2) The Elections Clause of the United States Constitution
gives Congress sweeping power to regulate the time, place, and
manner of Federal elections (Article I, section 4 of the
Constitution of the United States; see also Arizona v. Inter
Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc., 570 U.S. 1 (2013)). Congress
also has enforcement power under the Fourteenth and Fifteenth
Amendments of the Constitution of the United States.
(3) As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. explained in a speech
delivered on May 17, 1957, ``So long as I do not firmly and
irrevocably possess the right to vote I do not possess myself.
I cannot make up my mind--it is made up for me. I cannot live
as a democratic citizen, observing the laws I have helped to
enact--I can only submit to the edict of others.''.
(4) The right to vote was not guaranteed to all Americans
at our Nation's founding. The ratification of the Fifteenth and
Nineteenth Amendments, the civil rights movement's struggle for
justice and equality, and the enactment of the Voting Rights
Act of 1965 and its subsequent amendments succeeded in
expanding access to the franchise.
(5) Unfortunately, the barriers faced by voters who have
historically experienced the greatest obstacles to voting are
exacerbated by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
(6) Strategies to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 include
``social distancing'', a practice that requires individuals to
maintain a distance between themselves and other people in
order to avoid acquiring or transmitting the virus. The need to
embrace such precautions will require States to quickly modify
voting processes to minimize person-to-person contact.
(7) Voting by mail is a critical part of the solution and
must be expanded as quickly as possible, not simply as a means
of ensuring access during public health emergencies, but also
as a means of expanding access to the franchise to those whose
work, health, or ability to access the ballot may be limited.
(8) However, safe and secure in-person voting remains
vitally important for large groups of voters, including voters
with disabilities, language minority voters, American Indian
and Alaska Native voters, and African-American voters.
(9) The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C.
12101 et seq.) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C.
701 et seq.) require that individuals with disabilities have
equal access to every aspect of the voting process. Vote-by-
mail poses various accessibility challenges for voters with
disabilities, including blind, low-vision, or other print-
disabled voters who may require in-person voting or assistive
technology in order to privately and independently mark their
ballots. Remedies for voters with disabilities require an
investment of resources to ensure State and local election
websites, online voter registration portals, and vote-by-mail
systems are accessible; that in-person voting locations permit
a safe, dignified, and accessible voting experience; and that
the right of voters with disabilities to a secret ballot is not
sacrificed due to the pandemic.
(10) Language minority voters face unique barriers to
voting that require additional resources and support to ensure
full and equal access, including additional resources to ensure
local compliance with the language minority voting protections
in section 203 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C.
10503) and greater language assistance services, including
additional bilingual or multilingual poll workers and election
workers.
(11) American Indian and Alaska Native voters face unique
obstacles in a vote-by-mail system. Tribal communities in rural
areas often do not have traditional residential mailing
addresses and have limited access to transportation. Tribal
members have distant rural post offices, slow mail routes,
limited numbers of post office operation, and too few post
office boxes. As a result, rural Tribal communities require
distinct voting accommodations to ensure participation in a
vote-by-mail system.
(12) Finally, in-person voting holds great significance for
African-American voters, for whom the right to vote was hard
won. African Americans have been excluded from the franchise
through State and local laws, poll taxes, voting literacy
tests, physical violence, and lynchings. For many African-
American voters today, casting a ballot at one's polling place
is a solemn ritual that honors those who sacrificed their
safety and their lives in order to secure the right to vote.
However, COVID-19 poses substantial risks to the African-
American population and has infected and killed African
Americans in the United States at disproportionately high
rates, highlighting longstanding inequalities in resources and
access to health care.
(13) Social distancing designed to curb the COVID-19
pandemic will also greatly impact in-person voter registration
efforts, including voter registration drives and voter
registration services required by the National Voter
Registration Act. Many government offices, like State
departments of motor vehicles, are currently closed to in-
person traffic and are likely to remain closed for an
indefinite period of time in 2020.
(14) Therefore, it is appropriate for Congress to expand
no-excuse absentee vote-by-mail while also ensuring the safety
and accessibility of in-person voting and voter registration
during exigent circumstances, including the current pandemic.
SEC. 3. REQUIREMENTS FOR NO-EXCUSE ABSENTEE VOTING, EARLY IN-PERSON
VOTING, AND PLAN TO ENSURE POLLING PLACES IMPLEMENT CDC
GUIDANCE FOR FEDERAL ELECTIONS IN 2020.
(a) Applicable Federal Election.--For purposes of this section, the
term ``applicable Federal election'' means any election for Federal
office which occurs on or after the date that is 60 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act and before January 1, 2021.
(b) Requirements.--In the case of any applicable Federal election,
each State and local jurisdiction shall--
(1) permit no-excuse mail-in absentee voting as described
in subsection (c);
(2) maintain an early in-person voting period as described
in subsection (d); and
(3) establish a plan as described in subsection (e) with
respect to in-person voting, including during early voting
periods and on the day of the election.
(c) No-Excuse Mail-In Absentee Voting.--
(1) In general.--No-excuse mail-in absentee voting meets
the requirements described in this subsection with respect to
an applicable Federal election, if the State--
(A) provides a no-excuse mail-in absentee ballot to
every registered voter who requests such a ballot (or,
in the case of any State that does not register voters,
to every individual who is eligible to vote and
requests such a ballot);
(B) allows voters to request a mail-in absentee
ballot online;
(C) if the State requires a signature for absentee
ballots, allows voters to provide their signature by
providing a mark or signature stamp or by providing a
signature with the use of an assistant because of age,
disability, or other need;
(D) accepts and counts ballots received before the
State's certification deadline if the ballot--
(i) is postmarked by the date of the
election; or
(ii) includes an indication that it was
mailed by the date of the election;
(E) provides a pre-paid and self-sealing return
envelope for each ballot furnished by mail;
(F) beginning with the date that is 45 days before
the date of the election and ending with the time that
polls close on the date of the election, provides in-
person, secured drop boxes for voters to submit
completed absentee ballots as an alternative to
submitting ballots by mail;
(G) before discarding any absentee ballot for error
or technicalities (including the failure to meet any
signature matching requirement that is unrelated to the
voter's qualification)--
(i) as soon as practicable, by mail, phone,
email, or text message, notifies the voter of
such defects and explains that the voter may
provide information to cure the ballot pursuant
to clause (ii), or else the vote will not be
counted; and
(ii) provides the voter an opportunity to
cure such defects that--
(I) is uniform among all voters in
the State;
(II) allows the voter to provide
confirmation or information to cure the
defect through the same form of
communication in which the notice under
clause (i) is provided; and
(III) in the case of any error
relating to a signature requirement,
meets the requirements of paragraph
(2);
(H) in the case of any voter with disabilities--
(i) provides the voter with access to
Remote Access Vote By Mail (RAVBM) systems,
ballot marking software, and screen reading
software; and
(ii) allows the voter to receive assistance
from a person of their choosing to complete and
submit a mail-in ballot;
(I) ensures adequate support for language minority
voters, including multilingual versions of vote-by-mail
materials and language assistance services; and
(J) allows voters to designate a person to return a
voted and sealed absentee ballot in accordance with the
requirements of paragraph (3).
(2) Requirements relating to signature defects.--The
requirements of this paragraph relating to any defect described
in paragraph (1)(G)(ii)(III) are the following:
(A) In any case in which a ballot is returned
without a signature, or it is determined that the
signature provided with the ballot is not the voter's
authentic signature, the voter shall be provided an
opportunity to provide confirmation or information to
cure the signature discrepancy.
(B) Voters shall have until the day before
certification of election results to provide
confirmation that the signature in question is their
genuine signature. The State shall accept confirmation
of a genuine signature orally, in writing, or
electronically, and without a separate oath or
affirmation.
(C) The voter shall have the opportunity to appeal
any rejection of the ballot based on the defect or the
additional information provided. Such opportunity to
appeal must be provided and decided before
certification of election results.
(D) Any final determination of the validity of the
ballot with a signature mismatch shall be made by a
group of 2 or more election officials. Where
applicable, at least one of the election officials must
be of an opposing party. The vote shall be counted
unless the officials unanimously determine, beyond a
reasonable doubt, that the ballot is not valid due to
signature discrepancy.
(3) Requirements relating to allowing designated persons to
return ballots.--The requirements of this paragraph relating to
allowing a voter to designate a person to return a voted and
sealed absentee ballot are the following:
(A) A voter may designate any person to return the
voted and sealed absentee ballot to the post office,
ballot drop-off location, tribally designated building,
or election office.
(B) A person designated by a voter under
subparagraph (A) shall not receive any form of
compensation based on the number of ballots that the
person has returned, and no individual, group, or
organization shall provide compensation to such person
on such basis.
(C) The State shall not limit how many voted and
sealed ballots any person so designated may return.
(d) Early In-Person Voting Period.--The early in-person voting
period described in this subsection with respect to an applicable
Federal election is a period of at least 20 days. Such period must
include at least 1 Saturday and 1 Sunday. For each day of early in-
person voting during such period, polls must be open for a minimum of
10 hours, including hours before and after the standard work day.
(e) Plan To Implement CDC Guidance.--
(1) In general.--The requirement described in this
subsection with respect to in-person voting is met if the State
establishes a plan to ensure that polling places are
implementing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
guidance relating to COVID-19 preparedness. Such plan must be
finalized and approved by the State within 30 days of the date
of enactment of this Act.
(2) Minimum requirements.--At a minimum, a State plan
established under this subsection must include a plan--
(A) to keep as many voting locations as possible
open during the pandemic;
(B) to prepare polling locations to implement
social distancing protocols in lines and at voting
booths;
(C) to provide sufficient quantities of hygiene and
cleaning supplies at polling locations;
(D) to increase the number of--
(i) paper ballots and provisional ballots
(including the numbers of such ballots that are
translated, multilingual, or in-language
ballots) available at each polling place; and
(ii) disposable ballot marking utensils
available at each polling place;
(E) to provide masks and other personal protective
equipment to poll workers;
(F) to provide hazard pay to poll workers during
the pandemic;
(G) to increase the number of poll workers who can
reliably staff voting locations;
(H) to provide training to poll workers on pandemic
conditions and COVID-19 preparedness; and
(I) to educate voters on changes to procedures or
voting opportunities during the pandemic.
(f) Private Right of Action.--Any person aggrieved by a violation
of paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (a) (relating to requirements for
no-excuse mail-in absentee voting and early in-person voting period)
may bring an action for all appropriate remedies, including injunctive
relief and compensatory and punitive damages, in a Federal district
court of competent jurisdiction.
(g) Payments to States To Carry Out Requirements.--
(1) In general.--The Election Assistance Commission shall
makes a payment to each State to carry out the requirements
under this section. Such payments shall be made not later than
30 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
(2) Amount of payment.--
(A) In general.--The amount of payment made to a
State under this subsection shall be the voting age
population proportion amount described in subparagraph
(B) plus any additional amount determined by the
Commission under subparagraph (C).
(B) Voting age population proportion amount.--
(i) In general.--The voting age population
proportion amount described in this paragraph
is the product of--
(I) the amount made available for
payments under paragraph (3) minus the
total of all of the additional payment
amounts determined under subparagraph
(C); and
(II) the voting age population
proportion for the State (as defined in
clause (ii)).
(ii) Voting age population proportion
defined.--The term ``voting age population
proportion'' means, with respect to any State,
the amount equal to the quotient of--
(I) the voting age population of
the State (as determined by the most
recent American Community Survey
conducted by the Bureau of the Census);
and
(II) the total voting age
population of all States (as determined
by the most recent American Community
Survey conducted by the Bureau of the
Census).
(C) Determination of additional amount based on
costs of implementing no-excuse absentee voting and
early in-person voting in state.--
(i) In general.--The Commission shall, with
respect to each eligible State, provide an
amount of payment for the State in addition to
the amount determined under subparagraph (B).
(ii) Eligible state.--A State shall be
eligible for an additional amount of payment
under this subparagraph if the State is not in
compliance with paragraph (1) or (2) of
subsection (b), or both of such subparagraphs,
as of the date of enactment of this Act.
(iii) Determination of amount.--In
determining the amount of payment with respect
to an eligible State under this subparagraph,
the Commission shall consider the costs to the
State and local jurisdictions of coming into
compliance with either or both of such
paragraphs.
(D) Distribution of funds to units of local
government.--At least 70 percent of funds provided to a
State under this subsection shall be distributed to
units of local government to carry out the requirements
under subsection (b).
(3) Funding.--There are authorized to be appropriated to
make payments under this subsection, $2,500,000,000 for the
period of fiscal years 2020 and 2021. Amounts appropriated
under the preceding sentence shall remain available until
December 31, 2024.
SEC. 4. GRANTS TO PROMOTE SAFE, ACCESSIBLE, AND EFFICIENT IN-PERSON
VOTING.
(a) In General.--Subtitle D of title II of the Help America Vote
Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21001 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end
the following:
``PART VII--GRANT PROGRAM TO PROMOTE SAFE, ACCESSIBLE, AND EFFICIENT
IN-PERSON VOTING
``SEC. 297. PAYMENTS TO STATES.
``(a) In General.--The Commission shall make a payment to each
eligible State (as described in section 298(a)). Such payments shall be
made not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this part.
``(b) Use of Funds.--An eligible State shall use the payment
received under this part to carry out one or more of the authorized
activities described in section 298(b) with respect to elections for
Federal office.
``(c) Amount of Payment.--
``(1) In general.--The amount of payment made to an
eligible State under this section shall be the voting age
population proportion amount described in paragraph (2) plus
any additional amount determined by the Commission under
paragraph (3).
``(2) Voting age population proportion amount.--
``(A) In general.--The voting age population
proportion amount described in this paragraph is the
product of--
``(i) the aggregate amount made available
for payments under this section minus the total
of all of the additional payment amounts
determined under paragraph (3); and
``(ii) the voting age population proportion
for the State (as defined in subparagraph (B)).
``(B) Voting age population proportion defined.--
The term `voting age population proportion' means, with
respect to an eligible State, the amount equal to the
quotient of--
``(i) the voting age population of the
State (as determined by the most recent
American Community Survey conducted by the
Bureau of the Census); and
``(ii) the total voting age population of
all States (as determined by the most recent
American Community Survey conducted by the
Bureau of the Census).
``(3) Determination of additional amount based on needs of
voting age population in state.--The Commission shall, with
respect to each eligible State, determine an amount of payment
for the State in addition to the amount determined under
paragraph (2) based on the needs of the voting age population
in the State. In determining such additional amount of payment
with respect to an eligible State, the Commission shall take
into account--
``(A) the number of individuals with income below
250 percent of the poverty line applicable to a family
of the size involved (as determined under section
673(2) of the Community Services Block Grant Act (42
U.S.C. 9902(2)));
``(B) the number of individuals in the voting age
population of the State covered by section 203 of the
Voting Rights Act (52 U.S.C. 10503);
``(C) the number of individuals with a disability
as defined in section 3 of the Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12102);
``(D) the number of individuals who live in a
nonmetropolitan area (as determined by the Bureau of
the Census); and
``(E) the number of individuals who belong to an
Indian tribe (as such term is defined in section 4 of
the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance
Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)).
``(4) Distribution of funds to units of local government.--
At least 70 percent of funds provided to a State under this
part shall be distributed to units of local government to carry
out one or more of the authorized activities described in
section 298(b) with respect to elections for Federal office.
``SEC. 298. ELIGIBILITY FOR PAYMENT; AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.
``(a) In General.--Each State that desires to receive a payment
under this part shall submit a certification of intent to use such
funds for at least one of the authorized activities described in
subsection (b) with respect to elections for Federal office.
``(b) Authorized Activities Described.--Funds provided under this
part shall be used for one or more of the following authorized
activities:
``(1) Funding to ensure elections are accessible during
pandemic.--Ensuring voters can safely access polling sites
during the COVID-19 pandemic, including--
``(A) expanding the number of voting locations, as
well as the days and hours of early in-person voting;
``(B) providing mobile voting centers and temporary
voting stations, including advance notice of schedule
and locations;
``(C) increasing the ratio of machines and poll
workers to voters in each precinct;
``(D) preparing polling locations to implement
social distancing protocols in lines and voting booths;
``(E) providing sufficient quantities of hygiene
and cleaning supplies, including materials to sanitize
voting machines after each use;
``(F) increasing the number of paper ballots
available at each polling location;
``(G) providing masks, gloves, and other personal
protective equipment to poll workers;
``(H) increasing pay for poll workers during the
COVID-19 pandemic; and
``(I) providing voter education on changes or
improvements to election procedures, accessibility, or
voting opportunities during the pandemic.
``(2) Funding to ensure elections are accessible to
individuals with disabilities during pandemic.--Ensuring voters
can safely register, access polling sites, and vote by mail
during the COVID-19 pandemic, in accordance with this Act, the
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et
seq.), the Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped
Act (42 U.S.C. 1973ee et seq.), and other applicable law, by
improving polling place accessibility and providing
accommodations for individuals with disabilities, including--
``(A) purchasing Remote Access Vote By Mail (RAVBM)
systems, ballot marking devices and software, and
screen reading software, and making them available to
voters with disabilities;
``(B) equipping polling locations with technologies
that enable individuals with disabilities to privately
and independently mark, verify, and cast their ballots,
including through the availability of ballot marking
devices, headsets, controllers, and other assistive
devices;
``(C) making permanent or temporary modifications
to render polling places accessible;
``(D) ensuring appropriate polling place siting to
avoid locations that pose higher health risks to the
public;
``(E) conducting analysis on polling place
reconfiguration to account for social distancing and
implementing changes;
``(F) providing training for poll workers on how to
best serve individuals during the pandemic, including
specialized training for serving individuals with
disabilities;
``(G) assessing the accessibility of election
websites and remediating any accessibility problems to
ensure voter information is clear and accessible; and
``(H) providing fully accessible online voter
registration services.
``(3) Funding to ensure continuing protections for language
minority voters.--Ensuring continuing protections for language
minority voters, including--
``(A) ensuring compliance with section 203 of the
Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 10503)--
``(i) with respect to vote-by-mail and new
voter registration procedures; and
``(ii) with respect to voting materials (as
such term is defined in such section);
``(B) ensuring adequate support for such
individuals (including for language minority voters who
do not reside in jurisdictions covered by section 203
of the Voting Rights Act), including through--
``(i) language assistance hotlines in
covered languages;
``(ii) phone interpretation and interpreter
services;
``(iii) funding to produce, print, and
distribute multi-lingual versions of materials;
``(iv) enhancing in-language media
advertising regarding polling place changes;
``(v) recruiting and hiring bilingual or
multilingual election workers; and
``(vi) enhancing in-language media
advertising regarding procedures for obtaining
and returning mail-in ballots; and
``(C) providing voter education on activities
carried out under this paragraph.
``(4) Funding to ensure voting access by american indian
and alaska native voters and rural voters.--Ensuring voting
access American Indian and Alaska Native voters and rural
voters, including--
``(A) ensuring polling place availability within 20
miles of where voters live;
``(B) providing transportation services for
American Indian, Alaska Native, and rural voters to
reach their nearest polling location;
``(C) establishing polling places in Indian
country, as defined in section 1151 of title 18, United
States Code, and on any land in Alaska owned pursuant
to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C.
1601 et seq.), that are open for voting days and hours
commensurate with polling place days and hours in urban
areas within the State;
``(D) giving Indian tribes, as defined in section 4
of the Indian Self-Determination and Education
Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304), authority to designate
buildings that can be used as a residential address for
voter registration and for physical sites for ballot
pickup, drop-off, and collection;
``(E) offering information in unwritten languages
or languages not widely used in written form, in
consultation with relevant Tribal governments;
``(F) collecting ballots from remote polling
locations, ballot collection boxes, and tribally
designated buildings;
``(G) carrying out any activities permitted under
paragraph (2) to improve accessibility for American
Indian and Alaska Native voters with disabilities; and
``(H) providing voter education on the activities
carried out under this paragraph.
``(5) Curbside voting.--The implementation and promotion of
curbside voting to allow individuals to pick up ballots,
complete them, and return them to a poll worker from their
vehicles.
``(6) Funding to meet maximum wait time standard at polling
locations.--
``(A) In general.--The implementation of standards
that reduce wait times at polling locations.
``(B) Certification requirement.--In the case where
the State uses funds for purposes described in
subparagraph (A) with respect to an election for
Federal office, the State shall certify to the
Commission within 120 days of the election that wait
time standards were met in the State with respect to
such election.
``(7) Funding for publication of wait times.--
``(A) In general.--The development or
implementation of an accessible, web-based platform for
the publication of wait times for voting in Federal
elections.
``(B) Requirement.--If a State uses funds for a
purpose described in subparagraph (A), the State shall
take reasonable steps before using such platform in an
election for Federal office--
``(i) to provide advance training to
election workers regarding use of the platform;
``(ii) to notify voters of the platform;
and
``(iii) to test and verify the security and
functionality of the platform.
``(8) Methods to improve line management.--Implementing
standards to improve line management systems and polling place
management.
``(9) Standards for training and recruitment of poll
workers.--Providing for the training and recruitment of poll
workers, including--
``(A) developing poll worker training curricula and
standards for serving individuals with disabilities and
language minority voters;
``(B) ensuring that poll workers receive training,
which--
``(i) may include remote training; and
``(ii) may cover applicable Federal and
State laws and regulations, recent changes in
election laws and processes, election security
and cyber vulnerabilities, ballot reviews,
incident response, polling accessibility for
language minorities and individuals with
disabilities, and COVID-19 preparedness;
``(C) expanding the number of election workers
hired;
``(D) hiring individuals to serve as election
workers from among high school and college students
and, where feasible, compensating such individuals with
course credits; and
``(E) hiring work-eligible non-citizens to satisfy
the need for bilingual poll workers, where language
assistance is required by law.
``(10) Improving access to voter registration.--Improving
access to voter registration, including--
``(A) authorizing and implementing same day
registration;
``(B) ensuring that online voter registration
systems are in place and have the capacity to process
registration applications electronically;
``(C) expanding online voter registration systems
to allow use by the maximum number of individuals,
including--
``(i) by allowing individuals to register
to vote without records in the department of
motor vehicle system of the State by submitting
their signatures online;
``(ii) by digitally uploading a picture of
the required signature;
``(iii) by allowing individuals to provide
the required signature when voting at the polls
or when returning a mail-in ballot; or
``(iv) by allowing individual to provide a
required signature with a mark or signature
stamp or through the use of an assistant
because of age, disability, or other need;
``(D) sending a voter registration mailer,
including a blank voter registration application, a
self-sealing prepaid return envelope, and instructions
on additional methods to register if the mailer is not
accessible, to all eligible individuals with State
records who are not currently registered to vote; and
``(E) testing capacity to ensure that existing
online voter registration systems can withstand the
likely increase in usage.
``(c) Interagency Consultation.--Not later than 15 days after the
date of enactment of this part, the Commission shall--
``(1) consult with the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention on preventing transmission of COVID-19 at polling
places and election offices; and
``(2) consult with the Civil Rights Division of the
Department of Justice to ensure changes to voting procedures
made pursuant to this part are nondiscriminatory and comply
with applicable Federal laws, including this Act, the Americans
with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.), the
Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act (42
U.S.C. 1973ee et seq.), the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52
U.S.C. 10301 et seq.), the National Voter Registration Act of
1993 (52 U.S.C. 20501 et seq.), and the Help America Vote Act
of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 20901 et seq.).
``SEC. 299. FUNDING; REPORTS.
``(a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated, out of
any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the period of
fiscal years 2020 and 2021, for making payments under this part,
$2,500,000,000. Such amounts--
``(1) shall be in addition to other amounts otherwise
available for such purposes; and
``(2) shall remain available until December 31, 2024.
``(b) Reports.--Not later than one year after the applicable
election for which a payment was provided under this part, each
eligible State that received such funds shall submit a report to the
Commission on the activities conducted using such payment and to
substantiate authorized activities described in section 298(b) carried
out using such funds. Not later than 30 days after receipt of such
reports, the Commission shall transmit such reports to the Committee on
Rules and Administration of the Senate and the Committee on House
Administration of the House of Representatives.''.
(b) Clerical Amendments.--The table of contents of such Act is
amended by inserting after the item relating to section 296 the
following:
``PART VII--Grant Program to Promote Safe, Accessible, and Efficient
In-person Voting
``Sec. 297. Payments to States.
``Sec. 298. Eligibility for payment; authorized activities.
``Sec. 299. Funding; reports.''.
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Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
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