No official summary available for this bill.
[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9727 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9727
To modernize voter registration, promote access to voting for
individuals with disabilities, protect the ability of individuals to
exercise the right to vote in elections for Federal office, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 20, 2024
Mr. Clyburn introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on
the Judiciary, Oversight and Accountability, Science, Space, and
Technology, Education and the Workforce, and Energy and Commerce, for a
period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the
committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To modernize voter registration, promote access to voting for
individuals with disabilities, protect the ability of individuals to
exercise the right to vote in elections for Federal office, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; STATEMENT OF POLICY.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Voter Empowerment
Act of 2024''.
(b) Statement of Policy.--It is the policy of the United States
that--
(1) the ability of all eligible citizens of the United
States to access and exercise their constitutional right to
vote in a free, fair, and timely manner must be vigilantly
enhanced, protected, and maintained; and
(2) the integrity, security, and accountability of the
voting process must be vigilantly protected, maintained, and
enhanced in order to protect and preserve electoral and
participatory democracy in the United States.
SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS.
The table of contents of this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; statement of policy.
Sec. 2. Table of contents.
TITLE I--VOTER REGISTRATION MODERNIZATION
Sec. 100. Short title.
Subtitle A--Promoting Internet Registration
Sec. 101. Requiring availability of internet for voter registration.
Sec. 102. Use of internet to update registration information.
Sec. 103. Provision of election information by electronic mail to
individuals registered to vote.
Sec. 104. Clarification of requirement regarding necessary information
to show eligibility to vote.
Sec. 105. Prohibiting State from requiring applicants to provide more
than last 4 digits of Social Security
number.
Sec. 106. Application of rules to certain exempt States.
Sec. 107. Effective date.
Subtitle B--Automatic Voter Registration
Sec. 111. Short title; findings and purpose.
Sec. 112. Automatic registration of eligible individuals.
Sec. 113. Contributing agency assistance in registration.
Sec. 114. One-time contributing agency assistance in registration of
eligible voters in existing records.
Sec. 115. Voter protection and security in automatic registration.
Sec. 116. Registration portability and correction.
Sec. 117. Payments and grants.
Sec. 118. Treatment of exempt States.
Sec. 119. Miscellaneous provisions.
Sec. 120. Definitions.
Sec. 121. Effective date.
Subtitle C--Same Day Voter Registration
Sec. 131. Same day registration.
Subtitle D--Conditions on Removal on Basis of Interstate Cross-Checks
Sec. 141. Conditions on removal of registrants from official list of
eligible voters on basis of interstate
cross-Checks.
Subtitle E--Other Initiatives To Promote Voter Registration
Sec. 151. Biennial reports on voter registration statistics.
Sec. 152. Ensuring pre-election registration deadlines are consistent
with timing of legal public holidays.
Sec. 153. Use of Postal Service hard copy change of address form to
remind individuals to update voter
registration.
Sec. 154. Grants to States for activities to encourage involvement of
minors in election activities.
Subtitle F--Availability of HAVA Requirements Payments
Sec. 161. Availability of requirements payments under HAVA To cover
costs of compliance with new requirements.
Subtitle G--Prohibiting Interference With Voter Registration
Sec. 171. Prohibiting hindering, interfering with, or preventing voter
registration.
Sec. 172. Establishment of best practices.
Subtitle H--Voter Registration Efficiency Act
Sec. 181. Short title.
Sec. 182. Requiring applicants for motor vehicle driver's licenses in
new State to indicate whether State serves
as residence for voter registration
purposes.
Subtitle I--Providing Voter Registration Information to Secondary
School Students
Sec. 191. Pilot program for providing voter registration information to
secondary school students prior to
graduation.
Sec. 192. Reports.
Sec. 193. Authorization of appropriations.
Subtitle J--Voter Registration of Minors
Sec. 194. Acceptance of voter registration applications from
individuals under 18 years of age.
TITLE II--ACCESS TO VOTING FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES
Sec. 201. Requirements for State to promote access to voter
registration and voting for individuals
with disabilities.
Sec. 202. Establishment and maintenance of State accessible election
websites.
Sec. 203. Protections for in-person voting for individuals with
disabilities and older individuals.
Sec. 204. Protections for individuals subject to guardianship.
Sec. 205. Expansion and reauthorization of grant program to assure
voting access for individuals with
disabilities.
Sec. 206. Appointments to EAC Board of Advisors.
Sec. 207. Pilot programs for enabling individuals with disabilities to
register to vote privately and
independently at residences.
Sec. 208. GAO analysis and report on voting access for individuals with
disabilities.
TITLE III--PROHIBITING VOTER CAGING
Sec. 301. Voter caging and other questionable challenges prohibited.
Sec. 302. Development and adoption of best practices for preventing
voter caging.
TITLE IV--PROHIBITING DECEPTIVE PRACTICES AND PREVENTING VOTER
INTIMIDATION
Sec. 401. Short title.
Sec. 402. Prohibition on deceptive practices in Federal elections.
Sec. 403. Corrective action.
Sec. 404. Reports to Congress.
TITLE V--DEMOCRACY RESTORATION
Sec. 501. Short title.
Sec. 502. Findings.
Sec. 503. Rights of citizens.
Sec. 504. Enforcement.
Sec. 505. Notification of restoration of voting rights.
Sec. 506. Definitions.
Sec. 507. Relation to other laws.
Sec. 508. Federal prison funds.
Sec. 509. Effective date.
TITLE VI--PROMOTING ACCURACY, INTEGRITY, AND SECURITY THROUGH VOTER-
VERIFIED PERMANENT PAPER BALLOT
Sec. 601. Short title.
Sec. 602. Paper ballot and manual counting requirements.
Sec. 603. Accessibility and ballot verification for individuals with
disabilities.
Sec. 604. Durability and readability requirements for ballots.
Sec. 605. Study and report on optimal ballot design.
Sec. 606. Paper ballot printing requirements.
Sec. 607. Effective date for new requirements.
TITLE VII--PROVISIONAL BALLOTS
Sec. 701. Requirements for counting provisional ballots; establishment
of uniform and nondiscriminatory standards.
TITLE VIII--EARLY VOTING
Sec. 801. Early voting.
TITLE IX--VOTING BY MAIL
Sec. 901. Voting by mail.
Sec. 902. Absentee ballot tracking program.
Sec. 903. Election mail and delivery improvements.
Sec. 904. Voting materials postage.
TITLE X--ABSENT UNIFORMED SERVICES VOTERS AND OVERSEAS VOTERS
Sec. 1001. Pre-election reports on availability and transmission of
absentee ballots.
Sec. 1002. Enforcement.
Sec. 1003. Revisions to 45-day absentee ballot transmission rule.
Sec. 1004. Use of single absentee ballot application for subsequent
elections.
Sec. 1005. Extending guarantee of residency for voting purposes to
family members of absent military
personnel.
Sec. 1006. Requiring transmission of blank absentee ballots under
UOCAVA to certain voters.
Sec. 1007. Effective date.
TITLE XI--POLL WORKER RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING
Sec. 1101. Grants to States for poll worker recruitment and training.
Sec. 1102. State defined.
TITLE XII--ENHANCEMENT OF ENFORCEMENT
Sec. 1201. Enhancement of enforcement of Help America Vote Act of 2002.
TITLE XIII--FEDERAL ELECTION INTEGRITY
Sec. 1301. Prohibition on campaign activities by chief State election
administration officials.
TITLE XIV--PROMOTING VOTER ACCESS THROUGH ELECTION ADMINISTRATION
IMPROVEMENTS
Subtitle A--Promoting Voter Access
Sec. 1401. Treatment of institutions of higher education.
Sec. 1402. Minimum notification requirements for voters affected by
polling place changes.
Sec. 1403. Permitting use of sworn written statement to meet
identification requirements for voting.
Sec. 1404. Accommodations for voters residing in Indian lands.
Sec. 1405. Ensuring equitable and efficient operation of polling
places.
Sec. 1406. Requiring State to provide secured drop boxes for voted
absentee ballots in elections for Federal
office.
Sec. 1407. Prohibiting States from restricting curbside voting.
Subtitle B--Disaster and Emergency Contingency Plans
Sec. 1411. Requirements for Federal election contingency plans in
response to natural disasters and
emergencies.
Subtitle C--Improvements in Operation of Election Assistance Commission
Sec. 1421. Reauthorization of Election Assistance Commission.
Sec. 1422. Requiring States to participate in post-general election
surveys.
Sec. 1423. Reports by National Institute of Standards and Technology on
use of funds transferred from Election
Assistance Commission.
Sec. 1424. Recommendations to improve operations of Election Assistance
Commission.
Sec. 1425. Repeal of exemption of Election Assistance Commission from
certain government contracting
requirements.
Subtitle D--Miscellaneous Provisions
Sec. 1431. Application of laws to Commonwealth of Northern Mariana
Islands.
Sec. 1432. Definition of election for Federal office.
Sec. 1433. No effect on other laws.
Sec. 1434. Clarification of exemption for States without voter
registration.
TITLE XV--SEVERABILITY
Sec. 1501. Severability.
TITLE I--VOTER REGISTRATION MODERNIZATION
SEC. 100. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ``Voter Registration Modernization
Act of 2024''.
Subtitle A--Promoting Internet Registration
SEC. 101. REQUIRING AVAILABILITY OF INTERNET FOR VOTER REGISTRATION.
(a) Requiring Availability of Internet for Registration.--The
National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20501 et seq.) is
amended by inserting after section 6 the following new section:
``SEC. 6A. INTERNET REGISTRATION.
``(a) Requiring Availability of Internet for Online Registration.--
Each State, acting through the chief State election official, shall
ensure that the following services are available to the public at any
time on the official public websites of the appropriate State and local
election officials in the State, in the same manner and subject to the
same terms and conditions as the services provided by voter
registration agencies under section 7(a):
``(1) Online application for voter registration.
``(2) Online assistance to applicants in applying to
register to vote.
``(3) Online completion and submission by applicants of the
mail voter registration application form prescribed by the
Election Assistance Commission pursuant to section 9(a)(2),
including assistance with providing a signature as required
under subsection (c).
``(4) Online receipt of completed voter registration
applications.
``(b) Acceptance of Completed Applications.--A State shall accept
an online voter registration application provided by an individual
under this section, and ensure that the individual is registered to
vote in the State, if--
``(1) the individual meets the same voter registration
requirements applicable to individuals who register to vote by
mail in accordance with section 6(a)(1) using the mail voter
registration application form prescribed by the Election
Assistance Commission pursuant to section 9(a)(2); and
``(2) the individual meets the requirements of subsection
(c) to provide a signature in electronic form (but only in the
case of applications submitted during or after the second year
in which this section is in effect in the State).
``(c) Signature Requirements.--
``(1) In general.--For purposes of this section, an
individual meets the requirements of this subsection as
follows:
``(A) In the case of an individual who has a
signature on file with a State agency, including the
State motor vehicle authority, that is required to
provide voter registration services under this Act or
any other law, the individual consents to the transfer
of that electronic signature.
``(B) If subparagraph (A) does not apply, the
individual submits with the application an electronic
copy of the individual's handwritten signature through
electronic means.
``(C) If subparagraph (A) and subparagraph (B) do
not apply, the individual executes a computerized mark
in the signature field on an online voter registration
application, in accordance with reasonable security
measures established by the State, but only if the
State accepts such mark from the individual.
``(2) Treatment of individuals unable to meet
requirement.--If an individual is unable to meet the
requirements of paragraph (1), the State shall--
``(A) permit the individual to complete all other
elements of the online voter registration application;
``(B) permit the individual to provide a signature
at the time the individual requests a ballot in an
election (whether the individual requests the ballot at
a polling place or requests the ballot by mail); and
``(C) if the individual carries out the steps
described in subparagraph (A) and subparagraph (B),
ensure that the individual is registered to vote in the
State.
``(3) Notice.--The State shall ensure that individuals
applying to register to vote online are notified of the
requirements of paragraph (1) and of the treatment of
individuals unable to meet such requirements, as described in
paragraph (2).
``(d) Confirmation and Disposition.--
``(1) Confirmation of receipt.--
``(A) In general.--Upon the online submission of a
completed voter registration application by an
individual under this section, the appropriate State or
local election official shall provide the individual a
notice confirming the State's receipt of the
application and providing instructions on how the
individual may check the status of the application.
``(B) Method of notification.--The appropriate
State or local election official shall provide the
notice required under subparagraph (A) though the
online submission process and--
``(i) in the case of an individual who has
provided the official with an electronic mail
address, by electronic mail; and
``(ii) at the option of the individual, by
text message.
``(2) Notice of disposition.--
``(A) In general.--Not later than 7 days after the
appropriate State or local election official has
approved or rejected an application submitted by an
individual under this section, the official shall
provide the individual a notice of the disposition of
the application.
``(B) Method of notification.--The appropriate
State or local election official shall provide the
notice required under subparagraph (A) by regular mail
and--
``(i) in the case of an individual who has
provided the official with an electronic mail
address, by electronic mail; and
``(ii) at the option of the individual, by
text message.
``(e) Provision of Services in Nonpartisan Manner.--The services
made available under subsection (a) shall be provided in a manner that
ensures that, consistent with section 7(a)(5)--
``(1) the online application does not seek to influence an
applicant's political preference or party registration; and
``(2) there is no display on the website promoting any
political preference or party allegiance, except that nothing
in this paragraph may be construed to prohibit an applicant
from registering to vote as a member of a political party.
``(f) Protection of Security of Information.--In meeting the
requirements of this section, the State shall establish appropriate
technological security measures to prevent to the greatest extent
practicable any unauthorized access to information provided by
individuals using the services made available under subsection (a).
``(g) Accessibility of Services.--A State shall ensure that the
services made available under this section are made available to
individuals with disabilities to the same extent as services are made
available to all other individuals.
``(h) Nondiscrimination Among Registered Voters Using Mail and
Online Registration.--In carrying out this Act, the Help America Vote
Act of 2002, or any other Federal, State, or local law governing the
treatment of registered voters in the State or the administration of
elections for public office in the State, a State shall treat a
registered voter who registered to vote online in accordance with this
section in the same manner as the State treats a registered voter who
registered to vote by mail.''.
(b) Special Requirements for Individuals Using Online
Registration.--
(1) Treatment as individuals registering to vote by mail
for purposes of first-time voter identification requirements.--
Section 303(b)(1)(A) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52
U.S.C. 21083(b)(1)(A)) is amended by striking ``by mail'' and
inserting ``by mail or online under section 6A of the National
Voter Registration Act of 1993''.
(2) Requiring signature for first-time voters in
jurisdiction.--Section 303(b) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 21083(b))
is amended--
(A) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph
(6); and
(B) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following
new paragraph:
``(5) Signature requirements for first-time voters using
online registration.--
``(A) In general.--A State shall, in a uniform and
nondiscriminatory manner, require an individual to meet
the requirements of subparagraph (B) if--
``(i) the individual registered to vote in
the State online under section 6A of the
National Voter Registration Act of 1993; and
``(ii) the individual has not previously
voted in an election for Federal office in the
State.
``(B) Requirements.--An individual meets the
requirements of this subparagraph if--
``(i) in the case of an individual who
votes in person, the individual provides the
appropriate State or local election official
with a handwritten signature; or
``(ii) in the case of an individual who
votes by mail, the individual submits with the
ballot a handwritten signature.
``(C) Inapplicability.--Subparagraph (A) does not
apply in the case of an individual who is--
``(i) entitled to vote by absentee ballot
under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens
Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20302 et seq.);
``(ii) provided the right to vote otherwise
than in person under section 3(b)(2)(B)(ii) of
the Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and
Handicapped Act (52 U.S.C. 20102(b)(2)(B)(ii));
or
``(iii) entitled to vote otherwise than in
person under any other Federal law.''.
(3) Conforming amendment relating to effective date.--
Section 303(d)(2)(A) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 21083(d)(2)(A)) is
amended by striking ``Each State'' and inserting ``Except as
provided in subsection (b)(5), each State''.
(c) Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Timing of registration.--Section 8(a)(1) of the
National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20507(a)(1))
is amended--
(A) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph
(C);
(B) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as
subparagraph (E); and
(C) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the
following new subparagraph:
``(D) in the case of online registration through
the official public website of an election official
under section 6A, if the valid voter registration
application is submitted online not later than the
lesser of 28 days, or the period provided by State law,
before the date of the election (as determined by
treating the date on which the application is sent
electronically as the date on which it is submitted);
and''.
(2) Informing applicants of eligibility requirements and
penalties.--Section 8(a)(5) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 20507(a)(5))
is amended by striking ``and 7'' and inserting ``6A, and 7''.
SEC. 102. USE OF INTERNET TO UPDATE REGISTRATION INFORMATION.
(a) In General.--
(1) Updates to information contained on computerized
statewide voter registration list.--Section 303(a) of the Help
America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21083(a)) is amended by
adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(6) Use of internet by registered voters to update
information.--
``(A) In general.--The appropriate State or local
election official shall ensure that any registered
voter on the computerized list may at any time update
the voter's registration information, including the
voter's address and electronic mail address, online
through the official public website of the election
official responsible for the maintenance of the list,
so long as the voter attests to the contents of the
update by providing a signature in electronic form in
the same manner required under section 6A(c) of the
National Voter Registration Act of 1993.
``(B) Processing of updated information by election
officials.--If a registered voter updates registration
information under subparagraph (A), the appropriate
State or local election official shall--
``(i) revise any information on the
computerized list to reflect the update made by
the voter; and
``(ii) if the updated registration
information affects the voter's eligibility to
vote in an election for Federal office, ensure
that the information is processed with respect
to the election if the voter updates the
information not later than the lesser of 7
days, or the period provided by State law,
before the date of the election.
``(C) Confirmation and disposition.--
``(i) Confirmation of receipt.--Upon the
online submission of updated registration
information by an individual under this
paragraph, the appropriate State or local
election official shall send the individual a
notice confirming the State's receipt of the
updated information and providing instructions
on how the individual may check the status of
the update.
``(ii) Notice of disposition.--Not later
than 7 days after the appropriate State or
local election official has accepted or
rejected updated information submitted by an
individual under this paragraph, the official
shall send the individual a notice of the
disposition of the update.
``(iii) Method of notification.--The
appropriate State or local election official
shall send the notices required under this
subparagraph by regular mail and--
``(I) in the case of an individual
who has requested that the State
provide voter registration and voting
information through electronic mail, by
electronic mail; and
``(II) at the option of the
individual, by text message.''.
(2) Conforming amendment relating to effective date.--
Section 303(d)(1)(A) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 21083(d)(1)(A)) is
amended by striking ``subparagraph (B)'' and inserting
``subparagraph (B) and subsection (a)(6)''.
(b) Ability of Registrant To Use Online Update To Provide
Information on Residence.--Section 8(d)(2)(A) of the National Voter
Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20507(d)(2)(A)) is amended--
(1) in the first sentence, by inserting after ``return the
card'' the following: ``or update the registrant's information
on the computerized Statewide voter registration list using the
online method provided under section 303(a)(6) of the Help
America Vote Act of 2002''; and
(2) in the second sentence, by striking ``returned,'' and
inserting the following: ``returned or if the registrant does
not update the registrant's information on the computerized
Statewide voter registration list using such online method,''.
SEC. 103. PROVISION OF ELECTION INFORMATION BY ELECTRONIC MAIL TO
INDIVIDUALS REGISTERED TO VOTE.
(a) Including Option on Voter Registration Application To Provide
Email Address and Receive Information.--
(1) In general.--Section 9(b) of the National Voter
Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20508(b)) is amended--
(A) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph
(3);
(B) by striking the period at the end of paragraph
(4) and inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
``(5) shall include a space for the applicant to provide
(at the applicant's option) an electronic mail address,
together with a statement that, if the applicant so requests,
instead of using regular mail the appropriate State and local
election officials shall provide to the applicant, through
electronic mail sent to that address, the same voting
information (as defined in section 302(b)(2) of the Help
America Vote Act of 2002) which the officials would provide to
the applicant through regular mail.''.
(2) Prohibiting use for purposes unrelated to official
duties of election officials.--Section 9 of such Act (52 U.S.C.
20508) is amended by adding at the end the following new
subsection:
``(c) Prohibiting Use of Electronic Mail Addresses for Other Than
Official Purposes.--The chief State election official shall ensure that
any electronic mail address provided by an applicant under subsection
(b)(5) is used only for purposes of carrying out official duties of
election officials and is not transmitted by any State or local
election official (or any agent of such an official, including a
contractor) to any person who does not require the address to carry out
such official duties and who is not under the direct supervision and
control of a State or local election official.''.
(b) Requiring Provision of Information by Election Officials.--
Section 302(b) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C.
21082(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(3) Provision of other information by electronic mail.--
If an individual who is a registered voter has provided the
State or local election official with an electronic mail
address for the purpose of receiving voting information (as
described in section 9(b)(5) of the National Voter Registration
Act of 1993), the appropriate State or local election official,
through electronic mail transmitted not later than 7 days
before the date of the election for Federal office involved,
shall provide the individual with information on how to obtain
the following information by electronic means:
``(A) The name and address of the polling place at
which the individual is assigned to vote in the
election.
``(B) The hours of operation for the polling place.
``(C) A description of any identification or other
information the individual may be required to present
at the polling place.''.
SEC. 104. CLARIFICATION OF REQUIREMENT REGARDING NECESSARY INFORMATION
TO SHOW ELIGIBILITY TO VOTE.
Section 8 of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C.
20507) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (j) as subsection (k); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (i) the following new
subsection:
``(j) Requirement for State To Register Applicants Providing
Necessary Information To Show Eligibility To Vote.--For purposes
meeting the requirement of subsection (a)(1) that an eligible applicant
is registered to vote in an election for Federal office within the
deadlines required under such subsection, the State shall consider an
applicant to have provided a `valid voter registration form' if--
``(1) the applicant has substantially completed the
application form and attested to the statement required by
section 9(b)(2); and
``(2) in the case of an applicant who registers to vote
online in accordance with section 6A, the applicant provides a
signature in accordance with subsection (c) of such section.''.
SEC. 105. PROHIBITING STATE FROM REQUIRING APPLICANTS TO PROVIDE MORE
THAN LAST 4 DIGITS OF SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER.
(a) Form Included With Application for Motor Vehicle Driver's
License.--Section 5(c)(2)(B)(ii) of the National Voter Registration Act
of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20504(c)(2)(B)(ii)) is amended by striking the
semicolon at the end and inserting the following: ``, and to the extent
that the application requires the applicant to provide a Social
Security number, may not require the applicant to provide more than the
last 4 digits of such number;''.
(b) National Mail Voter Registration Form.--Section 9(b)(1) of such
Act (52 U.S.C. 20508(b)(1)) is amended by striking the semicolon at the
end and inserting the following: ``, and to the extent that the form
requires the applicant to provide a Social Security number, the form
may not require the applicant to provide more than the last 4 digits of
such number;''.
SEC. 106. APPLICATION OF RULES TO CERTAIN EXEMPT STATES.
Section 4 of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C.
20503) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(c) Application of Internet Voter Registration Rules.--
Notwithstanding subsection (b), the following provisions shall apply to
a State described in paragraph (2) thereof:
``(1) Section 6A (as added by section 1001(a) of the Voter
Registration Modernization Act of 2021).
``(2) Section 8(a)(1)(D) (as added by section 1001(c)(1) of
the Voter Registration Modernization Act of 2021).
``(3) Section 8(a)(5) (as amended by section 1001(c)(2) of
Voter Registration Modernization Act of 2021), but only to the
extent such provision relates to section 6A.
``(4) Section 8(j) (as added by section 1004 of the Voter
Registration Modernization Act of 2021), but only to the extent
such provision relates to section 6A.''.
SEC. 107. EFFECTIVE DATE.
(a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), the
amendments made by this subtitle (other than the amendments made by
section 104) shall take effect January 1, 2025.
(b) Waiver.--Subject to the approval of the Election Assistance
Commission, if a State certifies to the Election Assistance Commission
that the State will not meet the deadline referred to in subsection (a)
because of extraordinary circumstances and includes in the
certification the reasons for the failure to meet the deadline,
subsection (a) shall apply to the State as if the reference in such
subsection to ``January 1, 2025'' were a reference to ``January 1,
2027''.
Subtitle B--Automatic Voter Registration
SEC. 111. SHORT TITLE; FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.
(a) Short Title.--This subtitle may be cited as the ``Automatic
Voter Registration Act of 2024''.
(b) Findings and Purpose.--
(1) Findings.--Congress finds that--
(A) the right to vote is a fundamental right of
citizens of the United States;
(B) it is the responsibility of the State and
Federal Governments to ensure that every eligible
citizen is registered to vote;
(C) existing voter registration systems can be
inaccurate, costly, inaccessible and confusing, with
damaging effects on voter participation in elections
for Federal office and disproportionate impacts on
young people, persons with disabilities, and racial and
ethnic minorities; and
(D) voter registration systems must be updated with
21st century technologies and procedures to maintain
their security.
(2) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this subtitle--
(A) to establish that it is the responsibility of
government at every level to ensure that all eligible
citizens are registered to vote in elections for
Federal office;
(B) to enable the State and Federal Governments to
register all eligible citizens to vote with accurate,
cost-efficient, and up-to-date procedures;
(C) to modernize voter registration and list
maintenance procedures with electronic and internet
capabilities; and
(D) to protect and enhance the integrity, accuracy,
efficiency, and accessibility of the electoral process
for all eligible citizens.
SEC. 112. AUTOMATIC REGISTRATION OF ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS.
(a) Requiring States To Establish and Operate Automatic
Registration System.--
(1) In general.--The chief State election official of each
State shall establish and operate a system of automatic
registration for the registration of eligible individuals to
vote for elections for Federal office in the State, in
accordance with the provisions of this subtitle.
(2) Definition.--The term ``automatic registration'' means
a system that registers an individual to vote in elections for
Federal office in a State, if eligible, by electronically
transferring the information necessary for registration from
government agencies to election officials of the State so that,
unless the individual affirmatively declines to be registered,
the individual will be registered to vote in such elections.
(b) Registration of Voters Based on New Agency Records.--The chief
State election official shall--
(1) not later than 15 days after a contributing agency has
transmitted information with respect to an individual pursuant
to section 113, ensure that the individual is registered to
vote in elections for Federal office in the State if the
individual is eligible to be registered to vote in such
elections; and
(2) not later than 120 days after a contributing agency has
transmitted such information with respect to the individual,
send written notice to the individual, in addition to other
means of notice established by this subtitle, of the
individual's voter registration status.
(c) One-Time Registration of Voters Based on Existing Contributing
Agency Records.--The chief State election official shall--
(1) identify all individuals whose information is
transmitted by a contributing agency pursuant to section 114
and who are eligible to be, but are not currently, registered
to vote in that State;
(2) promptly send each such individual written notice, in
addition to other means of notice established by this subtitle,
which shall not identify the contributing agency that
transmitted the information but shall include--
(A) an explanation that voter registration is
voluntary, but if the individual does not decline
registration, the individual will be registered to
vote;
(B) a statement offering the opportunity to decline
voter registration through means consistent with the
requirements of this subtitle;
(C) in the case of a State in which affiliation or
enrollment with a political party is required in order
to participate in an election to select the party's
candidate in an election for Federal office, a
statement offering the individual the opportunity to
affiliate or enroll with a political party or to
decline to affiliate or enroll with a political party,
through means consistent with the requirements of this
subtitle;
(D) the substantive qualifications of an elector in
the State as listed in the mail voter registration
application form for elections for Federal office
prescribed pursuant to section 9 of the National Voter
Registration Act of 1993, the consequences of false
registration, and a statement that the individual
should decline to register if the individual does not
meet all those qualifications;
(E) instructions for correcting any erroneous
information; and
(F) instructions for providing any additional
information which is listed in the mail voter
registration application form for elections for Federal
office prescribed pursuant to section 9 of the National
Voter Registration Act of 1993;
(3) ensure that each such individual who is eligible to
register to vote in elections for Federal office in the State
is promptly registered to vote not later than 45 days after the
official sends the individual the written notice under
paragraph (2), unless, during the 30-day period which begins on
the date the election official sends the individual such
written notice, the individual declines registration in
writing, through a communication made over the internet, or by
an officially logged telephone communication; and
(4) send written notice to each such individual, in
addition to other means of notice established by this subtitle,
of the individual's voter registration status.
(d) Treatment of Individuals Under 18 Years of Age.--A State may
not refuse to treat an individual as an eligible individual for
purposes of this subtitle on the grounds that the individual is less
than 18 years of age at the time a contributing agency receives
information with respect to the individual, so long as the individual
is at least 16 years of age at such time. Nothing in the previous
sentence may be construed to require a State to permit an individual
who is under 18 years of age at the time of an election for Federal
office to vote in the election.
(e) Contributing Agency Defined.--In this subtitle, the term
``contributing agency'' means, with respect to a State, an agency
listed in section 113(e).
SEC. 113. CONTRIBUTING AGENCY ASSISTANCE IN REGISTRATION.
(a) In General.--In accordance with this subtitle, each
contributing agency in a State shall assist the State's chief election
official in registering to vote all eligible individuals served by that
agency.
(b) Requirements for Contributing Agencies.--
(1) Instructions on automatic registration.--Except as
otherwise provided in this section, with each application for
service or assistance, and with each related recertification,
renewal, or change of address, or, in the case of a covered
institution of higher education, upon initial enrollment of an
in-State student, each contributing agency (other than a
contributing agency described in subsection (e)(1)(B)(ii)) that
(in the normal course of its operations) requests individuals
to affirm United States citizenship (either directly or as part
of the overall application for service or assistance or
enrollment) shall inform each such individual who is a citizen
of the United States of the following:
(A) Unless that individual declines to register to
vote, or is found ineligible to vote, the individual
will be registered to vote or, if applicable, the
individual's registration will be updated.
(B) The substantive qualifications of an elector in
the State as listed in the mail voter registration
application form for elections for Federal office
prescribed pursuant to section 9 of the National Voter
Registration Act of 1993, the consequences of false
registration, and the individual should decline to
register if the individual does not meet all those
qualifications.
(C) In the case of a State in which affiliation or
enrollment with a political party is required in order
to participate in an election to select the party's
candidate in an election for Federal office, the
requirement that the individual must affiliate or
enroll with a political party in order to participate
in such an election.
(D) Voter registration is voluntary, and neither
registering nor declining to register to vote will in
any way affect the availability of services or
benefits, nor be used for other purposes.
(2) Opportunity to decline registration required.--Except
as otherwise provided in this section, each contributing agency
shall ensure that each application for service or assistance,
and each related recertification, renewal, or change of
address, cannot be completed until the individual is given the
opportunity to decline to be registered to vote.
(3) Information transmittal.--Upon the expiration of the
30-day period which begins on the date a contributing agency as
described in paragraph (1) informs an individual of the
information described in such paragraph, unless the individual
has declined to be registered to vote or informs the agency
that they are already registered to vote, each contributing
agency shall electronically transmit to the appropriate State
election official, in a format compatible with the statewide
voter database maintained under section 303 of the Help America
Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21083), the following information:
(A) The individual's given name(s) and surname(s).
(B) The individual's date of birth.
(C) The individual's residential address.
(D) Information showing that the individual is a
citizen of the United States.
(E) The date on which information pertaining to
that individual was collected or last updated.
(F) If available, the individual's signature in
electronic form.
(G) Except in the case in which the contributing
agency is a covered institution of higher education, in
the case of a State in which affiliation or enrollment
with a political party is required in order to
participate in an election to select the party's
candidate in an election for Federal office,
information regarding the individual's affiliation or
enrollment with a political party, but only if the
individual provides such information.
(H) Any additional information listed in the mail
voter registration application form for elections for
Federal office prescribed pursuant to section 9 of the
National Voter Registration Act of 1993, including any
valid driver's license number or the last 4 digits of
the individual's Social Security number, if the
individual provided such information.
(c) Alternate Procedure for Certain Contributing Agencies.--
(1) In general.--With each application for service or
assistance, and with each related recertification, renewal, or
change of address, a contributing agency described in paragraph
(2) shall--
(A) complete the requirements of section 7(a)(6) of
the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C.
20506(a)(6));
(B) ensure that each applicant's transaction with
the agency cannot be completed until the applicant has
indicated whether the applicant wishes to register to
vote or declines to register to vote in elections for
Federal office held in the State; and
(C) for each individual who wishes to register to
vote, transmit that individual's information in
accordance with subsection (b)(3).
(2) Contributing agencies described.--The following
contributing agencies are described in this paragraph:
(A) Any contributing agency (other than a
contributing agency that is a covered institution of
higher education) that in the normal course of its
operations does not request individuals applying for
service or assistance to affirm United States
citizenship (either directly or as part of the overall
application for service or assistance).
(B) A contributing agency described in subsection
(e)(1)(B)(ii).
(d) Required Availability of Automatic Registration Opportunity
With Each Application for Service or Assistance.--Each contributing
agency shall offer each individual, with each application for service
or assistance, and with each related recertification, renewal, or
change of address, or in the case of an institution of higher
education, upon initial enrollment of a student, the opportunity to
register to vote as prescribed by this section without regard to
whether the individual previously declined a registration opportunity.
(e) Contributing Agencies.--
(1) State agencies.--In each State, each of the following
agencies shall be treated as a contributing agency:
(A) Each agency in a State that is required by
Federal law to provide voter registration services,
including the State motor vehicle authority and other
voter registration agencies under the National Voter
Registration Act of 1993.
(B) Each agency in a State that administers a
program pursuant to--
(i) title III of the Social Security Act
(42 U.S.C. 501 et seq.);
(ii) title XIX of the Social Security Act
(42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.); or
(iii) the Patient Protection and Affordable
Care Act (Public Law 111-148).
(C) Each State agency primarily responsible for
regulating the private possession of firearms.
(D) Each State agency primarily responsible for
maintaining identifying information for students
enrolled at public secondary schools, including, where
applicable, the State agency responsible for
maintaining the education data system described in
section 6201(e)(2) of the America COMPETES Act (20
U.S.C. 9871(e)(2)).
(E) In the case of a State in which an individual
disenfranchised by a criminal conviction may become
eligible to vote upon completion of a criminal sentence
or any part thereof, or upon formal restoration of
rights, the State agency responsible for administering
that sentence, or part thereof, or that restoration of
rights.
(F) Any other agency of the State which is
designated by the State as a contributing agency.
(2) Federal agencies.--In each State, each of the following
agencies of the Federal Government shall be treated as a
contributing agency with respect to individuals who are
residents of that State (except as provided in subparagraph
(C)):
(A) The Social Security Administration, the
Department of Veterans Affairs, the Defense Manpower
Data Center of the Department of Defense, the Employee
and Training Administration of the Department of Labor,
and the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services of the
Department of Health and Human Services.
(B) The Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration
Services, but only with respect to individuals who have
completed the naturalization process.
(C) In the case of an individual who is a resident
of a State in which an individual disenfranchised by a
criminal conviction under Federal law may become
eligible to vote upon completion of a criminal sentence
or any part thereof, or upon formal restoration of
rights, the Federal agency responsible for
administering that sentence or part thereof (without
regard to whether the agency is located in the same
State in which the individual is a resident), but only
with respect to individuals who have completed the
criminal sentence or any part thereof.
(D) Any other agency of the Federal government
which the State designates as a contributing agency,
but only if the State and the head of the agency
determine that the agency collects information
sufficient to carry out the responsibilities of a
contributing agency under this section.
(3) Institutions of higher education.--
(A) In general.--Each covered institution of higher
education shall be treated as a contributing agency in
the State in which the institution is located with
respect to in-State students.
(B) Procedures for institutions of higher
education.--Notwithstanding section 444 of the General
Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1232g; commonly
referred to as the ``Family Educational Rights and
Privacy Act of 1974'') or any other provision of law,
each covered institution of higher education shall
comply with the requirements of subsection (b) with
respect to each in-State student. In complying with
such requirements, an institution of higher education--
(i) may use information provided in the
Free Application for Federal Student Aid
described in section 483 of the Higher
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.1090) to
collect information described in paragraph (3)
of such subsection (b) for purposes of
transmitting such information to the
appropriate State election official pursuant to
such paragraph;
(ii) shall not be required to prevent or
delay students from enrolling in a course of
study or otherwise impede the completion of the
enrollment process;
(iii) shall not request information on the
affiliation or enrollment with a political
party of a student in accordance with
subsection (b)(3)(G); and
(iv) shall not withhold, delay, or impede
the provision of Federal financial aid provided
under title IV of the Higher Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq.).
(C) Clarification.--Nothing in this subtitle shall
be construed to require an institution of higher
education to request each student affirm whether or not
the student is a United States citizen or otherwise
collect information with respect to citizenship.
(4) Publication.--Not later than 180 days prior to the date
of each election for Federal office held in the State, the
chief State election official shall publish on the public
website of the official an updated list of all contributing
agencies in that State.
(5) Public education.--The chief State election official of
each State, in collaboration with each contributing agency,
shall take appropriate measures to educate the public about
voter registration under this section.
(6) Permitting state medicaid agencies to share information
with election officials for voter registration purposes.--
Section 1902(a)(7)(A) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
1396a(a)(7)(A)) is amended--
(A) in clause (i), by striking ``; and'' and
inserting a semicolon; and
(B) by adding at the end the following new clause:
``(iii) the provision to an appropriate
State election official, in accordance with
subsection (c) of section 113 of the Automatic
Voter Registration Act of 2021, of information
described in subsection (b)(3) of such section
with respect to an applicant or recipient;
and''.
(f) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Covered institution of higher education.--The term
``covered institution of higher education'' means an
institution of higher education that--
(A) has a program participation agreement in effect
with the Secretary of Education under section 487 of
the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1094); and
(B) is located in a State to which section 4(b)(1)
of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52
U.S.C. 20503(b)(1)) does not apply.
(2) In-state student.--The term ``in-State student''--
(A) means a student enrolled in a covered
institution of higher education who, for purposes
related to in-State tuition, financial aid eligibility,
or other similar purposes, resides in the State; and
(B) includes a student described in subparagraph
(A) who is enrolled in a program of distance education,
as defined in section 103 of the Higher Education Act
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1003).
SEC. 114. ONE-TIME CONTRIBUTING AGENCY ASSISTANCE IN REGISTRATION OF
ELIGIBLE VOTERS IN EXISTING RECORDS.
(a) Initial Transmittal of Information.--For each individual
already listed in a contributing agency's records as of the date of
enactment of this Act, and for whom the agency has the information
listed in section 113(b)(3), the agency shall promptly transmit that
information to the appropriate State election official in accordance
with section 113(b)(3) not later than the effective date described in
section 121(a).
(b) Transition.--For each individual listed in a contributing
agency's records as of the effective date described in section 121(a)
(but who was not listed in a contributing agency's records as of the
date of enactment of this Act), and for whom the agency has the
information listed in section 113(b)(3), the Agency shall promptly
transmit that information to the appropriate State election official in
accordance with section 113(b)(3) not later than 6 months after the
effective date described in section 121(a).
SEC. 115. VOTER PROTECTION AND SECURITY IN AUTOMATIC REGISTRATION.
(a) Protections for Errors in Registration.--An individual shall
not be prosecuted under any Federal or State law, adversely affected in
any civil adjudication concerning immigration status or naturalization,
or subject to an allegation in any legal proceeding that the individual
is not a citizen of the United States on any of the following grounds:
(1) The individual notified an election office of the
individual's automatic registration to vote under this
subtitle.
(2) The individual is not eligible to vote in elections for
Federal office but was automatically registered to vote under
this subtitle.
(3) The individual was automatically registered to vote
under this subtitle at an incorrect address.
(4) The individual declined the opportunity to register to
vote or did not make an affirmation of citizenship, including
through automatic registration, under this subtitle.
(b) Limits on Use of Automatic Registration.--The automatic
registration of any individual or the fact that an individual declined
the opportunity to register to vote or did not make an affirmation of
citizenship (including through automatic registration) under this
subtitle may not be used as evidence against that individual in any
State or Federal law enforcement proceeding, and an individual's lack
of knowledge or willfulness of such registration may be demonstrated by
the individual's testimony alone.
(c) Protection of Election Integrity.--Nothing in subsections (a)
or (b) may be construed to prohibit or restrict any action under color
of law against an individual who--
(1) knowingly and willfully makes a false statement to
effectuate or perpetuate automatic voter registration by any
individual; or
(2) casts a ballot knowingly and willfully in violation of
State law or the laws of the United States.
(d) Contributing Agencies' Protection of Information.--Nothing in
this subtitle authorizes a contributing agency to collect, retain,
transmit, or publicly disclose any of the following:
(1) An individual's decision to decline to register to vote
or not to register to vote.
(2) An individual's decision not to affirm his or her
citizenship.
(3) Any information that a contributing agency transmits
pursuant to section 113(b)(3), except in pursuing the agency's
ordinary course of business.
(e) Election Officials' Protection of Information.--
(1) Public disclosure prohibited.--
(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), with
respect to any individual for whom any State election
official receives information from a contributing
agency, the State election officials shall not publicly
disclose any of the following:
(i) The identity of the contributing
agency.
(ii) Any information not necessary to voter
registration.
(iii) Any voter information otherwise
shielded from disclosure under State law or
section 8(a) of the National Voter Registration
Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20507(a)).
(iv) Any portion of the individual's Social
Security number.
(v) Any portion of the individual's motor
vehicle driver's license number.
(vi) The individual's signature.
(vii) The individual's telephone number.
(viii) The individual's email address.
(B) Special rule for individuals registered to
vote.--With respect to any individual for whom any
State election official receives information from a
contributing agency and who, on the basis of such
information, is registered to vote in the State under
this subtitle, the State election officials shall not
publicly disclose any of the following:
(i) The identity of the contributing
agency.
(ii) Any information not necessary to voter
registration.
(iii) Any voter information otherwise
shielded from disclosure under State law or
section 8(a) of the National Voter Registration
Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20507(a)).
(iv) Any portion of the individual's Social
Security number.
(v) Any portion of the individual's motor
vehicle driver's license number.
(vi) The individual's signature.
(2) Voter record changes.--Each State shall maintain for at
least 2 years and shall make available for public inspection
(and, where available, photocopying at a reasonable cost),
including in electronic form and through electronic methods,
all records of changes to voter records, including removals,
the reasons for removals, and updates.
(3) Database management standards.--The Director of the
National Institute of Standards and Technology shall, after
providing the public with notice and the opportunity to
comment--
(A) establish standards governing the comparison of
data for voter registration list maintenance purposes,
identifying as part of such standards the specific data
elements, the matching rules used, and how a State may
use the data to determine and deem that an individual
is ineligible under State law to vote in an election,
or to deem a record to be a duplicate or outdated;
(B) ensure that the standards developed pursuant to
this paragraph are uniform and nondiscriminatory and
are applied in a uniform and nondiscriminatory manner;
and
(C) not later than 45 days after the deadline for
public notice and comment, publish the standards
developed pursuant to this paragraph on the Director's
website and make those standards available in written
form upon request.
(4) Security policy.--The Director of the National
Institute of Standards and Technology shall, after providing
the public with notice and the opportunity to comment, publish
privacy and security standards for voter registration
information not later than 45 days after the deadline for
public notice and comment. The standards shall require the
chief State election official of each State to adopt a policy
that shall specify--
(A) each class of users who shall have authorized
access to the computerized statewide voter registration
list, specifying for each class the permission and
levels of access to be granted, and setting forth other
safeguards to protect the privacy, security, and
accuracy of the information on the list; and
(B) security safeguards to protect personal
information transmitted through the information
transmittal processes of section 113 or section 114,
the online system used pursuant to section 6A of the
National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (as added by
section 101), any telephone interface, the maintenance
of the voter registration database, and any audit
procedure to track access to the system.
(5) State compliance with national standards.--
(A) Certification.--The chief executive officer of
the State shall annually file with the Election
Assistance Commission a statement certifying to the
Director of the National Institute of Standards and
Technology that the State is in compliance with the
standards referred to in paragraphs (3) and (4). A
State may meet the requirement of the previous sentence
by filing with the Commission a statement which reads
as follows: ``_____ hereby certifies that it is in
compliance with the standards referred to in paragraphs
(3) and (4) of section 115(e) of the Automatic Voter
Registration Act of 2021.'' (with the blank to be
filled in with the name of the State involved).
(B) Publication of policies and procedures.--The
chief State election official of a State shall publish
on the official's website the policies and procedures
established under this section, and shall make those
policies and procedures available in written form upon
public request.
(C) Funding dependent on certification.--If a State
does not timely file the certification required under
this paragraph, it shall not receive any payment under
this subtitle for the upcoming fiscal year.
(D) Compliance of states that require changes to
state law.--In the case of a State that requires State
legislation to carry out an activity covered by any
certification submitted under this paragraph, for a
period of not more than 2 years the State shall be
permitted to make the certification notwithstanding
that the legislation has not been enacted at the time
the certification is submitted, and such State shall
submit an additional certification once such
legislation is enacted.
(f) Restrictions on Use of Information.--No person acting under
color of law may discriminate against any individual based on, or use
for any purpose other than voter registration, election administration,
or enforcement relating to election crimes, any of the following:
(1) Voter registration records.
(2) An individual's declination to register to vote or
complete an affirmation of citizenship under section 113(b).
(3) An individual's voter registration status.
(g) Prohibition on the Use of Voter Registration Information for
Commercial Purposes.--Information collected under this subtitle shall
not be used for commercial purposes. Nothing in this subsection may be
construed to prohibit the transmission, exchange, or dissemination of
information for political purposes, including the support of campaigns
for election for Federal, State, or local public office or the
activities of political committees (including committees of political
parties) under the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971.
SEC. 116. REGISTRATION PORTABILITY AND CORRECTION.
(a) Correcting Registration Information at Polling Place.--
Notwithstanding section 302(a) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52
U.S.C. 21082(a)), if an individual is registered to vote in elections
for Federal office held in a State, the appropriate election official
at the polling place for any such election (including a location used
as a polling place on a date other than the date of the election) shall
permit the individual to--
(1) update the individual's address for purposes of the
records of the election official;
(2) correct any incorrect information relating to the
individual, including the individual's name and political party
affiliation, in the records of the election official; and
(3) cast a ballot in the election on the basis of the
updated address or corrected information, and to have the
ballot treated as a regular ballot and not as a provisional
ballot under section 302(a) of such Act.
(b) Updates to Computerized Statewide Voter Registration Lists.--If
an election official at the polling place receives an updated address
or corrected information from an individual under subsection (a), the
official shall ensure that the address or information is promptly
entered into the computerized Statewide voter registration list in
accordance with section 303(a)(1)(A)(vi) of the Help America Vote Act
of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21083(a)(1)(A)(vi)).
SEC. 117. PAYMENTS AND GRANTS.
(a) In General.--The Election Assistance Commission shall make
grants to each eligible State to assist the State in implementing the
requirements of this subtitle (or, in the case of an exempt State, in
implementing its existing automatic voter registration program).
(b) Eligibility; Application.--A State is eligible to receive a
grant under this section if the State submits to the Commission, at
such time and in such form as the Commission may require, an
application containing--
(1) a description of the activities the State will carry
out with the grant;
(2) an assurance that the State shall carry out such
activities without partisan bias and without promoting any
particular point of view regarding any issue; and
(3) such other information and assurances as the Commission
may require.
(c) Amount of Grant; Priorities.--The Commission shall determine
the amount of a grant made to an eligible State under this section. In
determining the amounts of the grants, the Commission shall give
priority to providing funds for those activities which are most likely
to accelerate compliance with the requirements of this subtitle (or, in
the case of an exempt State, which are most likely to enhance the
ability of the State to automatically register individuals to vote
through its existing automatic voter registration program), including--
(1) investments supporting electronic information transfer,
including electronic collection and transfer of signatures,
between contributing agencies and the appropriate State
election officials;
(2) updates to online or electronic voter registration
systems already operating as of the date of the enactment of
this Act;
(3) introduction of online voter registration systems in
jurisdictions in which those systems did not previously exist;
and
(4) public education on the availability of new methods of
registering to vote, updating registration, and correcting
registration.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--
(1) Authorization.--There are authorized to be appropriated
to carry out this section--
(A) $500,000,000 for fiscal year 2025; and
(B) such sums as may be necessary for each
succeeding fiscal year.
(2) Continuing availability of funds.--Any amounts
appropriated pursuant to the authority of this subsection shall
remain available without fiscal year limitation until expended.
SEC. 118. TREATMENT OF EXEMPT STATES.
(a) Waiver of Requirements.--Except as provided in subsection (b),
this subtitle does not apply with respect to an exempt State.
(b) Exceptions.--The following provisions of this subtitle apply
with respect to an exempt State:
(1) Section 116 (relating to registration portability and
correction).
(2) Section 117 (relating to payments and grants).
(3) Section 119(e) (relating to enforcement).
(4) Section 119(f) (relating to relation to other laws).
SEC. 119. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.
(a) Accessibility of Registration Services.--Each contributing
agency shall ensure that the services it provides under this subtitle
are made available to individuals with disabilities to the same extent
as services are made available to all other individuals.
(b) Transmission Through Secure Third Party Permitted.--Nothing in
this subtitle shall be construed to prevent a contributing agency from
contracting with a third party to assist the agency in meeting the
information transmittal requirements of this subtitle, so long as the
data transmittal complies with the applicable requirements of this
subtitle, including the privacy and security provisions of section 115.
(c) Nonpartisan, Nondiscriminatory Provision of Services.--The
services made available by contributing agencies under this subtitle
and by the State under sections 115 and 116 shall be made in a manner
consistent with paragraphs (4), (5), and (6)(C) of section 7(a) of the
National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20506(a)).
(d) Notices.--Each State may send notices under this subtitle via
electronic mail if the individual has provided an electronic mail
address and consented to electronic mail communications for election-
related materials. All notices sent pursuant to this subtitle that
require a response must offer the individual notified the opportunity
to respond at no cost to the individual.
(e) Enforcement.--Section 11 of the National Voter Registration Act
of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20510), relating to civil enforcement and the
availability of private rights of action, shall apply with respect to
this subtitle in the same manner as such section applies to such Act.
(f) Relation to Other Laws.--Except as provided, nothing in this
subtitle may be construed to authorize or require conduct prohibited
under, or to supersede, restrict, or limit the application of any of
the following:
(1) The Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 10301 et
seq.).
(2) The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act
(52 U.S.C. 20301 et seq.).
(3) The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C.
20501 et seq.).
(4) The Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 20901 et
seq.).
SEC. 120. DEFINITIONS.
In this subtitle, the following definitions apply:
(1) The term ``chief State election official'' means, with
respect to a State, the individual designated by the State
under section 10 of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993
(52 U.S.C. 20509) to be responsible for coordination of the
State's responsibilities under such Act.
(2) The term ``Commission'' means the Election Assistance
Commission.
(3) The term ``exempt State'' means a State which, under
law which is in effect continuously on and after the date of
the enactment of this Act, operates a system of automatic
registration (as defined in section 112(a)(2)) at the motor
vehicle authority of the State or a Permanent Dividend Fund of
the State under which an individual is provided the opportunity
to decline registration during the transaction or by way of a
notice sent by mail or electronically after the transaction.
(4) The term ``State'' means each of the several States and
the District of Columbia.
SEC. 121. EFFECTIVE DATE.
(a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), this
subtitle and the amendments made by this subtitle shall apply with
respect to a State beginning January 1, 2026.
(b) Waiver.--Subject to the approval of the Commission, if a State
certifies to the Commission that the State will not meet the deadline
referred to in subsection (a) because of extraordinary circumstances
and includes in the certification the reasons for the failure to meet
the deadline, subsection (a) shall apply to the State as if the
reference in such subsection to ``January 1, 2026'' were a reference to
``January 1, 2028''.
Subtitle C--Same Day Voter Registration
SEC. 131. SAME DAY REGISTRATION.
(a) In General.--Title III of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52
U.S.C. 21081 et seq.) is amended--
(1) by redesignating sections 304 and 305 as sections 305
and 306, respectively; and
(2) by inserting after section 303 the following new
section:
``SEC. 304. SAME DAY REGISTRATION.
``(a) In General.--
``(1) Registration.--Each State shall permit any eligible
individual on the day of a Federal election and on any day when
voting, including early voting, is permitted for a Federal
election--
``(A) to register to vote in such election at the
polling place using a form that meets the requirements
under section 9(b) of the National Voter Registration
Act of 1993 (or, if the individual is already
registered to vote, to revise any of the individual's
voter registration information); and
``(B) to cast a vote in such election.
``(2) Exception.--The requirements under paragraph (1)
shall not apply to a State in which, under a State law in
effect continuously on and after the date of the enactment of
this section, there is no voter registration requirement for
individuals in the State with respect to elections for Federal
office.
``(b) Eligible Individual.--For purposes of this section, the term
`eligible individual' means, with respect to any election for Federal
office, an individual who is otherwise qualified to vote in that
election.
``(c) Effective Date.--Each State shall be required to comply with
the requirements of subsection (a) for the regularly scheduled general
election for Federal office occurring in November 2026 and for any
subsequent election for Federal office.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment Relating to Enforcement.--Section 401 of
such Act (52 U.S.C. 21111) is amended by striking ``sections 301, 302,
and 303'' and inserting ``subtitle A of title III''.
(c) Clerical Amendments.--The table of contents of such Act is
amended--
(1) by redesignating the items relating to sections 304 and
305 as relating to sections 305 and 306, respectively; and
(2) by inserting after the item relating to section 303 the
following new item:
``Sec. 304. Same day registration.''.
Subtitle D--Conditions on Removal on Basis of Interstate Cross-Checks
SEC. 141. CONDITIONS ON REMOVAL OF REGISTRANTS FROM OFFICIAL LIST OF
ELIGIBLE VOTERS ON BASIS OF INTERSTATE CROSS-CHECKS.
(a) Minimum Information Required for Removal Under Cross-Check.--
Section 8(c)(2) of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52
U.S.C. 20507(c)(2)) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (D);
and
(2) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following new
subparagraphs:
``(B) To the extent that the program carried out by a State under
subparagraph (A) to systematically remove the names of ineligible
voters from the official lists of eligible voters uses information
obtained in an interstate cross-check, in addition to any other
conditions imposed under this Act on the authority of the State to
remove the name of the voter from such a list, the State may not remove
the name of the voter from such a list unless--
``(i) the State obtained the voter's full name (including
the voter's middle name, if any) and date of birth, and the
last 4 digits of the voter's Social Security number, in the
interstate cross-check; or
``(ii) the State obtained documentation from the ERIC
system that the voter is no longer a resident of the State.
``(C) In this paragraph--
``(i) the term `interstate cross-check' means the
transmission of information from an election official in one
State to an election official of another State; and
``(ii) the term `ERIC system' means the system operated by
the Electronic Registration Information Center to share voter
registration information and voter identification information
among participating States.''.
(b) Requiring Completion of Cross-Checks Not Later Than 6 Months
Prior to Election.--Subparagraph (A) of section 8(c)(2) of such Act (52
U.S.C. 20507(c)(2)) is amended by striking ``not later than 90 days''
and inserting the following: ``not later than 90 days (or, in the case
of a program in which the State uses interstate cross-checks, not later
than 6 months)''.
(c) Conforming Amendment.--Subparagraph (D) of section 8(c)(2) of
such Act (52 U.S.C. 20507(c)(2)), as redesignated by subsection (a)(1),
is amended by striking ``Subparagraph (A)'' and inserting ``This
paragraph''.
(d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this Act shall apply
with respect to elections held on or after the expiration of the 6-
month period which begins on the date of the enactment of this Act.
Subtitle E--Other Initiatives To Promote Voter Registration
SEC. 151. BIENNIAL REPORTS ON VOTER REGISTRATION STATISTICS.
(a) Annual Report.--Not later than 90 days after the end of each
even-numbered year, each State shall submit to the Election Assistance
Commission a report containing the following categories of information
for the preceding 2 years:
(1) The number of individuals who were registered under
subtitle B.
(2) The number of voter registration application forms
completed by individuals that were transmitted by motor vehicle
authorities in the State (pursuant to section 5(d) of the
National Voter Registration Act of 1993) and voter registration
agencies in the State (as designated under section 7 of such
Act) to the chief State election official of the State, broken
down by each such authority and agency.
(3) The number of such individuals whose voter registration
application forms were accepted and who were registered to vote
in the State and the number of such individuals whose forms
were rejected and who were not registered to vote in the State,
broken down by each such authority and agency.
(4) The number of change of address forms and other forms
of information indicating that an individual's identifying
information has been changed that were transmitted by such
motor vehicle authorities and voter registration agencies to
the chief State election official of the State, broken down by
each such authority and agency and the type of form
transmitted.
(5) The number of individuals on the Statewide computerized
voter registration list (as established and maintained under
section 303 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002) whose voter
registration information was revised by the chief State
election official as a result of the forms transmitted to the
official by such motor vehicle authorities and voter
registration agencies (as described in paragraph (3)), broken
down by each such authority and agency and the type of form
transmitted.
(6) The number of individuals who requested the chief State
election official to revise voter registration information on
such list, and the number of individuals whose information was
revised as a result of such a request.
(b) Breakdown of Information.--In preparing the report under this
section, the State shall, for each category of information described in
subsection (a), include a breakdown by race, ethnicity, age, and gender
of the individuals whose information is included in the category, to
the extent that information on the race, ethnicity, age, and gender of
such individuals is available to the State.
(c) Confidentiality of Information.--In preparing and submitting a
report under this section, the chief State election official shall
ensure that no information regarding the identification of any
individual is revealed.
(d) Submission to Congress.--Not later than 10 days after receiving
a report under subsection (a), the Election Assistance Commission shall
transmit such report to Congress.
(e) State Defined.--In this section, a ``State'' includes the
District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United
States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of
the Northern Mariana Islands, but does not include any State in which,
under a State law in effect continuously on and after the date of the
enactment of this Act, there is no voter registration requirement for
individuals in the State with respect to elections for Federal office.
(f) Sense of Congress.--It is the Sense of Congress that for any
State participating in the Election Administration and Voting Survey
administered by the Election Assistance Commission, the Commission
should use the information submitted in the report under subsection (a)
as part of the State's participation in the survey.
SEC. 152. ENSURING PRE-ELECTION REGISTRATION DEADLINES ARE CONSISTENT
WITH TIMING OF LEGAL PUBLIC HOLIDAYS.
(a) In General.--Section 8(a)(1) of the National Voter Registration
Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20507(a)(1)) is amended by striking ``30 days''
each place it appears and inserting ``28 days''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall
apply with respect to elections held in 2025 or any succeeding year.
SEC. 153. USE OF POSTAL SERVICE HARD COPY CHANGE OF ADDRESS FORM TO
REMIND INDIVIDUALS TO UPDATE VOTER REGISTRATION.
(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Postmaster General shall modify any hard
copy change of address form used by the United States Postal Service so
that such form contains a reminder that any individual using such form
should update the individual's voter registration as a result of any
change in address.
(b) Application.--The requirement in subsection (a) shall not apply
to any electronic version of a change of address form used by the
United States Postal Service.
SEC. 154. GRANTS TO STATES FOR ACTIVITIES TO ENCOURAGE INVOLVEMENT OF
MINORS IN ELECTION ACTIVITIES.
(a) Grants.--
(1) In general.--The Election Assistance Commission
(hereafter in this section referred to as the ``Commission'')
shall make grants to eligible States to enable such States to
carry out a plan to increase the involvement of individuals
under 18 years of age in public election activities in the
State.
(2) Contents of plans.--A State's plan under this
subsection shall include--
(A) methods to promote the use of pre-registration
processes;
(B) modifications to the curriculum of secondary
schools in the State to promote civic engagement; and
(C) such other activities to encourage the
involvement of young people in the electoral process as
the State considers appropriate.
(b) Eligibility.--A State is eligible to receive a grant under this
section if the State submits to the Commission, at such time and in
such form as the Commission may require, an application containing--
(1) a description of the State's plan under subsection (a);
(2) a description of the performance measures and targets
the State will use to determine its success in carrying out the
plan; and
(3) such other information and assurances as the Commission
may require.
(c) Period of Grant; Report.--
(1) Period of grant.--A State receiving a grant under this
section shall use the funds provided by the grant over a 2-year
period agreed to between the State and the Commission.
(2) Report.--Not later than 6 months after the end of the
2-year period agreed to under paragraph (1), the State shall
submit to the Commission a report on the activities the State
carried out with the funds provided by the grant, and shall
include in the report an analysis of the extent to which the
State met the performance measures and targets included in its
application under subsection (b)(2).
(d) State Defined.--In this section, the term ``State'' means each
of the several States and the District of Columbia.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated for grants under this section $25,000,000, to remain
available until expended.
Subtitle F--Availability of HAVA Requirements Payments
SEC. 161. AVAILABILITY OF REQUIREMENTS PAYMENTS UNDER HAVA TO COVER
COSTS OF COMPLIANCE WITH NEW REQUIREMENTS.
(a) In General.--Section 251(b) of the Help America Vote Act of
2002 (52 U.S.C. 21001(b)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``as provided in
paragraphs (2) and (3)'' and inserting ``as otherwise provided
in this subsection''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(4) Certain voter registration activities.--
Notwithstanding paragraph (3), a State may use a requirements
payment to carry out any of the requirements of the Voter
Registration Modernization Act of 2024, including the
requirements of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993
which are imposed pursuant to the amendments made to such Act
by the Voter Registration Modernization Act of 2024.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 254(a)(1) of such Act (52 U.S.C.
21004(a)(1)) is amended by striking ``section 251(a)(2)'' and inserting
``section 251(b)(2)''.
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply with respect to fiscal year 2025 and each succeeding fiscal year.
Subtitle G--Prohibiting Interference With Voter Registration
SEC. 171. PROHIBITING HINDERING, INTERFERING WITH, OR PREVENTING VOTER
REGISTRATION.
(a) In General.--Chapter 29 of title 18, United States Code is
amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 612. Hindering, interfering with, or preventing registering to
vote
``(a) Prohibition.--It shall be unlawful for any person, whether
acting under color of law or otherwise, to corruptly hinder, interfere
with, or prevent another person from registering to vote or to
corruptly hinder, interfere with, or prevent another person from aiding
another person in registering to vote.
``(b) Attempt.--Any person who attempts to commit any offense
described in subsection (a) shall be subject to the same penalties as
those prescribed for the offense that the person attempted to commit.
``(c) Penalty.--Any person who violates subsection (a) shall be
fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 29 of
title 18, United States Code is amended by adding at the end the
following new item:
``612. Hindering, interfering with, or preventing registering to
vote.''.
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply with respect to elections held on or after the date of the
enactment of this Act, except that no person may be found to have
violated section 612 of title 18, United States Code (as added by
subsection (a)), on the basis of any act occurring prior to the date of
the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 172. ESTABLISHMENT OF BEST PRACTICES.
(a) Best Practices.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Election Assistance Commission shall develop
and publish recommendations for best practices for States to use to
deter and prevent violations of section 612 of title 18, United States
Code (as added by section 171), and section 12 of the National Voter
Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20511) (relating to the unlawful
interference with registering to vote, or voting, or attempting to
register to vote or vote), including practices to provide for the
posting of relevant information at polling places and voter
registration agencies under such Act, the training of poll workers and
election officials, and relevant educational materials. For purposes of
this subsection, the term ``State'' includes the District of Columbia,
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the United
States Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands.
(b) Inclusion in Voter Information Requirements.--Section 302(b)(2)
of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21082(b)(2)) is
amended--
(1) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (E);
(2) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (F)
and inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
``(G) information relating to the prohibitions of
section 612 of title 18, United States Code, and
section 12 of the National Voter Registration Act of
1993 (52 U.S.C. 20511) (relating to the unlawful
interference with registering to vote, or voting, or
attempting to register to vote or vote), including
information on how individuals may report allegations
of violations of such prohibitions.''.
Subtitle H--Voter Registration Efficiency Act
SEC. 181. SHORT TITLE.
This subtitle may be cited as the ``Voter Registration Efficiency
Act''.
SEC. 182. REQUIRING APPLICANTS FOR MOTOR VEHICLE DRIVER'S LICENSES IN
NEW STATE TO INDICATE WHETHER STATE SERVES AS RESIDENCE
FOR VOTER REGISTRATION PURPOSES.
(a) Requirements for Applicants for Licenses.--Section 5(d) of the
National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20504(d)) is
amended--
(1) by striking ``Any change'' and inserting ``(1) Any
change''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(2)(A) A State motor vehicle authority shall require each
individual applying for a motor vehicle driver's license in the
State--
``(i) to indicate whether the individual
resides in another State or resided in another
State prior to applying for the license, and,
if so, to identify the State involved; and
``(ii) to indicate whether the individual
intends for the State to serve as the
individual's residence for purposes of
registering to vote in elections for Federal
office.
``(B) If pursuant to subparagraph (A)(ii) an
individual indicates to the State motor vehicle
authority that the individual intends for the State to
serve as the individual's residence for purposes of
registering to vote in elections for Federal office,
the authority shall notify the motor vehicle authority
of the State identified by the individual pursuant to
subparagraph (A)(i), who shall notify the chief State
election official of such State that the individual no
longer intends for that State to serve as the
individual's residence for purposes of registering to
vote in elections for Federal office.''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall
take effect with respect to elections occurring in 2025 or any
succeeding year.
Subtitle I--Providing Voter Registration Information to Secondary
School Students
SEC. 191. PILOT PROGRAM FOR PROVIDING VOTER REGISTRATION INFORMATION TO
SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS PRIOR TO GRADUATION.
(a) Pilot Program.--The Election Assistance Commission (hereafter
in this subtitle referred to as the ``Commission'') shall carry out a
pilot program under which the Commission shall provide funds during the
one-year period beginning after the date of the enactment of this
subtitle to eligible local educational agencies for initiatives to
provide information on registering to vote in elections for public
office to secondary school students in the 12th grade.
(b) Eligibility.--A local educational agency is eligible to receive
funds under the pilot program under this subtitle if the agency submits
to the Commission, at such time and in such form as the Commission may
require, an application containing--
(1) a description of the initiatives the agency intends to
carry out with the funds;
(2) an estimate of the costs associated with such
initiatives; and
(3) such other information and assurances as the Commission
may require.
(c) Consultation With Election Officials.--A local educational
agency receiving funds under the pilot program shall consult with the
State and local election officials who are responsible for
administering elections for public office in the area served by the
agency in developing the initiatives the agency will carry out with the
funds.
(d) Definitions.--In this subtitle, the terms ``local educational
agency'' and ``secondary school'' have the meanings given such terms in
section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 7801).
SEC. 192. REPORTS.
(a) Reports by Recipients of Funds.--Not later than the expiration
of the 90-day period which begins on the date of the receipt of the
funds, each local educational agency receiving funds under the pilot
program under this subtitle shall submit a report to the Commission
describing the initiatives carried out with the funds and analyzing
their effectiveness.
(b) Report by Commission.--Not later than the expiration of the 60-
day period which begins on the date the Commission receives the final
report submitted by a local educational agency under subsection (a),
the Commission shall submit a report to Congress on the pilot program
under this subtitle.
SEC. 193. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be
necessary to carry out this subtitle.
Subtitle J--Voter Registration of Minors
SEC. 194. ACCEPTANCE OF VOTER REGISTRATION APPLICATIONS FROM
INDIVIDUALS UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE.
(a) Acceptance of Applications.--Section 8 of the National Voter
Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20507), as amended by section 104,
is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (k) as subsection (l); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (j) the following new
subsection:
``(k) Acceptance of Applications From Individuals Under 18 Years of
Age.--
``(1) In general.--A State may not refuse to accept or
process an individual's application to register to vote in
elections for Federal office on the grounds that the individual
is under 18 years of age at the time the individual submits the
application, so long as the individual is at least 16 years of
age at such time.
``(2) No effect on state voting age requirements.--Nothing
in paragraph (1) may be construed to require a State to permit
an individual who is under 18 years of age at the time of an
election for Federal office to vote in the election.''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall
apply with respect to elections occurring on or after January 1, 2025.
TITLE II--ACCESS TO VOTING FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES
SEC. 201. REQUIREMENTS FOR STATES TO PROMOTE ACCESS TO VOTER
REGISTRATION AND VOTING FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH
DISABILITIES.
(a) Requirements.--Subtitle A of title III of the Help America Vote
Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.), as amended by section 131(a), is
amended--
(1) by redesignating sections 305 and 306 as sections 306
and 307, respectively; and
(2) by inserting after section 304 the following new
section:
``SEC. 305. ACCESS TO VOTER REGISTRATION AND VOTING FOR INDIVIDUALS
WITH DISABILITIES.
``(a) Treatment of Applications and Ballots.--Each State shall--
``(1) ensure that absentee registration forms, absentee
ballot applications, and absentee ballots that are available
electronically are accessible (as defined in section 306);
``(2) permit individuals with disabilities to use absentee
registration procedures and to vote by absentee ballot in
elections for Federal office;
``(3) accept and process, with respect to any election for
Federal office, any otherwise valid voter registration
application and absentee ballot application from an individual
with a disability if the application is received by the
appropriate State election official within the deadline for the
election which is applicable under Federal law;
``(4) in addition to any other method of registering to
vote or applying for an absentee ballot in the State, establish
procedures--
``(A) for individuals with disabilities to request
by mail and electronically voter registration
applications and absentee ballot applications with
respect to elections for Federal office in accordance
with subsection (c);
``(B) for States to send by mail and electronically
(in accordance with the preferred method of
transmission designated by the individual under
subparagraph (C)) voter registration applications and
absentee ballot applications requested under
subparagraph (A) in accordance with subsection (c); and
``(C) by which such an individual can designate
whether the individual prefers that such voter
registration application or absentee ballot application
be transmitted by mail or electronically;
``(5) in addition to any other method of transmitting blank
absentee ballots in the State, establish procedures for
transmitting by mail and electronically blank absentee ballots
to individuals with disabilities with respect to elections for
Federal office in accordance with subsection (d);
``(6) transmit a validly requested absentee ballot to an
individual with a disability--
``(A) except as provided in subsection (e), in the
case in which the request is received at least 45 days
before an election for Federal office, not later than
45 days before the election; and
``(B) in the case in which the request is received
less than 45 days before an election for Federal
office--
``(i) in accordance with State law; and
``(ii) if practicable and as determined
appropriate by the State, in a manner that
expedites the transmission of such absentee
ballot; and
``(7) if the State declares or otherwise holds a runoff
election for Federal office, establish a written plan that
provides absentee ballots are made available to individuals
with disabilities in a manner that gives them sufficient time
to vote in the runoff election.
``(b) Designation of Single State Office To Provide Information on
Registration and Absentee Ballot Procedures for Voters With
Disabilities in State.--
``(1) In general.--Each State shall designate a single
office which shall be responsible for providing information
regarding voter registration procedures, absentee ballot
procedures, and in-person voting procedures to be used by
individuals with disabilities with respect to elections for
Federal office to all individuals with disabilities who wish to
register to vote or vote in any jurisdiction in the State.
``(2) Responsibilities.--Each State shall, through the
office designated in paragraph (1)--
``(A) provide information to election officials--
``(i) on how to set up and operate
accessible voting systems; and
``(ii) regarding the accessibility of
voting procedures, including guidance on
compatibility with assistive technologies such
as screen readers and ballot marking devices;
``(B) integrate information on accessibility,
accommodations, disability, and older individuals into
regular training materials for poll workers and
election administration officials;
``(C) train poll workers on how to make polling
places accessible for individuals with disabilities and
older individuals;
``(D) promote the hiring of individuals with
disabilities and older individuals as poll workers and
election staff; and
``(E) publicly post the results of any audits to
determine the accessibility of polling places no later
than 6 months after the completion of the audit.
``(c) Designation of Means of Electronic Communication for
Individuals With Disabilities To Request and for States To Send Voter
Registration Applications and Absentee Ballot Applications, and for
Other Purposes Related to Voting Information.--
``(1) In general.--Each State shall, in addition to the
designation of a single State office under subsection (b),
designate not less than 1 means of accessible electronic
communication--
``(A) for use by individuals with disabilities who
wish to register to vote or vote in any jurisdiction in
the State to request voter registration applications
and absentee ballot applications under subsection
(a)(4);
``(B) for use by States to send voter registration
applications and absentee ballot applications requested
under such subsection; and
``(C) for the purpose of providing related voting,
balloting, and election information to individuals with
disabilities.
``(2) Clarification regarding provision of multiple means
of electronic communication.--A State may, in addition to the
means of electronic communication so designated, provide
multiple means of electronic communication to individuals with
disabilities, including a means of electronic communication for
the appropriate jurisdiction of the State.
``(3) Inclusion of designated means of electronic
communication with informational and instructional materials
that accompany balloting materials.--Each State shall include a
means of electronic communication so designated with all
informational and instructional materials that accompany
balloting materials sent by the State to individuals with
disabilities.
``(4) Transmission if no preference indicated.--In the case
where an individual with a disability does not designate a
preference under subsection (a)(4)(C), the State shall transmit
the voter registration application or absentee ballot
application by any delivery method allowable in accordance with
applicable State law, or if there is no applicable State law,
by mail.
``(d) Transmission of Blank Absentee Ballots by Mail and
Electronically.--
``(1) In general.--Each State shall establish procedures--
``(A) to securely transmit blank absentee ballots
by mail and electronically (in accordance with the
preferred method of transmission designated by the
individual with a disability under subparagraph (B)) to
individuals with disabilities for an election for
Federal office; and
``(B) by which the individual with a disability can
designate whether the individual prefers that such
blank absentee ballot be transmitted by mail or
electronically.
``(2) Transmission if no preference indicated.--In the case
where an individual with a disability does not designate a
preference under paragraph (1)(B), the State shall transmit the
ballot by any delivery method allowable in accordance with
applicable State law, or if there is no applicable State law,
by mail.
``(3) Application of methods to track delivery to and
return of ballot by individual requesting ballot.--Under the
procedures established under paragraph (1), the State shall
apply such methods as the State considers appropriate, such as
assigning a unique identifier to the ballot, to ensure that if
an individual with a disability requests the State to transmit
a blank absentee ballot to the individual in accordance with
this subsection, the voted absentee ballot which is returned by
the individual is the same blank absentee ballot which the
State transmitted to the individual.
``(e) Hardship Exemption.--
``(1) In general.--If the chief State election official
determines that the State is unable to meet the requirement
under subsection (a)(6)(A) with respect to an election for
Federal office due to an undue hardship described in paragraph
(2)(B), the chief State election official shall request that
the Attorney General grant a waiver to the State of the
application of such subsection. Such request shall include--
``(A) a recognition that the purpose of such
subsection is to individuals with disabilities enough
time to vote in an election for Federal office;
``(B) an explanation of the hardship that indicates
why the State is unable to transmit such individuals an
absentee ballot in accordance with such subsection;
``(C) the number of days prior to the election for
Federal office that the State requires absentee ballots
be transmitted to such individuals; and
``(D) a comprehensive plan to ensure that such
individuals are able to receive absentee ballots which
they have requested and submit marked absentee ballots
to the appropriate State election official in time to
have that ballot counted in the election for Federal
office, which includes--
``(i) the steps the State will undertake to
ensure that such individuals have time to
receive, mark, and submit their ballots in time
to have those ballots counted in the election;
``(ii) why the plan provides such
individuals sufficient time to vote as a
substitute for the requirements under such
subsection; and
``(iii) the underlying factual information
which explains how the plan provides such
sufficient time to vote as a substitute for
such requirements.
``(2) Approval of waiver request.--The Attorney General
shall approve a waiver request under paragraph (1) if the
Attorney General determines each of the following requirements
are met:
``(A) The comprehensive plan under subparagraph (D)
of such paragraph provides individuals with
disabilities sufficient time to receive absentee
ballots they have requested and submit marked absentee
ballots to the appropriate State election official in
time to have that ballot counted in the election for
Federal office.
``(B) One or more of the following issues creates
an undue hardship for the State:
``(i) The State's primary election date
prohibits the State from complying with
subsection (a)(6)(A).
``(ii) The State has suffered a delay in
generating ballots due to a legal contest.
``(iii) The State Constitution prohibits
the State from complying with such subsection.
``(3) Timing of waiver.--
``(A) In general.--Except as provided under
subparagraph (B), a State that requests a waiver under
paragraph (1) shall submit to the Attorney General the
written waiver request not later than 90 days before
the election for Federal office with respect to which
the request is submitted. The Attorney General shall
approve or deny the waiver request not later than 65
days before such election.
``(B) Exception.--If a State requests a waiver
under paragraph (1) as the result of an undue hardship
described in paragraph (2)(B)(ii), the State shall
submit to the Attorney General the written waiver
request as soon as practicable. The Attorney General
shall approve or deny the waiver request not later than
5 business days after the date on which the request is
received.
``(4) Application of waiver.--A waiver approved under
paragraph (2) shall only apply with respect to the election for
Federal office for which the request was submitted. For each
subsequent election for Federal office, the Attorney General
shall only approve a waiver if the State has submitted a
request under paragraph (1) with respect to such election.
``(f) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section may be
construed to allow a voter's ballot selections to be transmitted over
the internet or to allow for the electronic submission of a marked
ballot.
``(g) Individual With a Disability Defined.--In this section, an
`individual with a disability' means an individual with an impairment
that substantially limits any major life activities and who is
otherwise qualified to vote in elections for Federal office.
``(h) Effective Date.--This section shall apply with respect to
elections for Federal office held on or after January 1, 2025.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment Relating to Issuance of Voluntary Guidance
by Election Assistance Commission.--
(1) Timing of issuance.--Section 311(b) of such Act (52
U.S.C. 21101(b)) is amended--
(A) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph
(2);
(B) by striking the period at the end of paragraph
(3) and inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
``(4) in the case of the recommendations with respect to
section 305, January 1, 2025.''.
(2) Redesignation.--Title III of such Act (52 U.S.C. 21081
et seq.) is amended by redesignating sections 311 and 312 as
sections 321 and 322, respectively.
(c) Clerical Amendments.--The table of contents of such Act, as
amended by section 131(c)), is amended--
(1) by redesignating the items relating to sections 305 and
306 as relating to sections 306 and 307, respectively; and
(2) by inserting after the item relating to section 304 the
following new item:
``Sec. 305. Access to voter registration and voting for individuals
with disabilities.''.
SEC. 202. ESTABLISHMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF STATE ACCESSIBLE ELECTION
WEBSITES.
(a) In General.--Subtitle A of title III of the Help America Vote
Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.), as amended by section 131(a) and
section 201(a), is amended--
(1) by redesignating sections 306 and 307 as sections 307
and 308, respectively; and
(2) by inserting after section 305 the following:
``SEC. 306. ESTABLISHMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF ACCESSIBLE ELECTION
WEBSITES.
``(a) In General.--Each State shall establish a single election
website that is accessible and meets the following requirements:
``(1) Local election officials.--The website shall provide
local election officials, poll workers, and volunteers with--
``(A) guidance to ensure that polling places are
accessible for individuals with disabilities and older
individuals in a manner that provides the same
opportunity for access and participation (including
privacy and independence) as for other voters; and
``(B) online training and resources on--
``(i) how best to promote the access and
participation of individuals with disabilities
and older individuals in elections for public
office; and
``(ii) the voting rights and protections
for individuals with disabilities and older
individuals under State and Federal law.
``(2) Voters.--The website shall provide information about
voting, including--
``(A) the accessibility of all polling places
within the State, including outreach programs to inform
individuals about the availability of accessible
polling places;
``(B) how to register to vote and confirm voter
registration in the State;
``(C) the location and operating hours of all
polling places in the State;
``(D) the availability of aid or assistance for
individuals with disabilities and older individuals to
cast their vote in a manner that provides the same
opportunity for access and participation (including
privacy and independence) as for other voters at
polling places;
``(E) the availability of transportation aid or
assistance to the polling place for individuals with
disabilities or older individuals;
``(F) the rights and protections under State and
Federal law for individuals with disabilities and older
individuals to participate in elections; and
``(G) how to contact State, local, and Federal
officials with complaints or grievances if individuals
with disabilities, older individuals, Native Americans,
Alaska Natives, and individuals with limited
proficiency in the English language feel their ability
to register to vote or vote has been blocked or
delayed.
``(b) Partnership With Outside Technical Organization.--The chief
State election official of each State, through the committee of
appropriate individuals under subsection (c)(2), shall partner with an
outside technical organization with demonstrated experience in
establishing accessible and easy to use accessible election websites
to--
``(1) update an existing election website to make it fully
accessible in accordance with this section; or
``(2) develop an election website that is fully accessible
in accordance with this section.
``(c) State Plan.--
``(1) Development.--The chief State election official of
each State shall, through a committee of appropriate
individuals as described in paragraph (2), develop a State plan
that describes how the State and local governments will meet
the requirements under this section.
``(2) Committee membership.--The committee shall comprise
at least the following individuals:
``(A) The chief election officials of the four most
populous jurisdictions within the State.
``(B) The chief election officials of the four
least populous jurisdictions within the State.
``(C) Representatives from two disability advocacy
groups, including at least one such representative who
is an individual with a disability.
``(D) Representatives from two older individual
advocacy groups, including at least one such
representative who is an older individual.
``(E) Representatives from two independent non-
governmental organizations with expertise in
establishing and maintaining accessible websites.
``(F) Representatives from two independent non-
governmental voting rights organizations.
``(G) Representatives from State protection and
advocacy systems as defined in section 102 of the
Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of
Rights Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 15002).
``(d) Partnership To Monitor and Verify Accessibility.--The chief
State election official of each eligible State, through the committee
of appropriate individuals under subsection (c)(2), shall partner with
at least two of the following organizations to monitor and verify the
accessibility of the election website and the completeness of the
election information and the accuracy of the disability information
provided on such website:
``(1) University Centers for Excellence in Developmental
Disabilities Education, Research, and Services designated under
section 151(a) of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and
Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 15061(a)).
``(2) Centers for Independent Living, as described in part
C of title VII of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C.
796f et seq.).
``(3) A State Council on Developmental Disabilities
described in section 125 of the Developmental Disabilities
Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 15025).
``(4) State protection and advocacy systems as defined in
section 102 of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and
Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 15002).
``(5) Statewide Independent Living Councils established
under section 705 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C.
796d).
``(6) State Assistive Technology Act Programs.
``(7) A visual access advocacy organization.
``(8) An organization for the deaf.
``(9) A mental health organization.
``(e) Definitions.--For purposes of this section, section 305, and
section 307:
``(1) Accessible.--The term `accessible' means--
``(A) in the case of the election website under
subsection (a) or an electronic communication under
section 305--
``(i) that the functions and content of the
website or electronic communication, including
all text, visual, and aural content, are as
accessible to people with disabilities as to
those without disabilities;
``(ii) that the functions and content of
the website or electronic communication are
accessible to individuals with limited
proficiency in the English language; and
``(iii) that the website or electronic
communication meets, at a minimum, conformance
to Level AA of the Web Content Accessibility
Guidelines 2.0 of the Web Accessibility
Initiative (or any successor guidelines); and
``(B) in the case of a facility (including a
polling place), that the facility is readily accessible
to and usable by individuals with disabilities and
older individuals, as determined under the 2010 ADA
Standards for Accessible Design adopted by the
Department of Justice (or any successor standards).
``(2) Individual with a disability.--The term `individual
with a disability' means an individual with a disability, as
defined in section 3 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of
1990 (42 U.S.C. 12102), and who is otherwise qualified to vote
in elections for Federal office.
``(3) Older individual.--The term `older individual' means
an individual who is 60 years of age or older and who is
otherwise qualified to vote in elections for Federal office.
``(4) State.--The term `State' means a State of the United
States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico, and any territory or possession of the United States.
``(f) Effective Date.--This section shall apply on or after January
1, 2025.''.
(b) Voluntary Guidance.--Section 321(b)(4) such Act (52 U.S.C.
21101(b)), as added and redesignated by section 201(b), is amended by
striking ``section 305'' and inserting ``sections 305 and 306''.
(c) Clerical Amendments.--The table of contents of such Act, as
amended by section 131(c) and section 201(c), is amended--
(1) by redesignating the items relating to sections 306 and
307 as relating to sections 307 and 308, respectively; and
(2) by inserting after the item relating to section 305 the
following new item:
``Sec. 306. Establishment and maintenance of accessible election
websites.''.
SEC. 203. PROTECTIONS FOR IN-PERSON VOTING FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH
DISABILITIES AND OLDER INDIVIDUALS.
(a) Requirement.--
(1) In general.--Subtitle A of title III of the Help
America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.), as amended
by section 131(a), section 201(a), and section 202(a), is
amended--
(A) by redesignating sections 307 and 308 as
sections 308 and 309, respectively; and
(B) by inserting after section 306 the following:
``SEC. 307. ACCESS TO VOTING FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES AND
OLDER INDIVIDUALS.
``(a) In General.--Each State shall--
``(1) ensure all polling places within the State are
accessible, as defined in section 306;
``(2) consider procedures to address long wait times at
polling places that allow individuals with disabilities and
older individuals alternate options to cast a ballot in person
in an election for Federal office, such as the option to cast a
ballot outside of the polling place or from a vehicle, or
providing an expedited voting line; and
``(3) consider options to establish `mobile polling sites'
to allow election officials or volunteers to travel to long-
term care facilities and assist residents who request
assistance in casting a ballot in order to maintain the privacy
and independence of voters in these facilities.
``(b) Clarification.--Nothing in this section may be construed to
alter the requirements under Federal law that all polling places for
Federal elections are accessible to individuals with disabilities and
older individuals.
``(c) Effective Date.--This section shall apply with respect to
elections for Federal office held on or after January 1, 2027.''.
(2) Voluntary guidance.--Section 321(b)(4) such Act (52
U.S.C. 21101(b)), as added and redesignated by section 201(b)
and as amended by section 202, is amended by striking ``and
306'' and inserting ``, 306, and 307''.
(3) Clerical amendments.--The table of contents of such
Act, as amended by section 131(c), section 201(c), and section
202(c), is amended--
(A) by redesignating the items relating to sections
307 and 308 as relating to sections 308 and 309,
respectively; and
(B) by inserting after the item relating to section
306 the following new item:
``Sec. 307. Access to voting for individuals with disabilities and
older individuals.''.
(b) Revisions to Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and
Handicapped Act.--
(1) Reports to election assistance commission.--Section
3(c) of the Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and
Handicapped Act (52 U.S.C. 20102(c)) is amended--
(A) in the subsection heading, by striking
``Federal Election Commission'' and inserting
``Election Assistance Commission'';
(B) in each of paragraphs (1) and (2), by striking
``Federal Election Commission'' and inserting
``Election Assistance Commission''; and
(C) by striking paragraph (3).
(2) Conforming amendments relating to references.--The
Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act (52
U.S.C. 20101 et seq.), as amended by paragraph (1), is
amended--
(A) by striking ``handicapped and elderly
individuals'' each place it appears and inserting
``individuals with disabilities and older
individuals'';
(B) by striking ``handicapped and elderly voters''
each place it appears and inserting ``individuals with
disabilities and older individuals'';
(C) in section 3(b)(2)(B), by striking
``handicapped or elderly voter'' and inserting
``individual with a disability or older individual'';
(D) in section 5(b), by striking ``handicapped
voter'' and inserting ``individual with a disability'';
and
(E) in section 8--
(i) by striking paragraphs (1) and (2) and
inserting the following:
``(1) `accessible' has the meaning given that term in
section 306 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002, as added by
section 202(a) of the Voter Empowerment Act of 2024;
``(2) `older individual' has the meaning given that term in
such section 306;''; and
(ii) by striking paragraph (4), and
inserting the following:
``(4) `individual with a disability' has the meaning given
that term in such section 306; and''.
(3) Short title amendment.--
(A) In general.--Section 1 of the ``Voting
Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act''
(Public Law 98-435; 42 U.S.C. 1973ee note) is amended
by striking ``for the Elderly and Handicapped'' and
inserting ``for Individuals with Disabilities and Older
Individuals''.
(B) References.--Any reference in any other
provision of law, regulation, document, paper, or other
record of the United States to the ``Voting
Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act''
shall be deemed to be a reference to the ``Voting
Accessibility for Individuals with Disabilities and
Older Individuals Act''.
(4) Effective date.--The amendments made by this subsection
shall take effect on January 1, 2027, and apply to with respect
to elections for Federal office held on or after that date.
SEC. 204. PROTECTIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS SUBJECT TO GUARDIANSHIP.
(a) In General.--Subtitle A of title III of the Help America Vote
Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.), as amended by section 131(a),
section 201(a), section 202(a), and section 203(a)(1), is amended--
(1) by redesignating sections 308 and 309 as sections 309
and 310, respectively; and
(2) by inserting after section 307 the following:
``SEC. 308. PROTECTIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS SUBJECT TO GUARDIANSHIP.
``(a) In General.--A State shall not determine that an individual
lacks the capacity to vote in an election for Federal office on the
ground that the individual is subject to guardianship, unless a court
of competent jurisdiction issues a court order finding by clear and
convincing evidence that the individual cannot communicate, with or
without accommodations, a desire to participate in the voting process.
``(b) Effective Date.--This section shall apply with respect to
elections for Federal office held on or after January 1, 2025.''.
(b) Voluntary Guidance.--Section 321(b)(4) such Act (52 U.S.C.
21101(b)), as added and redesignated by section 201(b) and as amended
by sections 202 and 203, is amended by striking ``and 307'' and
inserting ``307, and 308''.
(c) Clerical Amendments.--The table of contents of such Act, as
amended by section 131(c), section 201(c), section 202(c), and section
203(a)(3), is amended--
(1) by redesignating the items relating to sections 308 and
309 as relating to sections 309 and 310, respectively; and
(2) by inserting after the item relating to section 307 the
following new item:
``Sec. 308. Protections for individuals subject to guardianship.''.
SEC. 205. EXPANSION AND REAUTHORIZATION OF GRANT PROGRAM TO ASSURE
VOTING ACCESS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.
(a) Purposes of Payments.--Section 261(b) of the Help America Vote
Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21021(b)) is amended by striking paragraphs (1)
and (2) and inserting the following:
``(1) making absentee voting and voting at home accessible
to individuals with the full range of disabilities (including
impairments involving vision, hearing, mobility, or dexterity)
through the implementation of accessible absentee voting
systems that work in conjunction with assistive technologies
for which individuals have access at their homes, independent
living centers, or other facilities;
``(2) making polling places, including the path of travel,
entrances, exits, and voting areas of each polling facility,
accessible to individuals with disabilities, including the
blind and visually impaired, in a manner that provides the same
opportunity for access and participation (including privacy and
independence) as for other voters; and
``(3) providing solutions to problems of access to voting
and elections for individuals with disabilities that are
universally designed and provide the same opportunities for
individuals with and without disabilities.''.
(b) Reauthorization.--Section 264(a) of such Act (52 U.S.C.
21024(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(4) For fiscal year 2025 and each succeeding fiscal year,
such sums as may be necessary to carry out this part.''.
(c) Period of Availability of Funds.--Section 264 of such Act (52
U.S.C. 21024) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b), by striking ``Any amounts'' and
inserting ``Except as provided in subsection (b), any
amounts''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(c) Return and Transfer of Certain Funds.--
``(1) Deadline for obligation and expenditure.--In the case
of any amounts appropriated pursuant to the authority of
subsection (a) for a payment to a State or unit of local
government for fiscal year 2025 or any succeeding fiscal year,
any portion of such amounts which have not been obligated or
expended by the State or unit of local government prior to the
expiration of the 4-year period which begins on the date the
State or unit of local government first received the amounts
shall be transferred to the Commission.
``(2) Reallocation of transferred amounts.--
``(A) In general.--The Commission shall use the
amounts transferred under paragraph (1) to make
payments on a pro rata basis to each covered payment
recipient described in subparagraph (B), which may
obligate and expend such payment for the purposes
described in section 261(b) during the 1-year period
which begins on the date of receipt.
``(B) Covered payment recipients described.--In
subparagraph (A), a `covered payment recipient' is a
State or unit of local government with respect to
which--
``(i) amounts were appropriated pursuant to
the authority of subsection (a); and
``(ii) no amounts were transferred to the
Commission under paragraph (1).''.
SEC. 206. APPOINTMENTS TO EAC BOARD OF ADVISORS.
(a) In General.--Section 214(a) of the Help America Vote Act of
2002 (52 U.S.C. 20944(a)) is amended--
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking
``37'' and inserting ``49''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
``(17) Two members appointed by the National Council on
Disability.
``(18) Two members appointed by the Assistant Secretary of
Health and Human Services for Aging.
``(19) Four members from organizations, whose executive
leadership team consists of fifty-one percent of individuals
with disabilities, representing the interests of voters with
disabilities, of whom--
``(A) two members shall be appointed by the
Committee on Education and Labor of the House of
Representatives, of whom one shall be appointed by the
chair and one shall be appointed by the ranking
minority member; and
``(B) two members shall be appointed by the
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of
the Senate, of whom one shall be appointed by the chair
and one shall be appointed by the ranking minority
member.
``(20) Four members from organizations representing the
interests of older voters, of whom--
``(A) two members shall be appointed by the
Committee on Education and Labor of the House of
Representatives, of whom one shall be appointed by the
chair and one shall be appointed by the ranking
minority member; and
``(B) two members shall be appointed by the Special
Committee on Aging of the Senate, of whom one shall be
appointed by the chair and one shall be appointed by
the ranking minority member.''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall
take effect on January 1, 2022.
SEC. 207. PILOT PROGRAMS FOR ENABLING INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES TO
REGISTER TO VOTE PRIVATELY AND INDEPENDENTLY AT
RESIDENCES.
(a) Establishment of Pilot Programs.--The Election Assistance
Commission (hereafter referred to as the ``Commission'') shall, subject
to the availability of appropriations to carry out this section, make
grants to eligible States to conduct pilot programs under which
individuals with disabilities may use electronic means (including the
internet and telephones utilizing assistive devices) to register to
vote and to request and receive absentee ballots in a manner which
permits such individuals to do so privately and independently at their
own residences.
(b) Reports.--
(1) In general.--A State receiving a grant for a year under
this section shall submit a report to the Commission on the
pilot programs the State carried out with the grant with
respect to elections for public office held in the State during
the year.
(2) Deadline.--A State shall submit a report under
paragraph (1) not later than 90 days after the last election
for public office held in the State during the year.
(c) Eligibility.--A State is eligible to receive a grant under this
section if the State submits to the Commission, at such time and in
such form as the Commission may require, an application containing such
information and assurances as the Commission may require.
(d) Timing.--The Commission shall make the first grants under this
section for pilot programs which will be in effect with respect to
elections for Federal office held in 2025, or, at the option of a
State, with respect to other elections for public office held in the
State in 2025.
(e) State Defined.--In this section, the term ``State'' includes
the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam,
American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth
of the Northern Mariana Islands.
SEC. 208. GAO ANALYSIS AND REPORT ON VOTING ACCESS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH
DISABILITIES.
(a) Analysis.--The Comptroller General of the United States shall
conduct an analysis after each regularly scheduled general election for
Federal office with respect to the following:
(1) In relation to polling places located in houses of
worship or other facilities that may be exempt from
accessibility requirements under the Americans with
Disabilities Act--
(A) efforts to overcome accessibility challenges
posed by such facilities; and
(B) the extent to which such facilities are used as
polling places in elections for Federal office.
(2) Assistance provided by the Election Assistance
Commission, Department of Justice, or other Federal agencies to
help State and local officials improve voting access for
individuals with disabilities during elections for Federal
office.
(3) When accessible voting machines are available at a
polling place, the extent to which such machines--
(A) are located in places that are difficult to
access;
(B) malfunction; or
(C) fail to provide sufficient privacy to ensure
that the ballot of the individual cannot be seen by
another individual.
(4) The process by which Federal, State, and local
governments track compliance with accessibility requirements
related to voting access, including methods to receive and
address complaints.
(5) The extent to which poll workers receive training on
how to assist individuals with disabilities, including the
receipt by such poll workers of information on legal
requirements related to voting rights for individuals with
disabilities.
(6) The extent and effectiveness of training provided to
poll workers on the operation of accessible voting machines.
(7) The extent to which individuals with a developmental or
psychiatric disability experience greater barriers to voting,
and whether poll worker training adequately addresses the needs
of such individuals.
(8) The extent to which State or local governments employ,
or attempt to employ, individuals with disabilities to work at
polling sites.
(b) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 9 months after the date of
a regularly scheduled general election for Federal office, the
Comptroller General shall submit to the appropriate
congressional committees a report with respect to the most
recent regularly scheduled general election for Federal office
that contains the following:
(A) The analysis required by subsection (a).
(B) Recommendations, as appropriate, to promote the
use of best practices used by State and local officials
to address barriers to accessibility and privacy
concerns for individuals with disabilities in elections
for Federal office.
(2) Appropriate congressional committees.--For purposes of
this subsection, the term ``appropriate congressional
committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on House Administration of the
House of Representatives;
(B) the Committee on Rules and Administration of
the Senate;
(C) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives; and
(D) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.
TITLE III--PROHIBITING VOTER CAGING
SEC. 301. VOTER CAGING AND OTHER QUESTIONABLE CHALLENGES PROHIBITED.
(a) In General.--Chapter 29 of title 18, United States Code, as
amended by section 171(a), is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``Sec. 613. Voter caging and other questionable challenges
``(a) Definitions.--In this section--
``(1) the term `voter caging document' means--
``(A) a nonforwardable document that is returned to
the sender or a third party as undelivered or
undeliverable despite an attempt to deliver such
document to the address of a registered voter or
applicant; or
``(B) any document with instructions to an
addressee that the document be returned to the sender
or a third party but is not so returned, despite an
attempt to deliver such document to the address of a
registered voter or applicant, unless at least two
Federal election cycles have passed since the date of
the attempted delivery;
``(2) the term `voter caging list' means a list of
individuals compiled from voter caging documents; and
``(3) the term `unverified match list' means a list
produced by matching the information of registered voters or
applicants for voter registration to a list of individuals who
are ineligible to vote in the registrar's jurisdiction, by
virtue of death, conviction, change of address, or otherwise;
unless one of the pieces of information matched includes a
signature, photograph, or unique identifying number ensuring
that the information from each source refers to the same
individual.
``(b) Prohibition Against Voter Caging.--No State or local election
official shall prevent an individual from registering or voting in any
election for Federal office, or permit in connection with any election
for Federal office a formal challenge under State law to an
individual's registration status or eligibility to vote, if the basis
for such decision is evidence consisting of--
``(1) a voter caging document or voter caging list;
``(2) an unverified match list;
``(3) an error or omission on any record or paper relating
to any application, registration, or other act requisite to
voting, if such error or omission is not material to an
individual's eligibility to vote under section 2004(a)(2)(B) of
the Revised Statutes (52 U.S.C. 10101(a)(2)(B)); or
``(4) any other evidence so designated for purposes of this
section by the Election Assistance Commission,
except that the election official may use such evidence if it is
corroborated by independent evidence of the individual's ineligibility
to register or vote.
``(c) Requirements for Challenges by Persons Other Than Election
Officials.--
``(1) Requirements for challenges.--No person, other than a
State or local election official, shall submit a formal
challenge to an individual's eligibility to register to vote in
an election for Federal office or to vote in an election for
Federal office unless that challenge is supported by personal
knowledge regarding the grounds for ineligibility which is--
``(A) documented in writing; and
``(B) subject to an oath or attestation under
penalty of perjury that the challenger has a good faith
factual basis to believe that the individual who is the
subject of the challenge is ineligible to register to
vote or vote in that election, except a challenge which
is based on the race, ethnicity, or national origin of
the individual who is the subject of the challenge may
not be considered to have a good faith factual basis
for purposes of this paragraph.
``(2) Prohibition on challenges on or near date of
election.--No person, other than a State or local election
official, shall be permitted--
``(A) to challenge an individual's eligibility to
vote in an election for Federal office on Election Day,
or
``(B) to challenge an individual's eligibility to
register to vote in an election for Federal office or
to vote in an election for Federal office less than 10
days before the election unless the individual
registered to vote less than 20 days before the
election.
``(d) Penalties for Knowing Misconduct.--Whoever knowingly
challenges the eligibility of one or more individuals to register or
vote or knowingly causes the eligibility of such individuals to be
challenged in violation of this section with the intent that one or
more eligible voters be disqualified, shall be fined under this title
or imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both, for each such violation.
Each violation shall be a separate offense.
``(e) No Effect on Related Laws.--Nothing in this section is
intended to override the protections of the National Voter Registration
Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20501 et seq.) or to affect the Voting Rights
Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 10301 et seq.).''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 29 of
title 18, United States Code, as amended by section 171(b), is amended
by adding at the end the following:
``613. Voter caging and other questionable challenges.''.
SEC. 302. DEVELOPMENT AND ADOPTION OF BEST PRACTICES FOR PREVENTING
VOTER CAGING.
(a) Best Practices.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Election Assistance Commission shall develop
and publish for the use of States recommendations for best practices to
deter and prevent violations of section 613 of title 18, United States
Code, as added by section 301(a), including practices to provide for
the posting of relevant information at polling places and voter
registration agencies, the training of poll workers and election
officials, and relevant educational measures. For purposes of this
subsection, the term ``State'' includes the District of Columbia, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the United States
Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
(b) Inclusion in Voting Information Requirements.--Section
302(b)(2) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21082(b)(2)),
as amended by section 172(b), is amended--
(1) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (F);
(2) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (G)
and inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
``(H) information relating to the prohibition
against voter caging and other questionable challenges
(as set forth in section 613 of title 18, United States
Code), including information on how individuals may
report allegations of violations of such
prohibition.''.
TITLE IV--PROHIBITING DECEPTIVE PRACTICES AND PREVENTING VOTER
INTIMIDATION
SEC. 401. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ``Deceptive Practices and Voter
Intimidation Prevention Act of 2024''.
SEC. 402. PROHIBITION ON DECEPTIVE PRACTICES IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS.
(a) Prohibition.--Subsection (b) of section 2004 of the Revised
Statutes (52 U.S.C. 10101(b)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``No person'' and inserting the following:
``(1) In general.--No person''; and
(2) by inserting at the end the following new paragraphs:
``(2) False statements regarding federal elections.--
``(A) Prohibition.--No person, whether acting under
color of law or otherwise, shall, within 60 days before
an election described in paragraph (5), by any means,
including by means of written, electronic, or
telephonic communications, communicate or cause to be
communicated information described in subparagraph (B),
or produce information described in subparagraph (B)
with the intent that such information be communicated,
if such person--
``(i) knows such information to be
materially false; and
``(ii) has the intent to impede or prevent
another person from exercising the right to
vote in an election described in paragraph (5).
``(B) Information described.--Information is
described in this subparagraph if such information is
regarding--
``(i) the time, place, or manner of holding
any election described in paragraph (5); or
``(ii) the qualifications for or
restrictions on voter eligibility for any such
election, including--
``(I) any criminal penalties
associated with voting in any such
election; or
``(II) information regarding a
voter's registration status or
eligibility.
``(3) False statements regarding public endorsements.--
``(A) Prohibition.--No person, whether acting under
color of law or otherwise, shall, within 60 days before
an election described in paragraph (5), by any means,
including by means of written, electronic, or
telephonic communications, communicate, or cause to be
communicated, a materially false statement about an
endorsement, if such person--
``(i) knows such statement to be false; and
``(ii) has the intent to impede or prevent
another person from exercising the right to
vote in an election described in paragraph (5).
``(B) Definition of `materially false'.--For
purposes of subparagraph (A), a statement about an
endorsement is `materially false' if, with respect to
an upcoming election described in paragraph (5)--
``(i) the statement states that a
specifically named person, political party, or
organization has endorsed the election of a
specific candidate for a Federal office
described in such paragraph; and
``(ii) such person, political party, or
organization has not endorsed the election of
such candidate.
``(4) Hindering, interfering with, or preventing voting or
registering to vote.--No person, whether acting under color of
law or otherwise, shall intentionally hinder, interfere with,
or prevent another person from voting, registering to vote, or
aiding another person to vote or register to vote in an
election described in paragraph (5).
``(5) Election described.--An election described in this
paragraph is any general, primary, run-off, or special election
held solely or in part for the purpose of nominating or
electing a candidate for the office of President, Vice
President, Presidential elector, Member of the Senate, Member
of the House of Representatives, or Delegate or Commissioner
from a Territory or possession.''.
(b) Private Right of Action.--
(1) In general.--Subsection (c) of section 2004 of the
Revised Statutes (52 U.S.C. 10101(c)) is amended--
(A) by striking ``Whenever any person'' and
inserting the following:
``(1) In general.--Whenever any person''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
``(2) Civil action.--Any person aggrieved by a violation of
subsection (b)(2), (b)(3), or (b)(4) may institute a civil
action for preventive relief, including an application in a
United States district court for a permanent or temporary
injunction, restraining order, or other order. In any such
action, the court, in its discretion, may allow the prevailing
party a reasonable attorney's fee as part of the costs.''.
(2) Conforming amendments.--Section 2004 of the Revised
Statutes (52 U.S.C. 10101) is amended--
(A) in subsection (e), by striking ``subsection
(c)'' and inserting ``subsection (c)(1)''; and
(B) in subsection (g), by striking ``subsection
(c)'' and inserting ``subsection (c)(1)''.
(c) Criminal Penalties.--
(1) Deceptive acts.--Section 594 of title 18, United States
Code, is amended--
(A) by striking ``Whoever'' and inserting the
following:
``(a) Intimidation.--Whoever'';
(B) in subsection (a), as inserted by subparagraph
(A), by striking ``at any election'' and inserting ``at
any general, primary, run-off, or special election'';
and
(C) by adding at the end the following new
subsections:
``(b) Deceptive Acts.--
``(1) False statements regarding federal elections.--
``(A) Prohibition.--It shall be unlawful for any
person, whether acting under color of law or otherwise,
within 60 days before an election described in
subsection (e), by any means, including by means of
written, electronic, or telephonic communications, to
communicate or cause to be communicated information
described in subparagraph (B), or produce information
described in subparagraph (B) with the intent that such
information be communicated, if such person--
``(i) knows such information to be
materially false; and
``(ii) has the intent to mislead voters, or
the intent to impede or prevent another person
from exercising the right to vote in an
election described in subsection (e).
``(B) Information described.--Information is
described in this subparagraph if such information is
regarding--
``(i) the time or place of holding any
election described in subsection (e); or
``(ii) the qualifications for or
restrictions on voter eligibility for any such
election, including--
``(I) any criminal penalties
associated with voting in any such
election; or
``(II) information regarding a
voter's registration status or
eligibility.
``(2) Penalty.--Any person who violates paragraph (1) shall
be fined not more than $100,000, imprisoned for not more than 5
years, or both.
``(c) Hindering, Interfering With, or Preventing Voting or
Registering To Vote.--
``(1) Prohibition.--It shall be unlawful for any person,
whether acting under color of law or otherwise, to
intentionally hinder, interfere with, or prevent another person
from voting, registering to vote, or aiding another person to
vote or register to vote in an election described in subsection
(e).
``(2) Penalty.--Any person who violates paragraph (1) shall
be fined not more than $100,000, imprisoned for not more than 5
years, or both.
``(d) Attempt.--Any person who attempts to commit any offense
described in subsection (a), (b)(1), or (c)(1) shall be subject to the
same penalties as those prescribed for the offense that the person
attempted to commit.
``(e) Election Described.--An election described in this subsection
is any general, primary, run-off, or special election held solely or in
part for the purpose of nominating or electing a candidate for the
office of President, Vice President, Presidential elector, Senator,
Member of the House of Representatives, or Delegate or Resident
Commissioner to the Congress.''.
(2) Modification of penalty for voter intimidation.--
Section 594(a) of title 18, United States Code, as amended by
paragraph (1), is amended by striking ``fined under this title
or imprisoned not more than one year'' and inserting ``fined
not more than $100,000, imprisoned for not more than 5 years''.
(3) Sentencing guidelines.--
(A) Review and amendment.--Not later than 180 days
after the date of enactment of this Act, the United
States Sentencing Commission, pursuant to its authority
under section 994 of title 28, United States Code, and
in accordance with this section, shall review and, if
appropriate, amend the Federal sentencing guidelines
and policy statements applicable to persons convicted
of any offense under section 594 of title 18, United
States Code, as amended by this section.
(B) Authorization.--The United States Sentencing
Commission may amend the Federal Sentencing Guidelines
in accordance with the procedures set forth in section
21(a) of the Sentencing Act of 1987 (28 U.S.C. 994
note) as though the authority under that section had
not expired.
(4) Payments for refraining from voting.--Subsection (c) of
section 11 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 10307)
is amended by striking ``either for registration to vote or for
voting'' and inserting ``for registration to vote, for voting,
or for not voting''.
SEC. 403. CORRECTIVE ACTION.
(a) Corrective Action.--
(1) In general.--If the Attorney General receives a
credible report that materially false information has been or
is being communicated in violation of paragraphs (2) and (3) of
section 2004(b) of the Revised Statutes (52 U.S.C. 10101(b)),
as added by section 402(a), and if the Attorney General
determines that State and local election officials have not
taken adequate steps to promptly communicate accurate
information to correct the materially false information, the
Attorney General shall, pursuant to the written procedures and
standards under subsection (b), communicate to the public, by
any means, including by means of written, electronic, or
telephonic communications, accurate information designed to
correct the materially false information.
(2) Communication of corrective information.--Any
information communicated by the Attorney General under
paragraph (1)--
(A) shall--
(i) be accurate and objective;
(ii) consist of only the information
necessary to correct the materially false
information that has been or is being
communicated; and
(iii) to the extent practicable, be by a
means that the Attorney General determines will
reach the persons to whom the materially false
information has been or is being communicated;
and
(B) shall not be designed to favor or disfavor any
particular candidate, organization, or political party.
(b) Written Procedures and Standards for Taking Corrective
Action.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall publish
written procedures and standards for determining when and how
corrective action will be taken under this section.
(2) Inclusion of appropriate deadlines.--The procedures and
standards under paragraph (1) shall include appropriate
deadlines, based in part on the number of days remaining before
the upcoming election.
(3) Consultation.--In developing the procedures and
standards under paragraph (1), the Attorney General shall
consult with the Election Assistance Commission, State and
local election officials, civil rights organizations, voting
rights groups, voter protection groups, and other interested
community organizations.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Attorney General such sums as may be necessary to
carry out this title.
SEC. 404. REPORTS TO CONGRESS.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after each general
election for Federal office, the Attorney General shall submit to
Congress a report compiling all allegations received by the Attorney
General of deceptive practices described in paragraphs (2), (3), and
(4) of section 2004(b) of the Revised Statutes (52 U.S.C. 10101(b)), as
added by section 402(a), relating to the general election for Federal
office and any primary, run-off, or a special election for Federal
office held in the 2 years preceding the general election.
(b) Contents.--
(1) In general.--Each report submitted under subsection (a)
shall include--
(A) a description of each allegation of a deceptive
practice described in subsection (a), including the
geographic location, racial and ethnic composition, and
language minority-group membership of the persons
toward whom the alleged deceptive practice was
directed;
(B) the status of the investigation of each
allegation described in subparagraph (A);
(C) a description of each corrective action taken
by the Attorney General under section 403(a) in
response to an allegation described in subparagraph
(A);
(D) a description of each referral of an allegation
described in subparagraph (A) to other Federal, State,
or local agencies;
(E) to the extent information is available, a
description of any civil action instituted under
section 2004(c)(2) of the Revised Statutes (52 U.S.C.
10101(c)(2)), as added by section 402(b), in connection
with an allegation described in subparagraph (A); and
(F) a description of any criminal prosecution
instituted under section 594 of title 18, United States
Code, as amended by section 402(c), in connection with
the receipt of an allegation described in subparagraph
(A) by the Attorney General.
(2) Exclusion of certain information.--
(A) In general.--The Attorney General shall not
include in a report submitted under subsection (a) any
information protected from disclosure by rule 6(e) of
the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure or any Federal
criminal statute.
(B) Exclusion of certain other information.--The
Attorney General may determine that the following
information shall not be included in a report submitted
under subsection (a):
(i) Any information that is privileged.
(ii) Any information concerning an ongoing
investigation.
(iii) Any information concerning a criminal
or civil proceeding conducted under seal.
(iv) Any other nonpublic information that
the Attorney General determines the disclosure
of which could reasonably be expected to
infringe on the rights of any individual or
adversely affect the integrity of a pending or
future criminal investigation.
(c) Report Made Public.--On the date that the Attorney General
submits the report under subsection (a), the Attorney General shall
also make the report publicly available through the internet and other
appropriate means.
TITLE V--DEMOCRACY RESTORATION
SEC. 501. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ``Democracy Restoration Act of
2024''.
SEC. 502. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The right to vote is the most basic constitutive act of
citizenship. Regaining the right to vote reintegrates
individuals with criminal convictions into free society,
helping to enhance public safety.
(2) Article I, section 4, of the Constitution grants
Congress ultimate supervisory power over Federal elections, an
authority which has repeatedly been upheld by the United States
Supreme Court.
(3) Basic constitutional principles of fairness and equal
protection require an equal opportunity for citizens of the
United States to vote in Federal elections. The right to vote
may not be abridged or denied by the United States or by any
State on account of race, color, gender, or previous condition
of servitude. The 13th, 14th, 15th, 19th, 24th, and 26th
Amendments to the Constitution empower Congress to enact
measures to protect the right to vote in Federal elections. The
8th Amendment to the Constitution provides for no excessive
bail to be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and
unusual punishments inflicted.
(4) There are 3 areas in which discrepancies in State laws
regarding criminal convictions lead to unfairness in Federal
elections--
(A) the lack of a uniform standard for voting in
Federal elections leads to an unfair disparity and
unequal participation in Federal elections based solely
on where a person lives;
(B) laws governing the restoration of voting rights
after a criminal conviction vary throughout the country
and persons in some States can easily regain their
voting rights while in other States persons effectively
lose their right to vote permanently; and
(C) State disenfranchisement laws
disproportionately impact racial and ethnic minorities.
(5) State disenfranchisement laws vary widely. Two States
(Maine and Vermont) and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico do not
disenfranchise individuals with criminal convictions at all. In
2020, the District of Columbia re-enfranchised its citizens who
are under the supervision of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. In
30 States, individuals with convictions may not vote while they
are on parole and 28 of those States disenfranchise individuals
on felony probation as well. In 11 States, a conviction can
result in lifetime disenfranchisement.
(6) Several States deny the right to vote to individuals
convicted of certain misdemeanors.
(7) In 2020, an estimated 5,200,000 citizens of the United
States, or about 1 in 44 adults in the United States, could not
vote as a result of a felony conviction. Of the 5,200,000
citizens barred from voting then, only 24 percent were in
prison. By contrast, 75 percent of persons disenfranchised then
resided in their communities while on probation or parole or
after having completed their sentences. Approximately 2,200,000
citizens who had completed their sentences were disenfranchised
due to restrictive State laws. As of November 2018, the
lifetime ban for persons with certain felony convictions was
eliminated through a Florida ballot initiative. As a result, as
many as 1,400,000 people are now eligible to have their voting
rights restored. In 4 States--Alabama, Florida, Mississippi,
and Tennessee--more than 7 percent of the total population is
disenfranchised.
(8) In those States that disenfranchise individuals post-
sentence, the right to vote can be regained in theory, but in
practice this possibility is often granted in a non-uniform and
potentially discriminatory manner. Disenfranchised individuals
sometimes must either obtain a pardon or an order from the
Governor or an action by the parole or pardon board, depending
on the offense and State. Individuals convicted of a Federal
offense often have additional barriers to regaining voting
rights.
(9) State disenfranchisement laws disproportionately impact
racial and ethnic minorities. In recent years, African
Americans have been imprisoned at over 5 times the rate of
Whites. More than 6 percent of the voting-age African-American
population, or 1,800,000 African Americans, are disenfranchised
due to a felony conviction. In 9 States--Alabama (16 percent),
Arizona (13 percent), Florida (15 percent), Kentucky (15
percent), Mississippi (16 percent), South Dakota (14 percent),
Tennessee (21 percent), Virginia (16 percent), and Wyoming (36
percent)--more than 1 in 8 African Americans are unable to vote
because of a felony conviction, twice the national average for
African Americans.
(10) Latino citizens are also disproportionately
disenfranchised based upon their disproportionate
representation in the criminal justice system. In recent years,
Latinos have been imprisoned at 2.5 times the rate of Whites.
More than 2 percent of the voting-age Latino population, or
560,000 Latinos, are disenfranchised due to a felony
conviction. In 34 states Latinos are disenfranchised at a
higher rate than the general population. In 11 states 4 percent
or more of Latino adults are disenfranchised due to a felony
conviction (Alabama, 4 percent; Arizona, 7 percent; Arkansas, 4
percent; Idaho, 4 percent; Iowa, 4 percent; Kentucky, 6
percent; Minnesota, 4 percent; Mississippi, 5 percent;
Nebraska, 6 percent; Tennessee, 11 percent, Wyoming, 4
percent), twice the national average for Latinos.
(11) Disenfranchising citizens who have been convicted of a
criminal offense and who are living and working in the
community serves no compelling State interest and hinders their
rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
(12) State disenfranchisement laws can suppress electoral
participation among eligible voters by discouraging voting
among family and community members of disenfranchised persons.
Future electoral participation by the children of
disenfranchised parents may be impacted as well.
(13) The United States is one of the only Western
democracies that permits the permanent denial of voting rights
for individuals with felony convictions.
SEC. 503. RIGHTS OF CITIZENS.
The right of an individual who is a citizen of the United States to
vote in any election for Federal office shall not be denied or abridged
because that individual has been convicted of a criminal offense unless
such individual is serving a felony sentence in a correctional
institution or facility at the time of the election.
SEC. 504. ENFORCEMENT.
(a) Attorney General.--The Attorney General may, in a civil action,
obtain such declaratory or injunctive relief as is necessary to remedy
a violation of this title.
(b) Private Right of Action.--
(1) In general.--A person who is aggrieved by a violation
of this title may provide written notice of the violation to
the chief election official of the State involved.
(2) Relief.--Except as provided in paragraph (3), if the
violation is not corrected within 90 days after receipt of a
notice under paragraph (1), or within 20 days after receipt of
the notice if the violation occurred within 120 days before the
date of an election for Federal office, the aggrieved person
may, in a civil action, obtain declaratory or injunctive relief
with respect to the violation.
(3) Exception.--If the violation occurred within 30 days
before the date of an election for Federal office, the
aggrieved person need not provide notice to the chief election
official of the State under paragraph (1) before bringing a
civil action to obtain declaratory or injunctive relief with
respect to the violation.
SEC. 505. NOTIFICATION OF RESTORATION OF VOTING RIGHTS.
(a) State Notification.--
(1) Notification.--On the date determined under paragraph
(2), each State shall--
(A) notify in writing any individual who has been
convicted of a criminal offense under the law of that
State that such individual--
(i) has the right to vote in an election
for Federal office pursuant to the Democracy
Restoration Act of 2024; and
(ii) may register to vote in any such
election; and
(B) provide such individual with any materials that
are necessary to register to vote in any such election.
(2) Date of notification.--
(A) Felony conviction.--In the case of such an
individual who has been convicted of a felony, the
notification required under paragraph (1) shall be
given on the date on which the individual--
(i) is sentenced to serve only a term of
probation; or
(ii) is released from the custody of that
State (other than to the custody of another
State or the Federal Government to serve a term
of imprisonment for a felony conviction).
(B) Misdemeanor conviction.--In the case of such an
individual who has been convicted of a misdemeanor, the
notification required under paragraph (1) shall be
given on the date on which such individual is sentenced
by a State court.
(b) Federal Notification.--
(1) Notification.--Any individual who has been convicted of
a criminal offense under Federal law--
(A) shall be notified in accordance with paragraph
(2) that such individual--
(i) has the right to vote in an election
for Federal office pursuant to the Democracy
Restoration Act of 2024; and
(ii) may register to vote in any such
election; and
(B) shall be provided with any materials that are
necessary to register to vote in any such election.
(2) Date of notification.--
(A) Felony conviction.--In the case of such an
individual who has been convicted of a felony, the
notification required under paragraph (1) shall be
given--
(i) in the case of an individual who is
sentenced to serve only a term of probation, by
the Assistant Director for the Office of
Probation and Pretrial Services of the
Administrative Office of the United States
Courts on the date on which the individual is
sentenced; or
(ii) in the case of any individual
committed to the custody of the Bureau of
Prisons, by the Director of the Bureau of
Prisons, during the period beginning on the
date that is 6 months before such individual is
released and ending on the date such individual
is released from the custody of the Bureau of
Prisons.
(B) Misdemeanor conviction.--In the case of such an
individual who has been convicted of a misdemeanor, the
notification required under paragraph (1) shall be
given on the date on which such individual is sentenced
by a court established by an Act of Congress.
SEC. 506. DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this title:
(1) Correctional institution or facility.--The term
``correctional institution or facility'' means any prison,
penitentiary, jail, or other institution or facility for the
confinement of individuals convicted of criminal offenses,
whether publicly or privately operated, except that such term
does not include any residential community treatment center (or
similar public or private facility).
(2) Election.--The term ``election'' means--
(A) a general, special, primary, or runoff
election;
(B) a convention or caucus of a political party
held to nominate a candidate;
(C) a primary election held for the selection of
delegates to a national nominating convention of a
political party; or
(D) a primary election held for the expression of a
preference for the nomination of persons for election
to the office of President.
(3) Federal office.--The term ``Federal office'' means the
office of President or Vice President of the United States, or
of Senator or Representative in, or Delegate or Resident
Commissioner to, the Congress of the United States.
(4) Probation.--The term ``probation'' means probation,
imposed by a Federal, State, or local court, with or without a
condition on the individual involved concerning--
(A) the individual's freedom of movement;
(B) the payment of damages by the individual;
(C) periodic reporting by the individual to an
officer of the court; or
(D) supervision of the individual by an officer of
the court.
SEC. 507. RELATION TO OTHER LAWS.
(a) State Laws Relating to Voting Rights.--Nothing in this title be
construed to prohibit the States from enacting any State law which
affords the right to vote in any election for Federal office on terms
less restrictive than those established by this title.
(b) Certain Federal Acts.--The rights and remedies established by
this title--
(1) are in addition to all other rights and remedies
provided by law, and
(2) shall not supersede, restrict, or limit the application
of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 10301 et seq.) or
the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20501 et
seq.).
SEC. 508. FEDERAL PRISON FUNDS.
No State, unit of local government, or other person may receive or
use, to construct or otherwise improve a prison, jail, or other place
of incarceration, any Federal funds unless that person has in effect a
program under which each individual incarcerated in that person's
jurisdiction who is a citizen of the United States is notified, upon
release from such incarceration, of that individual's rights under
section 503.
SEC. 509. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This title shall apply to citizens of the United States voting in
any election for Federal office held after the date of the enactment of
this Act.
TITLE VI--PROMOTING ACCURACY, INTEGRITY, AND SECURITY THROUGH VOTER-
VERIFIED PERMANENT PAPER BALLOT
SEC. 601. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ``Voter Confidence and Increased
Accessibility Act of 2024''.
SEC. 602. PAPER BALLOT AND MANUAL COUNTING REQUIREMENTS.
(a) In General.--Section 301(a)(2) of the Help America Vote Act of
2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081(a)(2)) is amended to read as follows:
``(2) Paper ballot requirement.--
``(A) Voter-verified paper ballots.--
``(i) Paper ballot requirement.--(I) The
voting system shall require the use of an
individual, durable, voter-verified paper
ballot of the voter's vote that shall be marked
and made available for inspection and
verification by the voter before the voter's
vote is cast and counted, and which shall be
counted by hand or read by an optical character
recognition device or other counting device.
For purposes of this subclause, the term
`individual, durable, voter-verified paper
ballot' means a paper ballot marked by the
voter by hand or a paper ballot marked through
the use of a nontabulating ballot marking
device or system, so long as the voter shall
have the option to mark his or her ballot by
hand.
``(II) The voting system shall provide the
voter with an opportunity to correct any error
on the paper ballot before the permanent voter-
verified paper ballot is preserved in
accordance with clause (ii).
``(III) The voting system shall not
preserve the voter-verified paper ballots in
any manner that makes it possible, at any time
after the ballot has been cast, to associate a
voter with the record of the voter's vote
without the voter's consent.
``(IV) The voting system shall prevent,
through mechanical means or through
independently verified protections, the
modification or addition of vote selections on
a printed or marked ballot at any time after
the voter has been provided an opportunity to
correct errors on the ballot pursuant to
subclause (II).
``(ii) Preservation as official record.--
The individual, durable, voter-verified paper
ballot used in accordance with clause (i) shall
constitute the official ballot and shall be
preserved and used as the official ballot for
purposes of any recount or audit conducted with
respect to any election for Federal office in
which the voting system is used.
``(iii) Manual counting requirements for
recounts and audits.--(I) Each paper ballot
used pursuant to clause (i) shall be suitable
for a manual audit, and shall be counted by
hand in any recount or audit conducted with
respect to any election for Federal office.
``(II) In the event of any inconsistencies
or irregularities between any electronic vote
tallies and the vote tallies determined by
counting by hand the individual, durable,
voter-verified paper ballots used pursuant to
clause (i), and subject to subparagraph (B),
the individual, durable, voter-verified paper
ballots shall be the true and correct record of
the votes cast.
``(iv) Application to all ballots.--The
requirements of this subparagraph shall apply
to all ballots cast in elections for Federal
office, including ballots cast by absent
uniformed services voters and overseas voters
under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens
Absentee Voting Act and other absentee voters.
``(B) Special rule for treatment of disputes when
paper ballots have been shown to be compromised.--
``(i) In general.--In the event that--
``(I) there is any inconsistency
between any electronic vote tallies and
the vote tallies determined by counting
by hand the individual, durable, voter-
verified paper ballots used pursuant to
subparagraph (A)(i) with respect to any
election for Federal office; and
``(II) it is demonstrated by clear
and convincing evidence (as determined
in accordance with the applicable
standards in the jurisdiction involved)
in any recount, audit, or contest of
the result of the election that the
paper ballots have been compromised (by
damage or mischief or otherwise) and
that a sufficient number of the ballots
have been so compromised that the
result of the election could be
changed,
the determination of the appropriate remedy
with respect to the election shall be made in
accordance with applicable State law, except
that the electronic tally shall not be used as
the exclusive basis for determining the
official certified result.
``(ii) Rule for consideration of ballots
associated with each voting machine.--For
purposes of clause (i), only the paper ballots
deemed compromised, if any, shall be considered
in the calculation of whether or not the result
of the election could be changed due to the
compromised paper ballots.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment Clarifying Applicability of Alternative
Language Accessibility.--Section 301(a)(4) of such Act (52 U.S.C.
21081(a)(4)) is amended by inserting ``(including the paper ballots
required to be used under paragraph (2))'' after ``voting system''.
(c) Other Conforming Amendments.--Section 301(a)(1) of such Act (52
U.S.C. 21081(a)(1)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A)(i), by striking ``counted'' and
inserting ``counted, in accordance with paragraphs (2) and
(3)'';
(2) in subparagraph (A)(ii), by striking ``counted'' and
inserting ``counted, in accordance with paragraphs (2) and
(3)'';
(3) in subparagraph (A)(iii), by striking ``counted'' each
place it appears and inserting ``counted, in accordance with
paragraphs (2) and (3)''; and
(4) in subparagraph (B)(ii), by striking ``counted'' and
inserting ``counted, in accordance with paragraphs (2) and
(3)''.
SEC. 603. ACCESSIBILITY AND BALLOT VERIFICATION FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH
DISABILITIES.
(a) In General.--Section 301(a)(3)(B) of the Help America Vote Act
of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081(a)(3)(B)) is amended to read as follows:
``(B)(i) ensure that individuals with disabilities
and others are given an equivalent opportunity to vote,
including with privacy and independence, in a manner
that produces a voter-verified paper ballot;
``(ii) satisfy the requirement of subparagraph (A)
through the use of at least one voting system equipped
for individuals with disabilities, including nonvisual
and enhanced visual accessibility for the blind and
visually impaired, and nonmanual and enhanced manual
accessibility for the mobility and dexterity impaired,
at each polling place; and
``(iii) meet the requirements of subparagraph (A)
and paragraph (2)(A) by using a system that--
``(I) allows the voter to privately and
independently verify the permanent paper ballot
through the presentation, in accessible form,
of the printed or marked vote selections from
the same printed or marked information that
would be used for any vote counting or
auditing; and
``(II) allows the voter to privately and
independently verify and cast the permanent
paper ballot without requiring the voter to
manually handle the paper ballot;''.
(b) Specific Requirement of Study, Testing, and Development of
Accessible Voting Options.--
(1) Study and reporting.--Subtitle C of title II of such
Act (52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.) is amended--
(A) by redesignating section 247 as section 248;
and
(B) by inserting after section 246 the following
new section:
``SEC. 247. STUDY AND REPORT ON ACCESSIBLE VOTING OPTIONS.
``(a) Grants To Study and Report.--The Commission, in coordination
with the Access Board and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security
Agency, shall make grants to not fewer than 3 eligible entities to
study, test, and develop accessible and secure remote voting systems
and voting, verification, and casting devices to enhance the
accessibility of voting and verification for individuals with
disabilities.
``(b) Eligibility.--An entity is eligible to receive a grant under
this part if it submits to the Commission (at such time and in such
form as the Commission may require) an application containing--
``(1) a certification that the entity shall complete the
activities carried out with the grant not later than January 1,
2027; and
``(2) such other information and certifications as the
Commission may require.
``(c) Availability of Technology.--Any technology developed with
the grants made under this section shall be treated as non-proprietary
and shall be made available to the public, including to manufacturers
of voting systems.
``(d) Coordination With Grants for Technology Improvements.--The
Commission shall carry out this section so that the activities carried
out with the grants made under subsection (a) are coordinated with the
research conducted under the grant program carried out by the
Commission under section 271, to the extent that the Commission
determine necessary to provide for the advancement of accessible voting
technology.
``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out subsection (a) $10,000,000, to remain
available until expended.''.
(2) Clerical amendment.--The table of contents of such Act
is amended--
(A) by redesignating the item relating to section
247 as relating to section 248; and
(B) by inserting after the item relating to section
246 the following new item:
``Sec. 247. Study and report on accessible voting options.''.
(c) Clarification of Accessibility Standards Under Voluntary Voting
System Guidance.--In adopting any voluntary guidance under subtitle B
of title III of the Help America Vote Act with respect to the
accessibility of the paper ballot verification requirements for
individuals with disabilities, the Election Assistance Commission shall
include and apply the same accessibility standards applicable under the
voluntary guidance adopted for accessible voting systems under such
subtitle.
(d) Permitting Use of Funds for Protection and Advocacy Systems To
Support Actions To Enforce Election-Related Disability Access.--Section
292(a) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21062(a)) is
amended by striking ``; except that'' and all that follows and
inserting a period.
SEC. 604. DURABILITY AND READABILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR BALLOTS.
Section 301(a) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C.
21081(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(7) Durability and readability requirements for
ballots.--
``(A) Durability requirements for paper ballots.--
``(i) In general.--All voter-verified paper
ballots required to be used under this Act
shall be marked or printed on durable paper.
``(ii) Definition.--For purposes of this
Act, paper is `durable' if it is capable of
withstanding multiple counts and recounts by
hand without compromising the fundamental
integrity of the ballots, and capable of
retaining the information marked or printed on
them for the full duration of a retention and
preservation period of 22 months.
``(B) Readability requirements for paper ballots
marked by ballot marking device.--All voter-verified
paper ballots completed by the voter through the use of
a ballot marking device shall be clearly readable by
the voter without assistance (other than eyeglasses or
other personal vision enhancing devices) and by an
optical character recognition device or other device
equipped for individuals with disabilities.''.
SEC. 605. STUDY AND REPORT ON OPTIMAL BALLOT DESIGN.
(a) Study.--The Election Assistance Commission shall conduct a
study of the best ways to design ballots used in elections for public
office, including paper ballots and electronic or digital ballots, to
minimize confusion and user errors.
(b) Report.--Not later than January 1, 2025, the Election
Assistance Commission shall submit to Congress a report on the study
conducted under subsection (a).
SEC. 606. PAPER BALLOT PRINTING REQUIREMENTS.
Section 301(a) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C.
21081(a)), as amended by section 604, is further amended by adding at
the end the following new paragraph:
``(8) Printing requirements for ballots.--All paper ballots
used in an election for Federal office shall be printed in the
United States on paper manufactured in the United States.''.
SEC. 607. EFFECTIVE DATE FOR NEW REQUIREMENTS.
Section 301(d) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C.
21081(d)) is amended to read as follows:
``(d) Effective Date.--
``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2),
each State and jurisdiction shall be required to comply with
the requirements of this section on and after January 1, 2006.
``(2) Special rule for certain requirements.--
``(A) In general.--Except as provided in
subparagraphs (B) and (C), the requirements of this
section which are first imposed on a State and
jurisdiction pursuant to the amendments made by the
Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of
2024 shall apply with respect to voting systems used
for any election for Federal office held in 2026 or any
succeeding year.
``(B) Delay for jurisdictions using certain paper
record printers or certain systems using or producing
voter-verifiable paper records in 2024.--
``(i) Delay.--In the case of a jurisdiction
described in clause (ii), subparagraph (A)
shall apply to a voting system in the
jurisdiction as if the reference in such
subparagraph to `2026' were a reference to
`2028', but only with respect to the following
requirements of this section:
``(I) Paragraph (2)(A)(i)(I) of
subsection (a) (relating to the use of
voter-verified paper ballots).
``(II) Paragraph (3)(B)(iii)(I) and
(II) of subsection (a) (relating to
access to verification from and casting
of the durable paper ballot).
``(III) Paragraph (7) of subsection
(a) (relating to durability and
readability requirements for ballots).
``(ii) Jurisdictions described.--A
jurisdiction described in this clause is a
jurisdiction--
``(I) which used voter verifiable
paper record printers attached to
direct recording electronic voting
machines, or which used other voting
systems that used or produced paper
records of the vote verifiable by
voters but that are not in compliance
with paragraphs (2)(A)(i)(I),
(3)(B)(iii)(i) and (II), and (7) of
subsection (a) (as amended or added by
the Voter Confidence and Increased
Accessibility Act of 2021), for the
administration of the regularly
scheduled general election for Federal
office held in November 2024; and
``(II) which will continue to use
such printers or systems for the
administration of elections for Federal
office held in years before 2028.
``(iii) Mandatory availability of paper
ballots at polling places using grandfathered
printers and systems.--
``(I) Requiring ballots to be
offered and provided.--The appropriate
election official at each polling place
that uses a printer or system described
in clause (ii)(I) for the
administration of elections for Federal
office shall offer each individual who
is eligible to cast a vote in the
election at the polling place the
opportunity to cast the vote using a
blank pre-printed paper ballot which
the individual may mark by hand and
which is not produced by the direct
recording electronic voting machine or
other such system. The official shall
provide the individual with the ballot
and the supplies necessary to mark the
ballot, and shall ensure (to the
greatest extent practicable) that the
waiting period for the individual to
cast a vote is the lesser of 30 minutes
or the average waiting period for an
individual who does not agree to cast
the vote using such a paper ballot
under this clause.
``(II) Treatment of ballot.--Any
paper ballot which is cast by an
individual under this clause shall be
counted and otherwise treated as a
regular ballot for all purposes
(including by incorporating it into the
final unofficial vote count (as defined
by the State) for the precinct) and not
as a provisional ballot, unless the
individual casting the ballot would
have otherwise been required to cast a
provisional ballot.
``(III) Posting of notice.--The
appropriate election official shall
ensure there is prominently displayed
at each polling place a notice that
describes the obligation of the
official to offer individuals the
opportunity to cast votes using a pre-
printed blank paper ballot.
``(IV) Training of election
officials.--The chief State election
official shall ensure that election
officials at polling places in the
State are aware of the requirements of
this clause, including the requirement
to display a notice under subclause
(III), and are aware that it is a
violation of the requirements of this
title for an election official to fail
to offer an individual the opportunity
to cast a vote using a blank pre-
printed paper ballot.
``(V) Period of applicability.--The
requirements of this clause apply only
during the period in which the delay is
in effect under clause (i).
``(C) Special rule for jurisdictions using certain
nontabulating ballot marking devices.--In the case of a
jurisdiction which uses a nontabulating ballot marking
device which automatically deposits the ballot into a
privacy sleeve, subparagraph (A) shall apply to a
voting system in the jurisdiction as if the reference
in such subparagraph to `any election for Federal
office held in 2026 or any succeeding year' were a
reference to `elections for Federal office occurring
held in 2028 or each succeeding year', but only with
respect to paragraph (3)(B)(iii)(II) of subsection (a)
(relating to nonmanual casting of the durable paper
ballot).''.
TITLE VII--PROVISIONAL BALLOTS
SEC. 701. REQUIREMENTS FOR COUNTING PROVISIONAL BALLOTS; ESTABLISHMENT
OF UNIFORM AND NONDISCRIMINATORY STANDARDS.
(a) In General.--Section 302 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002
(52 U.S.C. 21082) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (f); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following new
subsections:
``(d) Statewide Counting of Provisional Ballots.--
``(1) In general.--For purposes of subsection (a)(4),
notwithstanding the precinct or polling place at which a
provisional ballot is cast within the State, the appropriate
election official of the jurisdiction in which the individual
is registered shall count each vote on such ballot for each
election in which the individual who cast such ballot is
eligible to vote.
``(2) Effective date.--This subsection shall apply with
respect to elections held on or after January 1, 2025.
``(e) Uniform and Nondiscriminatory Standards.--
``(1) In general.--Consistent with the requirements of this
section, each State shall establish uniform and
nondiscriminatory standards for the issuance, handling, and
counting of provisional ballots.
``(2) Effective date.--This subsection shall apply with
respect to elections held on or after January 1, 2025.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 302(f) of such Act (52 U.S.C.
21082(f)), as redesignated by subsection (a), is amended by striking
``Each State'' and inserting ``Except as provided in subsections (d)(2)
and (e)(2), each State''.
TITLE VIII--EARLY VOTING
SEC. 801. EARLY VOTING.
(a) Requirements.--Subtitle A of title III of the Help America Vote
Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.), as amended by section 131(a),
section 201(a), section 202(a), section 203(a)(1), and section 204(a),
is amended--
(1) by redesignating sections 309 and 310 as sections 310
and 311, respectively; and
(2) by inserting after section 308 the following new
section:
``SEC. 309. EARLY VOTING.
``(a) Requiring Voting Prior to Date of Election.--
``(1) In general.--Each State shall allow individuals to
vote in an election for Federal office during an early voting
period which occurs prior to the date of the election, in the
same manner as voting is allowed on such date.
``(2) Length of period.--The early voting period required
under this subsection with respect to an election shall consist
of a period of consecutive days (including weekends) which
begins on the 15th day before the date of the election (or, at
the option of the State, on a day prior to the 15th day before
the date of the election) and ends on the date of the election.
``(b) Minimum Early Voting Requirements.--Each polling place which
allows voting during an early voting period under subsection (a)
shall--
``(1) allow such voting for no less than 10 hours on each
day;
``(2) have uniform hours each day for which such voting
occurs; and
``(3) allow such voting to be held for some period of time
prior to 9:00 a.m (local time) and some period of time after
5:00 p.m. (local time).
``(c) Location of Polling Places.--
``(1) Proximity to public transportation.--To the greatest
extent practicable, a State shall ensure that each polling
place which allows voting during an early voting period under
subsection (a) is located within walking distance of a stop on
a public transportation route.
``(2) Availability in rural areas.--The State shall ensure
that polling places which allow voting during an early voting
period under subsection (a) will be located in rural areas of
the State, and shall ensure that such polling places are
located in communities which will provide the greatest
opportunity for residents of rural areas to vote during the
early voting period.
``(d) Standards.--
``(1) In general.--The Commission shall issue standards for
the administration of voting prior to the day scheduled for a
Federal election. Such standards shall include the
nondiscriminatory geographic placement of polling places at
which such voting occurs.
``(2) Deviation.--The standards described in paragraph (1)
shall permit States, upon providing adequate public notice, to
deviate from any requirement in the case of unforeseen
circumstances such as a natural disaster, terrorist attack, or
a change in voter turnout.
``(e) Ballot Processing and Scanning Requirements.--
``(1) In general.--The State shall begin processing and
scanning ballots cast during in-person early voting for
tabulation at least 14 days prior to the date of the election
involved.
``(2) Limitation.--Nothing in this subsection shall be
construed to permit a State to tabulate ballots in an election
before the closing of the polls on the date of the election.
``(f) Effective Date.--This section shall apply with respect to the
regularly scheduled general election for Federal office held in
November 2026 and each succeeding election for Federal office.''.
(b) Conforming Amendments Relating to Issuance of Voluntary
Guidance by Election Assistance Commission.--Section 321(b) of such Act
(52 U.S.C. 21101(b)), as redesignated and amended by section 201(b), is
amended--
(1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (3);
(2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (4) and
inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(5) except as provided in paragraph (4), in the case of
the recommendations with respect to any section added by the
Voter Empowerment Act of 2024, June 30, 2026.''.
(c) Clerical Amendments.--The table of contents of such Act, as
amended by section 131(c), section 201(d), section 202(c), section
203(a)(3), and section 204(c), is amended--
(1) by redesignating the items relating to sections 309 and
310 as relating to sections 310 and 311, respectively; and
(2) by inserting after the item relating to section 308 the
following new item:
``Sec. 309. Early voting.''.
TITLE IX--VOTING BY MAIL
SEC. 901. VOTING BY MAIL.
(a) Requirements.--Subtitle A of title III of the Help America Vote
Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.), as amended by section 131(a),
section 201(a), section 202(a), section 203(a)(1), section 204(a), and
section 801(a), is amended--
(1) by redesignating sections 310 and 311 as sections 311
and 312, respectively; and
(2) by inserting after section 309 the following new
section:
``SEC. 310. PROMOTING ABILITY OF VOTERS TO VOTE BY MAIL.
``(a) Uniform Availability of Absentee Voting to All Voters.--
``(1) In general.--If an individual in a State is eligible
to cast a vote in an election for Federal office, the State may
not impose any additional conditions or requirements on the
eligibility of the individual to cast the vote in such election
by absentee ballot by mail.
``(2) Administration of voting by mail.--
``(A) Prohibiting identification requirement as
condition of obtaining ballot.--A State may not require
an individual to provide any form of identification as
a condition of obtaining an absentee ballot, except
that nothing in this paragraph may be construed to
prevent a State from requiring a signature of the
individual or similar affirmation as a condition of
obtaining an absentee ballot.
``(B) Prohibiting requirement to provide
notarization or witness signature as condition of
obtaining or casting ballot.--A State may not require
notarization or witness signature or other formal
authentication (other than voter attestation) as a
condition of obtaining or casting an absentee ballot.
``(C) Deadline for returning ballot.--A State may
impose a reasonable deadline for requesting the
absentee ballot and related voting materials from the
appropriate State or local election official and for
returning the ballot to the appropriate State or local
election official.
``(3) No effect on identification requirements for first-
time voters registering by mail.--Nothing in this subsection
may be construed to exempt any individual described in
paragraph (1) of section 303(b) from meeting the requirements
of paragraph (2) of such section.
``(b) Due Process Requirements for States Requiring Signature
Verification.--
``(1) Requirement.--
``(A) In general.--A State may not impose a
signature verification requirement as a condition of
accepting and counting an absentee ballot submitted by
any individual with respect to an election for Federal
office unless the State meets the due process
requirements described in paragraph (2).
``(B) Signature verification requirement
described.--In this subsection, a `signature
verification requirement' is a requirement that an
election official verify the identification of an
individual by comparing the individual's signature on
the absentee ballot with the individual's signature on
the official list of registered voters in the State or
another official record or other document used by the
State to verify the signatures of voters.
``(2) Due process requirements.--
``(A) Notice and opportunity to cure discrepancy in
signatures.--If an individual submits an absentee
ballot and the appropriate State or local election
official determines that a discrepancy exists between
the signature on such ballot and the signature of such
individual on the official list of registered voters in
the State or other official record or document used by
the State to verify the signatures of voters, such
election official, prior to making a final
determination as to the validity of such ballot,
shall--
``(i) make a good faith effort to
immediately notify the individual by mail,
telephone, and (if available) text message and
electronic mail that--
``(I) a discrepancy exists between
the signature on such ballot and the
signature of the individual on the
official list of registered voters in
the State or other official record or
document used by the State to verify
the signatures of voters; and
``(II) if such discrepancy is not
cured prior to the expiration of the
10-day period which begins on the date
the official notifies the individual of
the discrepancy, such ballot will not
be counted; and
``(ii) cure such discrepancy and count the
ballot if, prior to the expiration of the 10-
day period described in clause (i)(II), the
individual provides the official with
information to cure such discrepancy, either in
person, by telephone, or by electronic methods.
``(B) Notice and opportunity to cure missing
signature or other defect.--If an individual submits an
absentee ballot without a signature or submits an
absentee ballot with another defect which, if left
uncured, would cause the ballot to not be counted, the
appropriate State or local election official, prior to
making a final determination as to the validity of the
ballot, shall--
``(i) make a good faith effort to
immediately notify the individual by mail,
telephone, and (if available) text message and
electronic mail that--
``(I) the ballot did not include a
signature or has some other defect; and
``(II) if the individual does not
provide the missing signature or cure
the other defect prior to the
expiration of the 10-day period which
begins on the date the official
notifies the individual that the ballot
did not include a signature or has some
other defect, such ballot will not be
counted; and
``(ii) count the ballot if, prior to the
expiration of the 10-day period described in
clause (i)(II), the individual provides the
official with the missing signature on a form
proscribed by the State or cures the other
defect.
This subparagraph does not apply with respect to a
defect consisting of the failure of a ballot to meet
the applicable deadline for the acceptance of the
ballot, as described in subsection (e).
``(C) Other requirements.--An election official may
not make a determination that a discrepancy exists
between the signature on an absentee ballot and the
signature of the individual who submits the ballot on
the official list of registered voters in the State or
other official record or other document used by the
State to verify the signatures of voters unless--
``(i) at least 2 election officials make
the determination;
``(ii) each official who makes the
determination has received training in
procedures used to verify signatures; and
``(iii) of the officials who make the
determination, at least one is affiliated with
the political party whose candidate received
the most votes in the most recent statewide
election for Federal office held in the State
and at least one is affiliated with the
political party whose candidate received the
second most votes in the most recent statewide
election for Federal office held in the State.
``(3) Report.--
``(A) In general.--Not later than 120 days after
the end of a Federal election cycle, each chief State
election official shall submit to the Commission a
report containing the following information for the
applicable Federal election cycle in the State:
``(i) The number of ballots invalidated due
to a discrepancy under this subsection.
``(ii) Description of attempts to contact
voters to provide notice as required by this
subsection.
``(iii) Description of the cure process
developed by such State pursuant to this
subsection, including the number of ballots
determined valid as a result of such process.
``(B) Submission to congress.--Not later than 10
days after receiving a report under subparagraph (A),
the Commission shall transmit such report to Congress.
``(C) Federal election cycle defined.--For purposes
of this subsection, the term `Federal election cycle'
means the period beginning on January 1 of any odd
numbered year and ending on December 31 of the
following year.
``(4) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this subsection
shall be construed--
``(A) to prohibit a State from rejecting a ballot
attempted to be cast in an election for Federal office
by an individual who is not eligible to vote in the
election; or
``(B) to prohibit a State from providing an
individual with more time and more methods for curing a
discrepancy in the individual's signature, providing a
missing signature, or curing any other defect than the
State is required to provide under this subsection.
``(c) Online Applications for Absentee Ballots.--
``(1) In general.--In addition to such other methods as the
State may establish for an individual to apply for an absentee
ballot, the State shall permit an individual to submit an
application for an absentee ballot online.
``(2) Treatment of websites.--The State shall be considered
to meet the requirements of paragraph (1) if the website of the
appropriate State or local election official allows an
application for an absentee ballot to be completed and
submitted online and if the website permits the individual--
``(A) to print the application so that the
individual may complete the application and return it
to the official; or
``(B) to request that a paper copy of the
application be transmitted to the individual by mail or
electronic mail so that the individual may complete the
application and return it to the official.
``(3) Ensuring delivery prior to election.--If an
individual who is eligible to vote in an election for Federal
office submits an application for an absentee ballot in the
election, the appropriate State or local election official
shall ensure that the ballot and relating voting materials are
received by the individual prior to the date of the election so
long as the individual's application is received by the
official not later than 5 days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays,
and legal public holidays) before the date of the election,
except that nothing in this paragraph shall preclude a State or
local jurisdiction from allowing for the acceptance and
processing of absentee ballot applications submitted or
received after such required period.
``(4) Application for all future elections.--At the option
of an individual, a State shall treat the individual's
application to vote by absentee ballot by mail in an election
for Federal office as an application for an absentee ballot by
mail in all subsequent Federal elections held in the State.
``(d) Accessibility for Individuals With Disabilities.--The State
shall ensure that all absentee ballot applications, absentee ballots,
and related voting materials in elections for Federal office are
accessible to individuals with disabilities in a manner that provides
the same opportunity for access and participation (including with
privacy and independence) as for other voters.
``(e) Uniform Deadline for Acceptance of Mailed Ballots.--
``(1) In general.--A State may not refuse to accept or
process a ballot submitted by an individual by mail with
respect to an election for Federal office in the State on the
grounds that the individual did not meet a deadline for
returning the ballot to the appropriate State or local election
official if--
``(A) the ballot is postmarked or otherwise
indicated by the United States Postal Service to have
been mailed on or before the date of the election, or
has been signed by the voter on or before the date of
the election; and
``(B) the ballot is received by the appropriate
election official prior to the expiration of the 10-day
period which begins on the date of the election.
``(2) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this subsection
shall be construed to prohibit a State from having a law that
allows for counting of ballots in an election for Federal
office that are received through the mail after the date that
is 10 days after the date of the election.
``(f) Alternative Methods of Returning Ballots.--
``(1) In general.--In addition to permitting an individual
to whom a ballot in an election was provided under this section
to return the ballot to an election official by mail, the State
shall permit the individual to cast the ballot by delivering
the ballot at such times and to such locations as the State may
establish, including--
``(A) permitting the individual to deliver the
ballot to a polling place on any date on which voting
in the election is held at the polling place; and
``(B) permitting the individual to deliver the
ballot to a designated ballot drop-off location, a
tribally-designated building, or the office of a State
or local election official.
``(2) Permitting voters to designate other person to return
ballot.--The State--
``(A) shall permit a voter to designate any person
to return a voted and sealed absentee ballot to the
post office, a ballot drop-off location, tribally
designated building, or election office so long as the
person designated to return the ballot does not receive
any form of compensation based on the number of ballots
that the person has returned and no individual, group,
or organization provides compensation on this basis;
and
``(B) may not put any limit on how many voted and
sealed absentee ballots any designated person can
return to the post office, a ballot drop off location,
tribally designated building, or election office.
``(g) Ballot Processing and Scanning Requirements.--
``(1) In general.--The State shall begin processing and
scanning ballots cast by mail for tabulation at least 14 days
prior to the date of the election involved.
``(2) Limitation.--Nothing in this subsection shall be
construed to permit a State to tabulate ballots in an election
before the closing of the polls on the date of the election.
``(h) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be
construed to affect the authority of States to conduct elections for
Federal office through the use of polling places at which individuals
cast ballots.
``(i) No Effect on Ballots Submitted by Absent Military and
Overseas Voters.--Nothing in this section may be construed to affect
the treatment of any ballot submitted by an individual who is entitled
to vote by absentee ballot under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens
Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20301 et seq.).
``(j) Effective Date.--This section shall apply with respect to the
regularly scheduled general election for Federal office held in
November 2026 and each succeeding election for Federal office.''.
(b) Clerical Amendments.--The table of contents of such Act, as
amended by section 131(c), section 201(d), section 202(c), section
203(a)(3), section 204(c), and section 801(c), is amended--
(1) by redesignating the items relating to sections 310 and
311 as relating to sections 311 and 312, respectively; and
(2) by inserting after the item relating to section 309 the
following new item:
``Sec. 310. Promoting ability of voters to vote by mail.''.
(c) Development of Alternative Verification Methods.--
(1) Development of standards.--The National Institute of
Standards, in consultation with the Election Assistance
Commission, shall develop standards for the use of alternative
methods which could be used in place of signature verification
requirements for purposes of verifying the identification of an
individual voting by absentee ballot in elections for Federal
office.
(2) Public notice and comment.--The National Institute of
Standards shall solicit comments from the public in the
development of standards under paragraph (1).
(3) Deadline.--Not later than 6 months after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the National Institute of Standards
shall publish the standards developed under paragraph (1).
SEC. 902. ABSENTEE BALLOT TRACKING PROGRAM.
(a) Requirements.--Subtitle A of title III of the Help America Vote
Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.), as amended by section 131(a),
section 201(a), section 202(a), section 203(a)(1), section 204(a),
section 801(a), and section 901(a), is amended--
(1) by redesignating sections 311 and 312 as sections 312
and 313, respectively; and
(2) by inserting after section 310 the following new
section:
``SEC. 311. ABSENTEE BALLOT TRACKING PROGRAM.
``(a) Requirement.--Each State shall carry out a program to track
and confirm the receipt of absentee ballots in an election for Federal
office under which the State or local election official responsible for
the receipt of voted absentee ballots in the election carries out
procedures to track and confirm the receipt of such ballots, and makes
information on the receipt of such ballots available to the individual
who cast the ballot, by means of online access using the Internet site
of the official's office.
``(b) Information on Whether Vote Was Accepted.--The information
referred to under subsection (a) with respect to the receipt of an
absentee ballot shall include information regarding whether the vote
cast on the ballot was accepted, and, in the case of a vote which was
rejected, the reasons therefor.
``(c) Use of Toll-Free Telephone Number by Officials Without
Internet Site.--A program established by a State or local election
official whose office does not have an Internet site may meet the
requirements of subsection (a) if the official has established a toll-
free telephone number that may be used by an individual who cast an
absentee ballot to obtain the information on the receipt of the voted
absentee ballot as provided under such subsection.
``(d) Effective Date.--This section shall apply with respect to the
regularly scheduled general election for Federal office held in
November 2026 and each succeeding election for Federal office.''.
(b) Reimbursement for Costs Incurred by States in Establishing
Program.--Subtitle D of title II of the Help America Vote Act of 2002
(42 U.S.C. 15401 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following
new part:
``PART 7--PAYMENTS TO REIMBURSE STATES FOR COSTS INCURRED IN
ESTABLISHING PROGRAM TO TRACK AND CONFIRM RECEIPT OF ABSENTEE BALLOTS
``SEC. 297. PAYMENTS TO STATES.
``(a) Payments for Costs of Program.--In accordance with this
section, the Commission shall make a payment to a State to reimburse
the State for the costs incurred in establishing the absentee ballot
tracking program under section 311 (including costs incurred prior to
the date of the enactment of this part).
``(b) Certification of Compliance and Costs.--
``(1) Certification required.--In order to receive a
payment under this section, a State shall submit to the
Commission a statement containing--
``(A) a certification that the State has
established an absentee ballot tracking program with
respect to elections for Federal office held in the
State; and
``(B) a statement of the costs incurred by the
State in establishing the program.
``(2) Amount of payment.--The amount of a payment made to a
State under this section shall be equal to the costs incurred
by the State in establishing the absentee ballot tracking
program, as set forth in the statement submitted under
paragraph (1), except that such amount may not exceed the
product of--
``(A) the number of jurisdictions in the State
which are responsible for operating the program; and
``(B) $3,000.
``(3) Limit on number of payments received.--A State may
not receive more than one payment under this part.
``SEC. 297A. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
``(a) Authorization.--There are authorized to be appropriated to
the Commission for fiscal year 2025 and each succeeding fiscal year
such sums as may be necessary for payments under this part.
``(b) Continuing Availability of Funds.--Any amounts appropriated
pursuant to the authorization under this section shall remain available
until expended.''.
(c) Clerical Amendments.--The table of contents of such Act, as
amended by section 131(c), section 201(d), section 202(c), section
203(a)(3), section 204(c), section 801(c), and section 901(b), is
amended--
(1) by adding at the end of the items relating to subtitle
D of title II the following:
``Part 7--Payments To Reimburse States for Costs Incurred in
Establishing Program To Track and Confirm Receipt of Absentee Ballots
``Sec. 297. Payments to States.
``Sec. 297A. Authorization of appropriations.'';
(2) by redesignating the items relating to sections 311 and
312 as relating to sections 312 and 313, respectively; and
(3) by inserting after the item relating to section 310 the
following new item:
``Sec. 311. Absentee ballot tracking program.''.
SEC. 903. ELECTION MAIL AND DELIVERY IMPROVEMENTS.
(a) Postmark Required for Ballots.--
(1) In general.--Chapter 34 of title 39, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 3407. Postmark required for ballots
``(a) In General.--In the case of any absentee ballot carried by
the Postal Service, the Postal Service shall indicate on the ballot
envelope, using a postmark or otherwise--
``(1) the fact that the ballot was carried by the Postal
Service; and
``(2) the date on which the ballot was mailed.
``(b) Definitions.--As used in this section--
``(1) the term `absentee ballot' means any ballot
transmitted by a voter by mail in an election for Federal
office, but does not include any ballot covered by section
3406; and
``(2) the term `election for Federal office' means a
general, special, primary, or runoff election for the office of
President or Vice President, or of Senator or Representative
in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress.''.
(2) Technical and conforming amendment.--The table of
sections for chapter 34 of title 39, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``3407. Postmark required for ballots.''.
(3) Effective date.--The amendments made by this subsection
shall apply to absentee ballots relating to an election for
Federal office occurring on or after January 1, 2025.
(b) Greater Visibility for Ballots.--
(1) In general.--Subtitle A of title III of the Help
America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.), as amended
by section 131(a), section 201(a), section 202(a), section
203(a)(1), section 204(a), section 801(a), section 901(a), and
section 902(a), is amended--
(A) by redesignating sections 312 and 313 as
sections 313 and 314, respectively; and
(B) by inserting after section 311 the following
new section:
``SEC. 312. BALLOT VISIBILITY.
``(a) In General.--Each State or local election official shall--
``(1) affix Tag 191, Domestic and International Mail-In
Ballots (or any successor tag designated by the United States
Postal Service), to any tray or sack of ballot mail relating to
an election for Federal office that is destined for a domestic
or international address;
``(2) use the Official Election Mail logo to designate mail
pieces relating to an election for Federal office that is
destined for a domestic or international address; and
``(3) if an intelligent mail barcode is utilized for any
mail relating to an election for Federal office that is
destined for a domestic or international address, ensure the
specific ballot service type identifier for such mail is
visible.
``(b) Effective Date.--The requirements of this section shall apply
to elections for Federal office occurring on and after January 1,
2025.''.
(2) Clerical amendments.--The table of contents of such
Act, as amended by section 131(c), section 201(d), section
202(c), section 203(a)(3), section 204(c), section 801(c),
section 901(b) and section 902(c), is amended--
(A) by redesignating the items relating to sections
312 and 313 as relating to sections 313 and 314; and
(B) by inserting after the item relating to section
311 the following new item:
``Sec. 312. Ballot visibility.''.
SEC. 904. VOTING MATERIALS POSTAGE.
(a) Prepayment of Postage on Return Envelopes.--
(1) In general.--Subtitle A of title III of the Help
America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.), as amended
by section 131(a), section 201(a), section 202(a), section
203(a)(1), section 204(a), section 801(a), section 901(a),
section 902(a), and section 903(b), is amended--
(A) by redesignating sections 313 and 314 as
sections 314 and 315, respectively; and
(B) by inserting after section 312 the following
new section:
``SEC. 313. PREPAYMENT OF POSTAGE ON RETURN ENVELOPES FOR VOTING
MATERIALS.
``(a) Provision of Return Envelopes.--
``(1) In general.--The appropriate State or local election
official shall provide a self-sealing return envelope with--
``(A) any voter registration application form
transmitted to a registrant by mail;
``(B) any application for an absentee ballot
transmitted to an applicant by mail; and
``(C) any blank absentee ballot transmitted to a
voter by mail.
``(2) Reasonable efforts.--A State shall be treated as
meeting the requirements of paragraph (1) if the State makes
all reasonable efforts to provide self-sealing return envelopes
as provided in such paragraph.
``(b) Prepayment of Postage.--Consistent with regulations of the
United States Postal Service, the State or the unit of local government
responsible for the administration of the election involved shall
prepay the postage on any envelope provided under subsection (a).
``(c) No Effect on Ballots or Balloting Materials Transmitted to
Absent Military and Overseas Voters.--Nothing in this section may be
construed to affect the treatment of any ballot or balloting materials
transmitted to an individual who is entitled to vote by absentee ballot
under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (52
U.S.C. 20301 et seq.).
``(d) Effective Date.--This section shall take effect on the date
that is 90 days after the date of the enactment of this section, except
that State and local jurisdictions shall make arrangements with the
United States Postal Service to pay for all postage costs that such
jurisdictions would be required to pay under this section if this
section took effect on the date of enactment.''.
(2) Clerical amendments.--The table of contents of such
Act, as amended by section 131(c), section 201(d), section
202(c), section 203(a)(3), section 204(c), section 801(c),
section 901(b), section 902(c), and section 903(b), is
amended--
(A) by redesignating the items relating to sections
313 and 314 as relating to sections 314 and 315,
respectively; and
(B) by inserting after the item relating to section
312 the following new item:
``Sec. 313. Prepayment of postage on return envelopes for voting
materials.''.
(b) Role of United States Postal Service.--
(1) In general.--Chapter 34 of title 39, United States
Code, as amended by section 903(a), is amended by inserting
after section 3407 the following:
``Sec. 3408. Carriage of voting materials
``(a) Treatment as First-Class Mail.--Any voter registration
application, absentee ballot application, or absentee ballot with
respect to any election for Federal office shall be carried in
accordance with the service standards established for first-class mail,
regardless of the class of postage prepaid.
``(b) Definitions.--As used in this section, the terms `absentee
ballot' and `election for Federal office' have the meanings given those
terms in section 3407.
``(c) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section may be
construed to affect the treatment of any ballot or balloting materials
transmitted to an individual who is entitled to vote by absentee ballot
under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (52
U.S.C. 20301 et seq.).''.
(2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections for chapter
34 of such title, as amended by section 903(a), is amended by
inserting after the item relating to section 3407 the
following:
``3408. Carriage of voting materials.''.
TITLE X--ABSENT UNIFORMED SERVICES VOTERS AND OVERSEAS VOTERS
SEC. 1001. PRE-ELECTION REPORTS ON AVAILABILITY AND TRANSMISSION OF
ABSENTEE BALLOTS.
Section 102(c) of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee
Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20302(c)) is amended to read as follows:
``(c) Reports on Availability, Transmission, and Receipt of
Absentee Ballots.--
``(1) Pre-election report on absentee ballot
availability.--Not later than 55 days before any regularly
scheduled general election for Federal office, each State shall
submit a report to the Attorney General, the Election
Assistance Commission (hereafter in this subsection referred to
as the `Commission'), and the Presidential Designee, and make
that report publicly available that same day, certifying that
absentee ballots for the election are or will be available for
transmission to absent uniformed services voters and overseas
voters by not later than 45 days before the election. The
report shall be in a form prescribed jointly by the Attorney
General and the Commission and shall require the State to
certify specific information about ballot availability from
each unit of local government which will administer the
election.
``(2) Pre-election report on absentee ballot
transmission.--Not later than 43 days before any regularly
scheduled general election for Federal office, each State shall
submit a report to the Attorney General, the Commission, and
the Presidential Designee, and make that report publicly
available that same day, certifying whether all absentee
ballots have been transmitted by not later than 45 days before
the election to all qualified absent uniformed services and
overseas voters whose requests were received at least 45 days
before the election. The report shall be in a form prescribed
jointly by the Attorney General and the Commission, and shall
require the State to certify specific information about ballot
transmission, including the total numbers of ballot requests
received and ballots transmitted, from each unit of local
government which will administer the election.
``(3) Post-election report on number of absentee ballots
transmitted and received.--Not later than 90 days after the
date of each regularly scheduled general election for Federal
office, each State and unit of local government which
administered the election shall (through the State, in the case
of a unit of local government) submit a report to the Attorney
General, the Commission, and the Presidential Designee on the
combined number of absentee ballots transmitted to absent
uniformed services voters and overseas voters for the election
and the combined number of such ballots which were returned by
such voters and cast in the election, and shall make such
report available to the general public that same day.''.
SEC. 1002. ENFORCEMENT.
(a) Availability of Civil Penalties and Private Rights of Action.--
Section 105 of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act
(52 U.S.C. 20307) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 105. ENFORCEMENT.
``(a) Action by Attorney General.--
``(1) In general.--The Attorney General may bring civil
action in an appropriate district court for such declaratory or
injunctive relief as may be necessary to carry out this title.
``(2) Penalty.--In a civil action brought under paragraph
(1), if the court finds that the State violated any provision
of this title, it may, to vindicate the public interest, assess
a civil penalty against the State--
``(A) in an amount not to exceed $110,000 for each
such violation, in the case of a first violation; or
``(B) in an amount not to exceed $220,000 for each
such violation, for any subsequent violation.
``(3) Report to congress.--Not later than December 31 of
each year, the Attorney General shall submit to Congress an
annual report on any civil action brought under paragraph (1)
during the preceding year.
``(b) Private Right of Action.--A person who is aggrieved by a
State's violation of this title may bring a civil action in an
appropriate district court for such declaratory or injunctive relief as
may be necessary to carry out this title.
``(c) State as Only Necessary Defendant.--In any action brought
under this section, the only necessary party defendant is the State,
and it shall not be a defense to any such action that a local election
official or a unit of local government is not named as a defendant,
notwithstanding that a State has exercised the authority described in
section 576 of the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act to
delegate to another jurisdiction in the State any duty or
responsibility which is the subject of an action brought under this
section.''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply with respect to violations alleged to have occurred on or after
the date of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 1003. REVISIONS TO 45-DAY ABSENTEE BALLOT TRANSMISSION RULE.
(a) Repeal of Waiver Authority.--
(1) In general.--Section 102 of the Uniformed and Overseas
Citizens Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20302) is amended by
striking subsection (g).
(2) Conforming amendment.--Section 102(a)(8)(A) of such Act
(52 U.S.C. 20302(a)(8)(A)) is amended by striking ``except as
provided in subsection (g),''.
(b) Requiring Use of Express Delivery in Case of Failure To Meet
Requirement.--Section 102 of such Act (52 U.S.C. 20302), as amended by
subsection (a), is amended by inserting after subsection (f) the
following new subsection:
``(g) Requiring Use of Express Delivery in Case of Failure To
Transmit Ballots Within Deadlines.--
``(1) Transmission of ballot by express delivery.--If a
State fails to meet the requirement of subsection (a)(8)(A) to
transmit a validly requested absentee ballot to an absent
uniformed services voter or overseas voter not later than 45
days before the election (in the case in which the request is
received at least 45 days before the election)--
``(A) the State shall transmit the ballot to the
voter by express delivery; or
``(B) in the case of a voter who has designated
that absentee ballots be transmitted electronically in
accordance with subsection (f)(1), the State shall
transmit the ballot to the voter electronically.
``(2) Special rule for transmission fewer than 40 days
before the election.--If, in carrying out paragraph (1), a
State transmits an absentee ballot to an absent uniformed
services voter or overseas voter fewer than 40 days before the
election, the State shall enable the ballot to be returned by
the voter by express delivery, except that in the case of an
absentee ballot of an absent uniformed services voter for a
regularly scheduled general election for Federal office, the
State may satisfy the requirement of this paragraph by
notifying the voter of the procedures for the collection and
delivery of such ballots under section 103A.
``(3) Payment for use of express delivery.--The State shall
be responsible for the payment of the costs associated with the
use of express delivery for the transmittal of ballots under
this subsection.''.
(c) Clarification of Treatment of Weekends.--Section 102(a)(8)(A)
of such Act (52 U.S.C. 20302(a)(8)(A)) is amended by striking ``the
election;'' and inserting the following: ``the election (or, if the
45th day preceding the election is a weekend or legal public holiday,
not later than the most recent weekday which precedes such 45th day and
which is not a legal public holiday, but only if the request is
received by at least such most recent weekday);''.
SEC. 1004. USE OF SINGLE ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICATION FOR SUBSEQUENT
ELECTIONS.
(a) In General.--Section 104 of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens
Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20306) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 104. USE OF SINGLE APPLICATION FOR SUBSEQUENT ELECTIONS.
``(a) In General.--If a State accepts and processes an official
post card form (prescribed under section 101) submitted by an absent
uniformed services voter or overseas voter for simultaneous voter
registration and absentee ballot application (in accordance with
section 102(a)(4)) and the voter requests that the application be
considered an application for an absentee ballot for each subsequent
election for Federal office held in the State through the next
regularly scheduled general election for Federal office (including any
runoff elections which may occur as a result of the outcome of such
general election), the State shall provide an absentee ballot to the
voter for each such subsequent election.
``(b) Exception for Voters Changing Registration.--Subsection (a)
shall not apply with respect to a voter registered to vote in a State
for any election held after the voter notifies the State that the voter
no longer wishes to be registered to vote in the State or after the
State determines that the voter has registered to vote in another State
or is otherwise no longer eligible to vote in the State.
``(c) Prohibition of Refusal of Application on Grounds of Early
Submission.--A State may not refuse to accept or to process, with
respect to any election for Federal office, any otherwise valid voter
registration application or absentee ballot application (including the
postcard form prescribed under section 101) submitted by an absent
uniformed services voter or overseas voter on the grounds that the
voter submitted the application before the first date on which the
State otherwise accepts or processes such applications for that
election which are submitted by absentee voters who are not members of
the uniformed services or overseas citizens.''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall
apply with respect to voter registration and absentee ballot
applications which are submitted to a State or local election official
on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 1005. EXTENDING GUARANTEE OF RESIDENCY FOR VOTING PURPOSES TO
FAMILY MEMBERS OF ABSENT MILITARY PERSONNEL.
Section 102 of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting
Act (52 U.S.C. 20302) is amended by adding at the end the following new
subsection:
``(j) Guarantee of Residency for Spouses and Dependents of Absent
Members of Uniformed Service.--For the purposes of voting for in any
election for any Federal office or any State or local office, a spouse
or dependent of an individual who is an absent uniformed services voter
described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of section 107(1) shall not,
solely by reason of that individual's absence and without regard to
whether or not such spouse or dependent is accompanying that
individual--
``(1) be deemed to have lost a residence or domicile in
that State, without regard to whether or not that individual
intends to return to that State;
``(2) be deemed to have acquired a residence or domicile in
any other State; or
``(3) be deemed to have become a resident in or a resident
of any other State.''.
SEC. 1006. REQUIRING TRANSMISSION OF BLANK ABSENTEE BALLOTS UNDER
UOCAVA TO CERTAIN VOTERS.
(a) In General.--The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee
Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20301 et seq.) is amended by inserting after
section 103B the following new section:
``SEC. 103C. TRANSMISSION OF BLANK ABSENTEE BALLOTS TO CERTAIN OTHER
VOTERS.
``(a) In General.--
``(1) State responsibilities.--Subject to the provisions of
this section, each State shall transmit blank absentee ballots
electronically to qualified individuals who request such
ballots in the same manner and under the same terms and
conditions under which the State transmits such ballots
electronically to absent uniformed services voters and overseas
voters under the provisions of section 102(f), except that no
such marked ballots shall be returned electronically.
``(2) Requirements.--Any blank absentee ballot transmitted
to a qualified individual under this section--
``(A) must comply with the language requirements
under section 203 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52
U.S.C. 10503); and
``(B) must comply with the disability requirements
under section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29
U.S.C. 794d).
``(3) Affirmation.--The State may not transmit a ballot to
a qualified individual under this section unless the individual
provides the State with a signed affirmation in electronic form
that--
``(A) the individual is a qualified individual (as
defined in subsection (b));
``(B) the individual has not and will not cast
another ballot with respect to the election; and
``(C) acknowledges that a material misstatement of
fact in completing the ballot may constitute grounds
for conviction of perjury.
``(4) Clarification regarding free postage.--An absentee
ballot obtained by a qualified individual under this section
shall be considered balloting materials as defined in section
107 for purposes of section 3406 of title 39, United States
Code.
``(5) Prohibiting refusal to accept ballot for failure to
meet certain requirements.--A State shall not refuse to accept
and process any otherwise valid blank absentee ballot which was
transmitted to a qualified individual under this section and
used by the individual to vote in the election solely on the
basis of the following:
``(A) Notarization or witness signature
requirements.
``(B) Restrictions on paper type, including weight
and size.
``(C) Restrictions on envelope type, including
weight and size.
``(b) Qualified Individual.--
``(1) In general.--In this section, except as provided in
paragraph (2), the term `qualified individual' means any
individual who is otherwise qualified to vote in an election
for Federal office and who meets any of the following
requirements:
``(A) The individual--
``(i) has previously requested an absentee
ballot from the State or jurisdiction in which
such individual is registered to vote; and
``(ii) has not received such absentee
ballot at least 2 days before the date of the
election.
``(B) The individual--
``(i) resides in an area of a State with
respect to which an emergency or public health
emergency has been declared by the chief
executive of the State or of the area involved
within 5 days of the date of the election under
the laws of the State due to reasons including
a natural disaster, including severe weather,
or an infectious disease; and
``(ii) has not previously requested an
absentee ballot.
``(C) The individual expects to be absent from such
individual's jurisdiction on the date of the election
due to professional or volunteer service in response to
a natural disaster or emergency as described in
subparagraph (B).
``(D) The individual is hospitalized or expects to
be hospitalized on the date of the election.
``(E) The individual is an individual with a
disability (as defined in section 3 of the Americans
with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12102)) and
resides in a State which does not offer voters the
ability to use secure and accessible remote ballot
marking. For purposes of this subparagraph, a State
shall permit an individual to self-certify that the
individual is an individual with a disability.
``(2) Exclusion of absent uniformed services and overseas
voters.--The term `qualified individual' shall not include an
absent uniformed services voter or an overseas voter.
``(c) State.--For purposes of this section, the term `State'
includes the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico,
Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, and the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
``(d) Effective Date.--This section shall apply with respect to the
regularly scheduled general election for Federal office held in
November 2022 and each succeeding election for Federal office.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 102(a) of such Act (52 U.S.C.
20302(a)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (10);
(2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (11) and
inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(12) meet the requirements of section 103C with respect
to the provision of blank absentee ballots for the use of
qualified individuals described in such section.''.
(c) Clerical Amendments.--The table of contents of such Act is
amended by inserting the following after section 103:
``Sec. 103A. Procedures for collection and delivery of marked absentee
ballots of absent overseas uniformed
services voters.
``Sec. 103B. Federal voting assistance program improvements.
``Sec. 103C. Transmission of blank absentee ballots to certain other
voters.''.
SEC. 1007. EFFECTIVE DATE.
Except as provided in section 1002(b) and section 1004(b), the
amendments made by this title shall apply with respect to elections
occurring on or after January 1, 2025.
TITLE XI--POLL WORKER RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING
SEC. 1101. GRANTS TO STATES FOR POLL WORKER RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING.
(a) Grants by Election Assistance Commission.--
(1) In general.--The Election Assistance Commission
(hereafter referred to as the ``Commission'') shall, subject to
the availability of appropriations provided to carry out this
section, make a grant to each eligible State for recruiting and
training individuals to serve as poll workers on dates of
elections for public office.
(2) Use of commission materials.--In carrying out
activities with a grant provided under this section, the
recipient of the grant shall use the manual prepared by the
Commission on successful practices for poll worker recruiting,
training, and retention as an interactive training tool, and
shall develop training programs with the participation and
input of experts in adult learning.
(3) Access and cultural considerations.--The Commission
shall ensure that the manual described in paragraph (2)
provides training in methods that will enable poll workers to
provide access and delivery of services in a culturally
competent manner to all voters who use their services,
including those with limited English proficiency, diverse
cultural and ethnic backgrounds, disabilities, and regardless
of gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity. These
methods must ensure that each voter will have access to poll
worker services that are delivered in a manner that meets the
unique needs of the voter.
(b) Requirements for Eligibility.--
(1) Application.--Each State that desires to receive a
payment under this section shall submit an application for the
payment to the Commission at such time and in such manner and
containing such information as the Commission shall require.
(2) Contents of application.--Each application submitted
under paragraph (1) shall--
(A) describe the activities for which assistance
under this section is sought;
(B) provide assurances that the funds provided
under this section will be used to supplement and not
supplant other funds used to carry out the activities;
(C) provide assurances that the State will furnish
the Commission with information on the number of
individuals who served as poll workers after
recruitment and training with the funds provided under
this section; and
(D) provide such additional information and
certifications as the Commission determines to be
essential to ensure compliance with the requirements of
this section.
(c) Amount of Grant.--
(1) In general.--The amount of a grant made to a State
under this section shall be equal to the product of--
(A) the aggregate amount made available for grants
to States under this section; and
(B) the voting age population percentage for the
State.
(2) Voting age population percentage defined.--In paragraph
(1), the ``voting age population percentage'' for a State is
the quotient of--
(A) the voting age population of the State (as
determined on the basis of the most recent information
available from the Bureau of the Census); and
(B) the total voting age population of all States
(as determined on the basis of the most recent
information available from the Bureau of the Census).
(d) Reports to Congress.--
(1) Reports by recipients of grants.--Not later than 6
months after the date on which the final grant is made under
this section, each recipient of a grant shall submit a report
to the Commission on the activities conducted with the funds
provided by the grant.
(2) Reports by commission.--Not later than 1 year after the
date on which the final grant is made under this section, the
Commission shall submit a report to Congress on the grants made
under this section and the activities carried out by recipients
with the grants, and shall include in the report such
recommendations as the Commission considers appropriate.
(e) Funding.--
(1) Continuing availability of amount appropriated.--Any
amount appropriated to carry out this section shall remain
available without fiscal year limitation until expended.
(2) Administrative expenses.--Of the amount appropriated
for any fiscal year to carry out this section, not more than 3
percent shall be available for administrative expenses of the
Commission.
SEC. 1102. STATE DEFINED.
In this title, the term ``State'' includes the District of
Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the
United States Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern
Mariana Islands.
TITLE XII--ENHANCEMENT OF ENFORCEMENT
SEC. 1201. ENHANCEMENT OF ENFORCEMENT OF HELP AMERICA VOTE ACT OF 2002.
(a) Complaints; Availability of Private Right of Action.--Section
401 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21111) is amended--
(1) by striking ``The Attorney General'' and inserting
``(a) In General.--The Attorney General''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new subsections:
``(b) Filing of Complaints by Aggrieved Persons.--
``(1) In general.--A person who is aggrieved by a violation
of title III which has occurred, is occurring, or is about to
occur may file a written, signed, notarized complaint with the
Attorney General describing the violation and requesting the
Attorney General to take appropriate action under this section.
The Attorney General shall immediately provide a copy of a
complaint filed under the previous sentence to the entity
responsible for administering the State-based administrative
complaint procedures described in section 402(a) for the State
involved.
``(2) Response by attorney general.--The Attorney General
shall respond to each complaint filed under paragraph (1), in
accordance with procedures established by the Attorney General
that require responses and determinations to be made within the
same (or shorter) deadlines which apply to a State under the
State-based administrative complaint procedures described in
section 402(a)(2). The Attorney General shall immediately
provide a copy of the response made under the previous sentence
to the entity responsible for administering the State-based
administrative complaint procedures described in section 402(a)
for the State involved.
``(c) Availability of Private Right of Action.--Any person who is
authorized to file a complaint under subsection (b)(1) (including any
individual who seeks to enforce the individual's right to a voter-
verified paper ballot, the right to have the voter-verified paper
ballot counted in accordance with this Act, or any other right under
title III) may file an action under section 1979 of the Revised
Statutes of the United States (42 U.S.C. 1983) to enforce the uniform
and nondiscriminatory election technology and administration
requirements under subtitle A of title III.
``(d) No Effect on State Procedures.--Nothing in this section may
be construed to affect the availability of the State-based
administrative complaint procedures required under section 402 to any
person filing a complaint under this subsection.''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply with respect to violations occurring with respect to elections
for Federal office held in 2025 or any succeeding year.
TITLE XIII--FEDERAL ELECTION INTEGRITY
SEC. 1301. PROHIBITION ON CAMPAIGN ACTIVITIES BY CHIEF STATE ELECTION
ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS.
(a) In General.--Title III of the Federal Election Campaign Act of
1971 (52 U.S.C. 30101 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section
319 the following new section:
``campaign activities by chief state election administration officials
``Sec. 319A. (a) Prohibition.--It shall be unlawful for a chief
State election administration official to take an active part in
political management or in a political campaign with respect to any
election for Federal office over which such official has supervisory
authority.
``(b) Chief State Election Administration Official.--The term
`chief State election administration official' means the highest State
official with responsibility for the administration of Federal
elections under State law.
``(c) Active Part in Political Management or in a Political
Campaign.--The term `active part in political management or in a
political campaign' means--
``(1) holding any position (including any unpaid or
honorary position) with an authorized committee of a candidate,
or participating in any decision-making of an authorized
committee of a candidate;
``(2) the use of official authority or influence for the
purpose of interfering with or affecting the result of an
election for Federal office;
``(3) the solicitation, acceptance, or receipt of a
contribution from any person on behalf of a candidate for
Federal office; and
``(4) any other act which would be prohibited under
paragraph (2) or (3) of section 7323(b) of title 5, United
States Code, if taken by an individual to whom such paragraph
applies (other than any prohibition on running for public
office).
``(d) Exception in Case of Recusal From Administration of Elections
Involving Official or Immediate Family Member.--
``(1) In general.--This section does not apply to a chief
State election administration official with respect to an
election for Federal office in which the official or an
immediate family member of the official is a candidate, but
only if--
``(A) such official recuses himself or herself from
all of the official's responsibilities for the
administration of such election; and
``(B) the official who assumes responsibility for
supervising the administration of the election does not
report directly to such official.
``(2) Immediate family member defined.--In paragraph (1),
the term `immediate family member' means, with respect to a
candidate, a father, mother, son, daughter, brother, sister,
husband, wife, father-in-law, or mother-in-law.''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall
apply with respect to elections for Federal office held after December
2024.
TITLE XIV--PROMOTING VOTER ACCESS THROUGH ELECTION ADMINISTRATION
IMPROVEMENTS
Subtitle A--Promoting Voter Access
SEC. 1401. TREATMENT OF INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
(a) Treatment of Certain Institutions as Voter Registration
Agencies Under National Voter Registration Act of 1993.--Section 7(a)
of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20506(a)) is
amended--
(1) in paragraph (2)--
(A) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph
(A);
(B) by striking the period at the end of
subparagraph (B) and inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following new
subparagraph:
``(C) each institution of higher education which
has a program participation agreement in effect with
the Secretary of Education under section 487 of the
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1094), other
than an institution which is treated as a contributing
agency under section 113 of the Automatic Voter
Registration Act of 2021.''; and
(2) in paragraph (6)(A), by inserting ``or, in the case of
an institution of higher education, upon initial enrollment of
a student,'' after ``assistance,''.
(b) Responsibilities of Institutions Under Higher Education Act of
1965.--Section 487(a)(23) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1094(a)(23)) is amended to read as follows:
``(23)(A) The institution will make every reasonable effort
to--
``(i) distribute voter registration applications
for elections for Federal office using a form that
meets the requirements of section 9(b) of the National
Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20508), which
may include sharing a direct, guided link to such
application, to each student enrolled at the
institution who has not been automatically registered
to vote by the institution in accordance with section
113 of the Voter Empowerment Act of 2024, including
students who do not qualify as an in-State student as
defined in section 113(f)(2) of the Voter Empowerment
Act of 2024;
``(ii) provide clear guidance that each student
enrolled at the institution should--
``(I) register in the State in which the
student is eligible to vote in the next
election if registration is required, which may
include informing students from another State
of the ability to vote in the State of the
institution in which the students are enrolled
and physically in attendance, in accordance
with applicable State law; and
``(II) in the case of a student who has
already registered to vote in a State described
in subclause (I), update the student's existing
voter registration if the student's address has
changed recently or since the last election in
which the student was eligible to vote;
``(iii) periodically share credible, nonpartisan
resources (to be identified in consultation with the
Election Assistance Commission) to help students
determine where and how they are eligible to vote,
which may include resources from State and local
election officials on voter registration and voting
requirements, including voter registration deadlines,
residency requirements, voter identification
requirements, and absentee voting options, as
applicable; and
``(iv) in distributing voting materials (as defined
in section 203(b)(3) of the Voting Rights Act of 1965
(52 U.S.C. 10503(b)(3))) that are produced by a covered
State or political subdivision described in subsection
203(b)(2) of such Act, ensure to the greatest extent
practicable that--
``(I) such voting materials are provided in
accordance with section 203 of that Act (52
U.S.C. 10503); and
``(II) all materials and information made
available electronically under this paragraph--
``(aa) are accessible to
individuals with disabilities; and
``(bb) are compliant with the most
recent Web Content Accessibility
Guidelines, or successor guidelines.
``(B) An institution shall be considered to have satisfied
the requirements of clauses (i), (ii), and (iii) of
subparagraph (A) if--
``(i) with respect to each student enrolled in the
institution who is not exclusively enrolled in distance
education at the institution and who has not already
been registered to vote by the institution in
accordance with section 113 of the Voter Empowerment
Act of 2024, including students who do not qualify as
an in-State student as defined in section 113(f)(2) of
such Act--
``(I) the institution, not less than 30
days in advance of the deadline for registering
to vote within the State for the next scheduled
statewide Federal or State primary election and
not less than 30 days in advance of the
deadline for registering to vote within the
State for the next scheduled statewide Federal
or State general election--
``(aa) distributes voter
registration applications to such
students; or
``(bb) electronically transmits a
message to each such student that is
devoted exclusively to voter
registration and contains a voter
registration application acceptable for
use in the State in which the
institution is located, or an internet
address where such voter registration
application can be accessed or
downloaded;
``(II) during a period that an institution
requires or encourages such students to remain
off-campus due to a national, State, or local
public health or other emergency for an
extended period of time, resulting in a
significant disruption to such students'
ability to vote in person, as applicable, the
institution additionally--
``(aa) requests that the State
provide the institution with absentee
ballot applications, as applicable, or
that the State share the official State
website or online portal through which
eligible voters can directly request an
absentee ballot;
``(bb) distributes to each such
student an absentee ballot application
requested from the State under item
(aa) or the official State website or
online portal through which eligible
voters can directly request an absentee
ballot, with instructions that the
form, website, or online portal should
be used only by students eligible to
vote in the State;
``(cc) notifies such students of--
``(AA) applicable deadlines
for requesting and submitting
an absentee ballot; and
``(BB) additional options
for early and in-person voting
and voting on Election Day, as
applicable; and
``(dd) shares credible, nonpartisan
resources (to be identified in
consultation with the Election
Assistance Commission) to help students
who are registered in another State to
apply for absentee ballots in such
State, which may include resources from
State and local election officials; and
``(III) the institution ensures that an
appropriate staff person or office has been
designated as a Campus Vote Coordinator, who
shall--
``(aa) ensure compliance in
accordance with this paragraph at the
institution;
``(bb) be publicly designated as
the Campus Vote Coordinator, including
the Campus Vote Coordinator's contact
information, on the website of the
institution; and
``(cc) upon request, provide to
students residency requirements for
voting, including the ability of
students from other States to vote in
the State of the institution in which
they are enrolled and physically in
attendance, in accordance with
applicable State law; and
``(ii) with respect to each student enrolled
exclusively in distance education or correspondence
programs, the institution--
``(I)(aa) transmits a message devoted
exclusively to voter registration that refers
such students to a centralized voter
registration website or platform by providing
the Internet address or other method to access
such website or platform, that--
``(AA) provides applicable voter
registration application and voting
information for all States; and
``(BB) is hosted by a website
operated by the Federal, State or local
government;
``(bb) transmits such message not less than
twice in each calendar year; and
``(cc) maintains information on the
institution's website containing credible,
nonpartisan resources to help students
determine where and how they are eligible to
vote, or a link to such resources; or
``(II) provides information to such
students in the same manner as the institution
provides information to students not enrolled
exclusively in distance education under clause
(i)(I).
``(C) The institution will substantially comply with the
requirements that apply to the institution under section 7 of
the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20506)
or section 113 of the Automatic Voter Registration Act of 2024,
as the case may be.
``(D) In this paragraph--
``(i) the term `voter registration application'
means the mail voter registration application form for
elections for Federal office prescribed pursuant to
section 9 of the National Voter Registration Act of
1993 (52 U.S.C. 20508);
``(ii) the term `absentee ballot' means any ballot
cast by any means other than in person and for which
the State requires an application;
``(iii) the term `distance education' has the
meaning given the term in section 103, except such term
shall not include distance education that is provided
due to a decision of an institution to require or
encourage students of the institution to remain off-
campus due to a national, State, or local public health
or other emergency; and
``(iv) the term `Federal office' has the meaning
given in section 301(3) of the Federal Election
Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30101(3)).''.
(c) Grants to Institutions Demonstrating Excellence in Student
Voter Registration.--
(1) Grants authorized.--The Secretary of Education may
award competitive grants to public and private nonprofit
institutions of higher education that are subject to the
requirements of section 487(a)(23) of the Higher Education Act
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1094(a)(23)), as amended by subsection (b),
and that the Secretary determines have demonstrated excellence
in registering students to vote in elections for public office
beyond meeting the minimum requirements of such section.
(2) Eligibility.--An institution of higher education is
eligible to receive a grant under this subsection if the
institution submits to the Secretary of Education, at such time
and in such form as the Secretary may require, an application
containing such information and assurances as the Secretary may
require to make the determination described in paragraph (1),
including information and assurances that the institution
carried out activities to promote voter registration by
students, such as the following:
(A) Sponsoring large on-campus voter mobilization
efforts.
(B) Engaging the surrounding community in
nonpartisan voter registration and get out the vote
efforts.
(C) Creating a website for students with
centralized information about voter registration and
election dates.
(D) Inviting candidates to speak on campus.
(E) Offering rides to students to the polls to
increase voter education, registration, and
mobilization.
(3) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized
to be appropriated for fiscal year 2025 and each succeeding
fiscal year such sums as may be necessary to award grants under
this subsection.
(d) Sense of Congress Relating to Option of Students To Register in
Jurisdiction of Institution of Higher Education or Jurisdiction of
Domicile.--It is the sense of Congress that, as provided under existing
law, students who attend an institution of higher education and reside
in the jurisdiction of the institution while attending the institution
should have the option of registering to vote in elections for Federal
office in that jurisdiction or in the jurisdiction of their own
domicile.
SEC. 1402. MINIMUM NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR VOTERS AFFECTED BY
POLLING PLACE CHANGES.
(a) Requirements.--Section 302 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002
(52 U.S.C. 21082), as amended by section 701(a), is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (g); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (e) the following new
subsection:
``(f) Minimum Notification Requirements for Voters Affected by
Polling Place Changes.--
``(1) In general.--If a State assigns an individual who is
a registered voter in a State to a polling place with respect
to an election for Federal office which is not the same polling
place to which the individual was previously assigned with
respect to the most recent election for Federal office in the
State in which the individual was eligible to vote--
``(A) the State shall notify the individual of the
location of the polling place not later than 7 days
before the date of the election or the first day of an
early voting period (whichever occurs first); or
``(B) if the State makes such an assignment fewer
than 7 days before the date of the election and the
individual appears on the date of the election at the
polling place to which the individual was previously
assigned, the State shall make every reasonable effort
to enable the individual to vote on the date of the
election.
``(2) Methods of notification.--The State shall notify an
individual under subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) by mail,
telephone, and (if available) text message and electronic mail.
``(3) Placement of signs at closed polling places.--If a
location which served as a polling place in an election for
Federal office does not serve as a polling place in the next
election for Federal office held in the jurisdiction involved,
the State shall ensure that signs are posted at such location
on the date of the election and during any early voting period
for the election containing the following information:
``(A) A statement that the location is not serving
as a polling place in the election.
``(B) The locations serving as polling places in
the election in the jurisdiction involved.
``(C) Contact information, including a telephone
number and website, for the appropriate State or local
election official through which an individual may find
the polling place to which the individual is assigned
for the election.
``(4) Effective date.--This subsection shall apply with
respect to elections held on or after January 1, 2025.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 302(g) of such Act (52 U.S.C.
21082(g)), as redesignated by subsection (a) and as amended by section
701(b), is amended by striking ``(d)(2) and (e)(2)'' and inserting
``(d)(2), (e)(2), and (f)(4)''.
SEC. 1403. PERMITTING USE OF SWORN WRITTEN STATEMENT TO MEET
IDENTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR VOTING.
(a) Permitting Use of Statement.--Title III of the Help America
Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.) is amended by inserting
after section 303 the following new section:
``SEC. 303A. PERMITTING USE OF SWORN WRITTEN STATEMENT OR STUDENT
IDENTIFICATION CARD TO MEET IDENTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS.
``(a) Use of Statement or Student Identification Card.--
``(1) In general.--Except as provided in subsection (c), if
a State has in effect any requirement that an individual
present identification as a condition of receiving and casting
a ballot in an election for Federal office, the State shall
permit the individual to meet the requirement--
``(A) in the case of an individual who desires to
vote in person, by presenting the appropriate State or
local election official with--
``(i) a sworn written statement, signed by
the individual under penalty of perjury,
attesting to the individual's identity and
attesting that the individual is eligible to
vote in the election; or
``(ii) if such individual is a student
enrolled at an institution of higher education
(as defined under section 102 of the Higher
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002)), a
student identification card assigned to the
individual from an institution of higher
education; or
``(B) in the case of an individual who desires to
vote by mail, by submitting with the ballot--
``(i) the statement described in
subparagraph (A)(i); or
``(ii) if such individual is a student
enrolled at an institution of higher education
(as so defined), a copy of the student
identification card described in subparagraph
(A)(ii).
``(2) Development of pre-printed version of statement by
commission.--The Commission shall develop a pre-printed version
of the statement described in paragraph (1)(A)(i) which
includes a blank space for an individual to provide a name and
signature for use by election officials in States which are
subject to paragraph (1).
``(3) Providing pre-printed copy of statement.--A State
which is subject to paragraph (1) shall--
``(A) make copies of the pre-printed version of the
statement described in paragraph (1)(A)(i) which is
prepared by the Commission available at polling places
for election officials to distribute to individuals who
desire to vote in person; and
``(B) include a copy of such pre-printed version of
the statement with each blank absentee or other ballot
transmitted to an individual who desires to vote by
mail.
``(b) Requiring Use of Ballot in Same Manner as Individuals
Presenting Identification.--An individual who presents or submits a
sworn written statement or presents a student identification card in
accordance with subsection (a)(1) shall be permitted to cast a ballot
in the election in the same manner as an individual who presents
identification.
``(c) Exception for First-Time Voters Registering by Mail.--
Subsections (a) and (b) do not apply with respect to any individual
described in paragraph (1) of section 303(b) who is required to meet
the requirements of paragraph (2) of such section.''.
(b) Requiring States To Include Information on Use of Sworn Written
Statement and Student Identification Card in Voting Information
Material Posted at Polling Places.--Section 302(b)(2) of such Act (52
U.S.C. 21082(b)(2)), as amended by section 172(b) and section 302(b),
is amended--
(1) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (G);
(2) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (H)
and inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
``(I) in the case of a State that has in effect any
requirement that an individual present identification
as a condition of receiving and casting a ballot in an
election for Federal office, information on how an
individual may meet such requirement by presenting a
sworn written statement or student identification card
in accordance with section 303A.''.
(c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents of such Act is
amended by inserting after the item relating to section 303 the
following new item:
``Sec. 303A. Permitting use of sworn written statement or student
identification card to meet identification
requirements.''.
(d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply with respect to elections occurring on or after the date of the
enactment of this Act.
SEC. 1404. ACCOMMODATIONS FOR VOTERS RESIDING IN INDIAN LANDS.
(a) Accommodations Described.--
(1) Designation of ballot pickup and collection
locations.--Given the widespread lack of residential mail
delivery in Indian Country, an Indian Tribe may designate
buildings as ballot pickup and collection locations with
respect to an election for Federal office at no cost to the
Indian Tribe. An Indian Tribe may designate one building per
precinct located within Indian lands. The applicable State or
political subdivision shall collect ballots from those
locations. The applicable State or political subdivision shall
provide the Indian Tribe with accurate precinct maps for all
precincts located within Indian lands 60 days before the
election.
(2) Provision of mail-in and absentee ballots.--The State
or political subdivision shall provide mail-in and absentee
ballots with respect to an election for Federal office to each
individual who is registered to vote in the election who
resides on Indian lands in the State or political subdivision
involved without requiring a residential address or a mail-in
or absentee ballot request.
(3) Use of designated building as residential and mailing
address.--The address of a designated building that is a ballot
pickup and collection location with respect to an election for
Federal office may serve as the residential address and mailing
address for voters living on Indian lands if the tribally
designated building is in the same precinct as that voter. If
there is no tribally designated building within a voter's
precinct, the voter may use another tribally designated
building within the Indian lands where the voter is located.
Voters using a tribally designated building outside of the
voter's precinct may use the tribally designated building as a
mailing address and may separately designate the voter's
appropriate precinct through a description of the voter's
address, as specified in section 9428.4(a)(2) of title 11, Code
of Federal Regulations.
(4) Language accessibility.--In the case of a State or
political subdivision that is a covered State or political
subdivision under section 203 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965
(52 U.S.C. 10503), that State or political subdivision shall
provide absentee or mail-in voting materials with respect to an
election for Federal office in the language of the applicable
minority group as well as in the English language, bilingual
election voting assistance, and written translations of all
voting materials in the language of the applicable minority
group, as required by section 203 of the Voting Rights Act of
1965 (52 U.S.C. 10503), as amended by subsection (b).
(5) Clarification.--Nothing in this section alters the
ability of an individual voter residing on Indian lands to
request a ballot in a manner available to all other voters in
the State.
(6) Definitions.--In this section:
(A) Election for federal office.--The term
``election for Federal office'' means a general,
special, primary or runoff election for the office of
President or Vice President, or of Senator or
Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner
to, the Congress.
(B) Indian.--The term ``Indian'' has the meaning
given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C.
5304).
(C) Indian lands.--The term ``Indian lands''
includes--
(i) any Indian country of an Indian Tribe,
as defined under section 1151 of title 18,
United States Code;
(ii) any land in Alaska owned, pursuant to
the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43
U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), by an Indian Tribe that
is a Native village (as defined in section 3 of
that Act (43 U.S.C. 1602)) or by a Village
Corporation that is associated with an Indian
Tribe (as defined in section 3 of that Act (43
U.S.C. 1602));
(iii) any land on which the seat of the
Tribal Government is located; and
(iv) any land that is part or all of a
Tribal designated statistical area associated
with an Indian Tribe, or is part or all of an
Alaska Native village statistical area
associated with an Indian Tribe, as defined by
the Census Bureau for the purposes of the most
recent decennial census.
(D) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian Tribe'' has
the meaning given the term ``Indian tribe'' in section
4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education
Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
(E) Tribal government.--The term ``Tribal
Government'' means the recognized governing body of an
Indian Tribe.
(7) Enforcement.--
(A) Attorney general.--The Attorney General may
bring a civil action in an appropriate district court
for such declaratory or injunctive relief as is
necessary to carry out this subsection.
(B) Private right of action.--
(i) A person or Tribal Government who is
aggrieved by a violation of this subsection may
provide written notice of the violation to the
chief election official of the State involved.
(ii) An aggrieved person or Tribal
Government may bring a civil action in an
appropriate district court for declaratory or
injunctive relief with respect to a violation
of this subsection, if--
(I) that person or Tribal
Government provides the notice
described in clause (i); and
(II)(aa) in the case of a violation
that occurs more than 120 days before
the date of an election for Federal
office, the violation remains and 90
days or more have passed since the date
on which the chief election official of
the State receives the notice under
clause (i); or
(bb) in the case of a violation
that occurs 120 days or less before the
date of an election for Federal office,
the violation remains and 20 days or
more have passed since the date on
which the chief election official of
the State receives the notice under
clause (i).
(iii) In the case of a violation of this
section that occurs 30 days or less before the
date of an election for Federal office, an
aggrieved person or Tribal Government may bring
a civil action in an appropriate district court
for declaratory or injunctive relief with
respect to the violation without providing
notice to the chief election official of the
State under clause (i).
(b) Bilingual Election Requirements.--Section 203 of the Voting
Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 10503) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)(3)(C)), by striking ``1990'' and
inserting ``2020''; and
(2) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:
``(c) Provision of Voting Materials in the Language of a Minority
Group.--
``(1) In general.--Whenever any State or political
subdivision subject to the prohibition of subsection (b) of
this section provides any registration or voting notices,
forms, instructions, assistance, or other materials or
information relating to the electoral process, including
ballots, it shall provide them in the language of the
applicable minority group as well as in the English language.
``(2) Exceptions.--
``(A) In the case of a minority group that is not
American Indian or Alaska Native and the language of
that minority group is oral or unwritten, the State or
political subdivision shall only be required to
furnish, in the covered language, oral instructions,
assistance, translation of voting materials, or other
information relating to registration and voting.
``(B) In the case of a minority group that is
American Indian or Alaska Native, the State or
political subdivision shall only be required to furnish
in the covered language oral instructions, assistance,
or other information relating to registration and
voting, including all voting materials, if the Tribal
Government of that minority group has certified that
the language of the applicable American Indian or
Alaska Native language is presently unwritten or the
Tribal Government does not want written translations in
the minority language.
``(3) Written translations for election workers.--
Notwithstanding paragraph (2), the State or political division
may be required to provide written translations of voting
materials, with the consent of any applicable Indian Tribe, to
election workers to ensure that the translations from English
to the language of a minority group are complete, accurate, and
uniform.''.
(c) Effective Date.--This section and the amendments made by this
section shall apply with respect to the regularly scheduled general
election for Federal office held in November 2026 and each succeeding
election for Federal office.
SEC. 1405. ENSURING EQUITABLE AND EFFICIENT OPERATION OF POLLING
PLACES.
(a) In General.--Subtitle A of title III of the Help America Vote
Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.), as amended by section 131(a),
section 201(a), section 202(a), section 203(a)(1), section 204(a),
section 801(a), section 901(a), section 902(a), section 903(b), and
section 904(a), is amended--
(1) by redesignating sections 314 and 315 as sections 316
and 317, respectively; and
(2) by inserting after section 313 the following new
section:
``SEC. 314. ENSURING EQUITABLE AND EFFICIENT OPERATION OF POLLING
PLACES.
``(a) Preventing Unreasonable Waiting Times for Voters.--
``(1) In general.--Each State shall provide a sufficient
number of voting systems, poll workers, and other election
resources (including physical resources) at a polling place
used in any election for Federal office, including a polling
place at which individuals may cast ballots prior to the date
of the election, to ensure--
``(A) a fair and equitable waiting time for all
voters in the State; and
``(B) that no individual will be required to wait
longer than 30 minutes to cast a ballot at the polling
place.
``(2) Criteria.--In determining the number of voting
systems, poll workers, and other election resources provided at
a polling place for purposes of paragraph (1), the State shall
take into account the following factors:
``(A) The voting age population.
``(B) Voter turnout in past elections.
``(C) The number of voters registered.
``(D) The number of voters who have registered
since the most recent Federal election.
``(E) Census data for the population served by the
polling place, such as the proportion of the voting-age
population who are under 25 years of age or who are
naturalized citizens.
``(F) The needs and numbers of voters with
disabilities and voters with limited English
proficiency.
``(G) The type of voting systems used.
``(H) The length and complexity of initiatives,
referenda, and other questions on the ballot.
``(I) Such other factors, including relevant
demographic factors relating to the population served
by the polling place, as the State considers
appropriate.
``(3) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this subsection may
be construed to authorize a State to meet the requirements of
this subsection by closing any polling place, prohibiting an
individual from entering a line at a polling place, or refusing
to permit an individual who has arrived at a polling place
prior to closing time from voting at the polling place.
``(4) Guidelines.--Not later than 180 days after the date
of the enactment of this section, the Commission shall
establish and publish guidelines to assist States in meeting
the requirements of this subsection.
``(5) Effective date.--This subsection shall take effect
upon the expiration of the 180-day period which begins on the
date of the enactment of this subsection, without regard to
whether or not the Commission has established and published
guidelines under paragraph (4).
``(b) Limiting Variations on Number of Hours of Operation of
Polling Places Within a State.--
``(1) Limitation.--
``(A) In general.--Except as provided in
subparagraph (B) and paragraph (2), each State shall
establish hours of operation for all polling places in
the State on the date of any election for Federal
office held in the State such that the polling place
with the greatest number of hours of operation on such
date is not in operation for more than 2 hours longer
than the polling place with the fewest number of hours
of operation on such date.
``(B) Permitting variance on basis of population.--
Subparagraph (A) does not apply to the extent that the
State establishes variations in the hours of operation
of polling places on the basis of the overall
population or the voting age population (as the State
may select) of the unit of local government in which
such polling places are located.
``(2) Exceptions for polling places with hours established
by units of local government.--Paragraph (1) does not apply in
the case of a polling place--
``(A) whose hours of operation are established, in
accordance with State law, by the unit of local
government in which the polling place is located; or
``(B) which is required pursuant to an order by a
court to extend its hours of operation beyond the hours
otherwise established.''.
(b) Clerical Amendments.--The table of contents of such Act, as
amended by section 131(c), section 201(d), section 202(c), section
203(a)(3), section 204(c), section 801(c), section 901(c), section
902(c), section 903(b), and section 904(a), is amended--
(1) by redesignating the items relating to sections 314 and
315 as relating to sections 315 and 316, respectively; and
(2) by inserting after the item relating to section 313 the
following new item:
``Sec. 314. Ensuring equitable and efficient operation of polling
places.''.
SEC. 1406. REQUIRING STATES TO PROVIDE SECURED DROP BOXES FOR VOTED
ABSENTEE BALLOTS IN ELECTIONS FOR FEDERAL OFFICE.
(a) Requirement.--Subtitle A of title III of the Help America Vote
Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.), as amended by section 131(a),
section 201(a), section 202(a), section 203(a)(1), section 204(a),
section 801(a), section 901(a), section 902(a), section 903(b), section
904(a), and section 1405(a), is amended--
(1) by redesignating sections 315 and 316 as sections 316
and 317, respectively; and
(2) by inserting after section 314 the following new
section:
``SEC. 315. USE OF SECURED DROP BOXES FOR VOTED ABSENTEE BALLOTS.
``(a) Requiring Use of Drop Boxes.--In each election jurisdiction
in the State, each State shall provide in-person, secured, and clearly
labeled drop boxes at which individuals may, at any time during the
period described in subsection (b), drop off voted absentee ballots in
an election for Federal office.
``(b) Minimum Period for Availability of Drop Boxes.--The period
described in this subsection is, with respect to an election, the
period which begins 45 days before the date of the election and which
ends at the time the polls close for the election in the election
jurisdiction involved.
``(c) Accessibility.--
``(1) In general.--Each State shall ensure that the drop
boxes provided under this section are accessible for use--
``(A) by individuals with disabilities, as
determined in consultation with the protection and
advocacy systems (as defined in section 102 of the
Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of
Rights Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 15002)) of the State; and
``(B) by individuals with limited proficiency in
the English language.
``(2) Determination of accessibility for individuals with
disabilities.--For purposes of this subsection, drop boxes
shall be considered to be accessible for use by individuals
with disabilities if the drop boxes meet such criteria as the
Attorney General may establish for such purposes.
``(3) Rule of construction.--If a State provides a drop box
under this section on the grounds of or inside a building or
facility which serves as a polling place for an election during
the period described in subsection (b), nothing in this
subsection may be construed to waive any requirements regarding
the accessibility of such polling place for the use of
individuals with disabilities or individuals with limited
proficiency in the English language.
``(d) Number of Drop Boxes.--
``(1) Formula for determination of number.--The number of
drop boxes provided under this section in an election
jurisdiction with respect to an election shall be determined as
follows:
``(A) In the case of an election jurisdiction in
which the number of individuals who are residents of
the election jurisdiction and who are registered to
vote in the election is equal to or greater than
20,000, the number of drop boxes shall be a number
equal to or greater than the number of such individuals
divided by 20,000 (rounded to the nearest whole
number).
``(B) In the case of any other election
jurisdiction, the number of drop boxes shall be equal
to or greater than one.
``(2) Timing.--For purposes of this subsection, the number
of individuals who reside in an election jurisdiction and who
are registered to vote in the election shall be determined as
of the 90th day before the date of the election.
``(e) Location of Drop Boxes.--The State shall determine the
location of drop boxes provided under this section in an election
jurisdiction on the basis of criteria which ensure that the drop boxes
are--
``(1) available to all voters on a non-discriminatory
basis;
``(2) accessible to voters with disabilities (in accordance
with subsection (c));
``(3) accessible by public transportation to the greatest
extent possible;
``(4) available during all hours of the day; and
``(5) sufficiently available in all communities in the
election jurisdiction, including rural communities and on
Tribal lands within the election jurisdiction (subject to
subsection (f)).
``(f) Rules for Drop Boxes on Tribal Lands.--In making a
determination of the number and location of drop boxes provided under
this section on Tribal lands in an election jurisdiction, the
appropriate State and local election officials shall--
``(1) consult with Tribal leaders prior to making the
determination; and
``(2) take into account criteria such as the availability
of direct-to-door residential mail delivery, the distance and
time necessary to travel to the drop box locations (including
in inclement weather), modes of transportation available,
conditions of roads, and the availability (if any) of public
transportation.
``(g) Timing of Scanning and Processing of Ballots.--For purposes
of section 306(e) (relating to the timing of the processing and
scanning of ballots for tabulation), a vote cast using a drop box
provided under this section shall be treated in the same manner as any
other vote cast during early voting.
``(h) Posting of Information.--On or adjacent to each drop box
provided under this section, the State shall post information on the
requirements that voted absentee ballots must meet in order to be
counted and tabulated in the election.
``(i) Election Jurisdiction.--For purposes of this section, the
term `election jurisdiction' has the same meaning given to the term
`registrar's jurisdiction' under section 8(j) of the National Voter
Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20507(j)).
``(j) Effective Date.--This section shall apply with respect to the
regularly scheduled general election for Federal office held in
November 2026 and each succeeding election for Federal office.''.
(b) Clerical Amendments.--The table of contents of such Act, as
amended by section 131(c), section 201(d), section 202(c), section
203(a)(3), section 204(c), section 801(c), section 901(c), section
902(c), section 903(b), section 904(a), and section 1405(b), is
amended--
(1) by redesignating the items relating to sections 315 and
316 as relating to sections 316 and 317, respectively; and
(2) by inserting after the item relating to section 314 the
following new item:
``Sec. 315. Use of secured drop boxes for voted absentee ballots.''.
SEC. 1407. PROHIBITING STATES FROM RESTRICTING CURBSIDE VOTING.
(a) Requirement.--Subtitle A of title III of the Help America Vote
Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.), as amended by section 131(a),
section 201(a), section 202(a), section 203(a)(1), section 204(a),
section 801(a), section 901(a), section 902(a), section 903(b), section
904(a), section 1405(a), and section 1406(a), is amended--
(1) by redesignating sections 316 and 317 as sections 317
and 318, respectively; and
(2) by inserting after section 315 the following new
section:
``SEC. 316. PROHIBITING STATES FROM RESTRICTING CURBSIDE VOTING.
``(a) Prohibition.--A State may not--
``(1) prohibit any jurisdiction administering an election
for Federal office in the State from utilizing curbside voting
as a method by which individuals may cast ballots in the
election; or
``(2) impose any restrictions which would exclude any
individual who is eligible to vote in such an election in a
jurisdiction which utilizes curbside voting from casting a
ballot in the election by the method of curbside voting.
``(b) Effective Date.--This section shall apply with respect to the
regularly scheduled general election for Federal office held in
November 2026 and each succeeding election for Federal office.''.
(b) Clerical Amendments.--The table of contents of such Act, as
amended by section 131(c), section 201(d), section 202(c), section
203(a)(3), section 204(c), section 801(c), section 901(c), section
902(c), section 903(b), section 904(a), section 1405(b), and section
1406(b), is amended--
(1) by redesignating the items relating to sections 316 and
317 as relating to sections 317 and 318, respectively; and
(2) by inserting after the item relating to section 315 the
following new item:
``Sec. 316. Prohibiting States from restricting curbside voting.''.
Subtitle B--Disaster and Emergency Contingency Plans
SEC. 1411. REQUIREMENTS FOR FEDERAL ELECTION CONTINGENCY PLANS IN
RESPONSE TO NATURAL DISASTERS AND EMERGENCIES.
(a) In General.--
(1) Establishment.--Not later than 90 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, each State and each jurisdiction
in a State which is responsible for administering elections for
Federal office shall establish and make publicly available a
contingency plan to enable individuals to vote in elections for
Federal office during a state of emergency, public health
emergency, or national emergency which has been declared for
reasons including--
(A) a natural disaster; or
(B) an infectious disease.
(2) Updating.--Each State and jurisdiction shall update the
contingency plan established under this subsection not less
frequently than every 5 years.
(b) Requirements Relating to Safety.--The contingency plan
established under subsection (a) shall include initiatives to provide
equipment and resources needed to protect the health and safety of poll
workers and voters when voting in person.
(c) Requirements Relating to Recruitment of Poll Workers.--The
contingency plan established under subsection (a) shall include
initiatives by the chief State election official and local election
officials to recruit poll workers from resilient or unaffected
populations, which may include--
(1) employees of other State and local government offices;
and
(2) in the case in which an infectious disease poses
significant increased health risks to elderly individuals,
students of secondary schools and institutions of higher
education in the State.
(d) Enforcement.--
(1) Attorney general.--The Attorney General may bring a
civil action against any State or jurisdiction in an
appropriate United States District Court for such declaratory
and injunctive relief (including a temporary restraining order,
a permanent or temporary injunction, or other order) as may be
necessary to carry out the requirements of this section.
(2) Private right of action.--
(A) In general.--In the case of a violation of this
section, any person who is aggrieved by such violation
may provide written notice of the violation to the
chief election official of the State involved.
(B) Relief.--If the violation is not corrected
within 20 days after receipt of a notice under
subparagraph (A), or within 5 days after receipt of the
notice if the violation occurred within 120 days before
the date of an election for Federal office, the
aggrieved person may, in a civil action, obtain
declaratory or injunctive relief with respect to the
violation.
(C) Special rule.--If the violation occurred within
5 days before the date of an election for Federal
office, the aggrieved person need not provide notice to
the chief election official of the State involved under
subparagraph (A) before bringing a civil action under
subparagraph (B).
(e) Definitions.--
(1) Election for federal office.--For purposes of this
section, the term ``election for Federal office'' means a
general, special, primary, or runoff election for the office of
President or Vice President, or of Senator or Representative
in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress.
(2) State.--For purposes of this section, the term
``State'' includes the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth
of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin
Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
(f) Effective Date.--This section shall apply with respect to the
regularly scheduled general election for Federal office held in
November 2026 and each succeeding election for Federal office.
Subtitle C--Improvements in Operation of Election Assistance Commission
SEC. 1421. REAUTHORIZATION OF ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION.
Section 210 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 20930)
is amended--
(1) by striking ``for each of the fiscal years 2003 through
2005'' and inserting ``for fiscal year 2021 and each succeeding
fiscal year''; and
(2) by striking ``(but not to exceed $10,000,000 for each
such year)''.
SEC. 1422. REQUIRING STATES TO PARTICIPATE IN POST-GENERAL ELECTION
SURVEYS.
(a) Requirement.--Title III of the Help America Vote Act of 2002
(52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.), as amended by section 1403(a), is further
amended by inserting after section 303A the following new section:
``SEC. 303B. REQUIRING PARTICIPATION IN POST-GENERAL ELECTION SURVEYS.
``(a) Requirement.--Each State shall furnish to the Commission such
information as the Commission may request for purposes of conducting
any post-election survey of the States with respect to the
administration of a regularly scheduled general election for Federal
office.
``(b) Effective Date.--This section shall apply with respect to the
regularly scheduled general election for Federal office held in
November 2026 and any succeeding election.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents of such Act, as
amended by section 1403(c), is further amended by inserting after the
item relating to section 303A the following new item:
``Sec. 303B. Requiring participation in post-general election
surveys.''.
SEC. 1423. REPORTS BY NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY ON
USE OF FUNDS TRANSFERRED FROM ELECTION ASSISTANCE
COMMISSION.
(a) Requiring Reports on Use Funds as Condition of Receipt.--
Section 231 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 20971) is
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(e) Report on Use of Funds Transferred From Commission.--To the
extent that funds are transferred from the Commission to the Director
of the National Institute of Standards and Technology for purposes of
carrying out this section during any fiscal year, the Director may not
use such funds unless the Director certifies at the time of transfer
that the Director will submit a report to the Commission not later than
90 days after the end of the fiscal year detailing how the Director
used such funds during the year.''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall
apply with respect to fiscal year 2026 and each succeeding fiscal year.
SEC. 1424. RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE OPERATIONS OF ELECTION ASSISTANCE
COMMISSION.
(a) Assessment of Information Technology and Cybersecurity.--Not
later than December 31, 2024, the Election Assistance Commission shall
carry out an assessment of the security and effectiveness of the
Commission's information technology systems, including the
cybersecurity of such systems.
(b) Improvements to Administrative Complaint Procedures.--
(1) Review of procedures.--The Election Assistance
Commission shall carry out a review of the effectiveness and
efficiency of the State-based administrative complaint
procedures established and maintained under section 402 of the
Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21112) for the
investigation and resolution of allegations of violations of
title III of such Act.
(2) Recommendations to streamline procedures.--Not later
than December 31, 2024, the Commission shall submit to Congress
a report on the review carried out under paragraph (1), and
shall include in the report such recommendations as the
Commission considers appropriate to streamline and improve the
procedures which are the subject of the review.
SEC. 1425. REPEAL OF EXEMPTION OF ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION FROM
CERTAIN GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING REQUIREMENTS.
(a) In General.--Section 205 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002
(52 U.S.C. 20925) is amended by striking subsection (e).
(b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall
apply with respect to contracts entered into by the Election Assistance
Commission on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.
Subtitle D--Miscellaneous Provisions
SEC. 1431. APPLICATION OF LAWS TO COMMONWEALTH OF NORTHERN MARIANA
ISLANDS.
(a) National Voter Registration Act of 1993.--Section 3(4) of the
National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20502(4)) is amended
by striking ``States and the District of Columbia'' and inserting
``States, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands''.
(b) Help America Vote Act of 2002.--
(1) Coverage of commonwealth of the northern mariana
islands.--Section 901 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52
U.S.C. 21141) is amended by striking ``and the United States
Virgin Islands'' and inserting ``the United States Virgin
Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands''.
(2) Conforming amendments to help america vote act of
2002.--Such Act is further amended as follows:
(A) The second sentence of section 213(a)(2) (52
U.S.C. 20943(a)(2)) is amended by striking ``and
American Samoa'' and inserting ``American Samoa, and
the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands''.
(B) Section 252(c)(2) (52 U.S.C. 21002(c)(2)) is
amended by striking ``or the United States Virgin
Islands'' and inserting ``the United States Virgin
Islands, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands''.
(3) Conforming amendment relating to consultation of help
america vote foundation with local election officials.--Section
90102(c) of title 36, United States Code, is amended by
striking ``and the United States Virgin Islands'' and inserting
``the United States Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands''.
SEC. 1432. DEFINITION OF ELECTION FOR FEDERAL OFFICE.
(a) Definition.--Title IX of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52
U.S.C. 21141 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new
section:
``SEC. 907. ELECTION FOR FEDERAL OFFICE DEFINED.
``For purposes of titles I through III, the term `election for
Federal office' means a general, special, primary, or runoff election
for the office of President or Vice President, or of Senator or
Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the
Congress.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents of such Act is
amended by adding at the end of the items relating to title IX the
following new item:
``Sec. 907. Election for Federal office defined.''.
SEC. 1433. NO EFFECT ON OTHER LAWS.
(a) In General.--Except as specifically provided, nothing in this
title may be construed to authorize or require conduct prohibited under
any of the following laws, or to supersede, restrict, or limit the
application of such laws:
(1) The Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 10301 et
seq.).
(2) The Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and
Handicapped Act (52 U.S.C. 20101 et seq.).
(3) The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act
(52 U.S.C. 20301 et seq.).
(4) The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C.
20501 et seq.).
(5) The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C.
12101 et seq.).
(6) The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 701 et seq.).
(b) No Effect on Preclearance or Other Requirements Under Voting
Rights Act.--The approval by any person of a payment or grant
application under this title, or any other action taken by any person
under this title, shall not be considered to have any effect on
requirements for preclearance under section 5 of the Voting Rights Act
of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 10304) or any other requirements of such Act.
(c) No Effect on Authority of States To Provide Greater
Opportunities for Voting.--Nothing in this title or the amendments made
by this title may be construed to prohibit any State from enacting any
law which provides greater opportunities for individuals to register to
vote and to vote in elections for Federal office than are provided by
this title and the amendments made by this title.
SEC. 1434. CLARIFICATION OF EXEMPTION FOR STATES WITHOUT VOTER
REGISTRATION.
To the extent that any provision of this title or any amendment
made by this title imposes a requirement on a State relating to
registering individuals to vote in elections for Federal office, such
provision shall not apply in the case of any State in which, under law
that is in effect continuously on and after the date of the enactment
of this Act, there is no voter registration requirement for any voter
in the State with respect to an election for Federal office.
TITLE XV--SEVERABILITY
SEC. 1501. SEVERABILITY.
If any provision of this Act or amendment made by this Act, or the
application of a provision or amendment to any person or circumstance,
is held to be unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act and
amendments made by this Act, and the application of the provisions and
amendment to any person or circumstance, shall not be affected by the
holding.
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Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Oversight and Accountability, Science, Space, and Technology, Education and the Workforce, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Oversight and Accountability, Science, Space, and Technology, Education and the Workforce, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Oversight and Accountability, Science, Space, and Technology, Education and the Workforce, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Oversight and Accountability, Science, Space, and Technology, Education and the Workforce, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Oversight and Accountability, Science, Space, and Technology, Education and the Workforce, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
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Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Oversight and Accountability, Science, Space, and Technology, Education and the Workforce, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.