Unhoused Voter Opportunity Through Elections Act or the Unhoused VOTE Act
This bill expands voter registration and voting access for unhoused individuals.
The bill specifies that no state or political subdivision may deny or abridge the right of any U.S. citizen to vote because the citizen resides at or in a nontraditional abode.
Additionally, the bill requires jurisdictions that allow for ballot drop boxes to ensure that these drop boxes are available for in-person use and are accessible and clearly labeled.
If a state requires individuals to show proof of residence in order to vote in a federal election, then the state must accept the individual’s written attestation of residence. A state may not prohibit an individual who is residing in a homeless shelter from using the shelter as the individual’s residence for purposes of voting in a federal election.
The bill requires chief state election officials to conduct outreach to unhoused individuals.
The bill directs the Election Assistance Commission to (1) develop best practices for election officials regarding voter registration and voting access for unhoused individuals, and (2) make grants to eligible states and local governments for programs and activities to support access to voting for unhoused individuals.
The bill also revises the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, including by (1) treating emergency shelters as voter registration agencies, and (2) allowing an unhoused individual to use an unsheltered street location as the individual's place of residence for purposes of a voter registration application.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4914 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4914
To remove barriers to the ability of unhoused individuals to register
to vote and vote in elections for Federal office, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
August 5, 2025
Ms. Williams of Georgia (for herself, Mr. Cleaver, Ms. Johnson of
Texas, Mr. Veasey, Mr. Scott of Virginia, Ms. Sewell, Mr. Mullin, Mrs.
Ramirez, Ms. Ansari, Ms. Brown, Mr. Carson, Mr. Casten, Mrs. Cherfilus-
McCormick, Ms. Clarke of New York, Ms. Crockett, Ms. DelBene, Mr.
Deluzio, Mr. Doggett, Ms. Elfreth, Mr. Evans of Pennsylvania, Mr.
Fields, Mr. Figures, Mr. Garcia of Illinois, Mr. Green of Texas, Mr.
Jackson of Illinois, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Ms. Kamlager-Dove, Ms.
Kelly of Illinois, Mr. Krishnamoorthi, Mr. Larson of Connecticut, Ms.
Lee of Pennsylvania, Mr. Lynch, Ms. McClellan, Mrs. McIver, Mr. Meeks,
Mr. Mfume, Ms. Moore of Wisconsin, Ms. Norton, Ms. Pressley, Ms.
Salinas, Ms. Schakowsky, Ms. Simon, Ms. Strickland, Mrs. Sykes, Mr.
Thanedar, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Ms. Tlaib, and Mr. Tonko)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on Financial
Services, and the Judiciary, 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 remove barriers to the ability of unhoused individuals to register
to vote and 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Unhoused Voter
Opportunity Through Elections Act'' or the ``Unhoused VOTE Act''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
TITLE I--VOTING RIGHTS OF UNHOUSED CITIZENS
Sec. 101. Voting rights of unhoused citizens.
Sec. 102. Enforcement.
Sec. 103. Relationship to Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Sec. 104. Definitions.
TITLE II--PROTECTIONS AND BEST PRACTICES FOR PROTECTING ACCESS TO
VOTING AND VOTER REGISTRATION FOR UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS
Sec. 201. Description of protections.
Sec. 202. Special requirements for voter registration.
Sec. 203. Inclusion of information on voter registration and voting in
surveys conducted by recipients of HUD
homeless assistance.
TITLE III--GRANTS TO SUPPORT ACCESS TO VOTING FOR UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS
Sec. 301. Grant program described.
Sec. 302. Eligibility.
Sec. 303. Definition.
Sec. 304. Authorization of appropriations.
TITLE IV--GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 401. State defined.
Sec. 402. Effective date.
TITLE I--VOTING RIGHTS OF UNHOUSED CITIZENS
SEC. 101. VOTING RIGHTS OF UNHOUSED CITIZENS.
No voting qualification or prerequisite to voting, or standard,
practice, or procedure shall be imposed or applied by any State or
political subdivision to deny or abridge the right of any citizen of
the United States to vote because that citizen resides at or in a
nontraditional abode.
SEC. 102. ENFORCEMENT.
(a) Action by Attorney General.--The Attorney General may commence
in the name of the United States a civil action (including an action
against a State or political subdivision) for declaratory or injunctive
relief against a violation of this title.
(b) Private Right of Action.--A person who is aggrieved by an
alleged violation of this title may bring a civil action in an
appropriate district court for declaratory or injunctive relief with
respect to the violation.
SEC. 103. RELATIONSHIP TO VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965.
Nothing in this title may be construed to impair any right
guaranteed by the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 10101 et seq.).
SEC. 104. DEFINITIONS.
As used in this title, the term ``nontraditional abode'' includes--
(1) a supervised publicly or privately operated shelter
designed to provide temporary living accommodations (including
welfare hotels, congregate shelters, transitional housing,
substance abuse treatment facilities);
(2) a public or private place not designated for, or
ordinarily used as, regular sleeping accommodation for human
beings;
(3) any location in which, because an individual resides in
the location, the individual is considered to be a homeless
individual for purposes of section 103 of the McKinney-Vento
Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11302); and
(4) in the case of a State in which an individual
incarcerated in a prison is eligible to register to vote and
vote in elections for public office, a prison.
TITLE II--PROTECTIONS AND BEST PRACTICES FOR PROTECTING ACCESS TO
VOTING AND VOTER REGISTRATION FOR UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS
SEC. 201. DESCRIPTION OF PROTECTIONS.
(a) Description.--Title III of the Help America Vote Act of 2002
(52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following
new subtitle:
``Subtitle C--Access to Voting for Unhoused Individuals
``SEC. 321. PROMOTING USE OF DROP BOXES BY UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS.
``(a) Drop Box Accessibility.--If a jurisdiction responsible for
the administration of an election for Federal office in a State permits
individuals to drop off voted ballots in the election in drop boxes,
the jurisdiction shall ensure that the drop boxes are available for in-
person use and are accessible and clearly labeled.
``(b) Applying Criteria Based on Greatest Access by Unhoused
Individuals.--In establishing the location, number, and time of
operation of the drop boxes described in subsection (a), the
appropriate election official of a jurisdiction which is subject to
such subsection shall take into account the need to provide access to
such drop boxes by unhoused individuals, based on consultation with
persons who provide services for unhoused individuals and other
relevant stakeholders.
``SEC. 322. ACCEPTANCE OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTATION OF RESIDENCE AND
IDENTIFICATION.
``(a) Residence.--
``(1) Attestation.--If a State imposes a requirement that
an individual who desires to vote in an election for Federal
office in the State provide the appropriate election official
with documentation of the individual's residence, the State
shall consider the individual to meet that requirement if the
individual provides the official with a written attestation of
the individual's residence, signed under penalty of perjury.
``(2) Use of shelter as residence for voting purposes.--A
State may not prohibit an individual who is residing in a
homeless shelter from using the shelter as the individual's
residence for purposes of voting in an election for Federal
office which is held in the jurisdiction in which the shelter
is located.
``(b) Identification Issued by Entities of Criminal Justice
System.--If a State imposes a requirement that an individual who
desires to vote in an election for Federal office in the State provide
the appropriate election official with documentation of the
individual's identification, the State shall consider the individual to
meet the requirement if the individual provides the official with a
document containing the individual's name which is issued by an entity
of the criminal justice system, including a correctional facility,
court, probation officer, or parole officer.
``SEC. 323. OUTREACH TO UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS.
``(a) Information on Websites of Election Officials.--
``(1) Information required.--The chief State election
official shall ensure that the official public website of each
election official of the State includes an accessible, clear,
and separate hyperlink to simple information on how unhoused
individuals may register to vote and vote in elections for
Federal office held in the State.
``(2) Availability in language other than english.--If a
State or political subdivision is required under section 203 of
the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 10503) to provide
voting materials in a language other than English, the
appropriate election official shall ensure that the information
provided under paragraph (1) is provided in that language as
well as English.
``(b) Notification.--
``(1) Voter registration deadlines.--Not later than 60 days
prior to the deadline for registering to vote in an election
for Federal office held in a State, the chief State election
official shall send a notification of the deadline to each
homeless shelter in a jurisdiction of the State in which the
election will be held, local social services agencies which
commonly serve unhoused individuals, and other entities which
provide services to a significant population of unhoused
individuals in the jurisdiction.
``(2) Dates of elections.--Not later than 30 days prior to
the date of an election for Federal office, the chief State
election official shall send a notification of the election to
each homeless shelter in a jurisdiction of the State in which
the election will be held, along with the other agencies and
entities to whom the chief State election official sent notice
of the registration deadline under paragraph (1).
``SEC. 324. DEVELOPMENT OF BEST PRACTICES.
``(a) Development and Publication.--In consultation with the United
States Interagency Council on Homelessness, the Commission shall
develop and regularly update recommendations for the best practices for
State and local election officials to follow to protect and promote the
access of unhoused individuals to voter registration and voting in
elections for Federal office.
``(b) Specific Elements.--The Commission shall include in the best
practices developed and updated under this section--
``(1) methods to ensure that unhoused individuals are aware
of the procedures and locations for registering to vote and
voting;
``(2) methods to help election officials comply with
requirements for providing access to voter registration and
voting for people with disabilities, including requirements
established and enforced by the Department of Justice;
``(3) methods to train election officials, including poll
workers, in recognizing and responding to the challenges faced
by unhoused individuals in registering to vote and voting;
``(4) methods to ensure that individuals who are not
eligible to register to vote, including individuals who are not
citizens of the United States, and individuals who are eligible
but who do not wish to register to vote are not denied access
to services provided by homeless shelters and local social
services agencies which commonly serve unhoused individuals;
and
``(5) such other practices as the Commission considers
appropriate.
``(c) Consultation.--In developing and updating the best practices
under this section, the Commission shall consult with individuals who
have experience in being unhoused and with homeless shelters and local
social services agencies which commonly serve unhoused individuals,
including shelters and agencies with experience in serving unhoused
individuals who are not citizens of the United States.
``(d) Deadline.--The Commission shall develop the first set of best
practices under this section not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of the Unhoused VOTE Act.
``SEC. 325. DEFINITIONS.
``In this subtitle--
``(1) the term `homeless shelter' means an emergency
shelter under section 321 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11351); and
``(2) the term `unhoused individual' means a homeless
individual, as defined in section 103 of such Act (42 U.S.C.
11302).''.
(b) Conforming Amendment Relating to Enforcement.--Section 401 of
such Act (52 U.S.C. 21111) is amended by striking the period at the end
and inserting ``, and subtitle C of title III.''.
(c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents of such Act is
amended by adding at the end of the items relating to title III the
following:
``Subtitle C--Access to Voting for Unhoused Individuals
``Sec. 321. Promoting use of drop boxes by unhoused individuals.
``Sec. 322. Acceptance of certain documentation of residence and
identification.
``Sec. 323. Outreach to unhoused individuals.
``Sec. 324. Development of best practices.
``Sec. 325. Definitions.''.
SEC. 202. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR VOTER REGISTRATION.
(a) Treatment of Shelters as Voter Registration Agencies.--Section
7(a)(2) of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C.
20506(a)(2)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (A);
(2) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (B)
and inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
``(C) all emergency shelters in the State under section 321
of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C.
11351).''.
(b) Permitting Applicants To Mark Location of Residence on Federal
Voter Registration Application Forms and Alternative Forms Used by
States.--Section 9(b) of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993
(52 U.S.C. 20508(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) include a drawing of an intersection on which the
applicant may mark by hand the location of the applicant's
residence, including by writing in the names of the crossroads
on the drawing and indicating any nearby landmarks.''.
(c) Permitting Unhoused Applicants To Use Unsheltered Street
Location as Address.--Section 8(a) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 20507(a)) is
amended--
(1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (5);
(2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (6) and
inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(7) permit an applicant who is an unhoused individual
(defined for purposes of this paragraph as a homeless
individual under section 103 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11302)) to use an unsheltered street
location as the individual's place of residence for purposes of
the application.''.
SEC. 203. INCLUSION OF INFORMATION ON VOTER REGISTRATION AND VOTING IN
SURVEYS CONDUCTED BY RECIPIENTS OF HUD HOMELESS
ASSISTANCE.
Section 402(f)(3) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42
U.S.C. 11360a(f)(3)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (C);
(2) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as subparagraph (E);
and
(3) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following new
subparagraph:
``(D) collects information on the extent to which
individuals experiencing homelessness are able to
register to vote and vote in elections for Federal
office; and''.
TITLE III--GRANTS TO SUPPORT ACCESS TO VOTING FOR UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS
SEC. 301. GRANT PROGRAM DESCRIBED.
(a) In General.--The Election Assistance Commission shall make
grants to eligible States and units of local government for programs
and activities, such as operating mobile voting centers and providing
direct outreach to unhoused individuals, to support the access of
unhoused individuals to registering to vote and voting in elections for
Federal office.
(b) Use of Funds for Grants to Private Entities.--A State or unit
of local government which receives a grant under this title may use the
funds provided by the grant to enter into contracts with private
entities with experience in providing assistance to unhoused
individuals to provide services to such individuals which will assist
them in registering to vote and voting in elections for Federal office.
SEC. 302. ELIGIBILITY.
(a) In General.--A State or unit of local government is eligible to
receive a grant under this title if the State or unit submits to the
Election Assistance Commission, at such time and in such form as the
Commission may require, such information and assurances as the
Commission may require, including assurances that the State or
political subdivision has a plan to engage stakeholders with a
demonstrated experience of serving unhoused individuals.
(b) Special Condition Regarding Protection of Documents.--In order
to be eligible to receive a grant under this title, a State or unit of
local government shall include with the information and assurances
required under subsection (a) specific information and assurances that
if funds provided by the grant are used to produce documents for the
use of unhoused individuals, including under a contract with a private
entity as described in section 301(b), the documents will be produced
in a manner which ensures that they will remain readable and usable
even if they are subject to extended exposure to the elements.
SEC. 303. DEFINITION.
In this title, the term ``unhoused individual'' means a homeless
individual, as defined in section 103 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11302).
SEC. 304. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this title
such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026 and each succeeding
fiscal year.
TITLE IV--GENERAL PROVISIONS
SEC. 401. STATE DEFINED.
In this Act, the term ``State'' means each of the several States,
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. 402. EFFECTIVE DATE.
Except as otherwise provided, this Act and the amendments made by
this Act shall apply with respect to elections for Federal office
beginning 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and the Judiciary, 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 Financial Services, and the Judiciary, 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 Financial Services, and the Judiciary, 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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