No official summary available for this bill.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7300 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7300
To promote the integrity and improve the administration of elections
for Federal office, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 30, 2026
Mr. Steil (for himself, Mrs. Miller of Illinois, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Carey,
Mr. Tiffany, Mr. Van Orden, Mr. Begich, Mrs. Bice, Mr. Tony Gonzales of
Texas, Mr. Bresnahan, Mr. Fong, Mr. Edwards, Mrs. Miller-Meeks, Mr.
Bilirakis, Mr. Hern of Oklahoma, Mr. Patronis, Mrs. Kim, Mr. Bean of
Florida, Mr. Hamadeh of Arizona, Mr. Walberg, Mr. Rose, Mr. Gooden, Mr.
Mackenzie, Mr. Allen, and Mr. Pfluger) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in
addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, the
Judiciary, Homeland Security, and Intelligence (Permanent Select), 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 promote the integrity and improve the administration of 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.
This Act may be cited as the ``Make Elections Great Again Act''.
SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS.
The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Table of Contents.
TITLE I--ELECTION INTEGRITY
Subtitle A--Requiring Photo ID for Voting
Sec. 101. Requiring voters to provide photo identification.
Subtitle B--Voter Registration and List Maintenance Requirements
Sec. 111. Repeal of requirements with respect to administration of
voter registration.
Sec. 112. General requirements for administration of voter
registration.
Sec. 113. Requirements with respect to removal of ineligible voters
from official voter list.
Sec. 114. Computerized statewide voter registration list requirements.
Sec. 115. Requirements for applicants who register by mail.
Sec. 116. Civil enforcement and private right of action.
Sec. 117. Election Assistance Commission guidance.
Sec. 118. Inapplicability of Paperwork Reduction Act.
Sec. 119. Duty of Secretary of Homeland Security to notify election
officials of naturalization.
Sec. 120. Rule of construction regarding provisional ballots.
Sec. 121. Rule of construction regarding effect on State exemptions
from other Federal laws.
Sec. 122. Requiring applicants for motor vehicle driver's licenses in
new state to indicate whether state serves
as residence for voter registration
purposes.
Sec. 123. Definitions.
Subtitle C--Information Sharing Agreements With Attorney General
Sec. 131. Information sharing agreements with Attorney General.
Subtitle D--Election Security
Sec. 141. Indication of citizenship on driver's licenses and
identification cards.
Sec. 142. Requirement to notify State election officials of individuals
recused from jury service on grounds of
noncitizenship.
Sec. 143. Reports to Congress on foreign and domestic threats to
elections.
Sec. 144. Preservation of election records.
Sec. 145. Definitions.
Subtitle E--Prohibition on Federal Agency Political Activities
Sec. 151. Prohibiting political activities in Federal agencies.
TITLE II--ELECTION ADMINISTRATION
Subtitle A--Improving Administration of Elections
Sec. 201. Use of HAVA funds for post-election audits of results.
Subtitle B--Treatment of Ballots
Sec. 211. Requiring paper ballots.
Sec. 212. Limitation on possession of mail-in ballots.
Sec. 213. Prohibiting States from using ranked choice voting in general
elections for Federal office.
Sec. 214. Abolishing universal vote by mail.
Sec. 215. Barcode tracking for mail-in ballots.
Sec. 216. Receipt, processing, and counting of absentee and mail-in
ballots.
TITLE I--ELECTION INTEGRITY
Subtitle A--Requiring Photo ID for Voting
SEC. 101. REQUIRING VOTERS TO PROVIDE PHOTO IDENTIFICATION.
(a) Requirement to Provide Photo Identification as Condition of
Casting Ballot.--
(1) In general.--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. PHOTO IDENTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS.
``(a) Provision of Identification Required as Condition of Casting
Ballot.--
``(1) Individuals voting in person.--
``(A) Requirement to provide identification.--
Notwithstanding any other provision of law and except
as provided in subparagraph (B), the appropriate State
or local election official may not provide a ballot for
an election for Federal office to an individual who
desires to vote in person unless the individual
presents to the official a valid physical photo
identification.
``(B) Availability of provisional ballot.--
``(i) In general.--If an individual does
not present the identification required under
subparagraph (A), the individual shall be
permitted to cast a provisional ballot with
respect to the election under section 302(a),
except that the appropriate State or local
election official may not make a determination
under section 302(a)(4) that the individual is
eligible under State law to vote in the
election unless, not later than 3 days after
casting the provisional ballot, the individual
presents to the official--
``(I) the identification required
under subparagraph (A); or
``(II) an affidavit developed and
made available to the individual by the
State attesting that the individual
does not possess the identification
required under subparagraph (A) because
the individual has a religious
objection to being photographed.
``(ii) No effect on other provisional
balloting rules.--Nothing in clause (i) may be
construed to apply to the casting of a
provisional ballot pursuant to section 302(a)
or any State law for reasons other than the
failure to present the identification required
under subparagraph (A).
``(2) Individuals voting other than in person.--
``(A) In general.--Notwithstanding any other
provision of law and except as provided in subparagraph
(B), the appropriate State or local election official
may not accept any ballot for an election for Federal
office provided by an individual who votes other than
in person unless the individual submits with the
ballot--
``(i) a copy of a valid photo
identification; or
``(ii) the last four digits of the
individual's Social Security number and an
affidavit developed and made available to the
individual by the State attesting that the
individual is unable to obtain a copy of a
valid photo identification after making
reasonable efforts to obtain such a copy.
``(B) Exceptions.--
``(i) In general.--Subparagraph (A) does
not apply with respect to a ballot provided
by--
``(I) an absent uniformed services
voter who, by reason of active duty or
service, is absent from the United
States on the date of the election
involved; or
``(II) an individual 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)).
``(ii) Absent uniformed services voter
defined.--In this subparagraph, the term
`absent uniformed services voter' has the
meaning given such term in section 107(1) of
the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee
Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20310(1)), other than an
individual described in section 107(1)(C) of
such Act.
``(b) Providing Public Access to Digital Imaging Devices.--With
respect to each State, the appropriate State or local government
official of the State shall ensure, to the extent practicable, public
access to a digital imaging device, which shall include a printer,
copier, image scanner, or multifunction machine, at State and local
government buildings in the State, including courts, libraries, and
police stations, for the purpose of allowing individuals to use such a
device at no cost to the individual to make a copy of a valid photo
identification.
``(c) Valid Photo Identifications Described.--For purposes of this
section, a `valid photo identification' means, with respect to an
individual who seeks to vote in a State, any of the following:
``(1) A valid State-issued motor vehicle driver's license
that includes a photo of the individual and an expiration date.
``(2) A valid State-issued identification card that
includes a photo of the individual and an expiration date.
``(3) A valid United States passport for the individual.
``(4) A valid military identification for the individual.
``(5) A valid identification document issued by a Tribal
government that includes a photo of the individual and an
expiration date.
``(6) Any other form of government-issued identification
that the State may specify as a valid photo identification for
purposes of this subsection, excluding identification cards
provided by an educational institution.
``(d) Notification of Identification Requirement to Applicants for
Voter Registration.--
``(1) In general.--Each State shall ensure that, at the
time an individual applies to register to vote in elections for
Federal office in the State, the appropriate State or local
election official notifies the individual of the photo
identification requirements of this section.
``(2) Special rule for individuals applying to register to
vote online.--Each State shall ensure that, in the case of an
individual who applies to register to vote in elections for
Federal office in the State online, the online voter
registration system notifies the individual of the photo
identification requirements of this section before the
individual completes the online registration process.
``(e) Effective Date.--This section shall apply with respect to
elections for Federal office held in 2027 or any succeeding year.''.
(2) 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. Photo identification requirements.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment Relating to Voluntary Guidance by Election
Assistance Commission.--Section 311(b) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 21101(b))
is amended--
(1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (2);
(2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (3) and
inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(4) in the case of the recommendations with respect to
section 303A, October 1, 2025.''.
(c) Conforming Amendment Relating to Enforcement.--Section 401 of
such Act (52 U.S.C. 21111) is amended by striking ``sections 301, 302,
303, and 304'' and inserting ``subtitle A of title III''.
(d) Effective Date.--This section and the amendments made by this
section shall apply with respect to elections for Federal office held
in 2027 or any succeeding year.
Subtitle B--Voter Registration and List Maintenance Requirements
SEC. 111. REPEAL OF REQUIREMENTS WITH RESPECT TO ADMINISTRATION OF
VOTER REGISTRATION.
(a) Repeal of Existing Requirements.--
(1) National voter registration act of 1993.--Section 8 of
the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20507)
is repealed.
(2) Help america vote act of 2002.--
(A) Repeal.--Except as provided under subparagraph
(B), section 303 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002
(52 U.S.C. 21083) is repealed.
(B) Exception.--Subparagraph (A) does not apply
with respect to section 303(a)(5)(C) of such Act.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--The National Voter Registration Act of
1993 (52 U.S.C. 20501 et seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 5(c)(2)(D)(i), by striking ``section 8(a)(5)
(A) and (B)'' and inserting ``subparagraphs (A) and (B) of
section 112(a)(6) of the Make Elections Great Again Act'';
(2) in section 6(d) (52 U.S.C. 20505(d))--
(A) by striking ``section 8(a)(2)'' and inserting
``section 112(a)(2) of the Make Elections Great Again
Act''; and
(B) by striking ``section 8(d)'' and inserting
``section 113(c) of the Make Elections Great Again
Act''; and
(3) by amending section 9 to read as follows:
``SEC. 9. FEDERAL COORDINATION AND REGULATIONS.
``The Election Assistance Commission--
``(1) in consultation with the chief State election
official of each State, shall prescribe such regulations as are
necessary to carry out paragraphs (2) and (3);
``(2) in consultation with the chief State election
official of each State, shall develop a mail voter registration
application form for elections for Federal office;
``(3) not later than June 30 of each odd-numbered year,
shall submit to the Congress a report assessing the impact of
this Act on the administration of elections for Federal office
during the preceding 2-year period and including
recommendations for improvements in Federal and State
procedures, forms, and other matters affected by this Act; and
``(4) shall provide information to the States with respect
to the responsibilities of the States under this Act.''.
SEC. 112. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMINISTRATION OF VOTER
REGISTRATION.
(a) In General.--In the administration of voter registration for
elections for Federal office, each State shall--
(1) ensure that any eligible applicant is registered to
vote in an election if the applicant's voter registration form
is authenticated by the chief State election official of the
State and--
(A) in the case of registration with a motor
vehicle application under section 5 of the National
Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20504), if
the applicant submits the valid voter registration form
and required documentary proof described in paragraph
(5) to the appropriate State motor vehicle authority
not later than the lesser of 30 days, or the period
provided by State law, before the date of the election
in the case of registration with a motor vehicle
application under section 5 of such Act;
(B) in the case of registration by mail under
section 6 of the National Voter Registration Act of
1993 (52 U.S.C. 20505), if the valid voter registration
form and required documentary proof described in
paragraph (5) of the applicant are postmarked not later
than the lesser of 30 days, or the period provided by
State law, before the date of the election;
(C) in the case of registration at a voter
registration agency, if the valid voter registration
form and required documentary proof described in
paragraph (5) of the applicant are accepted at the
voter registration agency not later than the lesser of
30 days, or the period provided by State law, before
the date of the election; and
(D) in any other case, if the valid voter
registration form and required documentary proof
described in paragraph (5) of the applicant are
received by the appropriate State election official not
later than the lesser of 30 days, or the period
provided by State law, before the date of the election;
(2) require the appropriate State election official to send
notice to each applicant of the disposition of the application;
(3) provide that the name of a registrant may not be
removed from the official list of eligible voters except
pursuant to a reason described in section 113(a)(1);
(4) take such affirmative steps as are necessary to remove
ineligible voters pursuant to the requirements under section
113;
(5) ensure that the State does not accept and process an
application to register to vote in an election for Federal
office unless the applicant satisfies the eligibility
requirements as described in subsection (c)(1), including with
respect to the presentation of documentary proof of United
States citizenship;
(6) inform applicants under sections 5, 6, and 7 of the
National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20504,
20505, and 20506) of--
(A) voter eligibility requirements; and
(B) penalties provided by law for submission of a
false voter registration application; and
(7) ensure that the identity of the voter registration
agency through which any particular registrant is registered is
not disclosed to the public.
(b) Confirmation of Voter Registration.--Any State program or
activity to protect the integrity of the electoral process by ensuring
the maintenance of an accurate and current voter registration roll for
elections for Federal office--
(1) shall be uniform, nondiscriminatory, and in compliance
with the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 10301 et seq.);
and
(2) shall not result in the removal of the name of any
person from the official list of voters registered to vote in
an election for Federal office by reason of the person's
failure to vote, except as otherwise provided under subsections
(a)(2) and (d) of section 113.
(c) Verification of Voter Registration Information.--
(1) Requiring provision of certain information by
applicants.--
(A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph
(B), notwithstanding any other provision of law, an
application for voter registration for an election for
Federal office, including an application using the mail
voter registration form developed under section 6 of
the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C.
20505), may not be accepted or processed by a State
unless the application includes documentary proof of
United States citizenship and--
(i) the last 4 digits of the applicant's
social security number; and
(ii) a current and valid driver's license
or other documentary proof of residence in the
State.
(B) Special rule for applicants without social
security number.--If an applicant for voter
registration for an election for Federal office has not
been issued a social security number or a current and
valid driver's license, the State shall assign the
applicant a number which will serve to identify the
applicant for voter registration purposes. To the
extent that the State has a computerized list in effect
pursuant to section 114 and the list assigns unique
identifying numbers to registrants, the number assigned
under this clause shall be the unique identifying
number assigned under the list.
(C) Determination of validity of numbers
provided.--The State shall determine whether the
information provided by an individual is sufficient to
meet the requirements of this paragraph, in accordance
with State law.
(2) Requirements for state officials.--To the extent
required to verify the accuracy of the information provided on
applications for voter registration and to receive such
pertinent information and data as is necessary to ascertain the
eligibility of applicants to register to vote and maintain
voter eligibility records--
(A) the chief State election official and the
official responsible for the State motor vehicle
authority of a State shall enter into an agreement to
match information in the database of the statewide
voter registration system with information in the
database of the motor vehicle authority;
(B) the official responsible for the State motor
vehicle authority shall enter into an agreement with
the Commissioner of Social Security under section
205(r)(8) of the Social Security Act;
(C) the chief State election official of each State
shall enter into an agreement with the Attorney General
to promptly transmit and receive data regarding felony
convictions and incarcerations; and
(D) the chief State election official of each State
shall enter into an agreement with the Secretary for
Homeland Security to promptly transmit and receive
records and data pertaining to citizenship,
naturalization, and applications for citizenship.
(3) Special rule for certain states.--In the case of a
State which is permitted to use social security numbers, and
provides for the use of social security numbers, on
applications for voter registration, in accordance with section
7 of the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a note), the
provisions of this subsection shall be optional.
(d) Permitted Use of Last 4 Digits of Social Security Numbers.--The
last 4 digits of a social security number described in subsection
(c)(1)(A)(i) shall not be considered to be a social security number for
purposes of section 7 of the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a note).
(e) Additional Processes in Certain Cases With Respect to Proof of
Citizenship.--
(1) Process for those without documentary proof.--
(A) In general.--Subject to any relevant guidance
adopted by the Election Assistance Commission, each
State shall establish a process under which an
applicant who cannot provide documentary proof of
United States citizenship under subsection (c)(1)(A)
may, if the applicant signs an attestation under
penalty of perjury that the applicant is a citizen of
the United States and eligible to vote in elections for
Federal office, submit such other evidence to the
appropriate State or local official demonstrating that
the applicant is a citizen of the United States and
such official shall make a determination as to whether
the applicant has sufficiently established United
States citizenship for purposes of registering to vote
in elections for Federal office in the State.
(B) Affidavit requirement.--If a State or local
official makes a determination under subparagraph (A)
that an applicant has sufficiently established United
States citizenship for purposes of registering to vote
in elections for Federal office in the State, such
determination shall be accompanied by an affidavit
developed under subparagraph (C) signed by the official
swearing or affirming the applicant sufficiently
established United States citizenship for purposes of
registering to vote.
(C) Development of affidavit by the election
assistance commission.--The Election Assistance
Commission shall develop a uniform affidavit for use by
State and local officials under subparagraph (B), which
shall--
(i) include an explanation of the minimum
standards required for a State or local
official to register an applicant who cannot
provide documentary proof of United States
citizenship to vote in elections for Federal
office in the State; and
(ii) require the official to explain the
basis for registering such applicant to vote in
such elections.
(2) Process in case of certain discrepancies in
documentation.--Subject to any relevant guidance adopted by the
Election Assistance Commission, each State shall establish a
process under which an applicant can provide such additional
documentation to the appropriate election official of the State
as may be necessary to establish that the applicant is a
citizen of the United States in the event of a discrepancy with
respect to the applicant's documentary proof of United States
citizenship.
(3) Availability of information.--
(A) In general.--At the request of a State election
official (including a request related to a process
established by a State under paragraph (1) or (2)), any
head of a Federal department or agency possessing
information relevant to determining the eligibility of
an individual to vote in elections for Federal office
shall, not later than 24 hours after receipt of such
request, provide the official with such information as
may be necessary to enable the official to verify that
an applicant for voter registration in elections for
Federal office held in the State or a registrant on the
official list of eligible voters in elections for
Federal office held in the State is a citizen of the
United States, which shall include providing the
official with such batched information as may be
requested by the official.
(B) Use of save system.--The Secretary of Homeland
Security may respond to a request received under
subparagraph (A) by using the system for the
verification of immigration status under the applicable
provisions of section 1137 of the Social Security Act
(42 U.S.C. 1320b-7), as established pursuant to section
121(c) of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of
1986 (Public Law 99-603).
(C) Sharing of information.--The heads of Federal
departments and agencies shall share information with
each other with respect to an individual who is the
subject of a request received under subparagraph (A) in
order to enable them to respond to the request.
(D) Investigation for purposes of removal.--The
Secretary of Homeland Security shall conduct an
investigation to determine whether to initiate removal
proceedings under section 239 of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1229) if it is determined
pursuant to subparagraph (A) or (B) that an alien (as
such term is defined in section 101 of the Immigration
and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101)) is unlawfully
registered to vote in elections for Federal office.
(E) Prohibiting fees.--The head of a Federal
department or agency may not charge a fee for
responding to a State's request under subparagraph (A).
(4) Requirement in cases of name discrepancies in
documentation.--Notwithstanding the requirements of subsection
(c)(1)(A), a State shall accept and process an application to
register to vote in an election for Federal office if the
applicant--
(A) presents with the application documentation
that would constitute documentary proof of United
States citizenship, except that the name on the
documentation is not the name of the applicant; and
(B) provides, through a process established by the
State (which shall be subject to any relevant guidance
adopted by the Election Assistance Commission)--
(i) additional documentation as necessary
to establish that the name on the documentation
is a previous name of the applicant; or
(ii) an affidavit signed by the applicant
attesting that the name on the documentation is
a previous name of the applicant.
(f) Conforming Amendments to Ensure Only Citizens Are Registered to
Vote in Elections for Federal Office.--
(1) Registration with application for motor vehicle
driver's license.--Section 5 of the National Voter Registration
Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20504) is amended--
(A) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ``Each State
motor vehicle driver's license application'' and
inserting ``Subject to the requirements under section
112(c) of the Make Elections Great Again Act, each
State motor vehicle driver's license application'';
(B) in subsection (c)(1), by striking ``Each State
shall include'' and inserting ``Subject to the
requirements under section 112(c) of the Make Elections
Great Again Act, each State shall include'';
(C) in subsection (c)(2)(B)--
(i) in clause (i), by striking ``and'' at
the end;
(ii) in clause (ii), by adding ``and'' at
the end; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following
new clause:
``(iii) verify that the applicant is a citizen of
the United States;'';
(D) in subsection (c)(2)(C)(i), by striking
``(including citizenship)'' and inserting ``, including
the requirement that the applicant provides documentary
proof of United States citizenship''; and
(E) in subsection (c)(2)(D)(iii), by striking ``;
and'' and inserting ``, other than as evidence in a
criminal proceeding or immigration proceeding brought
against an applicant who knowingly attempts to register
to vote and knowingly makes a false declaration under
penalty of perjury that the applicant meets the
eligibility requirements to register to vote in an
election for Federal office; and''.
(2) Requiring documentary proof of united states
citizenship with national mail voter registration form.--
Section 6 of such Act (52 U.S.C. 20505) is amended--
(A) in subsection (a)(1)--
(i) by striking ``Each State shall accept
and use'' and inserting ``Subject to the
requirements under section 112(c) of the Make
Elections Great Again Act, each State shall
accept and use''; and
(ii) by striking ``Federal Election
Commission'' and inserting ``Election
Assistance Commission'';
(B) in subsection (b), by adding at the end the
following: ``The chief State election official of a
State shall take such steps as may be necessary to
ensure that residents of the State are aware of the
requirement to provide documentary proof of United
States citizenship to register to vote in elections for
Federal office in the State.''; and
(C) in subsection (c)(1)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking
``and'' at the end;
(ii) in subparagraph (B) by striking the
period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following
new subparagraph:
``(C) the person did not provide documentary proof of
United States citizenship when registering to vote.''.
(3) Requirements for voter registration agencies.--Section
7 of such Act (52 U.S.C. 20506) is amended--
(A) in subsection (a)--
(i) in paragraph (4)(A), by adding at the
end the following new clause:
``(iv) Receipt of documentary proof of United States
citizenship of each applicant to register to vote in elections
for Federal office in the State.''; and
(ii) in paragraph (6)--
(I) in subparagraph (A)(i)(I), by
striking ``(including citizenship)''
and inserting ``, including the
requirement that the applicant provides
documentary proof of United States
citizenship''; and
(II) by redesignating subparagraph
(B) as subparagraph (C); and
(III) by inserting after
subparagraph (A) the following new
subparagraph:
``(B) ask the applicant the question, `Are you a citizen of
the United States?' and if the applicant answers in the
affirmative require documentary proof of United States
citizenship prior to providing the form under subparagraph
(C);''; and
(B) in subsection (c)(1), by inserting ``who are
citizens of the United States'' after ``for persons''.
(4) Criminal penalties.--Section 12(2) of such Act (52
U.S.C. 20511(2)) is amended--
(A) by striking ``or'' at the end of subparagraph
(A);
(B) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as
subparagraph (D); and
(C) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the
following new subparagraphs:
``(B) in the case of an officer or employee of the
executive branch, providing material assistance to a
noncitizen in attempting to register to vote or vote in
an election for Federal office;
``(C) registering an applicant to vote in an
election for Federal office who fails to present
documentary proof of United States citizenship; or''.
(5) Applicability of requirements to certain states.--
(A) In general.--Subsection (b) of section 4 of the
National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C.
20503) is amended by striking ``This Act does not apply
to a State'' and inserting ``Except with respect to the
requirements under section 112(c) and section 113(j) of
the Make Elections Great Again Act in the case of a
State described in paragraph (2), this Act does not
apply to a State''.
(B) Permitting states to adopt requirements after
enactment.--Section 4 of such Act (52 U.S.C. 20503) is
amended by adding at the end the following new
subsection:
``(c) Permitting States to Adopt Certain Requirements After
Enactment.--Section 112(c) and section 113(j) of the Make Elections
Great Again Act shall not apply to a State described in subsection
(b)(2) if the State, by law or regulation, adopts requirements which
are identical to the requirements under such subsections not later than
60 days prior to the date of the first election for Federal office
which is held in the State after the date of the enactment of this
subsection.''.
SEC. 113. REQUIREMENTS WITH RESPECT TO REMOVAL OF INELIGIBLE VOTERS
FROM OFFICIAL VOTER LIST.
(a) Affirmative Steps to Maintain Accurate Voter Registration
Lists.--
(1) In general.--Each State shall take such affirmative
steps as are necessary on an ongoing basis, but in no case less
frequently than once every 30 days, to verify the eligibility
of registrants on the official list of eligible voters in
elections for Federal office in the State through the use of
all verification resources available to the State, including
through the use of information supplied by the Department of
Homeland Security through the Systematic Alien Verification for
Entitlements (``SAVE'') system, and, pursuant to the
requirement under section 112(a)(4), to remove from the
official list of eligible voters in elections for Federal
office in the State registrants who are determined to be
ineligible voters by reason of--
(A) the request of the registrant;
(B) criminal conviction or mental incapacity
pursuant to State law;
(C) the death of the registrant;
(D) a change in the residence of the registrant, in
accordance with paragraph (2) and subsection (c);
(E) the registrant's status as a noncitizen,
including on the basis of the immigration adjudication
or status for naturalized citizenship of the registrant
as provided by the Director of the United States
Citizenship and Immigration Services or any other
information with respect to citizenship status supplied
by the Department of Homeland Security through the
Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements
(``SAVE'') system that demonstrates a registrant is not
a citizen of the United States; or
(F) duplicate registrations of a registrant
otherwise eligible to vote.
(2) Use of change-of-address information from postal
service.--Any process of a State described under paragraph (1)
shall include the State establishing a process under which
change-of-address information supplied by the Postal Service
through its licensees is used to identify registrants whose
addresses may have changed and if it appears from such
information provided that a registrant has moved to a different
residence address--
(A) in the same registrar's jurisdiction in which
the registrant is currently registered, the registrar
changes the registration records to show the new
address and sends the registrant a notice of the change
by forwardable mail and a postage prepaid pre-addressed
return form by which the registrant may verify or
correct the address information; or
(B) not in the same registrar's jurisdiction, the
registrar uses the notice procedure described in
subsection (c)(2) to confirm the change of address.
(b) Deadline Prior to General Elections for Federal Office.--A
State shall complete any process under subsection (a) to remove the
names of voters determined to be ineligible from the official list of
eligible voters in Federal elections held in the State not later than
15 days prior to the date established under section 25 of the Revised
Statutes of the United States (2 U.S.C. 7) for each general election
for Federal office, except that this subsection shall not be construed
to preclude--
(1) the removal of names from official lists of voters at
any time on a basis described in paragraph (1)(A), (1)(B), or
(1)(E) of subsection (a); or
(2) the correction of registration records pursuant to this
subtitle.
(c) Procedure for Removal of Names From Voter Rolls by Reason of
Residence Change.--
(1) In general.--A State shall remove the name of a
registrant from the official list of eligible voters in
elections for Federal office when the State becomes aware that
the registrant has changed residence through one of the
following actions:
(A) The registrant confirms in person or in writing
that the registrant has changed residence to a place
outside the registrar's jurisdiction in which the
registrant is registered.
(B) An election official determines, from review of
postal service records or other available databases or
sources of address verification relied upon by the
registrar for maintaining an accurate list of eligible
voters, that the registrant no longer resides at the
address shown in the registration, has failed to
respond to a notice described in paragraph (2), or that
such notice has been returned as undeliverable.
(2) Notice described.--A notice is described in this
paragraph if it is a postage prepaid and pre-addressed return
card, sent by nonforwardable mail, on which the registrant may
state his or her current address, together with a notice to the
following effect:
(A) If the registrant did not change his or her
residence, or changed residence but remained in the
registrar's jurisdiction, the registrant should return
the card not later than the time provided for mail
registration under section section 112(a)(1)(B).
(B) If the registrant has changed residence to a
place outside the registrar's jurisdiction in which the
registrant is registered, information concerning how
the registrant can continue to be eligible to vote.
(3) Removal and notice of removal.--If the pre-addressed
return card described in paragraph (2) is not returned, or if
the notice described in such paragraph is returned as
undeliverable--
(A) the registrant shall be removed from the
official list of eligible voters as described in
paragraph (1); and
(B) the registrant shall be notified of such
removal by notice sent by forwardable mail.
(4) Correction of official list of eligible voters.--A
voting registrar shall correct an official list of eligible
voters in elections for Federal office in accordance with
change of residence information obtained in conformance with
this subsection.
(d) Procedure for Voting Following Failure to Return Card.--
(1) In general.--A registrant who has moved from an address
in the area covered by a polling place to an address in the
same area shall, notwithstanding failure to notify the
registrar of the change of address prior to the date of an
election, be permitted to vote at that polling place if the
registrant provides documentary proof of the change of address
to an election official at that polling place.
(2) Procedures for registrants who have moved in certain
cases.--
(A) In general.--A registrant who has moved from an
address in the area covered by one polling place to an
address in an area covered by a second polling place
within the same registrar's jurisdiction and the same
congressional district and who has failed to notify the
registrar of the change of address prior to the date of
an election, at the option of the registrant--
(i) shall be permitted to correct the
voting records and vote at the registrant's
former polling place, if the registrant
provides documentary proof of the new address
to an election official at that polling place;
(ii) shall be permitted to correct the
voting records and vote at a central location
within the same registrar's jurisdiction
designated by the registrar where a list of
eligible voters is maintained, upon written
affirmation by the registrant of the new
address on a standard form provided by the
registrar at the central location; or
(iii) shall be permitted to correct the
voting records for purposes of voting in future
elections at the appropriate polling place for
the current address and, if permitted by State
law, shall be permitted to vote in the present
election, upon confirmation by the registrant
of the new address by such means as are
required by law.
(B) Documentary proof of new address.--If State law
permits the registrant to vote in the current election
upon documentary proof by the registrant of the new
address at a polling place described in subparagraph
(A)(i) or subparagraph (A)(iii), voting at the other
locations described in subparagraph (A) need not be
provided as options.
(C) Documentary proof of no change in residence.--
If the registration records indicate that a registrant
has moved from an address in the area covered by a
polling place, the registrant shall, upon documentary
proof by the registrant before an election official at
that polling place that the registrant continues to
reside at the address previously made known to the
registrar, be permitted to vote at that polling place.
(e) Change of Voting Address Within a Jurisdiction.--In the case of
a change of address, for voting purposes, of a registrant to another
address within the same registrar's jurisdiction, the registrar shall
correct the voting registration list accordingly, and the registrant's
name may not be removed from the official list of eligible voters by
reason of such a change of address except as provided in subsection
(c).
(f) Special Requirements to Ensure Only Citizens Are Registered to
Vote.--Any process of a State described under subsection (a)(1) with
respect to verifying that an individual is a United States citizen
shall include using information supplied by one or more of the
following sources:
(1) The Department of Homeland Security through the
Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (``SAVE'') or
otherwise.
(2) The Social Security Administration through the Social
Security Number Verification Service, or otherwise.
(3) State agencies that supply State identification cards
or driver's licenses where the agency confirms the United
States citizenship status of applicants.
(4) Other sources, including databases, which provide
confirmation of United States citizenship status.
(g) Removal of Noncitizens From Registration Rolls.--A State shall
remove an individual who is not a citizen of the United States from the
official list of eligible voters for elections for Federal office held
in the State at any time upon receipt of documentation or verified
information that a registrant is not a United States citizen.
(h) Public List of Ineligible Voters.--If a voter is deemed
ineligible under this section, the chief State election official of the
State concerned shall put the voter's name on a publicly available list
and send a notice described in subsection (c)(2) and provide the voter
with an opportunity to cure any defect with respect to the individual's
eligibility to vote in elections for Federal office in the State.
(i) Notice Requirement With Respect to Conviction in Federal
Court.--
(1) In general.--On the conviction of a person of a felony
in a district court of the United States, the United States
attorney shall immediately give written notice of the
conviction to the chief State election official of the State of
the person's residence.
(2) Notice requirements.--A notice given pursuant to
paragraph (1) shall include--
(A) the name of the offender;
(B) the offender's age and residence address;
(C) the date of entry of the judgment;
(D) a description of the offenses of which the
offender was convicted; and
(E) the sentence imposed by the court.
(3) Information from united states attorney.--On request of
the chief State election official of a State or other State
official with responsibility for determining the effect that a
conviction may have on an offender's qualification to vote, the
United States attorney shall provide such additional
information as the United States attorney may have concerning
the offender and the offense of which the offender was
convicted.
(4) Notice of overturned conviction.--If a conviction of
which notice was given pursuant to paragraph (1) is overturned,
the United States attorney shall give the official to whom the
notice was given written notice of the vacation of the
judgment.
(5) Notification by chief state election official.--The
chief State election official of a State shall notify the voter
registration officials of the local jurisdiction in which an
offender resides of the information received under this
subsection.
(j) Public Disclosure of Voter Registration Activities.--
(1) In general.--Each State shall maintain for at least 2
years and shall make available for public inspection in
electronic form at a reasonable cost all records concerning the
implementation of programs and activities conducted for the
purpose of ensuring the accuracy and currency of official lists
of eligible voters, except to the extent that such records
relate to a declination to register to vote or to the identity
of a voter registration agency through which any particular
voter is registered.
(2) Content of records.--The records maintained pursuant to
paragraph (1) shall include lists of the names and addresses of
all persons to whom notices described in subsection (c)(2) are
sent, and information concerning whether or not each such
person has responded to the notice as of the date that
inspection of the records is made.
SEC. 114. COMPUTERIZED STATEWIDE VOTER REGISTRATION LIST REQUIREMENTS.
(a) In General.--
(1) Implementation.--Each State, acting through the chief
State election official, shall implement, in a uniform and
nondiscriminatory manner, a single, uniform, official,
centralized, interactive computerized statewide voter
registration list defined, maintained, and administered at the
State level that contains the name and registration information
of every legally registered voter in the State and assigns a
unique identifier to each legally registered voter in the State
(in this section referred to as the ``computerized list''), and
includes the following:
(A) The computerized list shall serve as the single
system for storing and managing the official list of
registered voters throughout the State.
(B) The computerized list contains the name and
registration information of every legally registered
voter in the State.
(C) Under the computerized list, a unique
identifier is assigned to each legally registered voter
in the State.
(D) The computerized list shall be coordinated with
other agency databases within the State.
(E) Any election official in the State, including
any local election official, may obtain immediate
electronic access to the information contained in the
computerized list.
(F) All voter registration information obtained by
any local election official in the State shall be
electronically entered into the computerized list on an
expedited basis at the time the information is provided
to the local official.
(G) The chief State election official shall provide
such support as may be required so that local election
officials are able to enter information as described in
subparagraph (F).
(H) The computerized list shall serve as the
official voter registration list for the conduct of all
elections for Federal office in the State.
(2) Computerized list maintenance.--
(A) In general.--The appropriate State or local
election official shall perform list maintenance with
respect to the computerized list on a regular basis as
follows:
(i) If an individual is to be removed from
the computerized list, such individual shall be
removed in accordance with the provisions of
section 112(a)(3) and section 113(a).
(ii) For purposes of removing names of
ineligible voters from the official list of
eligible voters--
(I) under section 113(a)(1)(B), the
State shall coordinate the computerized
list with State agency records on
felony status; and
(II) by reason of the death of the
registrant under section 113(a)(1)(C),
the State shall coordinate the
computerized list with State agency
records on death.
(B) Conduct.--The list maintenance performed under
subparagraph (A) shall be conducted in a manner that
ensures that--
(i) the name of each registered voter
appears in the computerized list;
(ii) only voters who are not registered or
who are not eligible to vote are removed from
the computerized list; and
(iii) duplicate names are eliminated from
the computerized list.
(3) Technological security of computerized list.--The
appropriate State or local official shall provide adequate
technological security measures to prevent the unauthorized
access to the computerized list established under this section.
(4) Minimum standard for accuracy of state voter
registration records.--The State election system shall include
provisions to ensure that voter registration records in the
State are accurate and are updated regularly, including the
following:
(A) A system of file maintenance that makes an
affirmative effort to remove registrants who are
ineligible to vote from the official list of eligible
voters. Under such system, consistent with this
subtitle, registrants who have not responded to a
notice and who have not voted in 2 consecutive general
elections for Federal office shall be removed from the
official list of eligible voters, except that no
registrant may be removed solely by reason of a failure
to vote.
(B) Safeguards to ensure that eligible voters are
not removed in error from the official list of eligible
voters.
(b) Effective Date.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), each
State and jurisdiction shall be required to comply with the
requirements of subsection (a) on and after January 1, 2027.
(2) Waiver.--If a State or jurisdiction certifies to the
Commission not later than January 1, 2027, that the State or
jurisdiction will not meet the deadline described in paragraph
(1) for good cause and includes in the certification the
reasons for the failure to meet such deadline, paragraph (1)
shall apply to the State or jurisdiction as if the reference in
such paragraph to ``January 1, 2027'' were a reference to
``January 1, 2028''.
SEC. 115. REQUIREMENTS FOR APPLICANTS WHO REGISTER BY MAIL.
(a) Contents of Mail Voter Registration Form.--
(1) In general.--A mail voter registration form developed
under section 6 of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993
(52 U.S.C. 20505)--
(A) may require only such identifying information
(including the signature of the applicant) and other
information (including data relating to previous
registration by the applicant), as is necessary to
enable the appropriate State election official to
assess the eligibility of the applicant and to
administer voter registration and other parts of the
election process;
(B) shall include a statement that--
(i) specifies each eligibility requirement
(including citizenship and an explanation of
what is required to present documentary proof
of United States citizenship);
(ii) contains an attestation that the
applicant meets each such requirement; and
(iii) requires the signature of the
applicant, under penalty of perjury;
(C) may not include any requirement for
notarization or other formal authentication;
(D) shall include a section, for use only by a
State or local election official, to record the type of
document the applicant presented as documentary proof
of United States citizenship, including the date of
issuance, the date of expiration (if any), the office
which issued the document, and any unique
identification number associated with the document; and
(E) shall include, in print that is identical to
that used in the attestation portion of the
application--
(i) the information required in
subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section 112(a)(6);
(ii) a statement that, if an applicant
declines to register to vote, the fact that the
applicant has declined to register will remain
confidential and will be used only for voter
registration purposes;
(iii) a statement that if an applicant does
register to vote, the office at which the
applicant submits a voter registration
application will remain confidential and will
be used only for voter registration purposes,
other than as evidence in a criminal proceeding
or immigration proceeding brought against an
applicant who attempts to register to vote and
makes a false declaration under penalty of
perjury that the applicant meets the
eligibility requirements to register to vote in
an election for Federal office;
(iv) the question ``Are you a citizen of
the United States of America?'' and boxes for
the applicant to check to indicate whether the
applicant is or is not a citizen of the United
States;
(v) the question ``Will you be 18 years of
age on or before election day?'' and boxes for
the applicant to check to indicate whether or
not the applicant will be 18 years of age or
older on election day;
(vi) the statement ``If you checked `no' in
response to either of these questions, do not
complete this form.'';
(vii) the question ``If you checked `yes'
in response to either of those questions, do
you have documentary proof of such response?''
and boxes for the applicant to check to
indicate whether the applicant does or does not
have documentary proof for any affirmative
response to either question; and
(viii) a statement informing the individual
that if the form is submitted by mail and the
individual is registering for the first time,
the appropriate information required under this
section must be submitted with the mail voter
registration form in order to avoid the
additional identification requirements upon
voting for the first time.
(2) Incomplete forms.--If an applicant for voter
registration fails to answer the question included on the mail
voter registration form pursuant to paragraph (1)(E)(iv), the
registrar shall notify the applicant of the failure and provide
the applicant with an opportunity to complete the form in a
timely manner to allow for the completion of the registration
form prior to the next election for Federal office (subject to
State law).
(b) Ensuring Proof of United States Citizenship.--
(1) Presenting proof of united states citizenship to
election official.--An applicant who submits the mail voter
registration application form prescribed by the Election
Assistance Commission pursuant to section 9(a)(2) of the
National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20508) shall
not be registered to vote in an election for Federal office
unless--
(A) the applicant provides with such application
documentary proof of United States citizenship pursuant
to the requirements under section 112(c)(1) or presents
such documentary proof in person to the office of the
appropriate election official not later than the
deadline provided by State law for the receipt of a
completed voter registration application for the
election; or
(B) in the case of a State which permits an
individual to register to vote in an election for
Federal office at a polling place on the day of the
election and on any day when voting, including early
voting, is permitted for the election, the applicant
presents documentary proof of United States citizenship
to the appropriate election official at the polling
place not later than the date of the election.
(2) Notification of requirement.--Upon receiving an
otherwise completed mail voter registration application form
prescribed by the Election Assistance Commission pursuant to
section 9(a)(2) of such Act that does not include documentary
proof of United States citizenship, the appropriate election
official shall transmit a notice to the applicant of the
requirement to present documentary proof of United States
citizenship under this subsection, and shall include in the
notice instructions to enable the applicant to meet the
requirement.
(3) Accessibility.--Each State shall, in consultation with
the Election Assistance Commission, ensure that reasonable
accommodations are made to allow an individual with a
disability who submits the mail voter registration application
form prescribed by the Election Assistance Commission pursuant
to section 9(a)(2) of such Act to present documentary proof of
United States citizenship to the appropriate election official.
(c) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be
construed to prevent the chief State election official of a State from
requiring documentary proof for purposes of confirming an applicant's
eligibility to vote in elections for Federal office in the State.
(d) Effective Date.--
(1) In general.--Each State and jurisdiction shall be
required to comply with the requirements of this section on and
after January 1, 2027, and shall be prepared to receive
registration materials submitted by individuals described in
paragraph (2) on and after the date described in such
subparagraph.
(2) Applicability with respect to individuals.--The
provisions of this section shall apply to any individual who
registers to vote on or after January 1, 2027.
SEC. 116. CIVIL ENFORCEMENT AND PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION.
(a) 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
uniform and nondiscriminatory election technology and administration
requirements under this subtitle.
(b) Private Right of Action.--
(1) Notice of violation.--A person who is aggrieved by a
violation of this subtitle, including the act of an election
official who registers an applicant to vote in an election for
Federal office who fails to present documentary proof of United
States citizenship, may provide written notice of the violation
to the chief State election official of the State involved.
(2) Civil action.--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 bring a civil action
in an appropriate district court for declaratory or injunctive
relief with respect to the violation.
(3) Waiver of notice requirement in certain cases.--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 under
paragraph (2).
(4) Attorney's fees.--In a civil action under this
subsection, the court may allow the prevailing party reasonable
attorney fees, including litigation expenses, and costs.
SEC. 117. ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION GUIDANCE.
Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act,
the Election Assistance Commission shall adopt and transmit to the
chief State election official of each State guidance with respect to
the implementation of the requirements under the this subtitle.
SEC. 118. INAPPLICABILITY OF PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT.
Subchapter I of chapter 35 of title 44 (commonly referred to as the
``Paperwork Reduction Act'') shall not apply with respect to the
development or modification of voter registration materials under the
National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20501 et seq.), as
amended by this subtitle, including the development or modification of
any voter registration application forms.
SEC. 119. DUTY OF SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY TO NOTIFY ELECTION
OFFICIALS OF NATURALIZATION.
Upon receiving information that an individual has become a
naturalized citizen of the United States, the Secretary of Homeland
Security shall promptly provide notice of such information to the
appropriate chief election official of the State in which such
individual is domiciled.
SEC. 120. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION REGARDING PROVISIONAL BALLOTS.
Nothing in this subtitle or in any amendment made by this subtitle
may be construed to supercede, restrict, or otherwise affect the
ability of an individual to cast a provisional ballot in an election
for Federal office or to have the ballot counted in the election if the
individual is verified as a citizen of the United States.
SEC. 121. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION REGARDING EFFECT ON STATE EXEMPTIONS
FROM OTHER FEDERAL LAWS.
Nothing in this subtitle or in any amendment made by this subtitle
may be construed to affect the exemption of a State from any
requirement of any Federal law other than the National Voter
Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20501 et seq.).
SEC. 122. 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 (42 U.S.C. 1973gg-3(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 2027 or any
succeeding year.
SEC. 123. DEFINITIONS.
In this subtitle, the following definitions apply:
(1) Chief state election official.--The term ``chief State
election official'' with respect to a State means 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) Documentary proof of united states citizenship.--The
term ``documentary proof of United States citizenship'' means,
with respect to an applicant for voter registration, any of the
following:
(A) A form of identification issued consistent with
the requirements of the REAL ID Act of 2005 that
indicates the applicant is a citizen of the United
States.
(B) A valid United States passport.
(C) The applicant's official United States military
identification card, together with a United States
military record of service showing that the applicant's
place of birth was in the United States.
(D) A valid government-issued photo identification
card issued by a Federal, State, or Tribal government
showing that the applicant's place of birth was in the
United States.
(E) A valid government-issued photo identification
card issued by a Federal, State, or Tribal government
other than an identification described in paragraphs
(1) through (4), but only if presented together with
one or more of the following:
(i) A certified birth certificate issued by
a State, a unit of local government in a State,
or a Tribal government which--
(I) was issued by the State, unit
of local government, or Tribal
government in which the applicant was
born;
(II) was filed with the office
responsible for keeping vital records
in the State;
(III) includes the full name, date
of birth, and place of birth of the
applicant;
(IV) lists the full names of one or
both of the parents of the applicant;
(V) has the signature of an
individual who is authorized to sign
birth certificates on behalf of the
State, unit of local government, or
Tribal government in which the
applicant was born;
(VI) includes the date that the
certificate was filed with the office
responsible for keeping vital records
in the State; and
(VII) has the seal of the State,
unit of local government, or Tribal
government that issued the birth
certificate.
(ii) An extract from a United States
hospital Record of Birth created at the time of
the applicant's birth which indicates that the
applicant's place of birth was in the United
States.
(iii) A final adoption decree showing the
applicant's name and that the applicant's place
of birth was in the United States.
(iv) A Consular Report of Birth Abroad of a
citizen of the United States or a certification
of the applicant's Report of Birth of a United
States citizen issued by the Secretary of
State.
(v) A Naturalization Certificate or
Certificate of Citizenship issued by the
Secretary of Homeland Security or any other
document or method of proof of United States
citizenship issued by the Federal government
pursuant to the Immigration and Nationality
Act.
(vi) An American Indian Card issued by the
Department of Homeland Security with the
classification `KIC'.
(3) Election.--The term ``election'' has the meaning stated
in section 301(1) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971
(2 U.S.C. 431(1)).
(4) Federal office.--The term ``Federal office'' has the
meaning stated in section 301(3) of the Federal Election
Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 431(3)).
(5) Registrar's jurisdiction.--The term ``registrar's
jurisdiction'' means--
(A) an incorporated city, town, borough, or other
form of municipality;
(B) if voter registration is maintained by a
county, parish, or other unit of government that
governs a larger geographic area than a municipality,
the geographic area governed by that unit of
government; or
(C) if voter registration is maintained on a
consolidated basis for more than one municipality or
other unit of government by an office that performs all
of the functions of a voting registrar, the geographic
area of the consolidated municipalities or other
geographic units.
(6) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the 50 States,
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.
(7) Voter registration agency.--The term ``voter
registration agency'' means an office designated under section
7(a)(1) of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52
U.S.C. 20506(a)(1)) to perform voter registration activities.
Subtitle C--Information Sharing Agreements With Attorney General
SEC. 131. INFORMATION SHARING AGREEMENTS WITH ATTORNEY GENERAL.
(a) Requiring States to Enter Into Agreements.--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. INFORMATION SHARING AGREEMENTS WITH ATTORNEY GENERAL.
``(a) Requirement.--Each State and the Attorney General shall have
in effect an agreement under which the Attorney General and the State
shall share information regarding the evidence of potential fraud in
the administration of elections for Federal office in the State,
including evidence of voting or attempted voting in elections for
Federal office by individuals who are not eligible to vote in such
elections.
``(b) Ineligibility of Funds for States Without Agreements.--No
Federal funds may be used to administer an election for Federal office
in a State in a fiscal year unless the Attorney General certifies to
the Commission that the State and the Attorney General have in effect
an agreement under subsection (a) with respect to the fiscal year.''.
(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:
``Sec. 907. Information sharing agreements with Attorney General.''.
(c) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section shall apply
with respect to fiscal year 2026 and each succeeding fiscal year.
Subtitle D--Election Security
SEC. 141. INDICATION OF CITIZENSHIP ON DRIVER'S LICENSES AND
IDENTIFICATION CARDS.
(a) In General.--Section 202(b) of the Real ID Act of 2005 (49
U.S.C. 30301 note) is amended by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
``(10) If the person is a citizen of the United States, a
clear and easily distinguishable indication of that
citizenship.''.
(b) Applicability.--The amendment made by this section shall apply
with respect to any driver's license or identification card issued by a
State on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 142. REQUIREMENT TO NOTIFY STATE ELECTION OFFICIALS OF INDIVIDUALS
RECUSED FROM JURY SERVICE ON GROUNDS OF NONCITIZENSHIP.
(a) In General.--If a United States district court recuses an
individual from serving on a jury on the grounds that the individual is
not a citizen of the United States, the court shall transmit a notice
of the individual's recusal to--
(1) the chief State election official of the State in which
the individual resides; and
(2) the Director of the United States Citizenship and
Immigration Services.
(b) Verification and Removal From Voter List.--Upon receipt of
notice of an individual's recusal transmitted pursuant to subsection
(a), a chief State election official, in consultation with the Director
of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, shall--
(1) determine if such individual is a citizen of the United
States; and
(2) in the case that such individual is not a citizen of
the United States, remove such individual from the official
list of eligible voters.
SEC. 143. REPORTS TO CONGRESS ON FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC THREATS TO
ELECTIONS.
(a) In General.--Not earlier than 60 days before the date
established under section 25 of the Revised Statutes of the United
States (2 U.S.C. 7) for each general election for Federal office and
not later than 30 days before such date, the Secretary of Homeland
Security and the Director of National Intelligence, in coordination
with the heads of the appropriate Federal entities, shall submit a
joint report to the appropriate congressional committees and the chief
State election official of each State on foreign and domestic threats
to elections in the United States, including physical and cybersecurity
threats.
(b) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on House Administration, the
Committee on Homeland Security, the Permanent Select
Committee on Intelligence, and the Committee on Foreign
Affairs of the House of Representatives; and
(B) the Committee on Rules and Administration, the
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental
Affairs, the Select Committee on Intelligence, and the
Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.
(2) Appropriate federal entities.--The term ``appropriate
Federal entities'' means--
(A) the Department of Commerce, including the
National Institute of Standards and Technology;
(B) the Department of Defense;
(C) the Department of Homeland Security, including
the component of the Department that reports to the
Under Secretary responsible for overseeing critical
infrastructure protection, cybersecurity, and other
related programs of the Department;
(D) the Department of Justice, including the
Federal Bureau of Investigation; and
(E) the Office of the Director of National
Intelligence, the National Security Agency, and such
other elements of the intelligence community (as
defined in section 3 of the National Security Act of
1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003)) as the Director of National
Intelligence determines are appropriate.
SEC. 144. PRESERVATION OF ELECTION RECORDS.
Section 301 of the Civil Rights Act of 1960 (52 U.S.C. 20701) is
amended by inserting ``(including audit records, ballot cast images,
canvassing reports, cast vote records, certification records, chain of
custody records, incident reports, post-election records,
reconciliation records, return envelopes, tabulation reports,
technology records, and vote by mail records)'' after ``in such
election''.
SEC. 145. DEFINITIONS.
In this subtitle:
(1) Chief state election official.--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) State.--The term ``State'' has the meaning given such
term in section 901 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52
U.S.C. 21141).
Subtitle E--Prohibition on Federal Agency Political Activities
SEC. 151. PROHIBITING POLITICAL ACTIVITIES IN FEDERAL AGENCIES.
(a) Prohibitions.--
(1) In general.--Except as specifically authorized by law,
a Federal agency may not register an individual to vote in an
election for Federal office.
(2) Agreements with nongovernmental organizations.--None of
the funds made available for the salaries and expenses of a
Federal agency may be used to solicit or enter into an
agreement with a nongovernmental organization to conduct voter
registration or voter mobilization activities, including
registering voters or providing any person with voter
registration materials, absentee or vote-by-mail ballot
applications, voting instructions, or candidate-related
information, on the property or website of the Federal agency.
(3) Conforming amendments relating to voter registration
agencies.--Section 7 of the National Voter Registration Act of
1993 (52 U.S.C. 20506) is amended--
(A) in subsection (a)(3)(B)(ii), by striking
``Federal and''; and
(B) by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:
``(b) Private sector cooperation.--All nongovernmental
entities are encouraged, to the greatest extent practicable, to
cooperate with the States in carrying out subsection (a).''.
(b) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section or the
amendments made by this section may be construed to prohibit a Federal
agency from providing information to a State or local election official
relating to the eligibility of any individual to register to vote in
elections for Federal office, including information on an individual's
citizenship status.
(c) Exception.--The prohibitions under this section shall not apply
to voter registration activities with respect to absent uniformed
services voters (as such term is defined in section 107(1) of the
Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C.
20310(1))).
(d) Definition.--In this section, the term ``Federal agency'' has
the meaning given the term ``agency'' in section 3502(1) of title 44,
United States Code.
TITLE II--ELECTION ADMINISTRATION
Subtitle A--Improving Administration of Elections
SEC. 201. USE OF HAVA FUNDS FOR POST-ELECTION AUDITS OF RESULTS.
(a) Authorizing Use of Funds.--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 ``paragraphs (2) and
(3)'' and inserting ``paragraphs (2), (3), and (4)''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(4) Use of funds for conducting post-election audits of
results.--A State may use a requirements payment to conduct a
post-election audit of the results of an election for Federal
office if the State completes and releases the results of the
audit prior to the applicable deadline for filing a challenge
to the results of the election.''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall
apply with respect to payments made for fiscal year 2026 or any
succeeding fiscal year.
Subtitle B--Treatment of Ballots
SEC. 211. REQUIRING PAPER BALLOTS.
(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-verifiable paper ballots.--
``(i) The voting system shall require the
use of a paper ballot manually marked by the
voter 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 at every in-person voting location to
manually mark a printed ballot that includes
all relevant contests and candidates.
``(ii) The paper ballot shall be marked by
the voter and presented to the voter for
verification before the voter's ballot is
preserved in accordance with subparagraph (B),
and shall be counted manually or by counting
device or read by a ballot tabulation device.
``(iii) The voting system shall provide the
voter with an opportunity to correct any error
on the paper ballot before the permanent voter-
verifiable paper ballot is preserved in
accordance with subparagraph (B).
``(iv) The voting system shall not preserve
the voter-verifiable 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
selections.
``(v) 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 clause
(ii).
``(B) Preservation as official record.--The paper
ballot required under subparagraph (A) 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.
``(C) Manual audit suitability.--Each paper ballot
used pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall be suitable for
a manual audit.
``(D) Effective date.--The requirements of this
paragraph shall take effect on the date that is 30 days
after the date of the enactment of this Act.''.
(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 under paragraph (2))'' after ``voting system''.
SEC. 212. LIMITATION ON POSSESSION OF MAIL-IN BALLOTS.
(a) Limitation.--
(1) In general.--It shall be unlawful for an individual to
distribute, order, request, deliver, or possess--
(A) any ballot not associated with--
(i) such individual;
(ii) an immediate family member of such
individual; or
(iii) another individual for whom such
individual is a caregiver; and
(B) more than 4 mail-in ballots for an election for
Federal office at a time.
(2) Incidental possession excepted.--The limitation under
paragraph (1) shall not apply to the incidental possession of
mail-in ballots by a postal worker or election official acting
within the scope of the official capacity of such postal worker
or election official.
(3) Penalty.--An individual who knowingly receives,
accepts, or agrees to receive or accept anything of value,
personally or for any other person, in return for distributing,
ordering, requesting, delivering, or possessing a mail-in
ballot in violation of paragraph (1) shall be fined in an
amount not exceeding $25,000, or imprisoned not more than 5
years, or both.
(b) Form Required for Ballot Return.--
(1) In general.--An individual may not return a mail-in
ballot not associated with such individual, unless such
individual--
(A) presents to an election official acting within
the scope of the official capacity of such official a
government-issued photo identification of such
individual; and
(B) provides to such election official, together
with such ballot, a completed affidavit described in
paragraph (2) that--
(i) is signed by the voter with whom the
ballot is associated, or if such voter cannot
write because of a physical handicap or
illiteracy, bears the mark of such voter and
the signature of a witness to the making of the
mark; and
(ii) is signed by such individual, or if
such individual cannot write because of a
physical handicap or illiteracy, bears the mark
of such individual and the signature of a
witness to the making of the mark.
(2) Affidavit described.--The affidavit described in this
section is a form that--
(A) is prescribed by the Election Assistance
Commission; and
(B) includes a space for an election official to
record the form of identification presented pursuant to
paragraph (1)(A).
(3) Preservation of records.--Each authorization form
provided pursuant to paragraph (1)(B) must be preserved for at
least 2 years as part of the record of the election, and the
county board of voter registration and elections must note the
time and date of receipt of the authorization form, the name of
the individual providing the authorization form, the
relationship of the individual to the voter, and the form of
identification presented pursuant to paragraph (1)(A).
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Caregiver.--The term ``caregiver'' means an individual
who provides frequent and regular medical or health care
assistance to a person in a residence, nursing care
institution, hospice facility, assisted living center, assisted
living facility, assisted living home, or residential care
institution.
(2) Immediate family member.--The term ``immediate family
member'' means the spouse, parent, child, grandparent,
grandchild, or sibling of the individual or of the spouse of
the individual.
SEC. 213. PROHIBITING STATES FROM USING RANKED CHOICE VOTING IN GENERAL
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.) 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. PROHIBITING STATES FROM USING CERTAIN VOTING SYSTEMS WITH
RESPECT TO A GENERAL ELECTION FOR FEDERAL OFFICE.
``A State may not carry out a general election for Federal office
in the State using a voting system that--
``(1) permits a voter to vote for more than one candidate
for the same office;
``(2) permits a voter to rank multiple candidates for the
same office; or
``(3) reallocates the vote of a voter from one candidate to
another candidate for the same office.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents of such Act 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. Prohibiting States from using certain voting systems with
respect to a general election for Federal
office.''.
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply with respect to Federal elections held on or after the date of
the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 214. ABOLISHING UNIVERSAL VOTE BY MAIL.
(a) In General.--A State may only provide a mail-in ballot for an
election for Federal office to a voter upon request of the voter
submitted electronically or by postal mail using a standardized form
described in subsection (b).
(b) Form of Request.--A standardized form described in this
subsection--
(1) has been approved for such requests by the appropriate
chief State election official; and
(2) enables the appropriate election official to confirm--
(A) the identity of the individual submitting the
request;
(B) that the individual is validly registered and
eligible to vote in the jurisdiction for which the
request is submitted; and
(C) that the individual resides at the physical
address for which the individual is registered to vote
(if different than the mailing address where the ballot
is requested to be sent).
(c) Deadline for Submission.--Such request must be submitted and
received by the appropriate State election official not later than 30
days before the date of each election for Federal office.
(d) Exception.--The requirements of subsection (a) shall not apply
with respect to ballots provided to an overseas voter or absent
uniformed services voter (as such terms are defined in section 107 of
the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C.
20310)).
SEC. 215. BARCODE TRACKING FOR MAIL-IN BALLOTS.
(a) In General.--Title 39, United States Code, is amended by
inserting after chapter 30 the following new chapter:
``CHAPTER 31--ELECTION MAIL
``Sec.
``3101. Trackable election mail.
``Sec. 3101. Trackable election mail
``(a) In General.--No entity of government shall furnish a ballot
envelope for the purpose of being carried or delivered by mail unless
such envelope--
``(1) contains a Postal Service barcode (or successive
service or marking) that enables tracking of each individual
ballot consistent with parameters that the Postal Service may
promulgate by regulation;
``(2) satisfies requirements for ballot envelope design
that the Postal Service may promulgate by regulation;
``(3) satisfies requirements for machineable letters that
the Postal Service may promulgate by regulation; and
``(4) includes the Official Election Mail Logo (or any
successor label that the Postal Service may establish for
ballots).
``(b) Application.--Subsection (a) does not apply to a Federal
write-in absentee ballot under section 103 of the Uniformed and
Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20303).
``(c) Information.--Not later than June 1 of each calendar year,
the Postmaster General shall provide, to the entities described in the
matter preceding paragraph (1) of subsection (a), the information
necessary to comply with the requirements of this subsection, including
how to access Postal Service tools to assist in generating the barcode
or successive marking required by subsection (a)(1).''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of chapters for part IV of title
39, United States Code, is amended by adding after the item relating to
chapter 30 the following:
``31. Election Mail......................................... 3101''.
(c) Application.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply
to any election for Federal office occurring on or after the date of
the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 216. RECEIPT, PROCESSING, AND COUNTING OF ABSENTEE AND MAIL-IN
BALLOTS.
(a) In General.--Title III of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52
U.S.C. 20901 et seq.), as amended by section 214(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 new
section:
``SEC. 306. RECEIPT, PROCESSING, AND COUNTING OF ABSENTEE AND MAIL-IN
BALLOTS.
``(a) Deadline for Receipt of Ballots.--
``(1) In general.--To be considered validly cast and
eligible to be counted in an election for Federal office, an
absentee or mail-in ballot must be received by the appropriate
election official no later than the time polls close on the
date of the election and, in the case of a general election for
Federal office, no later than the time polls close on the date
established under section 25 of the Revised Statutes of the
United States (2 U.S.C. 7) for each general election for
Federal office.
``(2) Untimely ballot.--No State may accept for tabulation
an absentee or mail-in ballot that is received by the
appropriate election official following the time polls close on
the date of the election.
``(3) Exception.--The deadline described in subsection (a)
shall not apply with respect to ballots cast by absent
uniformed services voter or overseas voters, as defined in
section 107 of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee
Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20310).
``(b) Ballots Processed Upon Receipt.--The chief State election
official shall ensure that mail-in ballots cast in an election for
Federal office and received prior to the date of the election shall be
processed upon receipt (except in the case of a mail-in ballot received
prior to the date that is 22 days before the date of the election, no
earlier than the date that is 22 days before the date of the election),
including--
``(1) reviewing the ballots for defects that require
curing; and
`` (2) any other action necessary to prepare the ballots to
be counted.
``(c) Tabulation of Mail-in Ballots.--The chief State election
official shall ensure that mail-in ballots in an election for Federal
office are not counted for the purpose of determining and reporting
election results before the time polls close on the date of the
election.
``(d) Payments Withheld for Noncompliance.--If the Attorney General
determines that a State is not in compliance with this section with
respect to an election for Federal office--
``(1) no payment described in section 101(a) may be made to
such State; and
``(2) such State shall return any such payment made to such
State during the period when such State was not in compliance
with this section, as determined by the Attorney General.
``(e) Effective Date.--This section shall apply with respect to
elections for Federal office held in 2027 or any succeeding year.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents of such Act, as
amended by section 214(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. Receipt, processing, and counting of mail-in ballots.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, the Judiciary, Homeland Security, and Intelligence (Permanent Select), 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 Oversight and Government Reform, the Judiciary, Homeland Security, and Intelligence (Permanent Select), 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 Oversight and Government Reform, the Judiciary, Homeland Security, and Intelligence (Permanent Select), 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 Oversight and Government Reform, the Judiciary, Homeland Security, and Intelligence (Permanent Select), 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 Oversight and Government Reform, the Judiciary, Homeland Security, and Intelligence (Permanent Select), 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.
Llama 3.2 · runs locally in your browser
Ask anything about this bill. The AI reads the full text to answer.
Enter to send · Shift+Enter for new line