(1) by redesignating the items relating to sec-
tions 304 and 305 as relating to sections 305 and 
306; and 
(2) by inserting after the item relating to sec-
tion 303 the following new item: 
‘‘Sec. 304. Same day registration.’’. 
PART 4—CONDITIONS ON REMOVAL ON BASIS OF 
INTERSTATE CROSS-CHECKS 
SEC. 1041. CONDITIONS ON REMOVAL OF REGISTRANTS 
FROM OFFICIAL LIST OF ELIGIBLE VOTERS 
ON BASIS OF INTERSTATE CROSS-CHECKS. 
(a) MINIMUM INFORMATION REQUIRED
FOR RE-
MOVAL UNDER CROSS-CHECK.—Section 8(c)(2) of the 
National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 
20507(c))(2)) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as sub-
paragraph (D); and 
(2) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the fol-
lowing new subparagraphs: 
‘‘(B) To the extent that the program carried out by 
a State under subparagraph (A) to systematically remove 
the names of ineligible voters from the official lists of eligi-
ble voters uses information obtained in an interstate cross- 
check, in addition to any other conditions imposed under 
this Act on the authority of the State to remove the name 
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of the voter from such a list, the State may not remove 
the name of the voter from such a list unless— 
‘‘(i) the State obtained the voter’s full name 
(including the voter’s middle name, if any) and date 
of birth, and the last 4 digits of the voter’s social 
security number, in the interstate cross-check; or 
‘‘(ii) the State obtained documentation from the 
ERIC system that the voter is no longer a resident 
of the State. 
‘‘(C) In this paragraph— 
‘‘(i) the term ‘interstate cross-check’ means the 
transmission of information from an election official 
in one State to an election official of another State; 
and 
‘‘(ii) the term ‘ERIC system’ means the system 
operated by the Electronic Registration Information 
Center to share voter registration information and 
voter identification information among participating 
States.’’. 
(b) REQUIRING COMPLETION OF CROSS-CHECKS NOT 
LATER THAN 6 MONTHS PRIOR TO ELECTION.—Sub-
paragraph (A) of section 8(c)(2) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 
20507(c)(2)) is amended by striking ‘‘not later than 90 
days’’ and inserting the following: ‘‘not later than 90 days 
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(or, in the case of a program in which the State uses inter-
state cross-checks, not later than 6 months)’’. 
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Subparagraph (D) 
of section 8(c)(2) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 20507(c)(2)), 
as redesignated by subsection (a)(1), is amended by strik-
ing ‘‘Subparagraph (A)’’ and inserting ‘‘This paragraph’’. 
(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this Act shall apply with respect to elections held on or 
after the expiration of the 6-month period which begins 
on the date of the enactment of this Act. 
PART 5—OTHER INITIATIVES TO PROMOTE 
VOTER REGISTRATION 
SEC. 1051. ANNUAL REPORTS ON VOTER REGISTRATION 
STATISTICS. 
(a) ANNUAL REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after 
the end of each year, each State shall submit to the Elec-
tion Assistance Commission and Congress a report con-
taining the following categories of information for the 
year: 
(1) The number of individuals who were reg-
istered under part 2. 
(2) The number of voter registration applica-
tion forms completed by individuals that were trans-
mitted by motor vehicle authorities in the State 
(pursuant to section 5(d) of the National Voter Reg-
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istration Act of 1993) and voter registration agen-
cies in the State (as designated under section 7 of 
such Act) to the chief State election official of the 
State, broken down by each such authority and 
agency. 
(3) The number of such individuals whose voter 
registration application forms were accepted and 
who were registered to vote in the State and the 
number of such individuals whose forms were re-
jected and who were not registered to vote in the 
State, broken down by each such authority and 
agency. 
(4) The number of change of address forms and 
other forms of information indicating that an indi-
vidual’s identifying information has been changed 
that were transmitted by such motor vehicle authori-
ties and voter registration agencies to the chief State 
election official of the State, broken down by each 
such authority and agency and the type of form 
transmitted. 
(5) The number of individuals on the statewide 
computerized voter registration list (as established 
and maintained under section 303 of the Help 
America Vote Act of 2002) whose voter registration 
information was revised by the chief State election 
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official as a result of the forms transmitted to the 
official by such motor vehicle authorities and voter 
registration agencies (as described in paragraph 
(3)), broken down by each such authority and agen-
cy and the type of form transmitted. 
(6) The number of individuals who requested 
the chief State election official to revise voter reg-
istration information on such list, and the number of 
individuals whose information was revised as a result 
of such a request. 
(b) BREAKDOWN OF INFORMATION.—In preparing 
the report under this section, the State shall, for each cat-
egory of information described in subsection (a), include 
a breakdown by race, ethnicity, age, and gender of the 
individuals whose information is included in the category, 
to the extent that information on the race, ethnicity, age, 
and gender of such individuals is available to the State. 
(c) CONFIDENTIALITY
OF INFORMATION.—In pre-
paring and submitting a report under this section, the 
chief State election official shall ensure that no informa-
tion regarding the identification of any individual is re-
vealed. 
(d) STATE DEFINED.—In this section, a ‘‘State’’ in-
cludes the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of 
Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, 
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American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern 
Mariana Islands, but does not include any State in which, 
under a State law in effect continuously on and after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, there is no voter reg-
istration requirement for individuals in the State with re-
spect to elections for Federal office. 
SEC. 1052. ENSURING PRE-ELECTION REGISTRATION DEAD-
LINES ARE CONSISTENT WITH TIMING OF 
LEGAL PUBLIC HOLIDAYS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 8(a)(1) of the National 
Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20507(a)(1)) 
is amended by striking ‘‘30 days’’ each place it appears 
and inserting ‘‘28 days’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 
subsection (a) shall apply with respect to elections held 
in 2022 or any succeeding year. 
SEC. 1053. USE OF POSTAL SERVICE HARD COPY CHANGE 
OF ADDRESS FORM TO REMIND INDIVIDUALS 
TO UPDATE VOTER REGISTRATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Postmaster General 
shall modify any hard copy change of address form used 
by the United States Postal Service so that such form con-
tains a reminder that any individual using such form 
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State met the performance measures and targets in-
cluded in its application under subsection (b)(2). 
(d) STATE DEFINED.—In this section, the term 
‘‘State’’ means each of the several States and the District 
of Columbia. 
(e) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated for grants under this 
section $25,000,000, to remain available until expended. 
PART 6—AVAILABILITY OF HAVA REQUIREMENTS 
PAYMENTS 
SEC. 1061. AVAILABILITY OF REQUIREMENTS PAYMENTS 
UNDER HAVA TO COVER COSTS OF COMPLI-
ANCE WITH NEW REQUIREMENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 251(b) of the Help Amer-
ica Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21001(b)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘as provided 
in paragraphs (2) and (3)’’ and inserting ‘‘as other-
wise provided in this subsection’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(4) CERTAIN
VOTER
REGISTRATION
ACTIVI-
TIES.—A State may use a requirements payment to 
carry out any of the requirements of the Voter Reg-
istration Modernization Act of 2021, including the 
requirements of the National Voter Registration Act 
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of 1993 which are imposed pursuant to the amend-
ments made to such Act by the Voter Registration 
Modernization Act of 2021.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 254(a)(1) 
of such Act (52 U.S.C. 21004(a)(1)) is amended by strik-
ing 
‘‘section 
251(a)(2)’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘section 
251(b)(2)’’. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall apply with respect to fiscal year 2020 
and each succeeding fiscal year. 
PART 7—PROHIBITING INTERFERENCE WITH 
VOTER REGISTRATION 
SEC. 1071. PROHIBITING HINDERING, INTERFERING WITH, 
OR PREVENTING VOTER REGISTRATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 29 of title 18, United 
States Code is amended by adding at the end the following 
new section: 
‘‘§ 612. Hindering, interfering with, or preventing 
registering to vote 
‘‘(a) PROHIBITION.—It shall be unlawful for any per-
son, whether acting under color of law or otherwise, to 
corruptly hinder, interfere with, or prevent another person 
from registering to vote or to corruptly hinder, interfere 
with, or prevent another person from aiding another per-
son in registering to vote. 
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‘‘(b) ATTEMPT.—Any person who attempts to commit 
any offense described in subsection (a) shall be subject to 
the same penalties as those prescribed for the offense that 
the person attempted to commit. 
‘‘(c) PENALTY.—Any person who violates subsection 
(a) shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more 
than 5 years, or both.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
for chapter 29 of title 18, United States Code is amended 
by adding at the end the following new item: 
‘‘612. Hindering, interfering with, or preventing registering to vote.’’. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall apply with respect to elections held on 
or after the date of the enactment of this Act, except that 
no person may be found to have violated section 612 of 
title 18, United States Code (as added by subsection (a)), 
on the basis of any act occurring prior to the date of the 
enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 1072. ESTABLISHMENT OF BEST PRACTICES. 
(a) BEST PRACTICES.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Election Assist-
ance Commission shall develop and publish recommenda-
tions for best practices for States to use to deter and pre-
vent violations of section 612 of title 18, United States 
Code (as added by section 1071), and section 12 of the 
National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 
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20511) (relating to the unlawful interference with reg-
istering to vote, or voting, or attempting to register to vote 
or vote), including practices to provide for the posting of 
relevant information at polling places and voter registra-
tion agencies under such Act, the training of poll workers 
and election officials, and relevant educational materials. 
For purposes of this subsection, the term ‘‘State’’ includes 
the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto 
Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin 
Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
Islands. 
(b) INCLUSION IN VOTER INFORMATION REQUIRE-
MENTS.—Section 302(b)(2) of the Help America Vote Act 
of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21082(b)(2)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of subpara-
graph (E); 
(2) by striking the period at the end of sub-
paragraph (F) and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraph: 
‘‘(G) information relating to the prohibi-
tions of section 612 of title 18, United States 
Code, and section 12 of the National Voter 
Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20511) 
(relating to the unlawful interference with reg-
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istering to vote, or voting, or attempting to reg-
ister to vote or vote), including information on 
how individuals may report allegations of viola-
tions of such prohibitions.’’. 
PART 8—VOTER REGISTRATION EFFICIENCY ACT 
SEC. 1081. SHORT TITLE. 
This part may be cited as the ‘‘Voter Registration 
Efficiency Act’’. 
SEC. 1082. REQUIRING APPLICANTS FOR MOTOR VEHICLE 
DRIVER’S LICENSES IN NEW STATE TO INDI-
CATE WHETHER STATE SERVES AS RESI-
DENCE 
FOR 
VOTER 
REGISTRATION 
PUR-
POSES. 
(a) REQUIREMENTS
FOR
APPLICANTS
FOR
LI-
CENSES.—Section 5(d) of the National Voter Registration 
Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20504(d)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘Any change’’ and inserting 
‘‘(1) Any change’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(2)(A) A State motor vehicle authority shall 
require each individual applying for a motor vehicle 
driver’s license in the State— 
‘‘(i) to indicate whether the individual 
resides in another State or resided in an-
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other State prior to applying for the li-
cense, and, if so, to identify the State in-
volved; and 
‘‘(ii) to indicate whether the individual 
intends for the State to serve as the indi-
vidual’s residence for purposes of reg-
istering to vote in elections for Federal of-
fice. 
‘‘(B) If pursuant to subparagraph (A)(ii) 
an individual indicates to the State motor vehi-
cle 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 in-
dividual’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 2021 or any succeeding year. 
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PART 9—PROVIDING VOTER REGISTRATION IN-
FORMATION TO SECONDARY SCHOOL STU-
DENTS 
SEC. 1091. PILOT PROGRAM FOR PROVIDING VOTER REG-
ISTRATION INFORMATION TO SECONDARY 
SCHOOL STUDENTS PRIOR TO GRADUATION. 
(a) PILOT PROGRAM.—The Election Assistance Com-
mission (hereafter in this part referred to as the ‘‘Commis-
sion’’) shall carry out a pilot program under which the 
Commission shall provide funds during the one-year period 
beginning after the date of the enactment of this part to 
eligible local educational agencies for initiatives to provide 
information on registering to vote in elections for public 
office to secondary school students in the 12th grade. 
(b) ELIGIBILITY.—A local educational agency is eligi-
ble to receive funds under the pilot program under this 
part if the agency submits to the Commission, at such 
time and in such form as the Commission may require, 
an application containing— 
(1) a description of the initiatives the agency 
intends to carry out with the funds; 
(2) an estimate of the costs associated with 
such initiatives; and 
(3) such other information and assurances as 
the Commission may require. 
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(c) CONSULTATION WITH ELECTION OFFICIALS.—A 
local educational agency receiving funds under the pilot 
program shall consult with the State and local election of-
ficials who are responsible for administering elections for 
public office in the area served by the agency in developing 
the initiatives the agency will carry out with the funds. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this part, the terms ‘‘local 
educational agency’’ and ‘‘secondary school’’ have the 
meanings given such terms in section 8101 of the Elemen-
tary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
7801). 
SEC. 1092. REPORTS. 
(a) REPORTS BY RECIPIENTS OF FUNDS.—Not later 
than the expiration of the 90-day period which begins on 
the date of the receipt of the funds, each local educational 
agency receiving funds under the pilot program under this 
part shall submit a report to the Commission describing 
the initiatives carried out with the funds and analyzing 
their effectiveness. 
(b) REPORT BY COMMISSION.—Not later than the ex-
piration of the 60-day period which begins on the date 
the Commission receives the final report submitted by a 
local educational agency under subsection (a), the Com-
mission shall submit a report to Congress on the pilot pro-
gram under this part. 
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SEC. 1093. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums 
as may be necessary to carry out this part. 
PART 10—VOTER REGISTRATION OF MINORS 
SEC. 1094. ACCEPTANCE OF VOTER REGISTRATION APPLI-
CATIONS 
FROM 
INDIVIDUALS 
UNDER 
YEARS OF AGE. 
(a) ACCEPTANCE OF APPLICATIONS.—Section 8 of 
the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 
20507), as amended by section 1004, is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsection (k) as sub-
section (l); and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (j) the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
‘‘(k) ACCEPTANCE OF APPLICATIONS FROM INDIVID-
UALS UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A State may not refuse to 
accept or process an individual’s application to reg-
ister to vote in elections for Federal office on the 
grounds that the individual is under 18 years of age 
at the time the individual submits the application, so 
long as the individual is at least 16 years of age at 
such time. 
‘‘(2) NO EFFECT ON STATE VOTING AGE RE-
QUIREMENTS.—Nothing in paragraph (1) may be 
construed to require a State to permit an individual 
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who is under 18 years of age at the time of an elec-
tion for Federal office to vote in the election.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 
subsection (a) shall apply with respect to elections occur-
ring on or after January 1, 2022. 
Subtitle B—Access to Voting for 
Individuals With Disabilities 
SEC. 1101. REQUIREMENTS FOR STATES TO PROMOTE AC-
CESS TO VOTER REGISTRATION AND VOTING 
FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES. 
(a) REQUIREMENTS.—Subtitle A of title III of the 
Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.), 
as amended by section 1031(a), is amended— 
(1) by redesignating sections 305 and 306 as 
sections 306 and 307; and 
(2) by inserting after section 304 the following 
new section: 
‘‘SEC. 305. ACCESS TO VOTER REGISTRATION AND VOTING 
FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES. 
‘‘(a) TREATMENT
OF
APPLICATIONS
AND
BAL-
LOTS.—Each State shall— 
‘‘(1) permit individuals with disabilities to use 
absentee registration procedures and to vote by ab-
sentee ballot in elections for Federal office; 
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‘‘(2) accept and process, with respect to any 
election for Federal office, any otherwise valid voter 
registration application and absentee ballot applica-
tion from an individual with a disability if the appli-
cation is received by the appropriate State election 
official within the deadline for the election which is 
applicable under Federal law; 
‘‘(3) in addition to any other method of reg-
istering to vote or applying for an absentee ballot in 
the State, establish procedures— 
‘‘(A) for individuals with disabilities to re-
quest by mail and electronically voter registra-
tion applications and absentee ballot applica-
tions with respect to elections for Federal office 
in accordance with subsection (c); 
‘‘(B) for States to send by mail and elec-
tronically (in accordance with the preferred 
method of transmission designated by the indi-
vidual under subparagraph (C)) voter registra-
tion applications and absentee ballot applica-
tions requested under subparagraph (A) in ac-
cordance with subsection (c)); and 
‘‘(C) by which such an individual can des-
ignate whether the individual prefers that such 
voter registration application or absentee ballot 
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application be transmitted by mail or electroni-
cally; 
‘‘(4) in addition to any other method of trans-
mitting blank absentee ballots in the State, establish 
procedures for transmitting by mail and electroni-
cally blank absentee ballots to individuals with dis-
abilities with respect to elections for Federal office 
in accordance with subsection (d); 
‘‘(5) transmit a validly requested absentee bal-
lot to an individual with a disability— 
‘‘(A) except as provided in subsection (e), 
in the case in which the request is received at 
least 45 days before an election for Federal of-
fice, not later than 45 days before the election; 
and 
‘‘(B) in the case in which the request is re-
ceived less than 45 days before an election for 
Federal office— 
‘‘(i) in accordance with State law; and 
‘‘(ii) if practicable and as determined 
appropriate by the State, in a manner that 
expedites the transmission of such absen-
tee ballot; and 
‘‘(6) if the State declares or otherwise holds a 
runoff election for Federal office, establish a written 
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100 
plan that provides absentee ballots are made avail-
able to individuals with disabilities in a manner that 
gives them sufficient time to vote in the runoff elec-
tion. 
‘‘(b) DESIGNATION OF SINGLE STATE OFFICE TO 
PROVIDE INFORMATION ON REGISTRATION AND ABSEN-
TEE BALLOT PROCEDURES FOR ALL DISABLED VOTERS 
IN STATE.—Each State shall designate a single office 
which shall be responsible for providing information re-
garding voter registration procedures and absentee ballot 
procedures to be used by individuals with disabilities with 
respect to elections for Federal office to all individuals 
with disabilities who wish to register to vote or vote in 
any jurisdiction in the State. 
‘‘(c) DESIGNATION OF MEANS OF ELECTRONIC COM-
MUNICATION FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES TO 
REQUEST AND FOR STATES TO SEND VOTER REGISTRA-
TION APPLICATIONS AND ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICA-
TIONS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES RELATED TO VOTING 
INFORMATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Each State shall, in addi-
tion to the designation of a single State office under 
subsection (b), designate not less than 1 means of 
electronic communication— 
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101 
‘‘(A) for use by individuals with disabilities 
who wish to register to vote or vote in any ju-
risdiction in the State to request voter registra-
tion applications and absentee ballot applica-
tions under subsection (a)(3); 
‘‘(B) for use by States to send voter reg-
istration applications and absentee ballot appli-
cations requested under such subsection; and 
‘‘(C) for the purpose of providing related 
voting, balloting, and election information to in-
dividuals with disabilities. 
‘‘(2) CLARIFICATION REGARDING PROVISION OF 
MULTIPLE
MEANS
OF
ELECTRONIC
COMMUNICA-
TION.—A State may, in addition to the means of 
electronic communication so designated, provide 
multiple means of electronic communication to indi-
viduals with disabilities, including a means of elec-
tronic communication for the appropriate jurisdic-
tion of the State. 
‘‘(3) INCLUSION
OF
DESIGNATED
MEANS
OF 
ELECTRONIC
COMMUNICATION
WITH
INFORMA-
TIONAL AND INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS THAT AC-
COMPANY BALLOTING MATERIALS.—Each State shall 
include a means of electronic communication so des-
ignated with all informational and instructional ma-
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terials that accompany balloting materials sent by 
the State to individuals with disabilities. 
‘‘(4) TRANSMISSION IF NO PREFERENCE INDI-
CATED.—In the case where an individual with a dis-
ability does not designate a preference under sub-
section (a)(3)(C), the State shall transmit the voter 
registration application or absentee ballot application 
by any delivery method allowable in accordance with 
applicable State law, or if there is no applicable 
State law, by mail. 
‘‘(d) TRANSMISSION OF BLANK ABSENTEE BALLOTS 
BY MAIL AND ELECTRONICALLY.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Each State shall establish 
procedures— 
‘‘(A) to securely transmit blank absentee 
ballots by mail and electronically (in accordance 
with the preferred method of transmission des-
ignated by the individual with a disability under 
subparagraph (B)) to individuals with disabil-
ities for an election for Federal office; and 
‘‘(B) by which the individual with a dis-
ability can designate whether the individual pre-
fers that such blank absentee ballot be trans-
mitted by mail or electronically. 
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‘‘(2) TRANSMISSION IF NO PREFERENCE INDI-
CATED.—In the case where an individual with a dis-
ability does not designate a preference under para-
graph (1)(B), the State shall transmit the ballot by 
any delivery method allowable in accordance with ap-
plicable State law, or if there is no applicable State 
law, by mail. 
‘‘(3) APPLICATION OF METHODS TO TRACK DE-
LIVERY TO AND RETURN OF BALLOT BY INDIVIDUAL 
REQUESTING BALLOT.—Under the procedures estab-
lished under paragraph (1), the State shall apply 
such methods as the State considers appropriate, 
such as assigning a unique identifier to the ballot, 
to ensure that if an individual with a disability re-
quests the State to transmit a blank absentee ballot 
to the individual in accordance with this subsection, 
the voted absentee ballot which is returned by the 
individual is the same blank absentee ballot which 
the State transmitted to the individual. 
‘‘(e) HARDSHIP EXEMPTION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—If the chief State election 
official determines that the State is unable to meet 
the requirement under subsection (a)(5)(A) with re-
spect to an election for Federal office due to an 
undue hardship described in paragraph (2)(B), the 
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chief State election official shall request that the At-
torney General grant a waiver to the State of the 
application of such subsection. Such request shall in-
clude— 
‘‘(A) a recognition that the purpose of 
such subsection is to individuals with disabil-
ities enough time to vote in an election for Fed-
eral office; 
‘‘(B) an explanation of the hardship that 
indicates why the State is unable to transmit 
such individuals an absentee ballot in accord-
ance with such subsection; 
‘‘(C) the number of days prior to the elec-
tion for Federal office that the State requires 
absentee ballots be transmitted to such individ-
uals; and 
‘‘(D) a comprehensive plan to ensure that 
such individuals are able to receive absentee 
ballots which they have requested and submit 
marked absentee ballots to the appropriate 
State election official in time to have that ballot 
counted in the election for Federal office, which 
includes— 
‘‘(i) the steps the State will undertake 
to ensure that such individuals have time 
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to receive, mark, and submit their ballots 
in time to have those ballots counted in the 
election; 
‘‘(ii) why the plan provides such indi-
viduals sufficient time to vote as a sub-
stitute for the requirements under such 
subsection; and 
‘‘(iii) the underlying factual informa-
tion which explains how the plan provides 
such sufficient time to vote as a substitute 
for such requirements. 
‘‘(2) APPROVAL
OF
WAIVER
REQUEST.—The 
Attorney General shall approve a waiver request 
under paragraph (1) if the Attorney General deter-
mines each of the following requirements are met: 
‘‘(A) The comprehensive plan under sub-
paragraph (D) of such paragraph provides indi-
viduals with disabilities sufficient time to re-
ceive absentee ballots they have requested and 
submit marked absentee ballots to the appro-
priate State election official in time to have that 
ballot counted in the election for Federal office. 
‘‘(B) One or more of the following issues 
creates an undue hardship for the State: 
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5 business days after the date on which the re-
quest is received. 
‘‘(4) APPLICATION OF WAIVER.—A waiver ap-
proved under paragraph (2) shall only apply with re-
spect to the election for Federal office for which the 
request was submitted. For each subsequent election 
for Federal office, the Attorney General shall only 
approve a waiver if the State has submitted a re-
quest under paragraph (1) with respect to such elec-
tion. 
‘‘(f) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion may be construed to allow the marking or casting of 
ballots over the internet. 
‘‘(g) INDIVIDUAL WITH A DISABILITY DEFINED.— 
In this section, an ‘individual with a disability’ means an 
individual with an impairment that substantially limits 
any major life activities and who is otherwise qualified to 
vote in elections for Federal office. 
‘‘(h) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall apply 
with respect to elections for Federal office held on or after 
January 1, 2022.’’. 
(b) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENT
RELATING
TO 
ISSUANCE OF VOLUNTARY GUIDANCE BY ELECTION AS-
SISTANCE COMMISSION.— 
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(1) TIMING OF ISSUANCE.—Section 311(b) of 
such Act (52 U.S.C. 21101(b)) is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of para-
graph (2); 
(B) by striking the period at the end of 
paragraph (3) and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(4) in the case of the recommendations with 
respect to section 305, January 1, 2022.’’. 
(2) REDESIGNATION.—Title III of such Act (52 
U.S.C. 21081 et seq.) is amended by redesignating 
sections 311 and 312 as sections 321 and 322. 
(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.—The table of contents 
of such Act, as amended by section 1031(c)), is amend-
ed— 
(1) by redesignating the items relating to sec-
tions 305 and 306 as relating to sections 306 and 
307; 
(2) by inserting after the item relating to sec-
tion 304 the following new item: 
‘‘Sec. 305. Access to voter registration and voting for individuals with disabil-
ities.’’; 
and 
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(3) by redesignating the items relating to sec-
tions 311 and 312 as relating to sections 321 and 
322. 
SEC. 1102. EXPANSION AND REAUTHORIZATION OF GRANT 
PROGRAM TO ASSURE VOTING ACCESS FOR 
INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES. 
(a) PURPOSES OF PAYMENTS.—Section 261(b) of the 
Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21021(b)) is 
amended by striking paragraphs (1) and (2) and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(1) making absentee voting and voting at 
home accessible to individuals with the full range of 
disabilities (including impairments involving vision, 
hearing, mobility, or dexterity) through the imple-
mentation of accessible absentee voting systems that 
work in conjunction with assistive technologies for 
which individuals have access at their homes, inde-
pendent living centers, or other facilities; 
‘‘(2) making polling places, including the path 
of travel, entrances, exits, and voting areas of each 
polling facility, accessible to individuals with disabil-
ities, including the blind and visually impaired, in a 
manner that provides the same opportunity for ac-
cess and participation (including privacy and inde-
pendence) as for other voters; and 
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‘‘(3) providing solutions to problems of access 
to voting and elections for individuals with disabil-
ities that are universally designed and provide the 
same opportunities for individuals with and without 
disabilities.’’. 
(b) REAUTHORIZATION.—Section 264(a) of such Act 
(52 U.S.C. 21024(a)) is amended by adding at the end 
the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(4) For fiscal year 2022 and each succeeding 
fiscal year, such sums as may be necessary to carry 
out this part.’’. 
(c) PERIOD OF AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—Section 
264 of such Act (52 U.S.C. 21024) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘Any 
amounts’’ and inserting ‘‘Except as provided in sub-
section (b), any amounts’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(c) RETURN AND TRANSFER OF CERTAIN FUNDS.— 
‘‘(1) DEADLINE FOR OBLIGATION AND EXPEND-
ITURE.—In the case of any amounts appropriated 
pursuant to the authority of subsection (a) for a 
payment to a State or unit of local government for 
fiscal year 2022 or any succeeding fiscal year, any 
portion of such amounts which have not been obli-
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gated or expended by the State or unit of local gov-
ernment prior to the expiration of the 4-year period 
which begins on the date the State or unit of local 
government first received the amounts shall be 
transferred to the Commission. 
‘‘(2) 
REALLOCATION
OF
TRANSFERRED 
AMOUNTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall 
use the amounts transferred under paragraph 
(1) to make payments on a pro rata basis to 
each covered payment recipient described in 
subparagraph (B), which may obligate and ex-
pend such payment for the purposes described 
in section 261(b) during the 1-year period 
which begins on the date of receipt. 
‘‘(B) COVERED PAYMENT RECIPIENTS DE-
SCRIBED.—In subparagraph (A), a ‘covered 
payment recipient’ is a State or unit of local 
government with respect to which— 
‘‘(i) amounts were appropriated pur-
suant to the authority of subsection (a); 
and 
‘‘(ii) no amounts were transferred to 
the Commission under paragraph (1).’’. 
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SEC. 1103. PILOT PROGRAMS FOR ENABLING INDIVIDUALS 
WITH DISABILITIES TO REGISTER TO VOTE 
PRIVATELY AND INDEPENDENTLY AT RESI-
DENCES. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT
OF PILOT PROGRAMS.—The 
Election Assistance Commission (hereafter referred to as 
the ‘‘Commission’’) shall, subject to the availability of ap-
propriations to carry out this section, make grants to eligi-
ble States to conduct pilot programs under which individ-
uals with disabilities may use electronic means (including 
the internet and telephones utilizing assistive devices) to 
register to vote and to request and receive absentee ballots 
in a manner which permits such individuals to do so pri-
vately and independently at their own residences. 
(b) REPORTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—A State receiving a grant for 
a year under this section shall submit a report to the 
Commission on the pilot programs the State carried 
out with the grant with respect to elections for pub-
lic office held in the State during the year. 
(2) DEADLINE.—A State shall submit a report 
under paragraph (1) not later than 90 days after 
the last election for public office held in the State 
during the year. 
(c) ELIGIBILITY.—A State is eligible to receive a 
grant under this section if the State submits to the Com-
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mission, at such time and in such form as the Commission 
may require, an application containing such information 
and assurances as the Commission may require. 
(d) TIMING.—The Commission shall make the first 
grants under this section for pilot programs which will be 
in effect with respect to elections for Federal office held 
in 2022, or, at the option of a State, with respect to other 
elections for public office held in the State in 2022. 
(e) STATE DEFINED.—In this section, the term 
‘‘State’’ includes the District of Columbia, the Common-
wealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the 
United States Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of 
the Northern Mariana Islands. 
SEC. 1104. GAO ANALYSIS AND REPORT ON VOTING ACCESS 
FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES. 
(a) ANALYSIS.—The Comptroller General of the 
United States shall conduct an analysis after each regu-
larly scheduled general election for Federal office with re-
spect to the following: 
(1) In relation to polling places located in 
houses of worship or other facilities that may be ex-
empt from accessibility requirements under the 
Americans with Disabilities Act— 
(A) efforts to overcome accessibility chal-
lenges posed by such facilities; and 
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(B) the extent to which such facilities are 
used as polling places in elections for Federal 
office. 
(2) Assistance provided by the Election Assist-
ance Commission, Department of Justice, or other 
Federal agencies to help State and local officials im-
prove voting access for individuals with disabilities 
during elections for Federal office. 
(3) When accessible voting machines are avail-
able at a polling place, the extent to which such ma-
chines— 
(A) are located in places that are difficult 
to access; 
(B) malfunction; or 
(C) fail to provide sufficient privacy to en-
sure that the ballot of the individual cannot be 
seen by another individual. 
(4) The process by which Federal, State, and 
local governments track compliance with accessibility 
requirements related to voting access, including 
methods to receive and address complaints. 
(5) The extent to which poll workers receive 
training on how to assist individuals with disabil-
ities, including the receipt by such poll workers of 
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information on legal requirements related to voting 
rights for individuals with disabilities. 
(6) The extent and effectiveness of training pro-
vided to poll workers on the operation of accessible 
voting machines. 
(7) The extent to which individuals with a de-
velopmental or psychiatric disability experience 
greater barriers to voting, and whether poll worker 
training adequately addresses the needs of such indi-
viduals. 
(8) The extent to which State or local govern-
ments employ, or attempt to employ, individuals 
with disabilities to work at polling sites. 
(b) REPORT.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 9 months 
after the date of a regularly scheduled general elec-
tion for Federal office, the Comptroller General shall 
submit to the appropriate congressional committees 
a report with respect to the most recent regularly 
scheduled general election for Federal office that 
contains the following: 
(A) The analysis required by subsection 
(a). 
(B) Recommendations, as appropriate, to 
promote the use of best practices used by State 
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and local officials to address barriers to accessi-
bility and privacy concerns for individuals with 
disabilities in elections for Federal office. 
(2) APPROPRIATE
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMIT-
TEES.—For purposes of this subsection, the term 
‘‘appropriate congressional committees’’ means— 
(A) the Committee on House Administra-
tion of the House of Representatives; 
(B) the Committee on Rules and Adminis-
tration of the Senate; 
(C) the Committee on Appropriations of 
the House of Representatives; and 
(D) the Committee on Appropriations of 
the Senate. 
Subtitle C—Prohibiting Voter 
Caging 
SEC. 1201. VOTER CAGING AND OTHER QUESTIONABLE 
CHALLENGES PROHIBITED. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 29 of title 18, United 
States Code, as amended by section 1071(a), is amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘§ 613. Voter caging and other questionable chal-
lenges 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section— 
‘‘(1) the term ‘voter caging document’ means— 
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‘‘(A) a nonforwardable document that is 
returned to the sender or a third party as unde-
livered or undeliverable despite an attempt to 
deliver such document to the address of a reg-
istered voter or applicant; or 
‘‘(B) any document with instructions to an 
addressee that the document be returned to the 
sender or a third party but is not so returned, 
despite an attempt to deliver such document to 
the address of a registered voter or applicant, 
unless at least two Federal election cycles have 
passed since the date of the attempted delivery; 
‘‘(2) the term ‘voter caging list’ means a list of 
individuals compiled from voter caging documents; 
and 
‘‘(3) the term ‘unverified match list’ means a 
list produced by matching the information of reg-
istered voters or applicants for voter registration to 
a list of individuals who are ineligible to vote in the 
registrar’s jurisdiction, by virtue of death, convic-
tion, change of address, or otherwise; unless one of 
the pieces of information matched includes a signa-
ture, photograph, or unique identifying number en-
suring that the information from each source refers 
to the same individual. 
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‘‘(b) PROHIBITION AGAINST VOTER CAGING.—No 
State or local election official shall prevent an individual 
from registering or voting in any election for Federal of-
fice, or permit in connection with any election for Federal 
office a formal challenge under State law to an individual’s 
registration status or eligibility to vote, if the basis for 
such decision is evidence consisting of— 
‘‘(1) a voter caging document or voter caging 
list; 
‘‘(2) an unverified match list; 
‘‘(3) an error or omission on any record or 
paper relating to any application, registration, or 
other act requisite to voting, if such error or omis-
sion is not material to an individual’s eligibility to 
vote under section 2004 of the Revised Statutes, as 
amended (52 U.S.C. 10101(a)(2)(B)); or 
‘‘(4) any other evidence so designated for pur-
poses of this section by the Election Assistance Com-
mission, 
except that the election official may use such evidence if 
it is corroborated by independent evidence of the individ-
ual’s ineligibility to register or vote. 
‘‘(c) REQUIREMENTS FOR CHALLENGES BY PERSONS 
OTHER THAN ELECTION OFFICIALS.— 
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‘‘(1) REQUIREMENTS
FOR
CHALLENGES.—No 
person, other than a State or local election official, 
shall submit a formal challenge to an individual’s eli-
gibility to register to vote in an election for Federal 
office or to vote in an election for Federal office un-
less that challenge is supported by personal knowl-
edge regarding the grounds for ineligibility which 
is— 
‘‘(A) documented in writing; and 
‘‘(B) subject to an oath or attestation 
under penalty of perjury that the challenger has 
a good faith factual basis to believe that the in-
dividual who is the subject of the challenge is 
ineligible to register to vote or vote in that elec-
tion, except a challenge which is based on the 
race, ethnicity, or national origin of the indi-
vidual who is the subject of the challenge may 
not be considered to have a good faith factual 
basis for purposes of this paragraph. 
‘‘(2) PROHIBITION
ON
CHALLENGES
ON
OR 
NEAR DATE OF ELECTION.—No person, other than 
a State or local election official, shall be permitted— 
‘‘(A) to challenge an individual’s eligibility 
to vote in an election for Federal office on Elec-
tion Day, or 
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‘‘(B) to challenge an individual’s eligibility 
to register to vote in an election for Federal of-
fice or to vote in an election for Federal office 
less than 10 days before the election unless the 
individual registered to vote less than 20 days 
before the election. 
‘‘(d) PENALTIES
FOR KNOWING MISCONDUCT.— 
Whoever knowingly challenges the eligibility of one or 
more individuals to register or vote or knowingly causes 
the eligibility of such individuals to be challenged in viola-
tion of this section with the intent that one or more eligi-
ble voters be disqualified, shall be fined under this title 
or imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both, for each such 
violation. Each violation shall be a separate offense. 
‘‘(e) NO EFFECT ON RELATED LAWS.—Nothing in 
this section is intended to override the protections of the 
National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 
20501 et seq.) or to affect the Voting Rights Act of 1965 
(52 U.S.C. 10301 et seq.).’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
for chapter 29 of title 18, United States Code, as amended 
by section 1071(b), is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘613. Voter caging and other questionable challenges.’’. 
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SEC. 1202. DEVELOPMENT AND ADOPTION OF BEST PRAC-
TICES FOR PREVENTING VOTER CAGING. 
(a) BEST PRACTICES.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Election Assist-
ance Commission shall develop and publish for the use of 
States recommendations for best practices to deter and 
prevent violations of section 613 of title 18, United States 
Code, as added by section 1201(a), including practices to 
provide for the posting of relevant information at polling 
places and voter registration agencies, the training of poll 
workers and election officials, and relevant educational 
measures. For purposes of this subsection, the term 
‘‘State’’ includes the District of Columbia, the Common-
wealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the 
United States Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of 
the Northern Mariana Islands. 
(b) INCLUSION IN VOTING INFORMATION REQUIRE-
MENTS.—Section 302(b)(2) of the Help America Vote Act 
of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21082(b)(2)), as amended by section 
1072(b), is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of subpara-
graph (F); 
(2) by striking the period at the end of sub-
paragraph (G) and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraph: 
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‘‘(H) information relating to the prohibi-
tion against voter caging and other questionable 
challenges (as set forth in section 613 of title 
18, United States Code), including information 
on how individuals may report allegations of 
violations of such prohibition.’’. 
Subtitle D—Prohibiting Deceptive 
Practices and Preventing Voter 
Intimidation 
SEC. 1301. SHORT TITLE. 
This subtitle may be cited as the ‘‘Deceptive Prac-
tices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2021’’. 
SEC. 1302. PROHIBITION ON DECEPTIVE PRACTICES IN 
FEDERAL ELECTIONS. 
(a) PROHIBITION.—Subsection (b) of section 2004 of 
the Revised Statutes (52 U.S.C. 10101(b)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘No person’’ and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—No person’’; and 
(2) by inserting at the end the following new 
paragraphs: 
‘‘(2) FALSE STATEMENTS REGARDING FEDERAL 
ELECTIONS.— 
‘‘(A) PROHIBITION.—No person, whether 
acting under color of law or otherwise, shall, 
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123 
within 60 days before an election described in 
paragraph (5), by any means, including by 
means of written, electronic, or telephonic com-
munications, communicate or cause to be com-
municated information described in subpara-
graph (B), or produce information described in 
subparagraph (B) with the intent that such in-
formation be communicated, if such person— 
‘‘(i) knows such information to be ma-
terially false; and 
‘‘(ii) has the intent to impede or pre-
vent another person from exercising the 
right to vote in an election described in 
paragraph (5). 
‘‘(B) INFORMATION
DESCRIBED.—Infor-
mation is described in this subparagraph if such 
information is regarding— 
‘‘(i) the time, place, or manner of 
holding any election described in para-
graph (5); or 
‘‘(ii) the qualifications for or restric-
tions on voter eligibility for any such elec-
tion, including— 
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‘‘(I) any criminal penalties asso-
ciated with voting in any such elec-
tion; or 
‘‘(II) information regarding a 
voter’s registration status or eligi-
bility. 
‘‘(3) FALSE STATEMENTS REGARDING PUBLIC 
ENDORSEMENTS.— 
‘‘(A) PROHIBITION.—No person, whether 
acting under color of law or otherwise, shall, 
within 60 days before an election described in 
paragraph (5), by any means, including by 
means of written, electronic, or telephonic com-
munications, communicate, or cause to be com-
municated, a materially false statement about 
an endorsement, if such person— 
‘‘(i) knows such statement to be false; 
and 
‘‘(ii) has the intent to impede or pre-
vent another person from exercising the 
right to vote in an election described in 
paragraph (5). 
‘‘(B) 
DEFINITION
OF
‘MATERIALLY 
FALSE’.—For purposes of subparagraph (A), a 
statement about an endorsement is ‘materially 
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false’ if, with respect to an upcoming election 
described in paragraph (5)— 
‘‘(i) the statement states that a spe-
cifically named person, political party, or 
organization has endorsed the election of a 
specific candidate for a Federal office de-
scribed in such paragraph; and 
‘‘(ii) such person, political party, or 
organization has not endorsed the election 
of such candidate. 
‘‘(4) HINDERING, INTERFERING WITH, OR PRE-
VENTING VOTING OR REGISTERING TO VOTE.—No 
person, whether acting under color of law or other-
wise, shall intentionally hinder, interfere with, or 
prevent another person from voting, registering to 
vote, or aiding another person to vote or register to 
vote in an election described in paragraph (5). 
‘‘(5) ELECTION DESCRIBED.—An election de-
scribed in this paragraph is any general, primary, 
run-off, or special election held solely or in part for 
the purpose of nominating or electing a candidate 
for the office of President, Vice President, presi-
dential elector, Member of the Senate, Member of 
the House of Representatives, or Delegate or Com-
missioner from a Territory or possession.’’. 
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(b) PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Subsection (c) of section 
2004 of the Revised Statutes (52 U.S.C. 10101(c)) 
is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘Whenever any person’’ 
and inserting the following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Whenever any person’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(2) CIVIL ACTION.—Any person aggrieved by a 
violation of subsection (b)(2), (b)(3), or (b)(4) may 
institute a civil action for preventive relief, including 
an application in a United States district court for 
a permanent or temporary injunction, restraining 
order, or other order. In any such action, the court, 
in its discretion, may allow the prevailing party a 
reasonable attorney’s fee as part of the costs.’’. 
(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Section 2004 
of the Revised Statutes (52 U.S.C. 10101) is 
amended— 
(A) in subsection (e), by striking ‘‘sub-
section (c)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection (c)(1)’’; 
and 
(B) in subsection (g), by striking ‘‘sub-
section (c)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection (c)(1)’’. 
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(c) CRIMINAL PENALTIES.— 
(1) DECEPTIVE ACTS.—Section 594 of title 18, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘Whoever’’ and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(a) INTIMIDATION.—Whoever’’; 
(B) in subsection (a), as inserted by sub-
paragraph (A), by striking ‘‘at any election’’ 
and inserting ‘‘at any general, primary, run-off, 
or special election’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new 
subsections: 
‘‘(b) DECEPTIVE ACTS.— 
‘‘(1) FALSE STATEMENTS REGARDING FEDERAL 
ELECTIONS.— 
‘‘(A) PROHIBITION.—It shall be unlawful 
for any person, whether acting under color of 
law or otherwise, within 60 days before an elec-
tion described in subsection (e), by any means, 
including by means of written, electronic, or tel-
ephonic communications, to communicate or 
cause to be communicated information de-
scribed in subparagraph (B), or produce infor-
mation described in subparagraph (B) with the 
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intent that such information be communicated, 
if such person— 
‘‘(i) knows such information to be ma-
terially false; and 
‘‘(ii) has the intent to mislead voters, 
or the intent to impede or prevent another 
person from exercising the right to vote in 
an election described in subsection (e). 
‘‘(B) INFORMATION
DESCRIBED.—Infor-
mation is described in this subparagraph if such 
information is regarding— 
‘‘(i) the time or place of holding any 
election described in subsection (e); or 
‘‘(ii) the qualifications for or restric-
tions on voter eligibility for any such elec-
tion, including— 
‘‘(I) any criminal penalties asso-
ciated with voting in any such elec-
tion; or 
‘‘(II) information regarding a 
voter’s registration status or eligi-
bility. 
‘‘(2) PENALTY.—Any person who violates para-
graph (1) shall be fined not more than $100,000, 
imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both. 
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‘‘(c) HINDERING, INTERFERING WITH, OR PRE-
VENTING VOTING OR REGISTERING TO VOTE.— 
‘‘(1) PROHIBITION.—It shall be unlawful for 
any person, whether acting under color of law or 
otherwise, to intentionally hinder, interfere with, or 
prevent another person from voting, registering to 
vote, or aiding another person to vote or register to 
vote in an election described in subsection (e). 
‘‘(2) PENALTY.—Any person who violates para-
graph (1) shall be fined not more than $100,000, 
imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both. 
‘‘(d) ATTEMPT.—Any person who attempts to commit 
any offense described in subsection (a), (b)(1), or (c)(1) 
shall be subject to the same penalties as those prescribed 
for the offense that the person attempted to commit. 
‘‘(e) ELECTION DESCRIBED.—An election described 
in this subsection is any general, primary, run-off, or spe-
cial election held solely or in part for the purpose of nomi-
nating or electing a candidate for the office of President, 
Vice President, presidential elector, Senator, Member of 
the House of Representatives, or Delegate or Resident 
Commissioner to the Congress.’’. 
(2) MODIFICATION OF PENALTY FOR VOTER IN-
TIMIDATION.—Section 594(a) of title 18, United 
States Code, as amended by paragraph (1), is 
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130 
amended by striking ‘‘fined under this title or im-
prisoned not more than one year’’ and inserting 
‘‘fined not more than $100,000, imprisoned for not 
more than 5 years’’. 
(3) SENTENCING GUIDELINES.— 
(A) REVIEW AND AMENDMENT.—Not later 
than 180 days after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the United States Sentencing Commis-
sion, pursuant to its authority under section 
994 of title 28, United States Code, and in ac-
cordance with this section, shall review and, if 
appropriate, amend the Federal sentencing 
guidelines and policy statements applicable to 
persons convicted of any offense under section 
594 of title 18, United States Code, as amend-
ed by this section. 
(B) AUTHORIZATION.—The United States 
Sentencing Commission may amend the Federal 
Sentencing Guidelines in accordance with the 
procedures set forth in section 21(a) of the Sen-
tencing Act of 1987 (28 U.S.C. 994 note) as 
though the authority under that section had not 
expired. 
(4) PAYMENTS
FOR
REFRAINING
FROM
VOT-
ING.—Subsection (c) of section 11 of the Voting 
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Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 10307) is amended 
by striking ‘‘either for registration to vote or for vot-
ing’’ and inserting ‘‘for registration to vote, for vot-
ing, or for not voting’’. 
SEC. 1303. CORRECTIVE ACTION. 
(a) CORRECTIVE ACTION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—If the Attorney General re-
ceives a credible report that materially false informa-
tion has been or is being communicated in violation 
of paragraphs (2) and (3) of section 2004(b) of the 
Revised Statutes (52 U.S.C. 10101(b)), as added by 
section 1302(a), and if the Attorney General deter-
mines that State and local election officials have not 
taken adequate steps to promptly communicate accu-
rate information to correct the materially false infor-
mation, the Attorney General shall, pursuant to the 
written procedures and standards under subsection 
(b), communicate to the public, by any means, in-
cluding by means of written, electronic, or telephonic 
communications, accurate information designed to 
correct the materially false information. 
(2) COMMUNICATION OF CORRECTIVE INFORMA-
TION.—Any information communicated by the Attor-
ney General under paragraph (1)— 
(A) shall— 
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(i) be accurate and objective; 
(ii) consist of only the information 
necessary to correct the materially false in-
formation that has been or is being com-
municated; and 
(iii) to the extent practicable, be by a 
means that the Attorney General deter-
mines will reach the persons to whom the 
materially false information has been or is 
being communicated; and 
(B) shall not be designed to favor or dis-
favor any particular candidate, organization, or 
political party. 
(b) WRITTEN PROCEDURES AND STANDARDS FOR 
TAKING CORRECTIVE ACTION.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney 
General shall publish written procedures and stand-
ards for determining when and how corrective action 
will be taken under this section. 
(2) INCLUSION OF APPROPRIATE DEADLINES.— 
The procedures and standards under paragraph (1) 
shall include appropriate deadlines, based in part on 
the number of days remaining before the upcoming 
election. 
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(3) CONSULTATION.—In developing the proce-
dures and standards under paragraph (1), the Attor-
ney General shall consult with the Election Assist-
ance Commission, State and local election officials, 
civil rights organizations, voting rights groups, voter 
protection groups, and other interested community 
organizations. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to the Attorney General 
such sums as may be necessary to carry out this subtitle. 
SEC. 1304. REPORTS TO CONGRESS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after 
each general election for Federal office, the Attorney Gen-
eral shall submit to Congress a report compiling all allega-
tions received by the Attorney General of deceptive prac-
tices described in paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) of section 
2004(b) of the Revised Statutes (52 U.S.C. 10101(b)), as 
added by section 1302(a), relating to the general election 
for Federal office and any primary, run-off, or a special 
election for Federal office held in the 2 years preceding 
the general election. 
(b) CONTENTS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Each report submitted 
under subsection (a) shall include— 
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(A) a description of each allegation of a 
deceptive practice described in subsection (a), 
including the geographic location, racial and 
ethnic composition, and language minority- 
group membership of the persons toward whom 
the alleged deceptive practice was directed; 
(B) the status of the investigation of each 
allegation described in subparagraph (A); 
(C) a description of each corrective action 
taken by the Attorney General under section 
4(a) in response to an allegation described in 
subparagraph (A); 
(D) a description of each referral of an al-
legation described in subparagraph (A) to other 
Federal, State, or local agencies; 
(E) to the extent information is available, 
a description of any civil action instituted under 
section 2004(c)(2) of the Revised Statutes (52 
U.S.C. 10101(c)(2)), as added by section 
1302(b), in connection with an allegation de-
scribed in subparagraph (A); and 
(F) a description of any criminal prosecu-
tion instituted under section 594 of title 18, 
United States Code, as amended by section 
1302(c), in connection with the receipt of an al-
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legation described in subparagraph (A) by the 
Attorney General. 
(2) EXCLUSION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Attorney General 
shall not include in a report submitted under 
subsection (a) any information protected from 
disclosure by rule 6(e) of the Federal Rules of 
Criminal Procedure or any Federal criminal 
statute. 
(B) EXCLUSION OF CERTAIN OTHER IN-
FORMATION.—The Attorney General may deter-
mine that the following information shall not be 
included in a report submitted under subsection 
(a): 
(i) Any information that is privileged. 
(ii) Any information concerning an 
ongoing investigation. 
(iii) Any information concerning a 
criminal or civil proceeding conducted 
under seal. 
(iv) Any other nonpublic information 
that the Attorney General determines the 
disclosure of which could reasonably be ex-
pected to infringe on the rights of any in-
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136 
dividual or adversely affect the integrity of 
a pending or future criminal investigation. 
(c) REPORT MADE PUBLIC.—On the date that the 
Attorney General submits the report under subsection (a), 
the Attorney General shall also make the report publicly 
available through the internet and other appropriate 
means. 
Subtitle E—Democracy Restoration 
SEC. 1401. SHORT TITLE. 
This subtitle may be cited as the ‘‘Democracy Res-
toration Act of 2021’’. 
SEC. 1402. FINDINGS. 
Congress makes the following findings: 
(1) The right to vote is the most basic constitu-
tive act of citizenship. Regaining the right to vote 
reintegrates individuals with criminal convictions 
into free society, helping to enhance public safety. 
(2) Article I, section 4, of the Constitution 
grants Congress ultimate supervisory power over 
Federal elections, an authority which has repeatedly 
been upheld by the Supreme Court. 
(3) Basic constitutional principles of fairness 
and equal protection require an equal opportunity 
for citizens of the United States to vote in Federal 
elections. The right to vote may not be abridged or 
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denied by the United States or by any State on ac-
count of race, color, gender, or previous condition of 
servitude. The 13th, 14th, 15th, 19th, 24th, and 
26th Amendments to the Constitution empower Con-
gress to enact measures to protect the right to vote 
in Federal elections. The 8th Amendment to the 
Constitution provides for no excessive bail to be re-
quired, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and 
unusual punishments inflicted. 
(4) There are 3 areas in which discrepancies in 
State laws regarding criminal convictions lead to un-
fairness in Federal elections: 
(A) The lack of a uniform standard for 
voting in Federal elections leads to an unfair 
disparity and unequal participation in Federal 
elections based solely on where a person lives. 
(B) Laws governing the restoration of vot-
ing rights after a criminal conviction vary 
throughout the country, and persons in some 
States can easily regain their voting rights 
while in other States persons effectively lose 
their right to vote permanently. 
(C) State disenfranchisement laws dis-
proportionately impact racial and ethnic minori-
ties. 
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(5) Two States (Maine and Vermont), the Dis-
trict of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto 
Rico do not disenfranchise individuals with criminal 
convictions at all, but 48 States have laws that deny 
convicted individuals the right to vote while they are 
in prison. 
(6) In some States disenfranchisement results 
from varying State laws that restrict voting while in-
dividuals are under the supervision of the criminal 
justice system or after they have completed a crimi-
nal sentence. In 30 States, convicted individuals may 
not vote while they are on parole and 27 States dis-
enfranchise individuals on felony probation as well. 
In 11 States, a conviction can result in lifetime dis-
enfranchisement. 
(7) Several States deny the right to vote to in-
dividuals convicted of certain misdemeanors. 
(8) An estimated 5,200,000 citizens of the 
United States, or about 1 in 44 adults in the United 
States, currently cannot vote as a result of a felony 
conviction. Of the 5,200,000 citizens barred from 
voting, only 24 percent are in prison. By contrast, 
75 percent of the disenfranchised reside in their 
communities while on probation or parole or after 
having completed their sentences. Approximately 
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2,200,000 citizens who have completed their sen-
tences remain disenfranchised due to restrictive 
State laws. In at least 6 States—Alabama, Florida, 
Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Virginia— 
more than 5 percent of the total voting-age popu-
lation is disenfranchised. 
(9) In those States that disenfranchise individ-
uals post-sentence, the right to vote can be regained 
in theory, but in practice this possibility is often 
granted in a non-uniform and potentially discrimina-
tory manner. Disenfranchised individuals must ei-
ther obtain a pardon or an order from the Governor 
or an action by the parole or pardon board, depend-
ing on the offense and State. Individuals convicted 
of a Federal offense often have additional barriers to 
regaining voting rights. 
(10) State disenfranchisement laws dispropor-
tionately impact racial and ethnic minorities. More 
than 6 percent of the African-American voting-age 
population, or 1,800,000 African Americans, are 
disenfranchised. Currently, 1 of every 16 voting-age 
African Americans are rendered unable to vote be-
cause of felony disenfranchisement, which is a rate 
more than 3.7 times greater than non-African Amer-
icans. Over 6 percent of African-American adults are 
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140 
disenfranchised whereas only 1.7 percent of non-Af-
rican Americans are. In 7 States (Alabama, 16 per-
cent; Florida, 15 percent; Kentucky, 15 percent; 
Mississippi, 16 percent; Tennessee, 21 percent; Vir-
ginia, 16 percent; and Wyoming, 36 percent), more 
than 1 in 7 African Americans are unable to vote 
because of prior convictions, twice the national aver-
age for African Americans. 
(11) Latino citizens are disproportionately 
disenfranchised based upon their disproportionate 
representation in the criminal justice system. In re-
cent years, Latinos have been imprisoned at 2.5 
times the rate of Whites. More than 2 percent of the 
voting-age Latino population, or 560,000 Latinos, 
are disenfranchised due to a felony conviction. In 34 
states Latinos are disenfranchised at a higher rate 
than the general population. In 11 states 4 percent 
or more of Latino adults are disenfranchised due to 
a felony conviction (Alabama, 4 percent; Arizona, 7 
percent; Arkansas, 4 percent; Idaho, 4 percent; 
Iowa, 4 percent; Kentucky, 6 percent; Minnesota, 4 
percent; Mississippi, 5 percent; Nebraska, 6 percent; 
Tennessee, 11 percent, Wyoming, 4 percent), twice 
the national average for Latinos. 
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141 
(12) Disenfranchising citizens who have been 
convicted of a criminal offense and who are living 
and working in the community serves no compelling 
State interest and hinders their rehabilitation and 
reintegration into society. 
(13) State disenfranchisement laws can sup-
press electoral participation among eligible voters by 
discouraging voting among family and community 
members of disenfranchised persons. Future elec-
toral participation by the children of disenfranchised 
parents may be impacted as well. 
(14) The United States is the only Western de-
mocracy that permits the permanent denial of voting 
rights for individuals with felony convictions. 
SEC. 1403. RIGHTS OF CITIZENS. 
The right of an individual who is a citizen of the 
United States to vote in any election for Federal office 
shall not be denied or abridged because that individual has 
been convicted of a criminal offense unless such individual 
is serving a felony sentence in a correctional institution 
or facility at the time of the election. 
SEC. 1404. ENFORCEMENT. 
(a) ATTORNEY GENERAL.—The Attorney General 
may, in a civil action, obtain such declaratory or injunctive 
relief as is necessary to remedy a violation of this subtitle. 
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(b) PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—A person who is aggrieved 
by a violation of this subtitle may provide written 
notice of the violation to the chief election official of 
the State involved. 
(2) RELIEF.—Except as provided in paragraph 
(3), if the violation is not corrected within 90 days 
after receipt of a notice under paragraph (1), or 
within 20 days after receipt of the notice if the viola-
tion occurred within 120 days before the date of an 
election for Federal office, the aggrieved person 
may, in a civil action, obtain declaratory or injunc-
tive relief with respect to the violation. 
(3) EXCEPTION.—If the violation occurred 
within 30 days before the date of an election for 
Federal office, the aggrieved person need not provide 
notice to the chief election official of the State under 
paragraph (1) before bringing a civil action to obtain 
declaratory or injunctive relief with respect to the 
violation. 
SEC. 1405. NOTIFICATION OF RESTORATION OF VOTING 
RIGHTS. 
(a) STATE NOTIFICATION.— 
(1) NOTIFICATION.—On the date determined 
under paragraph (2), each State shall notify in writ-
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143 
ing any individual who has been convicted of a 
criminal offense under the law of that State that 
such individual has the right to vote in an election 
for Federal office pursuant to the Democracy Res-
toration Act of 2021 and may register to vote in any 
such election and provide such individual with any 
materials that are necessary to register to vote in 
any such election. 
(2) DATE OF NOTIFICATION.— 
(A) FELONY CONVICTION.—In the case of 
such an individual who has been convicted of a 
felony, the notification required under para-
graph (1) shall be given on the date on which 
the individual— 
(i) is sentenced to serve only a term 
of probation; or 
(ii) is released from the custody of 
that State (other than to the custody of 
another State or the Federal Government 
to serve a term of imprisonment for a fel-
ony conviction). 
(B) MISDEMEANOR
CONVICTION.—In the 
case of such an individual who has been con-
victed of a misdemeanor, the notification re-
quired under paragraph (1) shall be given on 
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144 
the date on which such individual is sentenced 
by a State court. 
(b) FEDERAL NOTIFICATION.— 
(1) NOTIFICATION.—Any individual who has 
been convicted of a criminal offense under Federal 
law shall be notified in accordance with paragraph 
(2) that such individual has the right to vote in an 
election for Federal office pursuant to the Democ-
racy Restoration Act of 2021 and may register to 
vote in any such election and provide such individual 
with any materials that are necessary to register to 
vote in any such election. 
(2) DATE OF NOTIFICATION.— 
(A) FELONY CONVICTION.—In the case of 
such an individual who has been convicted of a 
felony, the notification required under para-
graph (1) shall be given— 
(i) in the case of an individual who is 
sentenced to serve only a term of proba-
tion, by the Assistant Director for the Of-
fice of Probation and Pretrial Services of 
the Administrative Office of the United 
States Courts on the date on which the in-
dividual is sentenced; or 
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(ii) in the case of any individual com-
mitted to the custody of the Bureau of 
Prisons, by the Director of the Bureau of 
Prisons, during the period beginning on 
the date that is 6 months before such indi-
vidual is released and ending on the date 
such individual is released from the cus-
tody of the Bureau of Prisons. 
(B) MISDEMEANOR
CONVICTION.—In the 
case of such an individual who has been con-
victed of a misdemeanor, the notification re-
quired under paragraph (1) shall be given on 
the date on which such individual is sentenced 
by a court established by an Act of Congress. 
SEC. 1406. DEFINITIONS. 
For purposes of this subtitle: 
(1) CORRECTIONAL
INSTITUTION
OR
FACIL-
ITY.—The term ‘‘correctional institution or facility’’ 
means any prison, penitentiary, jail, or other institu-
tion or facility for the confinement of individuals 
convicted of criminal offenses, whether publicly or 
privately operated, except that such term does not 
include any residential community treatment center 
(or similar public or private facility). 
(2) ELECTION.—The term ‘‘election’’ means— 
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(A) a general, special, primary, or runoff 
election; 
(B) a convention or caucus of a political 
party held to nominate a candidate; 
(C) a primary election held for the selec-
tion of delegates to a national nominating con-
vention of a political party; or 
(D) a primary election held for the expres-
sion of a preference for the nomination of per-
sons for election to the office of President. 
(3) FEDERAL OFFICE.—The term ‘‘Federal of-
fice’’ means the office of President or Vice President 
of the United States, or of Senator or Representa-
tive in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, 
the Congress of the United States. 
(4) PROBATION.—The term ‘‘probation’’ means 
probation, imposed by a Federal, State, or local 
court, with or without a condition on the individual 
involved concerning— 
(A) the individual’s freedom of movement; 
(B) the payment of damages by the indi-
vidual; 
(C) periodic reporting by the individual to 
an officer of the court; or 
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(D) supervision of the individual by an of-
ficer of the court. 
SEC. 1407. RELATION TO OTHER LAWS. 
(a) STATE LAWS RELATING TO VOTING RIGHTS.— 
Nothing in this subtitle be construed to prohibit the States 
from enacting any State law which affords the right to 
vote in any election for Federal office on terms less restric-
tive than those established by this subtitle. 
(b) CERTAIN FEDERAL ACTS.—The rights and rem-
edies established by this subtitle are in addition to all 
other rights and remedies provided by law, and neither 
rights and remedies established by this Act shall super-
sede, restrict, or limit the application of the Voting Rights 
Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 10301 et seq.) or the National 
Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20501 et seq.). 
SEC. 1408. FEDERAL PRISON FUNDS. 
No State, unit of local government, or other person 
may receive or use, to construct or otherwise improve a 
prison, jail, or other place of incarceration, any Federal 
funds unless that person has in effect a program under 
which each individual incarcerated in that person’s juris-
diction who is a citizen of the United States is notified, 
upon release from such incarceration, of that individual’s 
rights under section 1403. 
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SEC. 1409. EFFECTIVE DATE. 
This subtitle shall apply to citizens of the United 
States voting in any election for Federal office held after 
the date of the enactment of this Act. 
Subtitle F—Promoting Accuracy, 
Integrity, and Security Through 
Voter-Verified Permanent Paper 
Ballot 
SEC. 1501. SHORT TITLE. 
This subtitle may be cited as the ‘‘Voter Confidence 
and Increased Accessibility Act of 2021’’. 
SEC. 1502. PAPER BALLOT AND MANUAL COUNTING RE-
QUIREMENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 301(a)(2) of the Help 
America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081(a)(2)) is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(2) PAPER BALLOT REQUIREMENT.— 
‘‘(A) VOTER-VERIFIED PAPER BALLOTS.— 
‘‘(i) PAPER BALLOT REQUIREMENT.— 
(I) The voting system shall require the use 
of an individual, durable, voter-verified 
paper ballot of the voter’s vote that shall 
be marked and made available for inspec-
tion and verification by the voter before 
the voter’s vote is cast and counted, and 
which shall be counted by hand or read by 
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an optical character recognition device or 
other counting device. For purposes of this 
subclause, the term ‘individual, durable, 
voter-verified paper ballot’ means a paper 
ballot marked by the voter by hand or a 
paper ballot marked through the use of a 
nontabulating ballot marking device or sys-
tem, so long as the voter shall have the op-
tion to mark his or her ballot by hand. 
‘‘(II) The voting system shall provide 
the voter with an opportunity to correct 
any error on the paper ballot before the 
permanent voter-verified paper ballot is 
preserved in accordance with clause (ii). 
‘‘(III) The voting system shall not 
preserve the voter-verified paper ballots in 
any manner that makes it possible, at any 
time after the ballot has been cast, to asso-
ciate a voter with the record of the voter’s 
vote without the voter’s consent. 
‘‘(ii) PRESERVATION
AS
OFFICIAL 
RECORD.—The individual, durable, voter- 
verified paper ballot used in accordance 
with clause (i) shall constitute the official 
ballot and shall be preserved and used as 
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the official ballot for purposes of any re-
count or audit conducted with respect to 
any election for Federal office in which the 
voting system is used. 
‘‘(iii) MANUAL
COUNTING
REQUIRE-
MENTS FOR RECOUNTS AND AUDITS.—(I) 
Each paper ballot used pursuant to clause 
(i) shall be suitable for a manual audit, 
and shall be counted by hand in any re-
count or audit conducted with respect to 
any election for Federal office. 
‘‘(II) In the event of any inconsist-
encies or irregularities between any elec-
tronic vote tallies and the vote tallies de-
termined by counting by hand the indi-
vidual, durable, voter-verified paper ballots 
used pursuant to clause (i), and subject to 
subparagraph (B), the individual, durable, 
voter-verified paper ballots shall be the 
true and correct record of the votes cast. 
‘‘(iv) APPLICATION
TO
ALL
BAL-
LOTS.—The requirements of this subpara-
graph shall apply to all ballots cast in elec-
tions for Federal office, including ballots 
cast by absent uniformed services voters 
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and overseas voters under the Uniformed 
and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act 
and other absentee voters. 
‘‘(B) SPECIAL RULE FOR TREATMENT OF 
DISPUTES WHEN PAPER BALLOTS HAVE BEEN 
SHOWN TO BE COMPROMISED.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—In the event 
that— 
‘‘(I) there is any inconsistency 
between any electronic vote tallies and 
the vote tallies determined by count-
ing by hand the individual, durable, 
voter-verified paper ballots used pur-
suant to subparagraph (A)(i) with re-
spect to any election for Federal of-
fice; and 
‘‘(II) it is demonstrated by clear 
and convincing evidence (as deter-
mined in accordance with the applica-
ble standards in the jurisdiction in-
volved) in any recount, audit, or con-
test of the result of the election that 
the paper ballots have been com-
promised (by damage or mischief or 
otherwise) and that a sufficient num-
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ber of the ballots have been so com-
promised that the result of the elec-
tion could be changed, 
the determination of the appropriate rem-
edy with respect to the election shall be 
made in accordance with applicable State 
law, except that the electronic tally shall 
not be used as the exclusive basis for de-
termining the official certified result. 
‘‘(ii) RULE FOR CONSIDERATION OF 
BALLOTS ASSOCIATED WITH EACH VOTING 
MACHINE.—For purposes of clause (i), 
only the paper ballots deemed com-
promised, if any, shall be considered in the 
calculation of whether or not the result of 
the election could be changed due to the 
compromised paper ballots.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT CLARIFYING APPLI-
CABILITY 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 re-
quired to be used under paragraph (2))’’ after ‘‘voting sys-
tem’’. 
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(c) OTHER CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Section 
301(a)(1) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 21081(a)(1)) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in subparagraph (A)(i), by striking ‘‘count-
ed’’ and inserting ‘‘counted, in accordance with 
paragraphs (2) and (3)’’; 
(2) in subparagraph (A)(ii), by striking ‘‘count-
ed’’ and inserting ‘‘counted, in accordance with 
paragraphs (2) and (3)’’; 
(3) in subparagraph (A)(iii), by striking ‘‘count-
ed’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘counted, in 
accordance with paragraphs (2) and (3)’’; and 
(4) in subparagraph (B)(ii), by striking ‘‘count-
ed’’ and inserting ‘‘counted, in accordance with 
paragraphs (2) and (3)’’. 
SEC. 1503. ACCESSIBILITY AND BALLOT VERIFICATION FOR 
INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 301(a)(3)(B) of the Help 
America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081(a)(3)(B)) is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(B)(i) ensure that individuals with dis-
abilities and others are given an equivalent op-
portunity to vote, including with privacy and 
independence, in a manner that produces a 
voter-verified paper ballot as for other voters; 
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‘‘(ii) satisfy the requirement of subpara-
graph (A) through the use of at least one voting 
system equipped for individuals with disabil-
ities, including nonvisual and enhanced visual 
accessibility for the blind and visually impaired, 
and nonmanual and enhanced manual accessi-
bility for the mobility and dexterity impaired, at 
each polling place; and 
‘‘(iii) meet the requirements of subpara-
graph (A) and paragraph (2)(A) by using a sys-
tem that— 
‘‘(I) allows the voter to privately and 
independently verify the permanent paper 
ballot through the presentation, in acces-
sible form, of the printed or marked vote 
selections from the same printed or 
marked information that would be used for 
any vote counting or auditing; and 
‘‘(II) allows the voter to privately and 
independently verify and cast the perma-
nent paper ballot without requiring the 
voter to manually handle the paper bal-
lot;’’. 
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(b) SPECIFIC REQUIREMENT OF STUDY, TESTING, 
AND DEVELOPMENT
OF ACCESSIBLE PAPER BALLOT 
VERIFICATION MECHANISMS.— 
(1) STUDY
AND
REPORTING.—Subtitle C of 
title II of such Act (52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.) is 
amended— 
(A) by redesignating section 247 as section 
248; and 
(B) by inserting after section 246 the fol-
lowing new section: 
‘‘SEC. 247. STUDY AND REPORT ON ACCESSIBLE PAPER 
BALLOT VERIFICATION MECHANISMS. 
‘‘(a) STUDY AND REPORT.—The Director of the Na-
tional Science Foundation shall make grants to not fewer 
than 3 eligible entities to study, test, and develop acces-
sible paper ballot voting, verification, and casting mecha-
nisms and devices and best practices to enhance the acces-
sibility of paper ballot voting and verification mechanisms 
for individuals with disabilities, for voters whose primary 
language is not English, and for voters with difficulties 
in literacy, including best practices for the mechanisms 
themselves and the processes through which the mecha-
nisms are used. 
‘‘(b) ELIGIBILITY.—An entity is eligible to receive a 
grant under this part if it submits to the Director (at such 
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156 
time and in such form as the Director may require) an 
application containing— 
‘‘(1) certifications that the entity shall specifi-
cally investigate enhanced methods or devices, in-
cluding non-electronic devices, that will assist such 
individuals and voters in marking voter-verified 
paper ballots and presenting or transmitting the in-
formation printed or marked on such ballots back to 
such individuals and voters, and casting such ballots; 
‘‘(2) a certification that the entity shall com-
plete the activities carried out with the grant not 
later than December 31, 2022; and 
‘‘(3) such other information and certifications 
as the Director may require. 
‘‘(c) AVAILABILITY
OF TECHNOLOGY.—Any tech-
nology developed with the grants made under this section 
shall be treated as non-proprietary and shall be made 
available to the public, including to manufacturers of vot-
ing systems. 
‘‘(d) COORDINATION WITH GRANTS
FOR TECH-
NOLOGY IMPROVEMENTS.—The Director shall carry out 
this section so that the activities carried out with the 
grants made under subsection (a) are coordinated with the 
research conducted under the grant program carried out 
by the Commission under section 271, to the extent that 
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the Director and Commission determine necessary to pro-
vide for the advancement of accessible voting technology. 
‘‘(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
is authorized to be appropriated to carry out subsection 
(a) $5,000,000, to remain available until expended.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of con-
tents of such Act is amended— 
(A) by redesignating the item relating to 
section 247 as relating to section 248; and 
(B) by inserting after the item relating to 
section 246 the following new item: 
‘‘Sec. 247. Study and report on accessible paper ballot verification mecha-
nisms.’’. 
(c) CLARIFICATION OF ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS 
UNDER VOLUNTARY VOTING SYSTEM GUIDANCE.—In 
adopting any voluntary guidance under subtitle B of title 
III of the Help America Vote Act with respect to the ac-
cessibility of the paper ballot verification requirements for 
individuals with disabilities, the Election Assistance Com-
mission shall include and apply the same accessibility 
standards applicable under the voluntary guidance adopt-
ed for accessible voting systems under such subtitle. 
(d) PERMITTING USE OF FUNDS FOR PROTECTION 
AND ADVOCACY SYSTEMS TO SUPPORT ACTIONS TO EN-
FORCE ELECTION-RELATED DISABILITY ACCESS.—Sec-
tion 292(a) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 
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U.S.C. 21062(a)) is amended by striking ‘‘; except that’’ 
and all that follows and inserting a period. 
SEC. 1504. DURABILITY AND READABILITY REQUIREMENTS 
FOR BALLOTS. 
Section 301(a) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 
(52 U.S.C. 21081(a)) is amended by adding at the end 
the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(7) DURABILITY AND READABILITY REQUIRE-
MENTS FOR BALLOTS.— 
‘‘(A) DURABILITY
REQUIREMENTS
FOR 
PAPER BALLOTS.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—All voter-verified 
paper ballots required to be used under 
this Act shall be marked or printed on du-
rable paper. 
‘‘(ii) DEFINITION.—For purposes of 
this Act, paper is ‘durable’ if it is capable 
of withstanding multiple counts and re-
counts by hand without compromising the 
fundamental integrity of the ballots, and 
capable 
of 
retaining 
the 
information 
marked or printed on them for the full du-
ration of a retention and preservation pe-
riod of 22 months. 
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‘‘(B) READABILITY
REQUIREMENTS
FOR 
PAPER BALLOTS MARKED BY BALLOT MARKING 
DEVICE.—All voter-verified paper ballots com-
pleted by the voter through the use of a ballot 
marking device shall be clearly readable by the 
voter without assistance (other than eyeglasses 
or other personal vision enhancing devices) and 
by an optical character recognition device or 
other device equipped for individuals with dis-
abilities.’’. 
SEC. 1505. STUDY AND REPORT ON OPTIMAL BALLOT DE-
SIGN. 
(a) STUDY.—The Election Assistance Commission 
shall conduct a study of the best ways to design ballots 
used in elections for public office, including paper ballots 
and electronic or digital ballots, to minimize confusion and 
user errors. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than January 1, 2022, the 
Election Assistance Commission shall submit to Congress 
a report on the study conducted under subsection (a). 
SEC. 1506. PAPER BALLOT PRINTING REQUIREMENTS. 
Section 301(a) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 
(52 U.S.C. 21081(a)), as amended by section 1504, is fur-
ther amended by adding at the end the following new para-
graph: 
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‘‘(8) PRINTING
REQUIREMENTS
FOR
BAL-
LOTS.—All paper ballots used in an election for Fed-
eral office shall be printed in the United States on 
paper manufactured in the United States.’’. 
SEC. 1507. EFFECTIVE DATE FOR NEW REQUIREMENTS. 
Section 301(d) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 
(52 U.S.C. 21081(d)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), each State and jurisdiction shall be re-
quired to comply with the requirements of this sec-
tion on and after January 1, 2006. 
‘‘(2) SPECIAL
RULE
FOR
CERTAIN
REQUIRE-
MENTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 
subparagraphs (B) and (C), the requirements of 
this section which are first imposed on a State 
and jurisdiction pursuant to the amendments 
made by the Voter Confidence and Increased 
Accessibility Act of 2021 shall apply with re-
spect to voting systems used for any election for 
Federal office held in 2022 or any succeeding 
year. 
‘‘(B) DELAY
FOR
JURISDICTIONS
USING 
CERTAIN PAPER RECORD PRINTERS OR CERTAIN 
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SYSTEMS
USING
OR
PRODUCING
VOTER- 
VERIFIABLE PAPER RECORDS IN 2020.— 
‘‘(i) DELAY.—In the case of a juris-
diction described in clause (ii), subpara-
graph (A) shall apply to a voting system in 
the jurisdiction as if the reference in such 
subparagraph to ‘2022’ were a reference to 
‘2024’, but only with respect to the fol-
lowing requirements of this section: 
‘‘(I) Paragraph (2)(A)(i)(I) of 
subsection (a) (relating to the use of 
voter-verified paper ballots). 
‘‘(II) Paragraph (3)(B)(ii)(I) and 
(II) of subsection (a) (relating to ac-
cess to verification from and casting 
of the durable paper ballot). 
‘‘(III) Paragraph (7) of sub-
section (a) (relating to durability and 
readability requirements for ballots). 
‘‘(ii) JURISDICTIONS
DESCRIBED.—A 
jurisdiction described in this clause is a ju-
risdiction— 
‘‘(I) which used voter verifiable 
paper record printers attached to di-
rect recording electronic voting ma-
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chines, or which used other voting 
systems that used or produced paper 
records of the vote verifiable by voters 
but that are not in compliance with 
paragraphs (2)(A)(i)(I), (3)(B)(iii)(i) 
and (II), and (7) of subsection (a) (as 
amended or added by the Voter Con-
fidence and Increased Accessibility 
Act of 2021), for the administration 
of the regularly scheduled general 
election for Federal office held in No-
vember 2020; and 
‘‘(II) which will continue to use 
such printers or systems for the ad-
ministration of elections for Federal 
office held in years before 2024. 
‘‘(iii) MANDATORY
AVAILABILITY
OF 
PAPER
BALLOTS
AT
POLLING
PLACES 
USING
GRANDFATHERED
PRINTERS
AND 
SYSTEMS.— 
‘‘(I) REQUIRING BALLOTS TO BE 
OFFERED
AND
PROVIDED.—The ap-
propriate election official at each poll-
ing place that uses a printer or sys-
tem described in clause (ii)(I) for the 
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administration of elections for Federal 
office shall offer each individual who 
is eligible to cast a vote in the election 
at the polling place the opportunity to 
cast the vote using a blank pre-print-
ed paper ballot which the individual 
may mark by hand and which is not 
produced by the direct recording elec-
tronic voting machine or other such 
system. The official shall provide the 
individual with the ballot and the sup-
plies necessary to mark the ballot, and 
shall ensure (to the greatest extent 
practicable) that the waiting period 
for the individual to cast a vote is the 
lesser of 30 minutes or the average 
waiting period for an individual who 
does not agree to cast the vote using 
such a paper ballot under this clause. 
‘‘(II) TREATMENT OF BALLOT.— 
Any paper ballot which is cast by an 
individual under this clause shall be 
counted and otherwise treated as a 
regular ballot for all purposes (includ-
ing by incorporating it into the final 
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unofficial vote count (as defined by 
the State) for the precinct) and not as 
a provisional ballot, unless the indi-
vidual casting the ballot would have 
otherwise been required to cast a pro-
visional ballot. 
‘‘(III) POSTING
OF
NOTICE.— 
The appropriate election official shall 
ensure there is prominently displayed 
at each polling place a notice that de-
scribes the obligation of the official to 
offer individuals the opportunity to 
cast votes using a pre-printed blank 
paper ballot. 
‘‘(IV) TRAINING
OF
ELECTION 
OFFICIALS.—The chief State election 
official shall ensure that election offi-
cials at polling places in the State are 
aware of the requirements of this 
clause, including the requirement to 
display a notice under subclause (III), 
and are aware that it is a violation of 
the requirements of this title for an 
election official to fail to offer an indi-
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vidual the opportunity to cast a vote 
using a blank pre-printed paper ballot. 
‘‘(V) 
PERIOD
OF
APPLICA-
BILITY.—The requirements of this 
clause apply only during the period in 
which the delay is in effect under 
clause (i). 
‘‘(C) SPECIAL
RULE
FOR
JURISDICTIONS 
USING
CERTAIN
NONTABULATING
BALLOT 
MARKING DEVICES.—In the case of a jurisdic-
tion which uses a nontabulating ballot marking 
device which automatically deposits the ballot 
into a privacy sleeve, subparagraph (A) shall 
apply to a voting system in the jurisdiction as 
if the reference in such subparagraph to ‘any 
election for Federal office held in 2022 or any 
succeeding year’ were a reference to ‘elections 
for Federal office occurring held in 2024 or 
each succeeding year’, but only with respect to 
paragraph (3)(B)(iii)(II) of subsection (a) (re-
lating to nonmanual casting of the durable 
paper ballot).’’. 
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Subtitle G—Provisional Ballots 
SEC. 1601. REQUIREMENTS FOR COUNTING PROVISIONAL 
BALLOTS; ESTABLISHMENT OF UNIFORM AND 
NONDISCRIMINATORY STANDARDS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 302 of the Help America 
Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21082) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsection (d) as sub-
section (f); and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (c) the fol-
lowing new subsections: 
‘‘(d) STATEWIDE COUNTING OF PROVISIONAL BAL-
LOTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of subsection 
(a)(4), notwithstanding the precinct or polling place 
at which a provisional ballot is cast within the State, 
the appropriate election official shall count each vote 
on such ballot for each election in which the indi-
vidual who cast such ballot is eligible to vote. 
‘‘(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This subsection shall 
apply with respect to elections held on or after Janu-
ary 1, 2022. 
‘‘(e) UNIFORM
AND NONDISCRIMINATORY STAND-
ARDS.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Consistent with the re-
quirements of this section, each State shall establish 
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uniform and nondiscriminatory standards for the 
issuance, handling, and counting of provisional bal-
lots. 
‘‘(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This subsection shall 
apply with respect to elections held on or after Janu-
ary 1, 2022.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 302(f) of 
such Act (52 U.S.C. 21082(f)), as redesignated by sub-
section (a), is amended by striking ‘‘Each State’’ and in-
serting ‘‘Except as provided in subsections (d)(2) and 
(e)(2), each State’’. 
Subtitle H—Early Voting 
SEC. 1611. EARLY VOTING. 
(a) REQUIREMENTS.—Subtitle A of title III of the 
Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.), 
as amended by section 1031(a) and section 1101(a), is 
amended— 
(1) by redesignating sections 306 and 307 as 
sections 307 and 308; and 
(2) by inserting after section 305 the following 
new section: 
‘‘SEC. 306. EARLY VOTING. 
‘‘(a) REQUIRING VOTING PRIOR TO DATE OF ELEC-
TION.— 
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‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Each State shall allow indi-
viduals to vote in an election for Federal office dur-
ing an early voting period which occurs prior to the 
date of the election, in the same manner as voting 
is allowed on such date. 
‘‘(2) LENGTH
OF
PERIOD.—The early voting 
period required under this subsection with respect to 
an election shall consist of a period of consecutive 
days (including weekends) which begins on the 15th 
day before the date of the election (or, at the option 
of the State, on a day prior to the 15th day before 
the date of the election) and ends on the date of the 
election. 
‘‘(b) MINIMUM EARLY VOTING REQUIREMENTS.— 
Each polling place which allows voting during an early vot-
ing period under subsection (a) shall— 
‘‘(1) allow such voting for no less than 10 hours 
on each day; 
‘‘(2) have uniform hours each day for which 
such voting occurs; and 
‘‘(3) allow such voting to be held for some pe-
riod of time prior to 9:00 a.m (local time) and some 
period of time after 5:00 p.m. (local time). 
‘‘(c) LOCATION OF POLLING PLACES.— 
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‘‘(1) 
PROXIMITY
TO
PUBLIC
TRANSPOR-
TATION.—To the greatest extent practicable, a State 
shall ensure that each polling place which allows vot-
ing during an early voting period under subsection 
(a) is located within walking distance of a stop on 
a public transportation route. 
‘‘(2) AVAILABILITY
IN
RURAL
AREAS.—The 
State shall ensure that polling places which allow 
voting during an early voting period under sub-
section (a) will be located in rural areas of the State, 
and shall ensure that such polling places are located 
in communities which will provide the greatest op-
portunity for residents of rural areas to vote during 
the early voting period. 
‘‘(d) STANDARDS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall issue 
standards for the administration of voting prior to 
the day scheduled for a Federal election. Such 
standards shall include the nondiscriminatory geo-
graphic placement of polling places at which such 
voting occurs. 
‘‘(2) DEVIATION.—The standards described in 
paragraph (1) shall permit States, upon providing 
adequate public notice, to deviate from any require-
ment in the case of unforeseen circumstances such 
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as a natural disaster, terrorist attack, or a change 
in voter turnout. 
‘‘(e) BALLOT PROCESSING AND SCANNING REQUIRE-
MENTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The State shall begin proc-
essing and scanning ballots cast during early voting 
for tabulation at least 14 days prior to the date of 
the election involved. 
‘‘(2) LIMITATION.—Nothing in this subsection 
shall be construed to permit a State to tabulate bal-
lots in an election before the closing of the polls on 
the date of the election. 
‘‘(f) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall apply 
with respect to the regularly scheduled general election for 
Federal office held in November 2022 and each succeeding 
election for Federal office.’’. 
(b) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENT
RELATING
TO 
ISSUANCE OF VOLUNTARY GUIDANCE BY ELECTION AS-
SISTANCE COMMISSION.—Section 321(b) of such Act (52 
U.S.C. 21101(b)), as redesignated and amended by sec-
tion 1101(b), is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of paragraph 
(3); 
(2) by striking the period at the end of para-
graph (4) and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
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(3) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(5) except as provided in paragraph (4), in the 
case of the recommendations with respect to any sec-
tion added by the For the People Act of 2021, June 
30, 2022.’’. 
(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
of such Act, as amended by section 1031(c) and section 
1101(d), is amended— 
(1) by redesignating the items relating to sec-
tions 306 and 307 as relating to sections 307 and 
308; and 
(2) by inserting after the item relating to sec-
tion 305 the following new item: 
‘‘Sec. 306. Early voting.’’. 
Subtitle I—Voting by Mail 
SEC. 1621. VOTING BY MAIL. 
(a) REQUIREMENTS.—Subtitle A of title III of the 
Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.), 
as amended by section 1031(a), section 1101(a), and sec-
tion 1611(a), is amended— 
(1) by redesignating sections 307 and 308 as 
sections 308 and 309; and 
(2) by inserting after section 306 the following 
new section: 
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‘‘SEC. 307. PROMOTING ABILITY OF VOTERS TO VOTE BY 
MAIL. 
‘‘(a) UNIFORM AVAILABILITY OF ABSENTEE VOTING 
TO ALL VOTERS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—If an individual in a State 
is eligible to cast a vote in an election for Federal 
office, the State may not impose any additional con-
ditions or requirements on the eligibility of the indi-
vidual to cast the vote in such election by absentee 
ballot by mail. 
‘‘(2) ADMINISTRATION OF VOTING BY MAIL.— 
‘‘(A) PROHIBITING
IDENTIFICATION
RE-
QUIREMENT AS CONDITION OF OBTAINING BAL-
LOT.—A State may not require an individual to 
provide any form of identification as a condition 
of obtaining an absentee ballot, except that 
nothing in this paragraph may be construed to 
prevent a State from requiring a signature of 
the individual or similar affirmation as a condi-
tion of obtaining an absentee ballot. 
‘‘(B) PROHIBITING REQUIREMENT TO PRO-
VIDE
NOTARIZATION
OR
WITNESS
SIGNATURE 
AS CONDITION OF OBTAINING OR CASTING BAL-
LOT.—A State may not require notarization or 
witness signature or other formal authentica-
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tion (other than voter attestation) as a condi-
tion of obtaining or casting an absentee ballot. 
‘‘(C) DEADLINE
FOR
RETURNING
BAL-
LOT.—A State may impose a reasonable dead-
line for requesting the absentee ballot and re-
lated voting materials from the appropriate 
State or local election official and for returning 
the ballot to the appropriate State or local elec-
tion official. 
‘‘(3) APPLICATION
FOR
ALL
FUTURE
ELEC-
TIONS.—At the option of an individual, a State shall 
treat the individual’s application to vote by absentee 
ballot by mail in an election for Federal office as an 
application for an absentee ballot by mail in all sub-
sequent Federal elections held in the State. 
‘‘(4) NO EFFECT ON IDENTIFICATION REQUIRE-
MENTS FOR FIRST-TIME VOTERS REGISTERING BY 
MAIL.—Nothing in this subsection may be construed 
to exempt any individual described in paragraph (1) 
of section 303(b) from meeting the requirements of 
paragraph (2) of such section. 
‘‘(b) DUE PROCESS REQUIREMENTS
FOR STATES 
REQUIRING SIGNATURE VERIFICATION.— 
‘‘(1) REQUIREMENT.— 
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‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—A State may not im-
pose a signature verification requirement as a 
condition of accepting and counting an absentee 
ballot submitted by any individual with respect 
to an election for Federal office unless the 
State meets the due process requirements de-
scribed in paragraph (2). 
‘‘(B) SIGNATURE VERIFICATION REQUIRE-
MENT DESCRIBED.—In this subsection, a ‘sig-
nature verification requirement’ is a require-
ment that an election official verify the identi-
fication of an individual by comparing the indi-
vidual’s signature on the absentee ballot with 
the individual’s signature on the official list of 
registered voters in the State or another official 
record or other document used by the State to 
verify the signatures of voters. 
‘‘(2) DUE PROCESS REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(A) NOTICE AND OPPORTUNITY TO CURE 
DISCREPANCY
IN
SIGNATURES.—If an indi-
vidual submits an absentee ballot and the ap-
propriate State or local election official deter-
mines that a discrepancy exists between the sig-
nature on such ballot and the signature of such 
individual on the official list of registered voters 
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in the State or other official record or document 
used by the State to verify the signatures of 
voters, such election official, prior to making a 
final determination as to the validity of such 
ballot, shall— 
‘‘(i) make a good faith effort to imme-
diately notify the individual by mail, tele-
phone, and (if available) text message and 
electronic mail that— 
‘‘(I) a discrepancy exists between 
the signature on such ballot and the 
signature of the individual on the offi-
cial list of registered voters in the 
State or other official record or docu-
ment used by the State to verify the 
signatures of voters, and 
‘‘(II) if such discrepancy is not 
cured prior to the expiration of the 
10-day period which begins on the 
date the official notifies the individual 
of the discrepancy, such ballot will not 
be counted; and 
‘‘(ii) cure such discrepancy and count 
the ballot if, prior to the expiration of the 
10-day period described in clause (i)(II), 
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the individual provides the official with in-
formation to cure such discrepancy, either 
in person, by telephone, or by electronic 
methods. 
‘‘(B) NOTICE AND OPPORTUNITY TO CURE 
MISSING SIGNATURE OR OTHER DEFECT.—If an 
individual submits an absentee ballot without a 
signature or submits an absentee ballot with 
another defect which, if left uncured, would 
cause the ballot to not be counted, the appro-
priate State or local election official, prior to 
making a final determination as to the validity 
of the ballot, shall— 
‘‘(i) make a good faith effort to imme-
diately notify the individual by mail, tele-
phone, and (if available) text message and 
electronic mail that— 
‘‘(I) the ballot did not include a 
signature or has some other defect, 
and 
‘‘(II) if the individual does not 
provide the missing signature or cure 
the other defect prior to the expira-
tion of the 10-day period which begins 
on the date the official notifies the in-
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dividual that the ballot did not include 
a signature or has some other defect, 
such ballot will not be counted; and 
‘‘(ii) count the ballot if, prior to the 
expiration of the 10-day period described 
in clause (i)(II), the individual provides the 
official with the missing signature on a 
form proscribed by the State or cures the 
other defect. 
This subparagraph does not apply with respect 
to a defect consisting of the failure of a ballot 
to meet the applicable deadline for the accept-
ance of the ballot, as described in subsection 
(e). 
‘‘(C) OTHER REQUIREMENTS.—An election 
official may not make a determination that a 
discrepancy exists between the signature on an 
absentee ballot and the signature of the indi-
vidual who submits the ballot on the official list 
of registered voters in the State or other official 
record or other document used by the State to 
verify the signatures of voters unless— 
‘‘(i) at least 2 election officials make 
the determination; and 
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‘‘(ii) each official who makes the de-
termination has received training in proce-
dures used to verify signatures. 
‘‘(3) REPORT.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 120 
days after the end of a Federal election cycle, 
each chief State election official shall submit to 
Congress a report containing the following in-
formation for the applicable Federal election 
cycle in the State: 
‘‘(i) The number of ballots invalidated 
due to a discrepancy under this subsection. 
‘‘(ii) Description of attempts to con-
tact voters to provide notice as required by 
this subsection. 
‘‘(iii) Description of the cure process 
developed by such State pursuant to this 
subsection, including the number of ballots 
determined valid as a result of such proc-
ess. 
‘‘(B) FEDERAL
ELECTION
CYCLE
DE-
FINED.—For purposes of this subsection, the 
term ‘Federal election cycle’ means the period 
beginning on January 1 of any odd numbered 
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179 
year and ending on December 31 of the fol-
lowing year. 
‘‘(4) RULE
OF
CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in 
this subsection shall be construed— 
‘‘(A) to prohibit a State from rejecting a 
ballot attempted to be cast in an election for 
Federal office by an individual who is not eligi-
ble to vote in the election; or 
‘‘(B) to prohibit a State from providing an 
individual with more time and more methods 
for curing a discrepancy in the individual’s sig-
nature, providing a missing signature, or curing 
any other defect than the State is required to 
provide under this subsection. 
‘‘(c) METHODS AND TIMING FOR TRANSMISSION OF 
BALLOTS AND BALLOTING MATERIALS TO VOTERS.— 
‘‘(1) METHODS FOR REQUESTING BALLOT.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In addition to such 
other methods as the State may establish for an 
individual to request an absentee ballot, the 
State shall permit an individual— 
‘‘(i) to submit a request for an absen-
tee ballot online; and 
‘‘(ii) to submit a request for an absen-
tee ballot through the use of an automated 
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telephone-based system, subject to the 
same terms and conditions applicable 
under this paragraph to the services made 
available online. 
‘‘(B) TREATMENT
OF
WEBSITES.—The 
State shall be considered to meet the require-
ments of subparagraph (A)(i) if the website of 
the appropriate State or local election official 
allows an absentee ballot request application to 
be completed and submitted online and if the 
website permits the individual— 
‘‘(i) to print the application so that 
the individual may complete the application 
and return it to the official; or 
‘‘(ii) request that a paper copy of the 
application be transmitted to the individual 
by mail or electronic mail so that the indi-
vidual may complete the application and 
return it to the official. 
‘‘(2) ENSURING
DELIVERY
PRIOR
TO
ELEC-
TION.—If an individual requests to vote by absentee 
ballot in an election for Federal office, the appro-
priate State or local election official shall ensure 
that the ballot and relating voting materials are re-
ceived by the individual prior to the date of the elec-
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tion so long as the individual’s request is received by 
the official not later than 5 days (excluding Satur-
days, Sundays, and legal public holidays) before the 
date of the election, except that nothing in this para-
graph shall preclude a State or local jurisdiction 
from allowing for the acceptance and processing of 
ballot requests submitted or received after such re-
quired period. 
‘‘(d) ACCESSIBILITY FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DIS-
ABILITIES.—The State shall ensure that all absentee bal-
lot applications, absentee ballots, and related voting mate-
rials in elections for Federal office are accessible to indi-
viduals with disabilities in a manner that provides the 
same opportunity for access and participation (including 
with privacy and independence) as for other voters. 
‘‘(e) UNIFORM DEADLINE
FOR ACCEPTANCE
OF 
MAILED BALLOTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A State may not refuse to 
accept or process a ballot submitted by an individual 
by mail with respect to an election for Federal office 
in the State on the grounds that the individual did 
not meet a deadline for returning the ballot to the 
appropriate State or local election official if— 
‘‘(A) the ballot is postmarked, signed, or 
otherwise indicated by the United States Postal 
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Service to have been mailed on or before the 
date of the election; and 
‘‘(B) the ballot is received by the appro-
priate election official prior to the expiration of 
the 10-day period which begins on the date of 
the election. 
‘‘(2) RULE
OF
CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in 
this subsection shall be construed to prohibit a State 
from having a law that allows for counting of ballots 
in an election for Federal office that are received 
through the mail after the date that is 10 days after 
the date of the election. 
‘‘(f) ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF RETURNING BAL-
LOTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In addition to permitting 
an individual to whom a ballot in an election was 
provided under this section to return the ballot to an 
election official by mail, the State shall permit the 
individual to cast the ballot by delivering the ballot 
at such times and to such locations as the State may 
establish, including— 
‘‘(A) permitting the individual to deliver 
the ballot to a polling place on any date on 
which voting in the election is held at the poll-
ing place; and 
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‘‘(B) permitting the individual to deliver 
the ballot to a designated ballot drop-off loca-
tion, a tribally designated building, or the office 
of a State or local election official. 
‘‘(2) PERMITTING
VOTERS
TO
DESIGNATE 
OTHER PERSON TO RETURN BALLOT.—The State— 
‘‘(A) shall permit a voter to designate any 
person to return a voted and sealed absentee 
ballot to the post office, a ballot drop-off loca-
tion, tribally designated building, or election of-
fice so long as the person designated to return 
the ballot does not receive any form of com-
pensation based on the number of ballots that 
the person has returned and no individual, 
group, or organization provides compensation 
on this basis; and 
‘‘(B) may not put any limit on how many 
voted and sealed absentee ballots any des-
ignated person can return to the post office, a 
ballot drop off location, tribally designated 
building, or election office. 
‘‘(g) BALLOT PROCESSING AND SCANNING REQUIRE-
MENTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The State shall begin proc-
essing and scanning ballots cast by mail for tabula-
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184 
tion at least 14 days prior to the date of the election 
involved. 
‘‘(2) LIMITATION.—Nothing in this subsection 
shall be construed to permit a State to tabulate bal-
lots in an election before the closing of the polls on 
the date of the election. 
‘‘(h) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion shall be construed to affect the authority of States 
to conduct elections for Federal office through the use of 
polling places at which individuals cast ballots. 
‘‘(i) NO EFFECT ON BALLOTS SUBMITTED BY AB-
SENT MILITARY AND OVERSEAS VOTERS.—Nothing in 
this section may be construed to affect the treatment of 
any ballot submitted by an individual who is entitled to 
vote by absentee ballot under the Uniformed and Overseas 
Citizens Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20301 et seq.). 
‘‘(j) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall apply 
with respect to the regularly scheduled general election for 
Federal office held in November 2022 and each succeeding 
election for Federal office.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
of such Act, as amended by section 1031(c), section 
1101(d), and section 1611(c), is amended— 
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(1) by redesignating the items relating to sec-
tions 307 and 308 as relating to sections 308 and 
309; and 
(2) by inserting after the item relating to sec-
tion 306 the following new item: 
‘‘Sec. 307. Promoting ability of voters to vote by mail.’’. 
(c) DEVELOPMENT OF ALTERNATIVE VERIFICATION 
METHODS.— 
(1) DEVELOPMENT OF STANDARDS.—The Na-
tional Institute of Standards, in consultation with 
the Election Assistance Commission, shall develop 
standards for the use of alternative methods which 
could be used in place of signature verification re-
quirements for purposes of verifying the identifica-
tion of an individual voting by absentee ballot in 
elections for Federal office. 
(2) PUBLIC NOTICE AND COMMENT.—The Na-
tional Institute of Standards shall solicit comments 
from the public in the development of standards 
under paragraph (1). 
(3) DEADLINE.—Not later than one year after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the National 
Institute of Standards shall publish the standards 
developed under paragraph (1). 
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186 
SEC. 1622. ABSENTEE BALLOT TRACKING PROGRAM. 
(a) REQUIREMENTS.—Subtitle A of title III of the 
Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.), 
as amended by section 1031(a), section 1101(a), section 
1611(a), and section 1621(a), is amended— 
(1) by redesignating sections 308 and 309 as 
sections 309 and 310; and 
(2) by inserting after section 307 the following 
new section: 
‘‘SEC. 308. ABSENTEE BALLOT TRACKING PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) REQUIREMENT.—Each State shall carry out a 
program to track and confirm the receipt of absentee bal-
lots in an election for Federal office under which the State 
or local election official responsible for the receipt of voted 
absentee ballots in the election carries out procedures to 
track and confirm the receipt of such ballots, and makes 
information on the receipt of such ballots available to the 
individual who cast the ballot, by means of online access 
using the Internet site of the official’s office. 
‘‘(b) INFORMATION
ON
WHETHER
VOTE
WAS 
COUNTED.—The information referred to under subsection 
(a) with respect to the receipt of an absentee ballot shall 
include information regarding whether the vote cast on the 
ballot was counted, and, in the case of a vote which was 
not counted, the reasons therefor. 
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‘‘(c) USE OF TOLL-FREE TELEPHONE NUMBER BY 
OFFICIALS WITHOUT INTERNET SITE.—A program estab-
lished by a State or local election official whose office does 
not have an Internet site may meet the requirements of 
subsection (a) if the official has established a toll-free tele-
phone number that may be used by an individual who cast 
an absentee ballot to obtain the information on the receipt 
of the voted absentee ballot as provided under such sub-
section. 
‘‘(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall apply 
with respect to the regularly scheduled general election for 
Federal office held in November 2022 and each succeeding 
election for Federal office.’’. 
(b) REIMBURSEMENT
FOR COSTS INCURRED
BY 
STATES IN ESTABLISHING PROGRAM.—Subtitle D of title 
II of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 
15401 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new part: 
‘‘PART 7—PAYMENTS TO REIMBURSE STATES 
FOR COSTS INCURRED IN ESTABLISHING 
PROGRAM TO TRACK AND CONFIRM RE-
CEIPT OF ABSENTEE BALLOTS 
‘‘SEC. 297. PAYMENTS TO STATES. 
‘‘(a) PAYMENTS FOR COSTS OF PROGRAM.—In ac-
cordance with this section, the Commission shall make a 
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payment to a State to reimburse the State for the costs 
incurred in establishing the absentee ballot tracking pro-
gram under section 308 (including costs incurred prior to 
the date of the enactment of this part). 
‘‘(b) CERTIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE AND COSTS.— 
‘‘(1) CERTIFICATION REQUIRED.—In order to 
receive a payment under this section, a State shall 
submit to the Commission a statement containing— 
‘‘(A) a certification that the State has es-
tablished an absentee ballot tracking program 
with respect to elections for Federal office held 
in the State; and 
‘‘(B) a statement of the costs incurred by 
the State in establishing the program. 
‘‘(2) AMOUNT OF PAYMENT.—The amount of a 
payment made to a State under this section shall be 
equal to the costs incurred by the State in estab-
lishing the absentee ballot tracking program, as set 
forth in the statement submitted under paragraph 
(1), except that such amount may not exceed the 
product of— 
‘‘(A) the number of jurisdictions in the 
State which are responsible for operating the 
program; and 
‘‘(B) $3,000. 
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189 
‘‘(3) LIMIT
ON
NUMBER
OF
PAYMENTS
RE-
CEIVED.—A State may not receive more than one 
payment under this part. 
‘‘SEC. 297A. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
‘‘(a) AUTHORIZATION.—There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Commission for fiscal year 2022 and 
each succeeding fiscal year such sums as may be necessary 
for payments under this part. 
‘‘(b) CONTINUING AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—Any 
amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization under 
this section shall remain available until expended.’’. 
(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.—The table of contents 
of such Act, as amended by section 1031(c), section 
1101(d), section 1611(c), and section 1621(b), is amend-
ed— 
(1) by adding at the end of the items relating 
to subtitle D of title II the following: 
‘‘PART 7—PAYMENTS TO REIMBURSE STATES FOR COSTS INCURRED IN ES-
TABLISHING PROGRAM TO TRACK AND CONFIRM RECEIPT OF ABSENTEE 
BALLOTS 
‘‘Sec. 297. Payments to States. 
‘‘Sec. 297A. Authorization of appropriations.’’; 
(2) by redesignating the items relating to sec-
tions 308 and 309 as relating to sections 309 and 
310; and 
(3) by inserting after the item relating to sec-
tion 307 the following new item: 
‘‘Sec. 308. Absentee ballot tracking program.’’. 
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SEC. 1623. VOTING MATERIALS POSTAGE. 
(a) PREPAYMENT OF POSTAGE ON RETURN ENVE-
LOPES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subtitle A of title III of the 
Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081 
et seq.), as amended by section 1031(a), section 
1101(a), section 1611(a), section 1621(a), and sec-
tion 1622(a), is amended— 
(A) by redesignating sections 309 and 310 
as sections 310 and 311; and 
(B) by inserting after section 308 the fol-
lowing new section: 
‘‘SEC. 309. PREPAYMENT OF POSTAGE ON RETURN ENVE-
LOPES FOR VOTING MATERIALS. 
‘‘(a) PROVISION OF RETURN ENVELOPES.—The ap-
propriate State or local election official shall provide a 
self-sealing return envelope with— 
‘‘(1) any voter registration application form 
transmitted to a registrant by mail; 
‘‘(2) any application for an absentee ballot 
transmitted to an applicant by mail; and 
‘‘(3) any blank absentee ballot transmitted to a 
voter by mail. 
‘‘(b) PREPAYMENT OF POSTAGE.—Consistent with 
regulations of the United States Postal Service, the State 
or the unit of local government responsible for the admin-
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istration of the election involved shall prepay the postage 
on any envelope provided under subsection (a). 
‘‘(c) NO EFFECT ON BALLOTS OR BALLOTING MATE-
RIALS TRANSMITTED TO ABSENT MILITARY AND OVER-
SEAS VOTERS.—Nothing in this section may be construed 
to affect the treatment of any ballot or balloting materials 
transmitted to an individual who is entitled to vote by ab-
sentee ballot under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens 
Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20301 et seq.). 
‘‘(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take ef-
fect on the date that is 90 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this section, except that— 
‘‘(1) State and local jurisdictions shall make ar-
rangements with the United States Postal Service to 
pay for all postage costs that such jurisdictions 
would be required to pay under this section if this 
section took effect on the date of enactment; and 
‘‘(2) States shall take all reasonable efforts to 
provide self-sealing return envelopes as provided in 
this section.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of con-
tents of such Act, as amended by section 1031(c), 
section 1101(d), section 1611(c), and section 
1621(b), is amended— 
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(A) by redesignating the items relating to 
sections 309 and 310 as relating to sections 
310 and 311; and 
(B) by inserting after the item relating to 
section 308 the following new item: 
‘‘Sec. 309. Prepayment of postage on return envelopes for voting materials.’’. 
(b) ROLE OF UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Chapter 34 of title 39, 
United States Code, is amended by adding after sec-
tion 3406 the following: 
‘‘§ 3407. Voting materials 
‘‘(a) Any voter registration application, absentee bal-
lot application, or absentee ballot with respect to any elec-
tion for Federal office shall be carried in accordance with 
the service standards established for first-class mail, re-
gardless of the class of postage prepaid. 
‘‘(b) As used in this section— 
‘‘(1) the term ‘absentee ballot’ means any ballot 
transmitted by a voter by mail in an election for 
Federal office, but does not include any ballot cov-
ered by section 3406; and 
‘‘(2) the term ‘election for Federal office’ means 
a general, special, primary, or runoff election for the 
office of President or Vice President, or of Senator 
or Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Com-
missioner to, the Congress. 
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‘‘(c) Nothing in this section may be construed to af-
fect the treatment of any ballot or balloting materials 
transmitted to an individual who is entitled to vote by ab-
sentee ballot under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens 
Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20301 et seq.).’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions for chapter 34 of such title is amended by in-
serting after the item relating to section 3406 the 
following: 
‘‘3407. Voting materials.’’. 
Subtitle 
J—Absent 
Uniformed 
Services Voters and Overseas 
Voters 
SEC. 1701. PRE-ELECTION REPORTS ON AVAILABILITY AND 
TRANSMISSION OF ABSENTEE BALLOTS. 
Section 102(c) of the Uniformed and Overseas Citi-
zens Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20302(c)) is amend-
ed to read as follows: 
‘‘(c) REPORTS
ON AVAILABILITY, TRANSMISSION, 
AND RECEIPT OF ABSENTEE BALLOTS.— 
‘‘(1) PRE-ELECTION
REPORT
ON
ABSENTEE 
BALLOT AVAILABILITY.—Not later than 55 days be-
fore any regularly scheduled general election for 
Federal office, each State shall submit a report to 
the Attorney General, the Election Assistance Com-
mission (hereafter in this subsection referred to as 
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the ‘Commission’), and the Presidential Designee, 
and make that report publicly available that same 
day, certifying that absentee ballots for the election 
are or will be available for transmission to absent 
uniformed services voters and overseas voters by not 
later than 45 days before the election. The report 
shall be in a form prescribed jointly by the Attorney 
General and the Commission and shall require the 
State to certify specific information about ballot 
availability from each unit of local government which 
will administer the election. 
‘‘(2) PRE-ELECTION
REPORT
ON
ABSENTEE 
BALLOT TRANSMISSION.—Not later than 43 days be-
fore any regularly scheduled general election for 
Federal office, each State shall submit a report to 
the Attorney General, the Commission, and the 
Presidential Designee, and make that report publicly 
available that same day, certifying whether all ab-
sentee ballots have been transmitted by not later 
than 45 days before the election to all qualified ab-
sent uniformed services and overseas voters whose 
requests were received at least 45 days before the 
election. The report shall be in a form prescribed 
jointly by the Attorney General and the Commission, 
and shall require the State to certify specific infor-
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satisfaction of any allegation of an action or omis-
sion by the person which would be subject to a civil 
penalty or administrative penalty shall assess on 
such person an amount equal to 4.75 percent of the 
amount of the settlement. 
‘‘(b) MANNER
OF COLLECTION.—An amount as-
sessed under subsection (a) shall be collected— 
‘‘(1) in the case of an amount assessed under 
paragraph (1) of such subsection, in the manner in 
which civil penalties are collected by the entity of the 
Federal Government involved; 
‘‘(2) in the case of an amount assessed under 
paragraph (2) of such subsection, in the manner in 
which administrative penalties are collected by the 
entity of the Federal Government involved; and 
‘‘(3) in the case of an amount assessed under 
paragraph (3) of such subsection, in the manner in 
which amounts are collected pursuant to settlement 
agreements or consent decrees entered into by the 
entity of the Federal Government involved. 
‘‘(c) TRANSFERS.—In a manner consistent with sec-
tion 3302(b) of this title, there shall be transferred from 
the General Fund of the Treasury to the Freedom From 
Influence Fund under section 541 of the Federal Election 
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