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used as a polling place on a date other than the date of 
the election) shall permit the individual to— 
(1) update the individual’s address for purposes 
of the records of the election official; 
(2) correct any incorrect information relating to 
the individual, including the individual’s name and 
political party affiliation, in the records of the elec-
tion official; and 
(3) cast a ballot in the election on the basis of 
the updated address or corrected information, and to 
have the ballot treated as a regular ballot and not 
as a provisional ballot under section 302(a) of such 
Act. 
(b) UPDATES TO COMPUTERIZED STATEWIDE VOTER 
REGISTRATION LISTS.—If an election official at the poll-
ing place receives an updated address or corrected infor-
mation from an individual under subsection (a), the offi-
cial shall ensure that the address or information is 
promptly entered into the computerized Statewide voter 
registration 
list 
in 
accordance 
with 
section 
303(a)(1)(A)(vi) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 
(52 U.S.C. 21083(a)(1)(A)(vi)). 
SEC. 1017. PAYMENTS AND GRANTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Election Assistance Commis-
sion shall make grants to each eligible State to assist the 
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State in implementing the requirements of this part (or, 
in the case of an exempt State, in implementing its exist-
ing automatic voter registration program). 
(b) ELIGIBILITY; APPLICATION.—A State is eligible 
to receive a grant under this section if the State submits 
to the Commission, at such time and in such form as the 
Commission may require, an application containing— 
(1) a description of the activities the State will 
carry out with the grant; 
(2) an assurance that the State shall carry out 
such activities without partisan bias and without 
promoting any particular point of view regarding 
any issue; and 
(3) such other information and assurances as 
the Commission may require. 
(c) AMOUNT OF GRANT; PRIORITIES.—The Commis-
sion shall determine the amount of a grant made to an 
eligible State under this section. In determining the 
amounts of the grants, the Commission shall give priority 
to providing funds for those activities which are most like-
ly to accelerate compliance with the requirements of this 
part (or, in the case of an exempt State, which are most 
likely to enhance the ability of the State to automatically 
register individuals to vote through its existing automatic 
voter registration program), including— 
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(1) investments supporting electronic informa-
tion transfer, including electronic collection and 
transfer of signatures, between contributing agencies 
and the appropriate State election officials; 
(2) updates to online or electronic voter reg-
istration systems already operating as of the date of 
the enactment of this Act; 
(3) introduction of online voter registration sys-
tems in jurisdictions in which those systems did not 
previously exist; and 
(4) public education on the availability of new 
methods of registering to vote, updating registration, 
and correcting registration. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 
(1) AUTHORIZATION.—There are authorized to 
be appropriated to carry out this section— 
(A) $500,000,000 for fiscal year 2019; and 
(B) such sums as may be necessary for 
each succeeding fiscal year. 
(2) CONTINUING
AVAILABILITY
OF
FUNDS.— 
Any amounts appropriated pursuant to the authority 
of this subsection shall remain available without fis-
cal year limitation until expended. 
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SEC. 1018. TREATMENT OF EXEMPT STATES. 
(a) WAIVER OF REQUIREMENTS.—Except as pro-
vided in subsection (b), this part does not apply with re-
spect to an exempt State. 
(b) EXCEPTIONS.—The following provisions of this 
part apply with respect to an exempt State: 
(1) section 1016 (relating to registration port-
ability and correction). 
(2) section 1017 (relating to payments and 
grants). 
(3) Section 1019(e) (relating to enforcement). 
(4) Section 1019(f) (relating to relation to 
other laws). 
SEC. 1019. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS. 
(a) ACCESSIBILITY OF REGISTRATION SERVICES.— 
Each contributing agency shall ensure that the services 
it provides under this part are made available to individ-
uals with disabilities to the same extent as services are 
made available to all other individuals. 
(b) TRANSMISSION THROUGH SECURE THIRD PARTY 
PERMITTED.—Nothing in this part shall be construed to 
prevent a contributing agency from contracting with a 
third party to assist the agency in meeting the information 
transmittal requirements of this part, so long as the data 
transmittal complies with the applicable requirements of 
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this part, including the privacy and security provisions of 
section 1015. 
(c) NONPARTISAN, NONDISCRIMINATORY PROVISION 
OF SERVICES.—The services made available by contrib-
uting agencies under this part and by the State under sec-
tions 1015 and 1016 shall be made in a manner consistent 
with paragraphs (4), (5), and (6)(C) of section 7(a) of 
the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 
20506(a)). 
(d) NOTICES.—Each State may send notices under 
this part via electronic mail if the individual has provided 
an electronic mail address and consented to electronic mail 
communications for election-related materials. All notices 
sent pursuant to this part that require a response must 
offer the individual notified the opportunity to respond at 
no cost to the individual. 
(e) ENFORCEMENT.—Section 11 of the National 
Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20510), relat-
ing to civil enforcement and the availability of private 
rights of action, shall apply with respect to this part in 
the same manner as such section applies to such Act. 
(f) RELATION TO OTHER LAWS.—Except as pro-
vided, nothing in this part may be construed to authorize 
or require conduct prohibited under, or to supersede, re-
strict, or limit the application of any of the following: 
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(1) The Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 
10301 et seq.). 
(2) The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Ab-
sentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20301 et seq.). 
(3) The National Voter Registration Act of 
1993 (52 U.S.C. 20501 et seq.). 
(4) The Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 
U.S.C. 20901 et seq.). 
SEC. 1020. DEFINITIONS. 
In this part, the following definitions apply: 
(1) The term ‘‘chief State election official’’ 
means, with respect to a State, the individual des-
ignated by the State under section 10 of the Na-
tional Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 
20509) to be responsible for coordination of the 
State’s responsibilities under such Act. 
(2) The term ‘‘Commission’’ means the Election 
Assistance Commission. 
(3) The term ‘‘exempt State’’ means a State 
which, under law which is in effect continuously on 
and after the date of the enactment of this Act, op-
erates an automatic voter registration program 
under which an individual is automatically registered 
to vote in elections for Federal office in the State if 
the individual provides the motor vehicle authority of 
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the State (or, in the case of a State in which an in-
dividual is automatically registered to vote at the 
time the individual applies for benefits or services 
with a Permanent Dividend Fund of the State, pro-
vides the appropriate official of such Fund) with 
such identifying information as the State may re-
quire. 
(4) The term ‘‘State’’ means each of the several 
States and the District of Columbia. 
SEC. 1021. EFFECTIVE DATE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection 
(b), this part and the amendments made by this part shall 
apply with respect to a State beginning January 1, 2021. 
(b) WAIVER.—Subject to the approval of the Com-
mission, if a State certifies to the Commission that the 
State will not meet the deadline referred to in subsection 
(a) because of extraordinary circumstances and includes 
in the certification the reasons for the failure to meet the 
deadline, subsection (a) shall apply to the State as if the 
reference in such subsection to ‘‘January 1, 2021’’ were 
a reference to ‘‘January 1, 2023’’. 
PART 3—SAME DAY VOTER REGISTRATION 
SEC. 1031. SAME DAY REGISTRATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Title III of the Help America 
Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.) is amended— 
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(1) by redesignating sections 304 and 305 as 
sections 305 and 306; and 
(2) by inserting after section 303 the following 
new section: 
‘‘SEC. 304. SAME DAY REGISTRATION. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.— 
‘‘(1) REGISTRATION.—Each State shall permit 
any eligible individual on the day of a Federal elec-
tion and on any day when voting, including early 
voting, is permitted for a Federal election— 
‘‘(A) to register to vote in such election at 
the polling place using a form that meets the 
requirements under section 9(b) of the National 
Voter Registration Act of 1993 (or, if the indi-
vidual is already registered to vote, to revise 
any of the individual’s voter registration infor-
mation); and 
‘‘(B) to cast a vote in such election. 
‘‘(2) EXCEPTION.—The requirements under 
paragraph (1) shall not apply to a State in which, 
under a State law in effect continuously on and after 
the date of the enactment of this section, there is no 
voter registration requirement for individuals in the 
State with respect to elections for Federal office. 
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‘‘(b) ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUAL.—For purposes of this 
section, the term ‘eligible individual’ means, with respect 
to any election for Federal office, an individual who is oth-
erwise qualified to vote in that election. 
‘‘(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Each State shall be re-
quired to comply with the requirements of subsection (a) 
for the regularly scheduled general election for Federal of-
fice occurring in November 2020 and for any subsequent 
election for Federal office.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT RELATING TO EN-
FORCEMENT.—Section 401 of such Act (52 U.S.C. 21111) 
is amended by striking ‘‘sections 301, 302, and 303’’ and 
inserting ‘‘subtitle A of title III’’. 
(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
of such Act is amended— 
(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.’’. 
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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 
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 
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‘‘(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 
(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’’. 
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(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-
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. 
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(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, 
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-
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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 2020 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 
should update the individual’s voter registration as a re-
sult of any change in address. 
(b) APPLICATION.—The requirement in subsection 
(a) shall not apply to any electronic version of a change 
of address form used by the United States Postal Service. 
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SEC. 1054. GRANTS TO STATES FOR ACTIVITIES TO EN-
COURAGE 
INVOLVEMENT 
OF 
MINORS 
IN 
ELECTION ACTIVITIES. 
(a) GRANTS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Election Assistance 
Commission (hereafter in this section referred to as 
the ‘‘Commission’’) shall make grants to eligible 
States to enable such States to carry out a plan to 
increase the involvement of individuals under 18 
years of age in public election activities in the State. 
(2) CONTENTS
OF
PLANS.—A State’s plan 
under this subsection shall include— 
(A) methods to promote the use of the pre- 
registration process implemented under section 
8A of the National Voter Registration Act of 
1993 (as added by section 2(a)); 
(B) modifications to the curriculum of sec-
ondary schools in the State to promote civic en-
gagement; and 
(C) such other activities to encourage the 
involvement of young people in the electoral 
process as the State considers appropriate. 
(b) ELIGIBILITY.—A State is eligible to receive a 
grant under this section if the State submits to the Com-
mission, at such time and in such form as the Commission 
may require, an application containing— 
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(1) a description of the State’s plan under sub-
section (a); 
(2) a description of the performance measures 
and targets the State will use to determine its suc-
cess in carrying out the plan; and 
(3) such other information and assurances as 
the Commission may require. 
(c) PERIOD OF GRANT; REPORT.— 
(1) PERIOD OF GRANT.—A State receiving a 
grant under this section shall use the funds provided 
by the grant over a 2-year period agreed to between 
the State and the Commission. 
(2) REPORT.—Not later than 6 months after 
the end of the 2-year period agreed to under para-
graph (1), the State shall submit to the Commission 
a report on the activities the State carried out with 
the funds provided by the grant, and shall include 
in the report an analysis of the extent to which the 
State met the performance measures and targets 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. 
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(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 2019, including the 
requirements of the National Voter Registration Act 
of 1993 which are imposed pursuant to the amend-
ments made to such Act by the Voter Registration 
Modernization Act of 2019.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 254(a)(1) 
of such Act (52 U.S.C. 21004(a)(1)) is amended by strik-
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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 2018 
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. 
‘‘(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. 
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‘‘(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. 
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-
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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-
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.’’. 
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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-
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-
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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 2019 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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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) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsection (k), as redesig-
nated by section 1004, as subsection (l); and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (j), as inserted 
by such section 1004, the following 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, 2020. 
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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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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‘‘(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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‘‘(i) The State’s primary election date 
prohibits the State from complying with 
subsection (a)(5)(A). 
‘‘(ii) The State has suffered a delay in 
generating ballots due to a legal contest. 
‘‘(iii) The State Constitution prohibits 
the State from complying with such sub-
section. 
‘‘(3) TIMING OF WAIVER.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Except as provided 
under subparagraph (B), a State that requests 
a waiver under paragraph (1) shall submit to 
the Attorney General the written waiver request 
not later than 90 days before the election for 
Federal office with respect to which the request 
is submitted. The Attorney General shall ap-
prove or deny the waiver request not later than 
65 days before such election. 
‘‘(B) EXCEPTION.—If a State requests a 
waiver under paragraph (1) as the result of an 
undue 
hardship 
described 
in 
paragraph 
(2)(B)(ii), the State shall submit to the Attor-
ney General the written waiver request as soon 
as practicable. The Attorney General shall ap-
prove or deny the waiver request not later than 
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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, 2020.’’. 
(b) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENT
RELATING
TO 
ISSUANCE OF VOLUNTARY GUIDANCE BY ELECTION AS-
SISTANCE COMMISSION.—Section 311(b) of such Act (52 
U.S.C. 21101(b)) is amended— 
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(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of paragraph 
(2); 
(2) by striking the period at the end of para-
graph (3) and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(4) in the case of the recommendations with 
respect to section 305, January 1, 2020.’’. 
(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
of such Act, as amended by section 1031(c), is amended— 
(1) by redesignating the items relating to sec-
tions 305 and 306 as relating to sections 306 and 
307; and 
(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.’’. 
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 
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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 
‘‘(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 2020 and each succeeding 
fiscal year, such sums as may be necessary to carry 
out this part.’’. 
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(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 2020 or any succeeding fiscal year, any 
portion of such amounts which have not been obli-
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 
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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).’’. 
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 
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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-
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 2020, or, at the option of a State, with respect to other 
elections for public office held in the State in 2020. 
(e) STATE DEFINED.—In this section, the term 
‘‘State’’ includes the District of Columbia, the Common-
wealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the 
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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 
(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— 
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(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 
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. 
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(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 
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; 
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(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— 
‘‘(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, 
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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. 
‘‘(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; 
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‘‘(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.— 
‘‘(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 
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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 
‘‘(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-
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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.’’. 
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-
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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: 
‘‘(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 2019’’. 
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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, 
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 
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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— 
‘‘(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-
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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 
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 
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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.’’. 
(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) Whenever any person’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(2) 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 appli-
cation in a United States district court for a perma-
nent or temporary injunction, restraining order, or 
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other order. In any such action, the court, in its dis-
cretion, may allow the prevailing party a reasonable 
attorney’s fee as part of the costs.’’. 
(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(A) Subsection (e) of section 2004 of the 
Revised Statutes (52 U.S.C. 10101(e)) is 
amended by striking ‘‘subsection (c)’’ and in-
serting ‘‘subsection (c)(1)’’. 
(B) Subsection (g) of section 2004 of the 
Revised Statutes (52 U.S.C. 10101(g)) is 
amended by striking ‘‘subsection (c)’’ and in-
serting ‘‘subsection (c)(1)’’. 
(c) CRIMINAL PENALTIES.— 
(1) DECEPTIVE ACTS.—Section 594 of title 18, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘Whoever’’ and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(a) INTIMIDATION.—Whoever’’; 
(B) in subsection (a), as inserted by 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.— 
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‘‘(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 
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 
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‘‘(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. 
‘‘(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) 
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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, Member of the Senate, 
Member of the House of Representatives, or Delegate or 
Commissioner from a Territory or possession.’’. 
(2) MODIFICATION OF PENALTY FOR VOTER IN-
TIMIDATION.—Section 594(a) of title 18, United 
States Code, as amended by paragraph (1), is 
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 
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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 
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 
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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— 
(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. 
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(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. 
(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-
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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— 
(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); 
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(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 
3(c), in connection with the receipt of an allega-
tion described in subparagraph (A) by the At-
torney 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 
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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-
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 2019’’. 
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SEC. 1402. 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. 1403. 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. 
(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 
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‘‘(2) DUE PROCESS REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(A) NOTICE AND OPPORTUNITY TO CURE 
DISCREPANCY.—If an individual submits an ab-
sentee ballot and the appropriate State or local 
election official determines that a discrepancy 
exists between the signature on such ballot and 
the signature of such individual on the official 
list of registered voters in the State, such elec-
tion official, prior to making a final determina-
tion as to the validity of such ballot, shall make 
a good faith effort to immediately notify such 
individual by mail, telephone, and (if available) 
electronic mail that— 
‘‘(i) a discrepancy exists between the 
signature on such ballot and the signature 
of such individual on the official list of reg-
istered voters in the State; 
‘‘(ii) such individual may provide the 
official with information to cure such dis-
crepancy, either in person, by telephone, or 
by electronic methods; and 
‘‘(iii) if such discrepancy is not cured 
prior to the expiration of the 7-day period 
which begins on the date of the election, 
such ballot will not be counted. 
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(1) IN
GENERAL.—The amount of a grant 
made to a State under this section shall be equal to 
the product of— 
(A) the aggregate amount made available 
for grants to States under this section; and 
(B) the voting age population percentage 
for the State. 
(2) VOTING AGE POPULATION PERCENTAGE DE-
FINED.—In paragraph (1), the ‘‘voting age popu-
lation percentage’’ for a State is the quotient of— 
(A) the voting age population of the State 
(as determined on the basis of the most recent 
information available from the Bureau of the 
Census); and 
(B) the total voting age population of all 
States (as determined on the basis of the most 
recent information available from the Bureau of 
the Census). 
(d) REPORTS TO CONGRESS.— 
(1) REPORTS BY RECIPIENTS OF GRANTS.—Not 
later than 6 months after the date on which the 
final grant is made under this section, each recipient 
of a grant shall submit a report to the Commission 
on the activities conducted with the funds provided 
by the grant. 
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