159 
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. 
‘‘(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. 605. 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. 
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(b) REPORT.—Not later than January 1, 2025, the 
Election Assistance Commission shall submit to Congress 
a report on the study conducted under subsection (a). 
SEC. 606. PAPER BALLOT PRINTING REQUIREMENTS. 
Section 301(a) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 
(52 U.S.C. 21081(a)), as amended by section 604, is fur-
ther amended by adding at the end the following new para-
graph: 
‘‘(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. 607. EFFECTIVE DATE FOR NEW REQUIREMENTS. 
Section 301(d) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 
(52 U.S.C. 21081(d)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 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 
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and jurisdiction pursuant to the amendments 
made by the Voter Confidence and Increased 
Accessibility Act of 2024 shall apply with re-
spect to voting systems used for any election for 
Federal office held in 2026 or any succeeding 
year. 
‘‘(B) DELAY
FOR
JURISDICTIONS
USING 
CERTAIN PAPER RECORD PRINTERS OR CERTAIN 
SYSTEMS
USING
OR
PRODUCING
VOTER- 
VERIFIABLE PAPER RECORDS IN 2024.— 
‘‘(i) DELAY.—In the case of a 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 ‘2026’ were a reference to 
‘2028’, 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)(iii)(I) 
and (II) of subsection (a) (relating to 
access to verification from and casting 
of the durable paper ballot). 
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‘‘(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-
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 2024; and 
‘‘(II) which will continue to use 
such printers or systems for the ad-
ministration of elections for Federal 
office held in years before 2028. 
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‘‘(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 
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 
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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 
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 
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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-
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 2026 or any 
succeeding year’ were a reference to ‘elections 
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166 
for Federal office occurring held in 2028 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).’’. 
TITLE VII—PROVISIONAL 
BALLOTS 
SEC. 701. REQUIREMENTS FOR COUNTING PROVISIONAL 
BALLOTS; ESTABLISHMENT OF UNIFORM AND 
NONDISCRIMINATORY STANDARDS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 302 of the Help America 
Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21082) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsection (d) as 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 of the jurisdiction in 
which the individual is registered shall count each 
vote on such ballot for each election in which the in-
dividual who cast such ballot is eligible to vote. 
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‘‘(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This subsection shall 
apply with respect to elections held on or after Janu-
ary 1, 2025. 
‘‘(e) UNIFORM
AND NONDISCRIMINATORY STAND-
ARDS.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Consistent with the re-
quirements of this section, each State shall establish 
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, 2025.’’. 
(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’’. 
TITLE VIII—EARLY VOTING 
SEC. 801. EARLY VOTING. 
(a) REQUIREMENTS.—Subtitle A of title III of the 
Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.), 
as amended by section 131(a), section 201(a), section 
202(a), section 203(a)(1), and section 204(a), is amend-
ed— 
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(1) by redesignating sections 309 and 310 as 
sections 310 and 311, respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after section 308 the following 
new section: 
‘‘SEC. 309. EARLY VOTING. 
‘‘(a) REQUIRING VOTING PRIOR TO DATE OF ELEC-
TION.— 
‘‘(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; 
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‘‘(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.— 
‘‘(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-
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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 
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 in-person 
early voting for tabulation at least 14 days prior to 
the date of the election involved. 
‘‘(2) LIMITATION.—Nothing in this subsection 
shall be construed to permit a State to tabulate 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 2026 and each succeeding 
election for Federal office.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING
AMENDMENTS
RELATING
TO 
ISSUANCE OF VOLUNTARY GUIDANCE BY ELECTION AS-
SISTANCE COMMISSION.—Section 321(b) of such Act (52 
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171 
U.S.C. 21101(b)), as redesignated and amended by sec-
tion 201(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 
(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 Voter Empowerment Act of 2024, 
June 30, 2026.’’. 
(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.—The table of contents 
of such Act, as amended by section 131(c), section 201(d), 
section 202(c), section 203(a)(3), and section 204(c), is 
amended— 
(1) by redesignating the items relating to sec-
tions 309 and 310 as relating to sections 310 and 
311, respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after the item relating to sec-
tion 308 the following new item: 
‘‘Sec. 309. Early voting.’’. 
TITLE IX—VOTING BY MAIL 
SEC. 901. VOTING BY MAIL. 
(a) REQUIREMENTS.—Subtitle A of title III of the 
Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.), 
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as amended by section 131(a), section 201(a), section 
202(a), section 203(a)(1), section 204(a), and section 
801(a), is amended— 
(1) by redesignating sections 310 and 311 as 
sections 311 and 312, respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after section 309 the following 
new section: 
‘‘SEC. 310. PROMOTING ABILITY OF VOTERS TO VOTE BY 
MAIL. 
‘‘(a) UNIFORM AVAILABILITY OF ABSENTEE VOTING 
TO ALL VOTERS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—If an individual in a State 
is eligible to cast a vote in an election for Federal 
office, the State may not impose any additional 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 
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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-
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) 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; 
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178 
‘‘(ii) each official who makes the de-
termination has received training in proce-
dures used to verify signatures; and 
‘‘(iii) of the officials who make the de-
termination, at least one is affiliated with 
the political party whose candidate received 
the most votes in the most recent statewide 
election for Federal office held in the State 
and at least one is affiliated with the polit-
ical party whose candidate received the 
second most votes in the most recent state-
wide election for Federal office held in the 
State. 
‘‘(3) REPORT.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 120 
days after the end of a Federal election cycle, 
each chief State election official shall submit to 
the Commission a report containing the fol-
lowing information for the applicable Federal 
election cycle in the State: 
‘‘(i) The number of ballots invalidated 
due to a discrepancy under this subsection. 
‘‘(ii) Description of attempts to con-
tact voters to provide notice as required by 
this subsection. 
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‘‘(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) SUBMISSION
TO
CONGRESS.—Not 
later than 10 days after receiving a report 
under subparagraph (A), the Commission shall 
transmit such report to Congress. 
‘‘(C) FEDERAL
ELECTION
CYCLE
DE-
FINED.—For purposes of this subsection, the 
term ‘Federal election cycle’ means the period 
beginning on January 1 of any odd numbered 
year and ending on December 31 of the 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 
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any other defect than the State is required to 
provide under this subsection. 
‘‘(c) ONLINE APPLICATIONS FOR ABSENTEE BAL-
LOTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In addition to such other 
methods as the State may establish for an individual 
to apply for an absentee ballot, the State shall per-
mit an individual to submit an application for an ab-
sentee ballot online. 
‘‘(2) TREATMENT
OF
WEBSITES.—The State 
shall be considered to meet the requirements of 
paragraph (1) if the website of the appropriate State 
or local election official allows an application for an 
absentee ballot to be completed and submitted online 
and if the website permits the individual— 
‘‘(A) to print the application so that the 
individual may complete the application and re-
turn it to the official; or 
‘‘(B) to request that a paper copy of the 
application be transmitted to the individual by 
mail or electronic mail so that the individual 
may complete the application and return it to 
the official. 
‘‘(3) ENSURING
DELIVERY
PRIOR
TO
ELEC-
TION.—If an individual who is eligible to vote in an 
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election for Federal office submits an application for 
an absentee ballot in the election, the appropriate 
State or local election official shall ensure that the 
ballot and relating voting materials are received by 
the individual prior to the date of the election so 
long as the individual’s application is received by the 
official not later than 5 days (excluding Saturdays, 
Sundays, and legal public holidays) before the date 
of the election, except that nothing in this paragraph 
shall preclude a State or local jurisdiction from al-
lowing for the acceptance and processing of absentee 
ballot applications submitted or received after such 
required period. 
‘‘(4) 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. 
‘‘(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 
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same opportunity for access and participation (including 
with privacy and independence) as for other voters. 
‘‘(e) UNIFORM DEADLINE
FOR ACCEPTANCE
OF 
MAILED BALLOTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A State may not refuse to 
accept or process a ballot submitted by an individual 
by mail with respect to an election for Federal office 
in the State on the grounds that the individual did 
not meet a deadline for returning the ballot to the 
appropriate State or local election official if— 
‘‘(A) the ballot is postmarked or otherwise 
indicated by the United States Postal Service to 
have been mailed on or before the date of the 
election, or has been signed by the voter on or 
before the date of the election; and 
‘‘(B) the ballot is received by the 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. 
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‘‘(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 
‘‘(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-
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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-
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 
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this section may be construed to affect the treatment of 
any ballot submitted by an individual who is entitled to 
vote by absentee ballot under the Uniformed and Overseas 
Citizens Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20301 et seq.). 
‘‘(j) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall apply 
with respect to the regularly scheduled general election for 
Federal office held in November 2026 and each succeeding 
election for Federal office.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.—The table of contents 
of such Act, as amended by section 131(c), section 201(d), 
section 202(c), section 203(a)(3), section 204(c), and sec-
tion 801(c), is amended— 
(1) by redesignating the items relating to sec-
tions 310 and 311 as relating to sections 311 and 
312, respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after the item relating to sec-
tion 309 the following new item: 
‘‘Sec. 310. Promoting ability of voters to vote by mail.’’. 
(c) DEVELOPMENT OF ALTERNATIVE VERIFICATION 
METHODS.— 
(1) DEVELOPMENT OF STANDARDS.—The 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-
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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 6 months after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the National 
Institute of Standards shall publish the standards 
developed under paragraph (1). 
SEC. 902. ABSENTEE BALLOT TRACKING PROGRAM. 
(a) REQUIREMENTS.—Subtitle A of title III of the 
Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.), 
as amended by section 131(a), section 201(a), section 
202(a), section 203(a)(1), section 204(a), section 801(a), 
and section 901(a), is amended— 
(1) by redesignating sections 311 and 312 as 
sections 312 and 313, respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after section 310 the following 
new section: 
‘‘SEC. 311. ABSENTEE BALLOT TRACKING PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) REQUIREMENT.—Each State shall carry out a 
program to track and confirm the receipt of absentee bal-
lots in an election for Federal office under which the State 
or local election official responsible for the receipt of voted 
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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 AC-
CEPTED.—The information referred to under subsection 
(a) with respect to the receipt of an absentee ballot shall 
include information regarding whether the vote cast on the 
ballot was accepted, and, in the case of a vote which was 
rejected, the reasons therefor. 
‘‘(c) USE OF TOLL-FREE TELEPHONE NUMBER BY 
OFFICIALS WITHOUT INTERNET SITE.—A program 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 2026 and each succeeding 
election for Federal office.’’. 
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(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 
payment to a State to reimburse the State for the costs 
incurred in establishing the absentee ballot tracking pro-
gram under section 311 (including costs incurred prior to 
the date of the enactment of this part). 
‘‘(b) CERTIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE AND COSTS.— 
‘‘(1) CERTIFICATION REQUIRED.—In order to 
receive a payment under this section, a State shall 
submit to the Commission a statement containing— 
‘‘(A) a certification that the State has es-
tablished an absentee ballot tracking program 
with respect to elections for Federal office held 
in the State; and 
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‘‘(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. 
‘‘(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 2025 and 
each succeeding fiscal year such sums as may be necessary 
for payments under this part. 
‘‘(b) CONTINUING AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—Any 
amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization under 
this section shall remain available until expended.’’. 
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(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.—The table of contents 
of such Act, as amended by section 131(c), section 201(d), 
section 202(c), section 203(a)(3), section 204(c), section 
801(c), and section 901(b), is amended— 
(1) by adding at the end of the items relating 
to subtitle D of title II the following: 
‘‘PART 7—PAYMENTS TO REIMBURSE STATES FOR COSTS INCURRED IN 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 311 and 312 as relating to sections 312 and 
313, respectively; and 
(3) by inserting after the item relating to sec-
tion 310 the following new item: 
‘‘Sec. 311. Absentee ballot tracking program.’’. 
SEC. 903. ELECTION MAIL AND DELIVERY IMPROVEMENTS. 
(a) POSTMARK REQUIRED FOR BALLOTS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Chapter 34 of title 39, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘§ 3407. Postmark required for ballots 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—In the case of any absentee bal-
lot carried by the Postal Service, the Postal Service shall 
indicate on the ballot envelope, using a postmark or other-
wise— 
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‘‘(1) the fact that the ballot was carried by the 
Postal Service; and 
‘‘(2) the date on which the ballot was mailed. 
‘‘(b) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section— 
‘‘(1) the term ‘absentee ballot’ means any ballot 
transmitted by a voter by mail in an election for 
Federal office, but does not include any ballot 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.’’. 
(2) TECHNICAL
AND
CONFORMING
AMEND-
MENT.—The table of sections for chapter 34 of title 
39, United States Code, is amended by adding at 
the end the following: 
‘‘3407. Postmark required for ballots.’’. 
(3) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made 
by this subsection shall apply to absentee ballots re-
lating to an election for Federal office occurring on 
or after January 1, 2025. 
(b) GREATER VISIBILITY FOR BALLOTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subtitle A of title III of the 
Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081 
et seq.), as amended by section 131(a), section 
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201(a), section 202(a), section 203(a)(1), section 
204(a), section 801(a), section 901(a), and section 
902(a), is amended— 
(A) by redesignating sections 312 and 313 
as sections 313 and 314, respectively; and 
(B) by inserting after section 311 the fol-
lowing new section: 
‘‘SEC. 312. BALLOT VISIBILITY. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Each State or local election offi-
cial shall— 
‘‘(1) affix Tag 191, Domestic and International 
Mail-In Ballots (or any successor tag designated by 
the United States Postal Service), to any tray or 
sack of ballot mail relating to an election for Federal 
office that is destined for a domestic or international 
address; 
‘‘(2) use the Official Election Mail logo to des-
ignate mail pieces relating to an election for Federal 
office that is destined for a domestic or international 
address; and 
‘‘(3) if an intelligent mail barcode is utilized for 
any mail relating to an election for Federal office 
that is destined for a domestic or international ad-
dress, ensure the specific ballot service type identi-
fier for such mail is visible. 
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‘‘(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The requirements of this 
section shall apply to elections for Federal office occurring 
on and after January 1, 2025.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL
AMENDMENTS.—The table of 
contents of such Act, as amended by section 131(c), 
section 201(d), section 202(c), section 203(a)(3), 
section 204(c), section 801(c), section 901(b) and 
section 902(c), is amended— 
(A) by redesignating the items relating to 
sections 312 and 313 as relating to sections 
313 and 314; and 
(B) by inserting after the item relating to 
section 311 the following new item: 
‘‘Sec. 312. Ballot visibility.’’. 
SEC. 904. VOTING MATERIALS POSTAGE. 
(a) PREPAYMENT OF POSTAGE ON RETURN 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 131(a), section 
201(a), section 202(a), section 203(a)(1), section 
204(a), section 801(a), section 901(a), section 
902(a), and section 903(b), is amended— 
(A) by redesignating sections 313 and 314 
as sections 314 and 315, respectively; and 
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(B) by inserting after section 312 the fol-
lowing new section: 
‘‘SEC. 313. PREPAYMENT OF POSTAGE ON RETURN ENVE-
LOPES FOR VOTING MATERIALS. 
‘‘(a) PROVISION OF RETURN ENVELOPES.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The appropriate State or 
local election official shall provide a self-sealing re-
turn envelope with— 
‘‘(A) any voter registration application 
form transmitted to a registrant by mail; 
‘‘(B) any application for an absentee ballot 
transmitted to an applicant by mail; and 
‘‘(C) any blank absentee ballot transmitted 
to a voter by mail. 
‘‘(2) REASONABLE EFFORTS.—A State shall be 
treated as meeting the requirements of paragraph 
(1) if the State makes all reasonable efforts to pro-
vide self-sealing return envelopes as provided in such 
paragraph. 
‘‘(b) PREPAYMENT OF POSTAGE.—Consistent with 
regulations of the United States Postal Service, the State 
or the unit of local government responsible for the admin-
istration of the election involved shall prepay the postage 
on any envelope provided under subsection (a). 
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‘‘(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 State and local jurisdic-
tions shall make arrangements with the United States 
Postal Service to pay for all postage costs that such juris-
dictions would be required to pay under this section if this 
section took effect on the date of enactment.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL
AMENDMENTS.—The table of 
contents of such Act, as amended by section 131(c), 
section 201(d), section 202(c), section 203(a)(3), 
section 204(c), section 801(c), section 901(b), sec-
tion 902(c), and section 903(b), is amended— 
(A) by redesignating the items relating to 
sections 313 and 314 as relating to sections 
314 and 315, respectively; and 
(B) by inserting after the item relating to 
section 312 the following new item: 
‘‘Sec. 313. Prepayment of postage on return envelopes for voting materials.’’. 
(b) ROLE OF UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE.— 
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(1) IN
GENERAL.—Chapter 34 of title 39, 
United States Code, as amended by section 903(a), 
is amended by inserting after section 3407 the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘§ 3408. Carriage of voting materials 
‘‘(a) TREATMENT AS FIRST-CLASS MAIL.—Any voter 
registration application, absentee ballot application, or ab-
sentee ballot with respect to any election for Federal office 
shall be carried in accordance with the service standards 
established for first-class mail, regardless of the class of 
postage prepaid. 
‘‘(b) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the 
terms ‘absentee ballot’ and ‘election for Federal office’ 
have the meanings given those terms in section 3407. 
‘‘(c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion may be construed to affect the treatment of any ballot 
or balloting materials transmitted to an individual who is 
entitled to vote by absentee ballot under the Uniformed 
and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 
20301 et seq.).’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions for chapter 34 of such title, as amended by 
section 903(a), is amended by inserting after the 
item relating to section 3407 the following: 
‘‘3408. Carriage of voting materials.’’. 
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TITLE X—ABSENT UNIFORMED 
SERVICES 
VOTERS 
AND 
OVERSEAS VOTERS 
SEC. 1001. PRE-ELECTION REPORTS ON AVAILABILITY AND 
TRANSMISSION OF ABSENTEE BALLOTS. 
Section 102(c) of the Uniformed and Overseas 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 
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 
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198 
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-
mation about ballot transmission, including the total 
numbers of ballot requests received and ballots 
transmitted, from each unit of local government 
which will administer the election. 
‘‘(3) POST-ELECTION REPORT ON NUMBER OF 
ABSENTEE
BALLOTS
TRANSMITTED
AND
RE-
CEIVED.—Not later than 90 days after the date of 
each regularly scheduled general election for Federal 
office, each State and unit of local government 
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which administered the election shall (through the 
State, in the case of a unit of local government) sub-
mit a report to the Attorney General, the Commis-
sion, and the Presidential Designee on the combined 
number of absentee ballots transmitted to absent 
uniformed services voters and overseas voters for the 
election and the combined number of such ballots 
which were returned by such voters and cast in the 
election, and shall make such report available to the 
general public that same day.’’. 
SEC. 1002. ENFORCEMENT. 
(a) AVAILABILITY OF CIVIL PENALTIES AND PRI-
VATE RIGHTS OF ACTION.—Section 105 of the Uniformed 
and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 
20307) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 105. ENFORCEMENT. 
‘‘(a) ACTION BY ATTORNEY GENERAL.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Attorney General may 
bring civil action in an appropriate district court for 
such declaratory or injunctive relief as may be nec-
essary to carry out this title. 
‘‘(2) PENALTY.—In a civil action brought under 
paragraph (1), if the court finds that the State vio-
lated any provision of this title, it may, to vindicate 
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the public interest, assess a civil penalty against the 
State— 
‘‘(A) in an amount not to exceed $110,000 
for each such violation, in the case of a first 
violation; or 
‘‘(B) in an amount not to exceed $220,000 
for each such violation, for any subsequent vio-
lation. 
‘‘(3) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 
December 31 of each year, the Attorney General 
shall submit to Congress an annual report on any 
civil action brought under paragraph (1) during the 
preceding year. 
‘‘(b) PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION.—A person who is 
aggrieved by a State’s violation of this title may bring a 
civil action in an appropriate district court for such declar-
atory or injunctive relief as may be necessary to carry out 
this title. 
‘‘(c) STATE AS ONLY NECESSARY DEFENDANT.—In 
any action brought under this section, the only necessary 
party defendant is the State, and it shall not be a defense 
to any such action that a local election official or a unit 
of local government is not named as a defendant, notwith-
standing that a State has exercised the authority described 
in section 576 of the Military and Overseas Voter Em-
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powerment Act to delegate to another jurisdiction in the 
State any duty or responsibility which is the subject of 
an action brought under this section.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall apply with respect to violations alleged 
to have occurred on or after the date of the enactment 
of this Act. 
SEC. 1003. REVISIONS TO 45-DAY ABSENTEE BALLOT 
TRANSMISSION RULE. 
(a) REPEAL OF WAIVER AUTHORITY.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Section 102 of the Uni-
formed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act 
(52 U.S.C. 20302) is amended by striking sub-
section (g). 
(2) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—Section 
102(a)(8)(A) 
of 
such 
Act 
(52 
U.S.C. 
20302(a)(8)(A)) is amended by striking ‘‘except as 
provided in subsection (g),’’. 
(b) REQUIRING USE OF EXPRESS DELIVERY IN CASE 
OF FAILURE TO MEET REQUIREMENT.—Section 102 of 
such Act (52 U.S.C. 20302), as amended by subsection 
(a), is amended by inserting after subsection (f) the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
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‘‘(g) REQUIRING USE OF EXPRESS DELIVERY IN 
CASE
OF FAILURE TO TRANSMIT BALLOTS WITHIN 
DEADLINES.— 
‘‘(1) TRANSMISSION OF BALLOT BY EXPRESS 
DELIVERY.—If a State fails to meet the requirement 
of subsection (a)(8)(A) to transmit a validly re-
quested absentee ballot to an absent uniformed serv-
ices voter or overseas voter not later than 45 days 
before the election (in the case in which the request 
is received at least 45 days before the election)— 
‘‘(A) the State shall transmit the ballot to 
the voter by express delivery; or 
‘‘(B) in the case of a voter who has des-
ignated that absentee ballots be transmitted 
electronically in accordance with subsection 
(f)(1), the State shall transmit the ballot to the 
voter electronically. 
‘‘(2) SPECIAL RULE FOR TRANSMISSION FEWER 
THAN 40 DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION.—If, in car-
rying out paragraph (1), a State transmits an ab-
sentee ballot to an absent uniformed services voter 
or overseas voter fewer than 40 days before the elec-
tion, the State shall enable the ballot to be returned 
by the voter by express delivery, except that in the 
case of an absentee ballot of an absent uniformed 
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services voter for a regularly scheduled general elec-
tion for Federal office, the State may satisfy the re-
quirement of this paragraph by notifying the voter 
of the procedures for the collection and delivery of 
such ballots under section 103A. 
‘‘(3) PAYMENT FOR USE OF EXPRESS DELIV-
ERY.—The State shall be responsible for the pay-
ment of the costs associated with the use of express 
delivery for the transmittal of ballots under this sub-
section.’’. 
(c) CLARIFICATION
OF
TREATMENT
OF
WEEK-
ENDS.—Section 102(a)(8)(A) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 
20302(a)(8)(A)) is amended by striking ‘‘the election;’’ 
and inserting the following: ‘‘the election (or, if the 45th 
day preceding the election is a weekend or legal public hol-
iday, not later than the most recent weekday which pre-
cedes such 45th day and which is not a legal public holi-
day, but only if the request is received by at least such 
most recent weekday);’’. 
SEC. 1004. USE OF SINGLE ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICA-
TION FOR SUBSEQUENT ELECTIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 104 of the Uniformed and 
Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20306) 
is amended to read as follows: 
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‘‘SEC. 104. USE OF SINGLE APPLICATION FOR SUBSEQUENT 
ELECTIONS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—If a State accepts and processes 
an official post card form (prescribed under section 101) 
submitted by an absent uniformed services voter or over-
seas voter for simultaneous voter registration and absen-
tee ballot application (in accordance with section 
102(a)(4)) and the voter requests that the application be 
considered an application for an absentee ballot for each 
subsequent election for Federal office held in the State 
through the next regularly scheduled general election for 
Federal office (including any runoff elections which may 
occur as a result of the outcome of such general election), 
the State shall provide an absentee ballot to the voter for 
each such subsequent election. 
‘‘(b) EXCEPTION FOR VOTERS CHANGING REGISTRA-
TION.—Subsection (a) shall not apply with respect to a 
voter registered to vote in a State for any election held 
after the voter notifies the State that the voter no longer 
wishes to be registered to vote in the State or after the 
State determines that the voter has registered to vote in 
another State or is otherwise no longer eligible to vote in 
the State. 
‘‘(c) PROHIBITION OF REFUSAL OF APPLICATION ON 
GROUNDS
OF EARLY SUBMISSION.—A State may not 
refuse to accept or to process, with respect to any election 
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for Federal office, any otherwise valid voter registration 
application or absentee ballot application (including the 
postcard form prescribed under section 101) submitted by 
an absent uniformed services voter or overseas voter on 
the grounds that the voter submitted the application be-
fore the first date on which the State otherwise accepts 
or processes such applications for that election which are 
submitted by absentee voters who are not members of the 
uniformed services or overseas citizens.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 
subsection (a) shall apply with respect to voter registration 
and absentee ballot applications which are submitted to 
a State or local election official on or after the date of 
the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 1005. EXTENDING GUARANTEE OF RESIDENCY FOR 
VOTING PURPOSES TO FAMILY MEMBERS OF 
ABSENT MILITARY PERSONNEL. 
Section 102 of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens 
Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20302) is amended by 
adding at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(j) GUARANTEE OF RESIDENCY FOR SPOUSES AND 
DEPENDENTS
OF ABSENT MEMBERS
OF UNIFORMED 
SERVICE.—For the purposes of voting for in any election 
for any Federal office or any State or local office, a spouse 
or dependent of an individual who is an absent uniformed 
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services voter described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of sec-
tion 107(1) shall not, solely by reason of that individual’s 
absence and without regard to whether or not such spouse 
or dependent is accompanying that individual— 
‘‘(1) be deemed to have lost a residence or 
domicile in that State, without regard to whether or 
not that individual intends to return to that State; 
‘‘(2) be deemed to have acquired a residence or 
domicile in any other State; or 
‘‘(3) be deemed to have become a resident in or 
a resident of any other State.’’. 
SEC. 1006. REQUIRING TRANSMISSION OF BLANK ABSEN-
TEE BALLOTS UNDER UOCAVA TO CERTAIN 
VOTERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Uniformed and Overseas 
Citizens Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20301 et seq.) 
is amended by inserting after section 103B the following 
new section: 
‘‘SEC. 103C. TRANSMISSION OF BLANK ABSENTEE BALLOTS 
TO CERTAIN OTHER VOTERS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.— 
‘‘(1) STATE RESPONSIBILITIES.—Subject to the 
provisions of this section, each State shall transmit 
blank absentee ballots electronically to qualified indi-
viduals who request such ballots in the same manner 
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and under the same terms and conditions under 
which the State transmits such ballots electronically 
to absent uniformed services voters and overseas vot-
ers under the provisions of section 102(f), except 
that no such marked ballots shall be returned elec-
tronically. 
‘‘(2) REQUIREMENTS.—Any blank absentee bal-
lot transmitted to a qualified individual under this 
section— 
‘‘(A) must comply with the language re-
quirements under section 203 of the Voting 
Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 10503); and 
‘‘(B) must comply with the disability re-
quirements under section 508 of the Rehabilita-
tion Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794d). 
‘‘(3) AFFIRMATION.—The State may not trans-
mit a ballot to a qualified individual under this sec-
tion unless the individual provides the State with a 
signed affirmation in electronic form that— 
‘‘(A) the individual is a qualified individual 
(as defined in subsection (b)); 
‘‘(B) the individual has not and will not 
cast another ballot with respect to the election; 
and 
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‘‘(C) 
acknowledges 
that 
a 
material 
misstatement of fact in completing the ballot 
may constitute grounds for conviction of per-
jury. 
‘‘(4) CLARIFICATION REGARDING FREE POST-
AGE.—An absentee ballot obtained by a qualified in-
dividual under this section shall be considered bal-
loting materials as defined in section 107 for pur-
poses of section 3406 of title 39, United States 
Code. 
‘‘(5) PROHIBITING REFUSAL TO ACCEPT BAL-
LOT
FOR
FAILURE
TO
MEET
CERTAIN
REQUIRE-
MENTS.—A State shall not refuse to accept and 
process any otherwise valid blank absentee ballot 
which was transmitted to a qualified individual 
under this section and used by the individual to vote 
in the election solely on the basis of the following: 
‘‘(A) Notarization or witness signature re-
quirements. 
‘‘(B) Restrictions on paper type, including 
weight and size. 
‘‘(C) Restrictions on envelope type, includ-
ing weight and size. 
‘‘(b) QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL.— 
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‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In this section, except as 
provided in paragraph (2), the term ‘qualified indi-
vidual’ means any individual who is otherwise quali-
fied to vote in an election for Federal office and who 
meets any of the following requirements: 
‘‘(A) The individual— 
‘‘(i) has previously requested an ab-
sentee ballot from the State or jurisdiction 
in which such individual is registered to 
vote; and 
‘‘(ii) has not received such absentee 
ballot at least 2 days before the date of the 
election. 
‘‘(B) The individual— 
‘‘(i) resides in an area of a State with 
respect to which an emergency or public 
health emergency has been declared by the 
chief executive of the State or of the area 
involved within 5 days of the date of the 
election under the laws of the State due to 
reasons including a natural disaster, in-
cluding severe weather, or an infectious 
disease; and 
‘‘(ii) has not previously requested an 
absentee ballot. 
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‘‘(C) The individual expects to be absent 
from such individual’s jurisdiction on the date 
of the election due to professional or volunteer 
service in response to a natural disaster or 
emergency as described in subparagraph (B). 
‘‘(D) The individual is hospitalized or ex-
pects to be hospitalized on the date of the elec-
tion. 
‘‘(E) The individual is an individual with a 
disability (as defined in section 3 of the Ameri-
cans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 
12102)) and resides in a State which does not 
offer voters the ability to use secure and acces-
sible remote ballot marking. For purposes of 
this subparagraph, a State shall permit an indi-
vidual to self-certify that the individual is an in-
dividual with a disability. 
‘‘(2) EXCLUSION OF ABSENT UNIFORMED SERV-
ICES AND OVERSEAS VOTERS.—The term ‘qualified 
individual’ shall not include an absent uniformed 
services voter or an overseas voter. 
‘‘(c) STATE.—For purposes of this section, the term 
‘State’ includes the District of Columbia, the 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. 
‘‘(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall apply 
with respect to the regularly scheduled general election for 
Federal office held in November 2022 and each succeeding 
election for Federal office.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 102(a) of 
such Act (52 U.S.C. 20302(a)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of paragraph 
(10); 
(2) by striking the period at the end of para-
graph (11) and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(12) meet the requirements of section 103C 
with respect to the provision of blank absentee bal-
lots for the use of qualified individuals described in 
such section.’’. 
(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.—The table of contents 
of such Act is amended by inserting the following after 
section 103: 
‘‘Sec. 103A. Procedures for collection and delivery of marked absentee ballots 
of absent overseas uniformed services voters. 
‘‘Sec. 103B. Federal voting assistance program improvements. 
‘‘Sec. 103C. Transmission of blank absentee ballots to certain other voters.’’. 
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SEC. 1007. EFFECTIVE DATE. 
Except as provided in section 1002(b) and section 
1004(b), the amendments made by this title shall apply 
with respect to elections occurring on or after January 1, 
2025. 
TITLE XI—POLL WORKER 
RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING 
SEC. 1101. GRANTS TO STATES FOR POLL WORKER RE-
CRUITMENT AND TRAINING. 
(a) GRANTS
BY ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMIS-
SION.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Election Assistance 
Commission (hereafter referred to as the ‘‘Commis-
sion’’) shall, subject to the availability of appropria-
tions provided to carry out this section, make a 
grant to each eligible State for recruiting and train-
ing individuals to serve as poll workers on dates of 
elections for public office. 
(2) USE OF COMMISSION MATERIALS.—In car-
rying out activities with a grant provided under this 
section, the recipient of the grant shall use the man-
ual prepared by the Commission on successful prac-
tices for poll worker recruiting, training, and reten-
tion as an interactive training tool, and shall develop 
training programs with the participation and input 
of experts in adult learning. 
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(3) 
ACCESS
AND
CULTURAL
CONSIDER-
ATIONS.—The Commission shall ensure that the 
manual described in paragraph (2) provides training 
in methods that will enable poll workers to provide 
access and delivery of services in a culturally com-
petent manner to all voters who use their services, 
including those with limited English proficiency, di-
verse cultural and ethnic backgrounds, disabilities, 
and regardless of gender, sexual orientation, or gen-
der identity. These methods must ensure that each 
voter will have access to poll worker services that are 
delivered in a manner that meets the unique needs 
of the voter. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS FOR ELIGIBILITY.— 
(1) APPLICATION.—Each State that desires to 
receive a payment under this section shall submit an 
application for the payment to the Commission at 
such time and in such manner and containing such 
information as the Commission shall require. 
(2) CONTENTS OF APPLICATION.—Each appli-
cation submitted under paragraph (1) shall— 
(A) describe the activities for which assist-
ance under this section is sought; 
(B) provide assurances that the funds pro-
vided under this section will be used to supple-
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ment and not supplant other funds used to 
carry out the activities; 
(C) provide assurances that the State will 
furnish the Commission with information on the 
number of individuals who served as poll work-
ers after recruitment and training with the 
funds provided under this section; and 
(D) provide such additional information 
and certifications as the Commission deter-
mines to be essential to ensure compliance with 
the requirements of this section. 
(c) AMOUNT OF GRANT.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The amount of a grant 
made to a State under this section shall be equal to 
the product of— 
(A) the aggregate amount made available 
for grants to States under this section; and 
(B) the voting age population percentage 
for the State. 
(2) VOTING AGE POPULATION PERCENTAGE 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 
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215 
information available from the Bureau of the 
Census); and 
(B) the total voting age population of all 
States (as determined on the basis of the most 
recent information available from the Bureau of 
the Census). 
(d) REPORTS TO CONGRESS.— 
(1) REPORTS BY RECIPIENTS OF GRANTS.—Not 
later than 6 months after the date on which the 
final grant is made under this section, each recipient 
of a grant shall submit a report to the Commission 
on the activities conducted with the funds provided 
by the grant. 
(2) REPORTS BY COMMISSION.—Not later than 
1 year after the date on which the final grant is 
made under this section, the Commission shall sub-
mit a report to Congress on the grants made under 
this section and the activities carried out by recipi-
ents with the grants, and shall include in the report 
such recommendations as the Commission considers 
appropriate. 
(e) FUNDING.— 
(1) CONTINUING AVAILABILITY OF AMOUNT AP-
PROPRIATED.—Any amount appropriated to carry 
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out this section shall remain available without fiscal 
year limitation until expended. 
(2) 
ADMINISTRATIVE
EXPENSES.—Of 
the 
amount appropriated for any fiscal year to carry out 
this section, not more than 3 percent shall be avail-
able for administrative expenses of the Commission. 
SEC. 1102. STATE DEFINED. 
In this title, the term ‘‘State’’ includes the District 
of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, 
American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, and 
the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. 
TITLE XII—ENHANCEMENT OF 
ENFORCEMENT 
SEC. 1201. ENHANCEMENT OF ENFORCEMENT OF HELP 
AMERICA VOTE ACT OF 2002. 
(a) COMPLAINTS; AVAILABILITY OF PRIVATE RIGHT 
OF ACTION.—Section 401 of the Help America Vote Act 
of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21111) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘The Attorney General’’ and in-
serting ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Attorney General’’; 
and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
sections: 
‘‘(b) FILING OF COMPLAINTS BY AGGRIEVED PER-
SONS.— 
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‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A person who is aggrieved 
by a violation of title III which has occurred, is oc-
curring, or is about to occur may file a written, 
signed, notarized complaint with the Attorney Gen-
eral describing the violation and requesting the At-
torney General to take appropriate action under this 
section. The Attorney General shall immediately pro-
vide a copy of a complaint filed under the previous 
sentence to the entity responsible for administering 
the State-based administrative complaint procedures 
described in section 402(a) for the State involved. 
‘‘(2) RESPONSE BY ATTORNEY GENERAL.—The 
Attorney General shall respond to each complaint 
filed under paragraph (1), in accordance with proce-
dures established by the Attorney General that re-
quire responses and determinations to be made with-
in the same (or shorter) deadlines which apply to a 
State under the State-based administrative com-
plaint procedures described in section 402(a)(2). 
The Attorney General shall immediately provide a 
copy of the response made under the previous sen-
tence to the entity responsible for administering the 
State-based administrative complaint procedures de-
scribed in section 402(a) for the State involved. 
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‘‘(c) AVAILABILITY
OF PRIVATE RIGHT
OF AC-
TION.—Any person who is authorized to file a complaint 
under subsection (b)(1) (including any individual who 
seeks to enforce the individual’s right to a voter-verified 
paper ballot, the right to have the voter-verified paper bal-
lot counted in accordance with this Act, or any other right 
under title III) may file an action under section 1979 of 
the Revised Statutes of the United States (42 U.S.C. 
1983) to enforce the uniform and nondiscriminatory elec-
tion technology and administration requirements under 
subtitle A of title III. 
‘‘(d) NO EFFECT ON STATE PROCEDURES.—Nothing 
in this section may be construed to affect the availability 
of the State-based administrative complaint procedures re-
quired under section 402 to any person filing a complaint 
under this subsection.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall apply with respect to violations occurring 
with respect to elections for Federal office held in 2025 
or any succeeding year. 
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TITLE XIII—FEDERAL ELECTION 
INTEGRITY 
SEC. 1301. PROHIBITION ON CAMPAIGN ACTIVITIES BY 
CHIEF STATE ELECTION ADMINISTRATION 
OFFICIALS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Title III of the Federal Election 
Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30101 et seq.) is 
amended by inserting after section 319 the following new 
section: 
‘‘CAMPAIGN ACTIVITIES BY CHIEF STATE ELECTION 
ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS 
‘‘SEC. 319A. (a) PROHIBITION.—It shall be unlawful 
for a chief State election administration official to take 
an active part in political management or in a political 
campaign with respect to any election for Federal office 
over which such official has supervisory authority. 
‘‘(b) CHIEF STATE ELECTION ADMINISTRATION OF-
FICIAL.—The term ‘chief State election administration of-
ficial’ means the highest State official with responsibility 
for the administration of Federal elections under State 
law. 
‘‘(c) ACTIVE PART IN POLITICAL MANAGEMENT OR 
IN A POLITICAL CAMPAIGN.—The term ‘active part in po-
litical management or in a political campaign’ means— 
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‘‘(1) holding any position (including any unpaid 
or honorary position) with an authorized committee 
of a candidate, or participating in any decision-mak-
ing of an authorized committee of a candidate; 
‘‘(2) the use of official authority or influence 
for the purpose of interfering with or affecting the 
result of an election for Federal office; 
‘‘(3) the solicitation, acceptance, or receipt of a 
contribution from any person on behalf of a can-
didate for Federal office; and 
‘‘(4) any other act which would be prohibited 
under paragraph (2) or (3) of section 7323(b) of 
title 5, United States Code, if taken by an individual 
to whom such paragraph applies (other than any 
prohibition on running for public office). 
‘‘(d) EXCEPTION IN CASE OF RECUSAL FROM AD-
MINISTRATION OF ELECTIONS INVOLVING OFFICIAL OR 
IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBER.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—This section does not apply 
to a chief State election administration official with 
respect to an election for Federal office in which the 
official or an immediate family member of the offi-
cial is a candidate, but only if— 
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‘‘(A) such official recuses himself or herself 
from all of the official’s responsibilities for the 
administration of such election; and 
‘‘(B) the official who assumes responsi-
bility for supervising the administration of the 
election does not report directly to such official. 
‘‘(2) IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBER DEFINED.— 
In paragraph (1), the term ‘immediate family mem-
ber’ means, with respect to a candidate, a father, 
mother, son, daughter, brother, sister, husband, 
wife, father-in-law, or mother-in-law.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
subsection (a) shall apply with respect to elections for 
Federal office held after December 2024. 
TITLE XIV—PROMOTING VOTER 
ACCESS THROUGH ELECTION 
ADMINISTRATION 
IMPROVE-
MENTS 
Subtitle A—Promoting Voter 
Access 
SEC. 1401. TREATMENT OF INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDU-
CATION. 
(a) TREATMENT
OF CERTAIN INSTITUTIONS
AS 
VOTER
REGISTRATION
AGENCIES
UNDER
NATIONAL 
VOTER REGISTRATION ACT OF 1993.—Section 7(a) of the 
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National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 
20506(a)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of sub-
paragraph (A); 
(B) by striking the period at the end of 
subparagraph (B) and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new 
subparagraph: 
‘‘(C) each institution of higher education 
which has a program participation agreement in 
effect with the Secretary of Education under 
section 487 of the Higher Education Act of 
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1094), other than an institu-
tion which is treated as a contributing agency 
under section 113 of the Automatic Voter Reg-
istration Act of 2021.’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (6)(A), by inserting ‘‘or, in 
the case of an institution of higher education, upon 
initial enrollment of a student,’’ after ‘‘assistance,’’. 
(b) RESPONSIBILITIES
OF INSTITUTIONS UNDER 
HIGHER EDUCATION ACT OF 1965.—Section 487(a)(23) 
of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1094(a)(23)) is amended to read as follows: 
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‘‘(23)(A) The institution will make every rea-
sonable effort to— 
‘‘(i) distribute voter registration applica-
tions for elections for Federal office using a 
form that meets the requirements of section 
9(b) of the National Voter Registration Act of 
1993 (52 U.S.C. 20508), which may include 
sharing a direct, guided link to such applica-
tion, to each student enrolled at the institution 
who has not been automatically registered to 
vote by the institution in accordance with sec-
tion 113 of the Voter Empowerment Act of 
2024, including students who do not qualify as 
an in-State student as defined in section 
113(f)(2) of the Voter Empowerment Act of 
2024; 
‘‘(ii) provide clear guidance that each stu-
dent enrolled at the institution should— 
‘‘(I) register in the State in which the 
student is eligible to vote in the next elec-
tion if registration is required, which may 
include informing students from another 
State of the ability to vote in the State of 
the institution in which the students are 
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enrolled and physically in attendance, in 
accordance with applicable State law; and 
‘‘(II) in the case of a student who has 
already registered to vote in a State de-
scribed in subclause (I), update the stu-
dent’s existing voter registration if the stu-
dent’s address has changed recently or 
since the last election in which the student 
was eligible to vote; 
‘‘(iii) periodically share credible, non-
partisan resources (to be identified in consulta-
tion with the Election Assistance Commission) 
to help students determine where and how they 
are eligible to vote, which may include resources 
from State and local election officials on voter 
registration and voting requirements, including 
voter registration deadlines, residency require-
ments, voter identification requirements, and 
absentee voting options, as applicable; and 
‘‘(iv) in distributing voting materials (as 
defined in section 203(b)(3) of the Voting 
Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 10503(b)(3))) 
that are produced by a covered State or polit-
ical 
subdivision 
described 
in 
subsection 
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203(b)(2) of such Act, ensure to the greatest 
extent practicable that— 
‘‘(I) such voting materials are pro-
vided in accordance with section 203 of 
that Act (52 U.S.C. 10503); and 
‘‘(II) all materials and information 
made available electronically under this 
paragraph— 
‘‘(aa) are accessible to individuals 
with disabilities; and 
‘‘(bb) are compliant with the 
most recent Web Content Accessibility 
Guidelines, or successor guidelines. 
‘‘(B) An institution shall be considered to have 
satisfied the requirements of clauses (i), (ii), and 
(iii) of subparagraph (A) if— 
‘‘(i) with respect to each student enrolled 
in the institution who is not exclusively enrolled 
in distance education at the institution and who 
has not already been registered to vote by the 
institution in accordance with section 113 of 
the Voter Empowerment Act of 2024, including 
students who do not qualify as an in-State stu-
dent as defined in section 113(f)(2) of such 
Act— 
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‘‘(I) the institution, not less than 30 
days in advance of the deadline for reg-
istering to vote within the State for the 
next scheduled statewide Federal or State 
primary election and not less than 30 days 
in advance of the deadline for registering 
to vote within the State for the next sched-
uled statewide Federal or State general 
election— 
‘‘(aa) distributes voter registra-
tion applications to such students; or 
‘‘(bb) electronically transmits a 
message to each such student that is 
devoted exclusively to voter registra-
tion and contains a voter registration 
application acceptable for use in the 
State in which the institution is lo-
cated, or an internet address where 
such voter registration application can 
be accessed or downloaded; 
‘‘(II) during a period that an institu-
tion requires or encourages such students 
to remain off-campus due to a national, 
State, or local public health or other emer-
gency for an extended period of time, re-
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sulting in a significant disruption to such 
students’ ability to vote in person, as appli-
cable, the institution additionally— 
‘‘(aa) requests that the State 
provide the institution with absentee 
ballot applications, as applicable, or 
that the State share the official State 
website or online portal through which 
eligible voters can directly request an 
absentee ballot; 
‘‘(bb) distributes to each such 
student an absentee ballot application 
requested from the State under item 
(aa) or the official State website or 
online portal through which eligible 
voters can directly request an absen-
tee ballot, with instructions that the 
form, website, or online portal should 
be used only by students eligible to 
vote in the State; 
‘‘(cc) notifies such students of— 
‘‘(AA) applicable deadlines 
for requesting and submitting an 
absentee ballot; and 
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‘‘(BB) additional options for 
early and in-person voting and 
voting on Election Day, as appli-
cable; and 
‘‘(dd) 
shares 
credible, 
non-
partisan resources (to be identified in 
consultation with the Election Assist-
ance Commission) to help students 
who are registered in another State to 
apply for absentee ballots in such 
State, which may include resources 
from State and local election officials; 
and 
‘‘(III) the institution ensures that an 
appropriate staff person or office has been 
designated as a Campus Vote Coordinator, 
who shall— 
‘‘(aa) ensure compliance in ac-
cordance with this paragraph at the 
institution; 
‘‘(bb) be publicly designated as 
the Campus Vote Coordinator, includ-
ing the Campus Vote Coordinator’s 
contact information, on the website of 
the institution; and 
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‘‘(cc) upon request, provide to 
students residency requirements for 
voting, including the ability of stu-
dents from other States to vote in the 
State of the institution in which they 
are enrolled and physically in attend-
ance, in accordance with applicable 
State law; and 
‘‘(ii) with respect to each student enrolled 
exclusively in distance education or correspond-
ence programs, the institution— 
‘‘(I)(aa) transmits a message devoted 
exclusively to voter registration that refers 
such students to a centralized voter reg-
istration website or platform by providing 
the Internet address or other method to 
access such website or platform, that— 
‘‘(AA) provides applicable voter 
registration application and voting in-
formation for all States; and 
‘‘(BB) is hosted by a website op-
erated by the Federal, State or local 
government; 
‘‘(bb) transmits such message not less 
than twice in each calendar year; and 
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‘‘(cc) maintains information on the in-
stitution’s website containing credible, non-
partisan resources to help students deter-
mine where and how they are eligible to 
vote, or a link to such resources; or 
‘‘(II) provides information to such 
students in the same manner as the insti-
tution provides information to students not 
enrolled exclusively in distance education 
under clause (i)(I). 
‘‘(C) The institution will substantially comply 
with the requirements that apply to the institution 
under section 7 of the National Voter Registration 
Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20506) or section 113 of the 
Automatic Voter Registration Act of 2024, as the 
case may be. 
‘‘(D) In this paragraph— 
‘‘(i) the term ‘voter registration applica-
tion’ means the mail voter registration applica-
tion form for elections for Federal office pre-
scribed pursuant to section 9 of the National 
Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 
20508); 
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‘‘(ii) the term ‘absentee ballot’ means any 
ballot cast by any means other than in person 
and for which the State requires an application; 
‘‘(iii) the term ‘distance education’ has the 
meaning given the term in section 103, except 
such term shall not include distance education 
that is provided due to a decision of an institu-
tion to require or encourage students of the in-
stitution to remain off-campus due to a na-
tional, State, or local public health or other 
emergency; and 
‘‘(iv) the term ‘Federal office’ has the 
meaning given in section 301(3) of the Federal 
Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 
30101(3)).’’. 
(c) GRANTS TO INSTITUTIONS DEMONSTRATING EX-
CELLENCE IN STUDENT VOTER REGISTRATION.— 
(1) GRANTS
AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary of 
Education may award competitive grants to public 
and private nonprofit institutions of higher edu-
cation that are subject to the requirements of sec-
tion 487(a)(23) of the Higher Education Act of 
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1094(a)(23)), as amended by sub-
section (b), and that the Secretary determines have 
demonstrated excellence in registering students to 
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vote in elections for public office beyond meeting the 
minimum requirements of such section. 
(2) ELIGIBILITY.—An institution of higher edu-
cation is eligible to receive a grant under this sub-
section if the institution submits to the Secretary of 
Education, at such time and in such form as the 
Secretary may require, an application containing 
such information and assurances as the Secretary 
may require to make the determination described in 
paragraph (1), including information and assurances 
that the institution carried out activities to promote 
voter registration by students, such as the following: 
(A) Sponsoring large on-campus voter mo-
bilization efforts. 
(B) Engaging the surrounding community 
in nonpartisan voter registration and get out 
the vote efforts. 
(C) Creating a website for students with 
centralized information about voter registration 
and election dates. 
(D) Inviting candidates to speak on cam-
pus. 
(E) Offering rides to students to the polls 
to increase voter education, registration, and 
mobilization. 
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(3) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There are authorized to be appropriated for fiscal 
year 2025 and each succeeding fiscal year such sums 
as may be necessary to award grants under this sub-
section. 
(d) SENSE OF CONGRESS RELATING TO OPTION OF 
STUDENTS TO REGISTER IN JURISDICTION OF INSTITU-
TION OF HIGHER EDUCATION OR JURISDICTION OF DOMI-
CILE.—It is the sense of Congress that, as provided under 
existing law, students who attend an institution of higher 
education and reside in the jurisdiction of the institution 
while attending the institution should have the option of 
registering to vote in elections for Federal office in that 
jurisdiction or in the jurisdiction of their own domicile. 
SEC. 1402. MINIMUM NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR 
VOTERS 
AFFECTED 
BY 
POLLING 
PLACE 
CHANGES. 
(a) REQUIREMENTS.—Section 302 of the Help Amer-
ica Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21082), as amended by 
section 701(a), is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsection (f) as sub-
section (g); and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (e) the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
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‘‘(f) MINIMUM NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR 
VOTERS AFFECTED BY POLLING PLACE CHANGES.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—If a State assigns an indi-
vidual who is a registered voter in a State to a poll-
ing place with respect to an election for Federal of-
fice which is not the same polling place to which the 
individual was previously assigned with respect to 
the most recent election for Federal office in the 
State in which the individual was eligible to vote— 
‘‘(A) the State shall notify the individual of 
the location of the polling place not later than 
7 days before the date of the election or the 
first day of an early voting period (whichever 
occurs first); or 
‘‘(B) if the State makes such an assign-
ment fewer than 7 days before the date of the 
election and the individual appears on the date 
of the election at the polling place to which the 
individual was previously assigned, the State 
shall make every reasonable effort to enable the 
individual to vote on the date of the election. 
‘‘(2) METHODS OF NOTIFICATION.—The State 
shall notify an individual under subparagraph (A) of 
paragraph (1) by mail, telephone, and (if available) 
text message and electronic mail. 
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‘‘(3) PLACEMENT OF SIGNS AT CLOSED POLL-
ING PLACES.—If a location which served as a polling 
place in an election for Federal office does not serve 
as a polling place in the next election for Federal of-
fice held in the jurisdiction involved, the State shall 
ensure that signs are posted at such location on the 
date of the election and during any early voting pe-
riod for the election containing the following infor-
mation: 
‘‘(A) A statement that the location is not 
serving as a polling place in the election. 
‘‘(B) The locations serving as polling 
places in the election in the jurisdiction in-
volved. 
‘‘(C) Contact information, including a tele-
phone number and website, for the appropriate 
State or local election official through which an 
individual may find the polling place to which 
the individual is assigned for the election. 
‘‘(4) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This subsection shall 
apply with respect to elections held on or after Janu-
ary 1, 2025.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 302(g) of 
such Act (52 U.S.C. 21082(g)), as redesignated by sub-
section (a) and as amended by section 701(b), is amended 
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by striking ‘‘(d)(2) and (e)(2)’’ and inserting ‘‘(d)(2), 
(e)(2), and (f)(4)’’. 
SEC. 1403. PERMITTING USE OF SWORN WRITTEN STATE-
MENT TO MEET IDENTIFICATION REQUIRE-
MENTS FOR VOTING. 
(a) PERMITTING USE OF STATEMENT.—Title III of 
the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081 et 
seq.) is amended by inserting after section 303 the fol-
lowing new section: 
‘‘SEC. 303A. PERMITTING USE OF SWORN WRITTEN STATE-
MENT OR STUDENT IDENTIFICATION CARD 
TO MEET IDENTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS. 
‘‘(a) USE OF STATEMENT OR STUDENT IDENTIFICA-
TION CARD.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in sub-
section (c), if a State has in effect any requirement 
that an individual present identification as a condi-
tion of receiving and casting a ballot in an election 
for Federal office, the State shall permit the indi-
vidual to meet the requirement— 
‘‘(A) in the case of an individual who de-
sires to vote in person, by presenting the appro-
priate State or local election official with— 
‘‘(i) a sworn written statement, signed 
by the individual under penalty of perjury, 
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attesting to the individual’s identity and 
attesting that the individual is eligible to 
vote in the election; or 
‘‘(ii) if such individual is a student en-
rolled at an institution of higher education 
(as defined under section 102 of the High-
er Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1002)), a student identification card as-
signed to the individual from an institution 
of higher education; or 
‘‘(B) in the case of an individual who de-
sires to vote by mail, by submitting with the 
ballot— 
‘‘(i) the statement described in sub-
paragraph (A)(i); or 
‘‘(ii) if such individual is a student en-
rolled at an institution of higher education 
(as so defined), a copy of the student iden-
tification card described in subparagraph 
(A)(ii). 
‘‘(2) DEVELOPMENT OF PRE-PRINTED VERSION 
OF STATEMENT BY COMMISSION.—The Commission 
shall develop a pre-printed version of the statement 
described in paragraph (1)(A)(i) which includes a 
blank space for an individual to provide a name and 
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signature for use by election officials in States which 
are subject to paragraph (1). 
‘‘(3) PROVIDING PRE-PRINTED COPY OF STATE-
MENT.—A State which is subject to paragraph (1) 
shall— 
‘‘(A) make copies of the pre-printed 
version of the statement described in paragraph 
(1)(A)(i) which is prepared by the Commission 
available at polling places for election officials 
to distribute to individuals who desire to vote in 
person; and 
‘‘(B) include a copy of such pre-printed 
version of the statement with each blank absen-
tee or other ballot transmitted to an individual 
who desires to vote by mail. 
‘‘(b) REQUIRING USE OF BALLOT IN SAME MANNER 
AS INDIVIDUALS PRESENTING IDENTIFICATION.—An in-
dividual who presents or submits a sworn written state-
ment or presents a student identification card in accord-
ance with subsection (a)(1) shall be permitted to cast a 
ballot in the election in the same manner as an individual 
who presents identification. 
‘‘(c) EXCEPTION
FOR FIRST-TIME VOTERS REG-
ISTERING BY MAIL.—Subsections (a) and (b) do not apply 
with respect to any individual described in paragraph (1) 
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of section 303(b) who is required to meet the requirements 
of paragraph (2) of such section.’’. 
(b) REQUIRING STATES TO INCLUDE INFORMATION 
ON USE OF SWORN WRITTEN STATEMENT AND STUDENT 
IDENTIFICATION CARD IN VOTING INFORMATION MATE-
RIAL POSTED AT POLLING PLACES.—Section 302(b)(2) of 
such Act (52 U.S.C. 21082(b)(2)), as amended by section 
172(b) and section 302(b), is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of subpara-
graph (G); 
(2) by striking the period at the end of sub-
paragraph (H) and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraph: 
‘‘(I) in the case of a State that has in ef-
fect any requirement that an individual present 
identification as a condition of receiving and 
casting a ballot in an election for Federal office, 
information on how an individual may meet 
such requirement by presenting a sworn written 
statement or student identification card in ac-
cordance with section 303A.’’. 
(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
of such Act is amended by inserting after the item relating 
to section 303 the following new item: 
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‘‘Sec. 303A. Permitting use of sworn written statement or student identification 
card to meet identification requirements.’’. 
(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall apply with respect to elections occurring 
on or after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 1404. ACCOMMODATIONS FOR VOTERS RESIDING IN 
INDIAN LANDS. 
(a) ACCOMMODATIONS DESCRIBED.— 
(1) DESIGNATION OF BALLOT PICKUP AND COL-
LECTION LOCATIONS.—Given the widespread lack of 
residential mail delivery in Indian Country, an In-
dian Tribe may designate buildings as ballot pickup 
and collection locations with respect to an election 
for Federal office at no cost to the Indian Tribe. An 
Indian Tribe may designate one building per pre-
cinct located within Indian lands. The applicable 
State or political subdivision shall collect ballots 
from those locations. The applicable State or polit-
ical subdivision shall provide the Indian Tribe with 
accurate precinct maps for all precincts located with-
in Indian lands 60 days before the election. 
(2) PROVISION
OF
MAIL-IN
AND
ABSENTEE 
BALLOTS.—The State or political subdivision shall 
provide mail-in and absentee ballots with respect to 
an election for Federal office to each individual who 
is registered to vote in the election who resides on 
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Indian lands in the State or political subdivision in-
volved without requiring a residential address or a 
mail-in or absentee ballot request. 
(3) USE OF DESIGNATED BUILDING AS RESI-
DENTIAL AND MAILING ADDRESS.—The address of a 
designated building that is a ballot pickup and col-
lection location with respect to an election for Fed-
eral office may serve as the residential address and 
mailing address for voters living on Indian lands if 
the tribally designated building is in the same pre-
cinct as that voter. If there is no tribally designated 
building within a voter’s precinct, the voter may use 
another tribally designated building within the In-
dian lands where the voter is located. Voters using 
a tribally designated building outside of the voter’s 
precinct may use the tribally designated building as 
a mailing address and may separately designate the 
voter’s appropriate precinct through a description of 
the 
voter’s 
address, 
as 
specified 
in 
section 
9428.4(a)(2) of title 11, Code of Federal Regula-
tions. 
(4) LANGUAGE ACCESSIBILITY.—In the case of 
a State or political subdivision that is a covered 
State or political subdivision under section 203 of 
the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 10503), 
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242 
that State or political subdivision shall provide ab-
sentee or mail-in voting materials with respect to an 
election for Federal office in the language of the ap-
plicable minority group as well as in the English lan-
guage, bilingual election voting assistance, and writ-
ten translations of all voting materials in the lan-
guage of the applicable minority group, as required 
by section 203 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 
U.S.C. 10503), as amended by subsection (b). 
(5) CLARIFICATION.—Nothing in this section 
alters the ability of an individual voter residing on 
Indian lands to request a ballot in a manner avail-
able to all other voters in the State. 
(6) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(A) ELECTION
FOR
FEDERAL
OFFICE.— 
The term ‘‘election for Federal office’’ means a 
general, special, primary or runoff election for 
the office of President or Vice President, or of 
Senator or Representative in, or Delegate or 
Resident Commissioner to, the Congress. 
(B) INDIAN.—The term ‘‘Indian’’ has the 
meaning given the term in section 4 of the In-
dian Self-Determination and Education Assist-
ance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304). 
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268 
Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern 
Mariana Islands’’. 
(2) CONFORMING
AMENDMENTS
TO
HELP 
AMERICA VOTE ACT OF 2002.—Such Act is further 
amended as follows: 
(A) The second sentence of section 
213(a)(2) (52 U.S.C. 20943(a)(2)) is amended 
by striking ‘‘and American Samoa’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘American Samoa, and the Commonwealth 
of the Northern Mariana Islands’’. 
(B) 
Section 
252(c)(2) 
(52 
U.S.C. 
21002(c)(2)) is amended by striking ‘‘or the 
United States Virgin Islands’’ and inserting 
‘‘the United States Virgin Islands, or the Com-
monwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands’’. 
(3) CONFORMING
AMENDMENT
RELATING
TO 
CONSULTATION OF HELP AMERICA VOTE FOUNDA-
TION
WITH
LOCAL
ELECTION
OFFICIALS.—Section 
90102(c) of title 36, United States Code, is amend-
ed by striking ‘‘and the United States Virgin Is-
lands’’ and inserting ‘‘the United States Virgin Is-
lands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mar-
iana Islands’’. 
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