117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 1 
AN ACT 
To expand Americans’ access to the ballot box, reduce the 
influence of big money in politics, strengthen ethics rules 
for public servants, and implement other anti-corruption 
measures for the purpose of fortifying our democracy, 
and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘For the People Act 
of 2021’’. 
SEC. 2. ORGANIZATION OF ACT INTO DIVISIONS; TABLE OF 
CONTENTS. 
(a) DIVISIONS.—This Act is organized into divisions 
as follows: 
(1) Division A—Voting. 
(2) Division B—Campaign Finance. 
(3) Division C—Ethics. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents of 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title. 
Sec. 2. Organization of Act into divisions; table of contents. 
Sec. 3. Findings of general constitutional authority. 
Sec. 4. Standards for judicial review. 
DIVISION A—VOTING 
TITLE I—ELECTION ACCESS 
Sec. 1000. Short title; statement of policy. 
Subtitle A—Voter Registration Modernization 
Sec. 1000A. Short title. 
PART 1—PROMOTING INTERNET REGISTRATION 
Sec. 1001. Requiring availability of internet for voter registration. 
Sec. 1002. Use of internet to update registration information. 
Sec. 1003. Provision of election information by electronic mail to individuals 
registered to vote. 
Sec. 1004. Clarification of requirement regarding necessary information to 
show eligibility to vote. 
Sec. 1005. Prohibiting State from requiring applicants to provide more than 
last 4 digits of Social Security number. 
Sec. 1006. Report on data collection. 
Sec. 1007. Permitting voter registration application form to serve as application 
for absentee ballot. 
Sec. 1008. Effective date. 
PART 2—AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION
Sec. 1011. Short title; findings and purpose. 
Sec. 1012. Automatic registration of eligible individuals. 
Sec. 1013. Contributing agency assistance in registration. 
Sec. 1014. One-time contributing agency assistance in registration of eligible 
voters in existing records. 
Sec. 1015. Voter protection and security in automatic registration. 
Sec. 1016. Registration portability and correction. 
Sec. 1017. Payments and grants. 
Sec. 1018. Treatment of exempt States. 
Sec. 1019. Miscellaneous provisions. 
Sec. 1020. Definitions. 
Sec. 1021. Effective date. 
PART 3—SAME DAY VOTER REGISTRATION 
Sec. 1031. Same day registration. 
PART 4—CONDITIONS ON REMOVAL ON BASIS OF INTERSTATE CROSS- 
CHECKS 
Sec. 1041. Conditions on removal of registrants from official list of eligible vot-
ers on basis of interstate cross-checks. 
PART 5—OTHER INITIATIVES TO PROMOTE VOTER REGISTRATION 
Sec. 1051. Annual reports on voter registration statistics. 
Sec. 1052. Ensuring pre-election registration deadlines are consistent with tim-
ing of legal public holidays. 
Sec. 1053. Use of Postal Service hard copy change of address form to remind 
individuals to update voter registration. 
Sec. 1054. Grants to States for activities to encourage involvement of minors 
in election activities. 
Sec. 1055. Permission to place exhibits. 
Sec. 1056. Requiring States to establish and operate voter privacy programs. 
Sec. 1057. Inclusion of voter registration information with certain leases and 
vouchers for federally assisted rental housing and mortgage ap-
plications. 
PART 6—AVAILABILITY OF HAVA REQUIREMENTS PAYMENTS 
Sec. 1061. Availability of requirements payments under HAVA to cover costs 
of compliance with new requirements. 
PART 7—PROHIBITING INTERFERENCE WITH VOTER REGISTRATION 
Sec. 1071. Prohibiting hindering, interfering with, or preventing voter registra-
tion. 
Sec. 1072. Establishment of best practices. 
PART 8—VOTER REGISTRATION EFFICIENCY ACT 
Sec. 1081. Short title. 
Sec. 1082. Requiring applicants for motor vehicle driver’s licenses in new state 
to indicate whether state serves as residence for voter registra-
tion purposes. 
PART 9—PROVIDING VOTER REGISTRATION INFORMATION TO SECONDARY 
SCHOOL STUDENTS
Sec. 1091. Pilot program for providing voter registration information to sec-
ondary school students prior to graduation. 
Sec. 1092. Reports. 
Sec. 1093. Authorization of appropriations. 
PART 10—VOTER REGISTRATION OF MINORS 
Sec. 1094. Acceptance of voter registration applications from individuals under 
18 years of age. 
Subtitle B—Access to Voting for Individuals With Disabilities 
Sec. 1101. Requirements for States to promote access to voter registration and 
voting for individuals with disabilities. 
Sec. 1102. Expansion and reauthorization of grant program to assure voting 
access for individuals with disabilities. 
Sec. 1103. Pilot programs for enabling individuals with disabilities to register 
to vote privately and independently at residences. 
Sec. 1104. GAO analysis and report on voting access for individuals with dis-
abilities. 
Subtitle C—Prohibiting Voter Caging 
Sec. 1201. Voter caging and other questionable challenges prohibited. 
Sec. 1202. Development and adoption of best practices for preventing voter 
caging. 
Subtitle D—Prohibiting Deceptive Practices and Preventing Voter 
Intimidation 
Sec. 1301. Short title. 
Sec. 1302. Prohibition on deceptive practices in Federal elections. 
Sec. 1303. Corrective action. 
Sec. 1304. Reports to Congress. 
Subtitle E—Democracy Restoration 
Sec. 1401. Short title. 
Sec. 1402. Findings. 
Sec. 1403. Rights of citizens. 
Sec. 1404. Enforcement. 
Sec. 1405. Notification of restoration of voting rights. 
Sec. 1406. Definitions. 
Sec. 1407. Relation to other laws. 
Sec. 1408. Federal prison funds. 
Sec. 1409. Effective date. 
Subtitle F—Promoting Accuracy, Integrity, and Security Through Voter- 
Verified Permanent Paper Ballot 
Sec. 1501. Short title. 
Sec. 1502. Paper ballot and manual counting requirements. 
Sec. 1503. Accessibility and ballot verification for individuals with disabilities. 
Sec. 1504. Durability and readability requirements for ballots. 
Sec. 1505. Study and report on optimal ballot design. 
Sec. 1506. Paper ballot printing requirements. 
Sec. 1507. Effective date for new requirements.
Subtitle G—Provisional Ballots 
Sec. 1601. Requirements for counting provisional ballots; establishment of uni-
form and nondiscriminatory standards. 
Subtitle H—Early Voting 
Sec. 1611. Early voting. 
Subtitle I—Voting by Mail 
Sec. 1621. Voting by mail. 
Sec. 1622. Absentee ballot tracking program. 
Sec. 1623. Voting materials postage. 
Sec. 1624. Study and report on vote-by-mail procedures. 
Subtitle J—Absent Uniformed Services Voters and Overseas Voters 
Sec. 1701. Pre-election reports on availability and transmission of absentee bal-
lots. 
Sec. 1702. Enforcement. 
Sec. 1703. Revisions to 45-day absentee ballot transmission rule. 
Sec. 1704. Use of single absentee ballot application for subsequent elections. 
Sec. 1705. Extending guarantee of residency for voting purposes to family 
members of absent military personnel. 
Sec. 1706. Requiring transmission of blank absentee ballots under UOCAVA to 
certain voters. 
Sec. 1707. Department of Justice report on voter disenfranchisement. 
Sec. 1708. Effective date. 
Subtitle K—Poll Worker Recruitment and Training 
Sec. 1801. Grants to States for poll worker recruitment and training. 
Sec. 1802. State defined. 
Subtitle L—Enhancement of Enforcement 
Sec. 1811. Enhancement of enforcement of Help America Vote Act of 2002. 
Subtitle M—Federal Election Integrity 
Sec. 1821. Prohibition on campaign activities by chief State election adminis-
tration officials. 
Subtitle N—Promoting Voter Access Through Election Administration 
Improvements 
PART 1—PROMOTING VOTER ACCESS 
Sec. 1901. Treatment of institutions of higher education. 
Sec. 1902. Minimum notification requirements for voters affected by polling 
place changes. 
Sec. 1903. Permitting use of sworn written statement to meet identification re-
quirements for voting. 
Sec. 1904. Accommodations for voters residing in Indian lands. 
Sec. 1905. Voter information response systems and hotline. 
Sec. 1906. Ensuring equitable and efficient operation of polling places. 
Sec. 1907. Requiring States to provide secured drop boxes for voted absentee 
ballots in elections for Federal office.
Sec. 1908. Prohibiting States from restricting curbside voting. 
Sec. 1909. Election Day as legal public holiday. 
Sec. 1910. GAO study on voter turnout rates. 
Sec. 1910A. Study on ranked-choice voting. 
PART 2—DISASTER AND EMERGENCY CONTINGENCY PLANS 
Sec. 1911. Requirements for Federal election contingency plans in response to 
natural disasters and emergencies. 
PART 3—IMPROVEMENTS IN OPERATION OF ELECTION ASSISTANCE 
COMMISSION 
Sec. 1921. Reauthorization of Election Assistance Commission. 
Sec. 1922. Requiring States to participate in post-general election surveys. 
Sec. 1923. Reports by National Institute of Standards and Technology on use 
of funds transferred from Election Assistance Commission. 
Sec. 1924. Recommendations to improve operations of Election Assistance 
Commission. 
Sec. 1925. Repeal of exemption of Election Assistance Commission from certain 
government contracting requirements. 
PART 4—MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 
Sec. 1931. Application of Federal election administration laws to territories of 
the United States. 
Sec. 1932. Definition of election for Federal office. 
Sec. 1933. Authorizing payments to voting accessibility protection and advocacy 
systems serving the American Indian Consortium. 
Sec. 1934. Application of Federal voter protection laws to territories of the 
United States. 
Sec. 1935. Placement of statues of citizens of territories of the United States 
in Statuary Hall. 
Sec. 1936. No effect on other laws. 
Sec. 1937. Clarification of Exemption for States Without Voter Registration. 
PART 5—VOTER NOTICE 
Sec. 1941. Short title. 
Sec. 1942. Public education campaigns in event of changes in elections in re-
sponse to emergencies. 
Sec. 1943. Requirements for websites of election officials. 
Sec. 1944. Payments by Election Assistance Commission to States for costs of 
compliance. 
Subtitle O—Severability 
Sec. 1951. Severability. 
TITLE II—ELECTION INTEGRITY 
Subtitle A—Findings Reaffirming Commitment of Congress to Restore the 
Voting Rights Act 
Sec. 2001. Findings reaffirming commitment of Congress to restore the Voting 
Rights Act. 
Subtitle B—Findings Relating to Native American Voting Rights
Sec. 2101. Findings relating to Native American voting rights. 
Subtitle C—Findings Relating to District of Columbia Statehood 
Sec. 2201. Findings relating to District of Columbia statehood. 
Subtitle D—Territorial Voting Rights 
Sec. 2301. Findings relating to territorial voting rights. 
Sec. 2302. Congressional Task Force on Voting Rights of United States Citizen 
Residents of Territories of the United States. 
Subtitle E—Redistricting Reform 
Sec. 2400. Short title; finding of constitutional authority. 
PART 1—REQUIREMENTS FOR CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING 
Sec. 2401. Requiring congressional redistricting to be conducted through plan 
of independent State commission. 
Sec. 2402. Ban on mid-decade redistricting. 
Sec. 2403. Criteria for redistricting. 
PART 2—INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING COMMISSIONS 
Sec. 2411. Independent redistricting commission. 
Sec. 2412. Establishment of selection pool of individuals eligible to serve as 
members of commission. 
Sec. 2413. Public notice and input. 
Sec. 2414. Establishment of related entities. 
Sec. 2415. Report on diversity of memberships of independent redistricting 
commissions. 
PART 3—ROLE OF COURTS IN DEVELOPMENT OF REDISTRICTING PLANS 
Sec. 2421. Enactment of plan developed by 3-judge court. 
Sec. 2422. Special rule for redistricting conducted under order of Federal 
court. 
PART 4—ADMINISTRATIVE AND MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 
Sec. 2431. Payments to States for carrying out redistricting. 
Sec. 2432. Civil enforcement. 
Sec. 2433. State apportionment notice defined. 
Sec. 2434. No effect on elections for State and local office. 
Sec. 2435. Effective date. 
PART 5—REQUIREMENTS FOR REDISTRICTING CARRIED OUT PURSUANT TO 
2020 CENSUS 
SUBPART A—APPLICATION OF CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS FOR REDISTRICTING 
CARRIED OUT PURSUANT TO 2020 CENSUS 
Sec. 2441. Application of certain requirements for redistricting carried out pur-
suant to 2020 Census. 
Sec. 2442. Triggering events. 
SUBPART B—INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING COMMISSIONS FOR REDISTRICTING 
CARRIED OUT PURSUANT TO 2020 CENSUS
Sec. 2451. Use of independent redistricting commissions for redistricting car-
ried out pursuant to 2020 Census. 
Sec. 2452. Establishment of selection pool of individuals eligible to serve as 
members of commission. 
Sec. 2453. Criteria for redistricting plan; public notice and input. 
Sec. 2454. Establishment of related entities. 
Sec. 2455. Report on diversity of memberships of independent redistricting 
commissions. 
Subtitle F—Saving Eligible Voters From Voter Purging 
Sec. 2501. Short title. 
Sec. 2502. Conditions for removal of voters from list of registered voters. 
Subtitle G—No Effect on Authority of States To Provide Greater 
Opportunities for Voting 
Sec. 2601. No effect on authority of States to provide greater opportunities for 
voting. 
Subtitle H—Residence of Incarcerated Individuals 
Sec. 2701. Residence of incarcerated individuals. 
Subtitle I—Findings Relating to Youth Voting 
Sec. 2801. Findings relating to youth voting. 
Subtitle J—Severability 
Sec. 2901. Severability. 
TITLE III—ELECTION SECURITY 
Sec. 3000. Short title; sense of Congress. 
Subtitle A—Financial Support for Election Infrastructure 
PART 1—VOTING SYSTEM SECURITY IMPROVEMENT GRANTS 
Sec. 3001. Grants for obtaining compliant paper ballot voting systems and car-
rying out voting system security improvements. 
Sec. 3002. Coordination of voting system security activities with use of require-
ments payments and election administration requirements 
under Help America Vote Act of 2002. 
Sec. 3003. Incorporation of definitions. 
PART 2—GRANTS FOR RISK-LIMITING AUDITS OF RESULTS OF ELECTIONS 
Sec. 3011. Grants to States for conducting risk-limiting audits of results of 
elections. 
Sec. 3012. GAO analysis of effects of audits. 
PART 3—ELECTION INFRASTRUCTURE INNOVATION GRANT PROGRAM 
Sec. 3021. Election infrastructure innovation grant program. 
Subtitle B—Security Measures 
Sec. 3101. Election infrastructure designation.
Sec. 3102. Timely threat information. 
Sec. 3103. Security clearance assistance for election officials. 
Sec. 3104. Security risk and vulnerability assessments. 
Sec. 3105. Annual reports. 
Sec. 3106. Pre-election threat assessments. 
Subtitle C—Enhancing Protections for United States Democratic Institutions 
Sec. 3201. National strategy to protect United States democratic institutions. 
Sec. 3202. National Commission to Protect United States Democratic Institu-
tions. 
Subtitle D—Promoting Cybersecurity Through Improvements in Election 
Administration 
Sec. 3301. Testing of existing voting systems to ensure compliance with election 
cybersecurity guidelines and other guidelines. 
Sec. 3302. Treatment of electronic poll books as part of voting systems. 
Sec. 3303. Pre-election reports on voting system usage. 
Sec. 3304. Streamlining collection of election information. 
Sec. 3305. Exemption of cybersecurity assistance from limitations on amount of 
coordinated political party expenditures. 
Subtitle E—Preventing Election Hacking 
Sec. 3401. Short title. 
Sec. 3402. Election Security Bug Bounty Program. 
Subtitle F—Election Security Grants Advisory Committee 
Sec. 3501. Establishment of advisory committee. 
Subtitle G—Miscellaneous Provisions 
Sec. 3601. Definitions. 
Sec. 3602. Initial report on adequacy of resources available for implementation. 
Subtitle H—Use of Voting Machines Manufactured in the United States 
Sec. 3701. Use of voting machines manufactured in the United States. 
Subtitle I—Study and Report on Bots 
Sec. 3801. Short title. 
Sec. 3802. Task Force. 
Sec. 3803. Study and Report. 
Subtitle J—Severability 
Sec. 3901. Severability. 
DIVISION B—CAMPAIGN FINANCE 
TITLE IV—CAMPAIGN FINANCE TRANSPARENCY 
Subtitle A—Establishing Duty To Report Foreign Election Interference 
Sec. 4001. Findings relating to illicit money undermining our democracy. 
Sec. 4002. Federal campaign reporting of foreign contacts. 
Sec. 4003. Federal campaign foreign contact reporting compliance system.
Sec. 4004. Criminal penalties. 
Sec. 4005. Report to congressional intelligence committees. 
Sec. 4006. Rule of construction. 
Subtitle B—DISCLOSE Act 
Sec. 4100. Short title. 
PART 1—CLOSING LOOPHOLES ALLOWING SPENDING BY FOREIGN 
NATIONALS IN ELECTIONS 
Sec. 4101. Clarification of prohibition on participation by foreign nationals in 
election-related activities. 
Sec. 4102. Clarification of application of foreign money ban to certain disburse-
ments and activities. 
Sec. 4103. Audit and report on illicit foreign money in Federal elections. 
Sec. 4104. Prohibition on contributions and donations by foreign nationals in 
connections with ballot initiatives and referenda. 
Sec. 4105. Disbursements and activities subject to foreign money ban. 
Sec. 4106. Prohibiting establishment of corporation to conceal election con-
tributions and donations by foreign nationals. 
PART 2—REPORTING OF CAMPAIGN-RELATED DISBURSEMENTS 
Sec. 4111. Reporting of campaign-related disbursements. 
Sec. 4112. Application of foreign money ban to disbursements for campaign-re-
lated disbursements consisting of covered transfers. 
Sec. 4113. Effective date. 
PART 3—OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS 
Sec. 4121. Petition for certiorari. 
Sec. 4122. Judicial review of actions related to campaign finance laws. 
PART 4—DISCLOSURE OF CONTRIBUTIONS TO POLITICAL COMMITTEES 
IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO ELECTION 
Sec. 4131. Disclosure of contributions to political committees immediately prior 
to election. 
Subtitle C—Strengthening Oversight of Online Political Advertising 
Sec. 4201. Short title. 
Sec. 4202. Purpose. 
Sec. 4203. Findings. 
Sec. 4204. Sense of Congress. 
Sec. 4205. Expansion of definition of public communication. 
Sec. 4206. Expansion of definition of electioneering communication. 
Sec. 4207. Application of disclaimer statements to online communications. 
Sec. 4208. Political record requirements for online platforms. 
Sec. 4209. Preventing contributions, expenditures, independent expenditures, 
and disbursements for electioneering communications by for-
eign nationals in the form of online advertising. 
Sec. 4210. Independent study on media literacy and online political content 
consumption. 
Sec. 4211. Requiring online platforms to display notices identifying sponsors of 
political advertisements and to ensure notices continue to be 
present when advertisements are shared.
Subtitle D—Stand By Every Ad 
Sec. 4301. Short title. 
Sec. 4302. Stand by every ad. 
Sec. 4303. Disclaimer 
requirements 
for 
communications 
made 
through 
prerecorded telephone calls. 
Sec. 4304. No expansion of persons subject to disclaimer requirements on inter-
net communications. 
Sec. 4305. Effective date. 
Subtitle E—Deterring Foreign Interference in Elections 
PART 1—DETERRENCE UNDER FEDERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN ACT OF 1971 
Sec. 4401. Restrictions on exchange of campaign information between can-
didates and foreign powers. 
Sec. 4402. Clarification of standard for determining existence of coordination 
between campaigns and outside interests. 
Sec. 4403. Prohibition on provision of substantial assistance relating to con-
tribution or donation by foreign nationals. 
Sec. 4404. Clarification of application of foreign money ban. 
PART 2—NOTIFYING STATES OF DISINFORMATION CAMPAIGNS BY FOREIGN 
NATIONALS 
Sec. 4411. Notifying States of disinformation campaigns by foreign nationals. 
PART 3—PROHIBITING USE OF DEEPFAKES IN ELECTION CAMPAIGNS 
Sec. 4421. Prohibition on distribution of materially deceptive audio or visual 
media prior to election. 
PART 4—ASSESSMENT OF EXEMPTION OF REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS 
UNDER FARA FOR REGISTERED LOBBYISTS 
Sec. 4431. Assessment of exemption of registration requirements under FARA 
for registered lobbyists. 
Subtitle F—Secret Money Transparency 
Sec. 4501. Repeal of restriction of use of funds by Internal Revenue Service to 
bring transparency to political activity of certain nonprofit or-
ganizations. 
Sec. 4502. Repeal of regulations. 
Subtitle G—Shareholder Right-to-Know 
Sec. 4601. Repeal of restriction on use of funds by Securities and Exchange 
Commission to ensure shareholders of corporations have knowl-
edge of corporation political activity. 
Sec. 4602. Assessment of shareholder preferences for disbursements for polit-
ical purposes. 
Sec. 4603. Governance and operations of corporate PACs. 
Subtitle H—Disclosure of Political Spending by Government Contractors 
Sec. 4701. Repeal of restriction on use of funds to require disclosure of political 
spending by government contractors.
Subtitle I—Limitation and Disclosure Requirements for Presidential 
Inaugural Committees 
Sec. 4801. Short title. 
Sec. 4802. Limitations and disclosure of certain donations to, and disburse-
ments by, Inaugural Committees. 
Subtitle J—Miscellaneous Provisions 
Sec. 4901. Effective dates of provisions. 
Sec. 4902. Severability. 
TITLE V—CAMPAIGN FINANCE EMPOWERMENT 
Subtitle A—Findings Relating to Citizens United Decision 
Sec. 5001. Findings relating to Citizens United decision. 
Subtitle B—Congressional Elections 
Sec. 5100. Short title. 
PART 1—MY VOICE VOUCHER PILOT PROGRAM 
Sec. 5101. Establishment of pilot program. 
Sec. 5102. Voucher program described. 
Sec. 5103. Reports. 
Sec. 5104. Definitions. 
PART 2—SMALL DOLLAR FINANCING OF CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION 
CAMPAIGNS 
Sec. 5111. Benefits and eligibility requirements for candidates. 
‘‘TITLE V—SMALL DOLLAR FINANCING OF CONGRESSIONAL 
ELECTION CAMPAIGNS 
‘‘Subtitle A—Benefits 
‘‘Sec. 501. Benefits for participating candidates. 
‘‘Sec. 502. Procedures for making payments. 
‘‘Sec. 503. Use of funds. 
‘‘Sec. 504. Qualified small dollar contributions described. 
‘‘Subtitle B—Eligibility and Certification 
‘‘Sec. 511. Eligibility. 
‘‘Sec. 512. Qualifying requirements. 
‘‘Sec. 513. Certification. 
‘‘Subtitle C—Requirements for Candidates Certified as Participating 
Candidates 
‘‘Sec. 521. Contribution and expenditure requirements. 
‘‘Sec. 522. Administration of campaign. 
‘‘Sec. 523. Preventing unnecessary spending of public funds. 
‘‘Sec. 524. Remitting unspent funds after election. 
‘‘Subtitle D—Enhanced Match Support
‘‘Sec. 531. Enhanced support for general election. 
‘‘Sec. 532. Eligibility. 
‘‘Sec. 533. Amount. 
‘‘Sec. 534. Waiver of authority to retain portion of unspent funds after 
election. 
‘‘Subtitle E—Administrative Provisions 
‘‘Sec. 541. Freedom From Influence Fund. 
‘‘Sec. 542. Reviews and reports by Government Accountability Office. 
‘‘Sec. 543. Administration by Commission. 
‘‘Sec. 544. Violations and penalties. 
‘‘Sec. 545. Appeals process. 
‘‘Sec. 546. Indexing of amounts. 
‘‘Sec. 547. Election cycle defined. 
Sec. 5112. Contributions and expenditures by multicandidate and political 
party committees on behalf of participating candidates. 
Sec. 5113. Prohibiting use of contributions by participating candidates for pur-
poses other than campaign for election. 
Sec. 5114. Assessments against fines and penalties. 
Sec. 5115. Study and report on small dollar financing program. 
Sec. 5116. Effective date. 
Subtitle C—Presidential Elections 
Sec. 5200. Short title. 
PART 1—PRIMARY ELECTIONS 
Sec. 5201. Increase in and modifications to matching payments. 
Sec. 5202. Eligibility requirements for matching payments. 
Sec. 5203. Repeal of expenditure limitations. 
Sec. 5204. Period of availability of matching payments. 
Sec. 5205. Examination and audits of matchable contributions. 
Sec. 5206. Modification to limitation on contributions for Presidential primary 
candidates. 
Sec. 5207. Use of Freedom From Influence Fund as source of payments. 
PART 2—GENERAL ELECTIONS 
Sec. 5211. Modification of eligibility requirements for public financing. 
Sec. 5212. Repeal of expenditure limitations and use of qualified campaign con-
tributions. 
Sec. 5213. Matching payments and other modifications to payment amounts. 
Sec. 5214. Increase in limit on coordinated party expenditures. 
Sec. 5215. Establishment of uniform date for release of payments. 
Sec. 5216. Amounts in Presidential Election Campaign Fund. 
Sec. 5217. Use of general election payments for general election legal and ac-
counting compliance. 
Sec. 5218. Use of Freedom From Influence Fund as source of payments. 
PART 3—EFFECTIVE DATE 
Sec. 5221. Effective date. 
Subtitle D—Personal Use Services as Authorized Campaign Expenditures 
Sec. 5301. Short title; findings; purpose.
Sec. 5302. Treatment of payments for child care and other personal use serv-
ices as authorized campaign expenditure. 
Subtitle E—Empowering Small Dollar Donations 
Sec. 5401. Permitting political party committees to provide enhanced support 
for candidates through use of separate small dollar accounts. 
Subtitle F—Severability 
Sec. 5501. Severability. 
TITLE VI—CAMPAIGN FINANCE OVERSIGHT 
Subtitle A—Restoring Integrity to America’s Elections 
Sec. 6001. Short title. 
Sec. 6002. Membership of Federal Election Commission. 
Sec. 6003. Assignment of powers to Chair of Federal Election Commission. 
Sec. 6004. Revision to enforcement process. 
Sec. 6005. Permitting appearance at hearings on requests for advisory opinions 
by persons opposing the requests. 
Sec. 6006. Permanent extension of administrative penalty authority. 
Sec. 6007. Restrictions on ex parte communications. 
Sec. 6008. Clarifying authority of FEC attorneys to represent FEC in Supreme 
Court. 
Sec. 6009. Requiring forms to permit use of accent marks. 
Sec. 6010. Extension of statute of limitations for offenses under Federal Elec-
tion Campaign Act of 1971. 
Sec. 6011. Effective date; transition. 
Subtitle B—Stopping Super PAC-Candidate Coordination 
Sec. 6101. Short title. 
Sec. 6102. Clarification of treatment of coordinated expenditures as contribu-
tions to candidates. 
Sec. 6103. Clarification of ban on fundraising for super PACs by Federal can-
didates and officeholders. 
Subtitle C—Disposal of Contributions or Donations 
Sec. 6201. Timeframe for and prioritization of disposal of contributions or do-
nations. 
Sec. 6202. 1-year transition period for certain individuals. 
Subtitle D—Recommendations to Ensure Filing of Reports Before Date of 
Election 
Sec. 6301. Recommendations to ensure filing of reports before date of election. 
Subtitle E—Severability 
Sec. 6401. Severability. 
DIVISION C—ETHICS 
TITLE VII—ETHICAL STANDARDS 
Subtitle A—Supreme Court Ethics
Sec. 7001. Code of conduct for Federal judges. 
Subtitle B—Foreign Agents Registration 
Sec. 7101. Establishment of FARA investigation and enforcement unit within 
Department of Justice. 
Sec. 7102. Authority to impose civil money penalties. 
Sec. 7103. Disclosure of transactions involving things of financial value con-
ferred on officeholders. 
Sec. 7104. Ensuring online access to registration statements. 
Sec. 7105. Disclaimer requirements for materials posted on online platforms by 
agents of foreign principals on behalf of clients. 
Sec. 7106. Clarification of treatment of individuals who engage with the United 
States in political activities for a foreign principal in any place 
as agents of foreign principals. 
Sec. 7107. Analysis and report on challenges to enforcement of Foreign Agents 
Registration Act of 1938. 
Subtitle C—Lobbying Disclosure Reform 
Sec. 7201. Expanding scope of individuals and activities subject to require-
ments of Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995. 
Sec. 7202. Prohibiting receipt of compensation for lobbying activities on behalf 
of foreign countries violating human rights. 
Sec. 7203. Requiring lobbyists to disclose status as lobbyists upon making any 
lobbying contacts. 
Subtitle D—Recusal of Presidential Appointees 
Sec. 7301. Recusal of appointees. 
Subtitle E—Clearinghouse on Lobbying Information 
Sec. 7401. Establishment of clearinghouse. 
Subtitle F—Severability 
Sec. 7501. Severability. 
TITLE VIII—ETHICS REFORMS FOR THE PRESIDENT, VICE 
PRESIDENT, AND FEDERAL OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES 
Subtitle A—Executive Branch Conflict of Interest 
Sec. 8001. Short title. 
Sec. 8002. Restrictions on private sector payment for government service. 
Sec. 8003. Requirements relating to slowing the revolving door. 
Sec. 8004. Prohibition of procurement officers accepting employment from gov-
ernment contractors. 
Sec. 8005. Revolving door restrictions on employees moving into the private 
sector. 
Sec. 8006. Guidance on unpaid employees. 
Sec. 8007. Limitation on use of Federal funds and contracting at businesses 
owned by certain Government officers and employees. 
Subtitle B—Presidential Conflicts of Interest 
Sec. 8011. Short title.
Sec. 8012. Divestiture of personal financial interests of the President and Vice 
President that pose a potential conflict of interest. 
Sec. 8013. Initial financial disclosure. 
Sec. 8014. Contracts by the President or Vice President. 
Sec. 8015. Legal defense funds. 
Subtitle C—White House Ethics Transparency 
Sec. 8021. Short title. 
Sec. 8022. Procedure for waivers and authorizations relating to ethics require-
ments. 
Subtitle D—Executive Branch Ethics Enforcement 
Sec. 8031. Short title. 
Sec. 8032. Reauthorization of the Office of Government Ethics. 
Sec. 8033. Tenure of the Director of the Office of Government Ethics. 
Sec. 8034. Duties of Director of the Office of Government Ethics. 
Sec. 8035. Agency ethics officials training and duties. 
Sec. 8036. Prohibition on use of funds for certain Federal employee travel in 
contravention of certain regulations. 
Sec. 8037. Reports on cost of Presidential travel. 
Sec. 8038. Reports on cost of senior Federal official travel. 
Subtitle E—Conflicts From Political Fundraising 
Sec. 8041. Short title. 
Sec. 8042. Disclosure of certain types of contributions. 
Subtitle F—Transition Team Ethics 
Sec. 8051. Short title. 
Sec. 8052. Presidential transition ethics programs. 
Subtitle G—Ethics Pledge For Senior Executive Branch Employees 
Sec. 8061. Short title. 
Sec. 8062. Ethics pledge requirement for senior executive branch employees. 
Subtitle H—Travel on Private Aircraft by Senior Political Appointees 
Sec. 8071. Short title. 
Sec. 8072. Prohibition on use of funds for travel on private aircraft. 
Subtitle I—Severability 
Sec. 8081. Severability. 
TITLE IX—CONGRESSIONAL ETHICS REFORM 
Subtitle A—Requiring Members of Congress To Reimburse Treasury for 
Amounts Paid as Settlements and Awards Under Congressional Account-
ability Act of 1995 
Sec. 9001. Requiring Members of Congress to reimburse Treasury for amounts 
paid as settlements and awards under Congressional Account-
ability Act of 1995 in all cases of employment discrimination 
acts by Members.
Subtitle B—Conflicts of Interests 
Sec. 9101. Prohibiting Members of House of Representatives from serving on 
boards of for-profit entities. 
Sec. 9102. Conflict of interest rules for Members of Congress and congressional 
staff. 
Sec. 9103. Exercise of rulemaking powers. 
Subtitle C—Campaign Finance and Lobbying Disclosure 
Sec. 9201. Short title. 
Sec. 9202. Requiring disclosure in certain reports filed with Federal Election 
Commission of persons who are registered lobbyists. 
Sec. 9203. Effective date. 
Subtitle D—Access to Congressionally Mandated Reports 
Sec. 9301. Short title. 
Sec. 9302. Definitions. 
Sec. 9303. Establishment of online portal for congressionally mandated reports. 
Sec. 9304. Federal agency responsibilities. 
Sec. 9305. Removing and altering reports. 
Sec. 9306. Relationship to the Freedom of Information Act. 
Sec. 9307. Implementation. 
Subtitle E—Reports on Outside Compensation Earned by Congressional 
Employees 
Sec. 9401. Reports on outside compensation earned by congressional employees. 
Subtitle F—Severability 
Sec. 9501. Severability. 
TITLE X—PRESIDENTIAL AND VICE PRESIDENTIAL TAX 
TRANSPARENCY 
Sec. 10001. Presidential and Vice Presidential tax transparency. 
SEC. 3. FINDINGS OF GENERAL CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHOR-
ITY. 
Congress finds that the Constitution of the United 
States grants explicit and broad authority to protect the 
right to vote, to regulate elections for Federal office, to 
prevent and remedy discrimination in voting, and to de-
fend the Nation’s democratic process. Congress enacts the 
‘‘For the People Act of 2021’’ pursuant to this broad au-
thority, including but not limited to the following:
(1) Congress finds that it has broad authority 
to regulate the time, place, and manner of congres-
sional elections under the Elections Clause of the 
Constitution, article I, section 4, clause 1. The Su-
preme Court has affirmed that the ‘‘substantive 
scope’’ of the Elections Clause is ‘‘broad’’; that 
‘‘Times, Places, and Manner’’ are ‘‘comprehensive 
words which embrace authority to provide for a com-
plete code for congressional elections’’; and ‘‘[t]he 
power of Congress over the Times, Places and Man-
ner of congressional elections is paramount, and may 
be exercised at any time, and to any extent which 
it deems expedient; and so far as it is exercised, and 
no farther, the regulations effected supersede those 
of the State which are inconsistent therewith’’. Ari-
zona v. Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, 570 U.S. 1, 
8–9 (2013) (internal quotation marks and citations 
omitted). Indeed, ‘‘Congress has plenary and para-
mount jurisdiction over the whole subject’’ of con-
gressional elections, Ex parte Siebold, 100 U.S. (10 
Otto) 371, 388 (1879), and this power ‘‘may be ex-
ercised as and when Congress sees fit’’, and ‘‘so far 
as it extends and conflicts with the regulations of 
the State, necessarily supersedes them’’. Id. At 384. 
Among other things, Congress finds that the Elec-
tions Clause was intended to ‘‘vindicate the people’s 
right to equality of representation in the House’’. 
Wesberry v. Sanders, 376 U.S. 1, 16 (1964), and to 
address partisan gerrymandering, Rucho v. Common 
Cause, 588 U.S. llll, 32–33 (2019). 
(2) Congress also finds that it has both the au-
thority and responsibility, as the legislative body for 
the United States, to fulfill the promise of article IV, 
section 4, of the Constitution, which states: ‘‘The 
United States shall guarantee to every State in this 
Union a Republican Form of Government[.]’’. Con-
gress finds that its authority and responsibility to 
enforce the Guarantee Clause is particularly strong 
given that Federal courts have not enforced this 
clause because they understood that its enforcement 
is committed to Congress by the Constitution. 
(3)(A) Congress also finds that it has broad au-
thority pursuant to section 5 of the Fourteenth 
Amendment to legislate to enforce the provisions of 
the Fourteenth Amendment, including its protec-
tions of the right to vote and the democratic process. 
(B) Section 1 of the Fourteenth Amendment 
protects the fundamental right to vote, which is ‘‘of 
the most fundamental significance under our con-
stitutional structure’’. Ill. Bd. of Election v. Socialist
Workers Party, 440 U.S. 173, 184 (1979); see 
United States v. Classic, 313 U.S. 299 (1941) (‘‘Ob-
viously included within the right to choose, secured 
by the Constitution, is the right of qualified voters 
within a state to cast their ballots and have them 
counted . . .’’). As the Supreme Court has repeatedly 
affirmed, the right to vote is ‘‘preservative of all 
rights’’, Yick Wo v. Hopkins, 118 U.S. 356, 370 
(1886). Section 2 of the Fourteenth Amendment 
also protects the right to vote, granting Congress 
additional authority to reduce a State’s representa-
tion in Congress when the right to vote is abridged 
or denied. 
(C) As a result, Congress finds that it has the 
authority pursuant to section 5 of the Fourteenth 
Amendment to protect the right to vote. Congress 
also finds that States and localities have eroded ac-
cess to the right to vote through restrictions on the 
right to vote including excessively onerous voter 
identification requirements, burdensome voter reg-
istration procedures, voter purges, limited and un-
equal access to voting by mail, polling place closures, 
unequal distribution of election resources, and other 
impediments.
(D) Congress also finds that ‘‘the right of suf-
frage can be denied by a debasement or dilution of 
the weight of a citizen’s vote just as effectively as by 
wholly prohibiting the free exercise of the franchise’’. 
Reynolds v. Sims, 377 U.S. 533, 555 (1964). Con-
gress finds that the right of suffrage has been so di-
luted and debased by means of gerrymandering of 
districts. Congress finds that it has authority pursu-
ant to section 5 of the Fourteenth Amendment to 
remedy this debasement. 
(4)(A) Congress also finds that it has authority 
to legislate to eliminate racial discrimination in vot-
ing and the democratic process pursuant to both sec-
tion 5 of the Fourteenth Amendment, which grants 
equal protection of the laws, and section 2 of the 
Fifteenth Amendment, which explicitly bars denial 
or abridgment of the right to vote on account of 
race, color, or previous condition of servitude. 
(B) Congress finds that racial discrimination in 
access to voting and the political process persists. 
Voting restrictions, redistricting, and other electoral 
practices and processes continue to disproportion-
ately impact communities of color in the United 
States and do so as a result of both intentional ra-
cial discrimination, structural racism, and the ongo-
ing structural socioeconomic effects of historical ra-
cial discrimination. 
(C) Recent elections and studies have shown 
that minority communities wait longer in lines to 
vote, are more likely to have their mail ballots re-
jected, continue to face intimidation at the polls, are 
more likely to be disenfranchised by voter purges, 
and are disproportionately burdened by voter identi-
fication and other voter restrictions. Research shows 
that communities of color are more likely to face 
nearly every barrier to voting than their white coun-
terparts. 
(D) Congress finds that racial disparities in dis-
enfranchisement due to past felony convictions is 
particularly stark. In 2020, according to the Sen-
tencing Project, an estimated 5,200,000 Americans 
could not vote due to a felony conviction. One in 16 
African Americans of voting age is disenfranchised, 
a rate 3.7 times greater than that of non-African 
Americans. In seven States–Alabama, Florida, Ken-
tucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wyo-
ming–more than one in seven African Americans is 
disenfranchised, twice the national average for Afri-
can Americans. Congress finds that felony disenfran-
chisement was one of the tools of intentional racial
discrimination during the Jim Crow era. Congress 
further finds that current racial disparities in felony 
disenfranchisement are linked to this history of voter 
suppression, structural racism in the criminal justice 
system, and ongoing effects of historical discrimina-
tion. 
(5)(A) Congress finds that it further has the 
power to protect the right to vote from denial or 
abridgment on account of sex, age, or ability to pay 
a poll tax or other tax pursuant to the Nineteenth, 
Twenty-Fourth, and Twenty-Sixth Amendments. 
(B) Congress finds that electoral practices in-
cluding voting rights restoration conditions for peo-
ple with convictions, voter identification require-
ments, and other restrictions to the franchise burden 
voters on account of their ability to pay. 
(C) Congress further finds that electoral prac-
tices including voting restrictions related to college 
campuses, age restrictions on mail voting, and simi-
lar practices burden the right to vote on account of 
age. 
SEC. 4. STANDARDS FOR JUDICIAL REVIEW. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—For any action brought for declar-
atory or injunctive relief to challenge, whether facially or 
as-applied, the constitutionality or lawfulness of any provi-
sion of this Act or any amendment made by this Act or 
any rule or regulation promulgated under this Act, the fol-
lowing rules shall apply: 
(1) The action shall be filed in the United 
States District Court for the District of Columbia 
and an appeal from the decision of the district court 
may be taken to the Court of Appeals for the Dis-
trict of Columbia Circuit. These courts, and the Su-
preme Court of the United States on a writ of cer-
tiorari (if such a writ is issued), shall have exclusive 
jurisdiction to hear such actions. 
(2) The party filing the action shall concur-
rently deliver a copy the complaint to the Clerk of 
the House of Representatives and the Secretary of 
the Senate. 
(3) It shall be the duty of the United States 
District Court for the District of Columbia and the 
Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Cir-
cuit to advance on the docket and to expedite to the 
greatest possible extent the disposition of the action 
and appeal. 
(b) CLARIFYING SCOPE OF JURISDICTION.—If an ac-
tion at the time of its commencement is not subject to 
subsection (a), but an amendment, counterclaim, cross- 
claim, affirmative defense, or any other pleading or motion
is filed challenging, whether facially or as-applied, the con-
stitutionality or lawfulness of this Act or any amendment 
made by this Act or any rule or regulation promulgated 
under this Act, the district court shall transfer the action 
to the District Court for the District of Columbia, and 
the action shall thereafter be conducted pursuant to sub-
section (a). 
(c) INTERVENTION BY MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.—In 
any action described in subsection (a), any Member of the 
House of Representatives (including a Delegate or Resi-
dent Commissioner to the Congress) or Senate shall have 
the right to intervene either in support of or opposition 
to the position of a party to the case regarding the con-
stitutionality of the provision. To avoid duplication of ef-
forts and reduce the burdens placed on the parties to the 
action, the court in any such action may make such orders 
as it considers necessary, including orders to require 
interveners taking similar positions to file joint papers or 
to be represented by a single attorney at oral argument. 
DIVISION A—VOTING 
TITLE I—ELECTION ACCESS 
Sec. 1000. Short title; statement of policy. 
Subtitle A—Voter Registration Modernization 
Sec. 1000A. Short title. 
PART 1—PROMOTING INTERNET REGISTRATION 
Sec. 1001. Requiring availability of internet for voter registration. 
Sec. 1002. Use of internet to update registration information.
Sec. 1003. Provision of election information by electronic mail to individuals 
registered to vote. 
Sec. 1004. Clarification of requirement regarding necessary information to 
show eligibility to vote. 
Sec. 1005. Prohibiting State from requiring applicants to provide more than 
last 4 digits of Social Security number. 
Sec. 1006. Report on data collection. 
Sec. 1007. Permitting voter registration application form to serve as application 
for absentee ballot. 
Sec. 1008. Effective date. 
PART 2—AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION 
Sec. 1011. Short title; findings and purpose. 
Sec. 1012. Automatic registration of eligible individuals. 
Sec. 1013. Contributing agency assistance in registration. 
Sec. 1014. One-time contributing agency assistance in registration of eligible 
voters in existing records. 
Sec. 1015. Voter protection and security in automatic registration. 
Sec. 1016. Registration portability and correction. 
Sec. 1017. Payments and grants. 
Sec. 1018. Treatment of exempt States. 
Sec. 1019. Miscellaneous provisions. 
Sec. 1020. Definitions. 
Sec. 1021. Effective date. 
PART 3—SAME DAY VOTER REGISTRATION 
Sec. 1031. Same day registration. 
PART 4—CONDITIONS ON REMOVAL ON BASIS OF INTERSTATE CROSS- 
CHECKS 
Sec. 1041. Conditions on removal of registrants from official list of eligible vot-
ers on basis of interstate cross-checks. 
PART 5—OTHER INITIATIVES TO PROMOTE VOTER REGISTRATION 
Sec. 1051. Annual reports on voter registration statistics. 
Sec. 1052. Ensuring pre-election registration deadlines are consistent with tim-
ing of legal public holidays. 
Sec. 1053. Use of Postal Service hard copy change of address form to remind 
individuals to update voter registration. 
Sec. 1054. Grants to States for activities to encourage involvement of minors 
in election activities. 
Sec. 1055. Permission to place exhibits. 
Sec. 1056. Requiring States to establish and operate voter privacy programs. 
Sec. 1057. Inclusion of voter registration information with certain leases and 
vouchers for federally assisted rental housing and mortgage ap-
plications. 
PART 6—AVAILABILITY OF HAVA REQUIREMENTS PAYMENTS 
Sec. 1061. Availability of requirements payments under HAVA to cover costs 
of compliance with new requirements. 
PART 7—PROHIBITING INTERFERENCE WITH VOTER REGISTRATION
Sec. 1071. Prohibiting hindering, interfering with, or preventing voter registra-
tion. 
Sec. 1072. Establishment of best practices. 
PART 8—VOTER REGISTRATION EFFICIENCY ACT 
Sec. 1081. Short title. 
Sec. 1082. Requiring applicants for motor vehicle driver’s licenses in new state 
to indicate whether state serves as residence for voter registra-
tion purposes. 
PART 9—PROVIDING VOTER REGISTRATION INFORMATION TO SECONDARY 
SCHOOL STUDENTS 
Sec. 1091. Pilot program for providing voter registration information to sec-
ondary school students prior to graduation. 
Sec. 1092. Reports. 
Sec. 1093. Authorization of appropriations. 
PART 10—VOTER REGISTRATION OF MINORS 
Sec. 1094. Acceptance of voter registration applications from individuals under 
18 years of age. 
Subtitle B—Access to Voting for Individuals With Disabilities 
Sec. 1101. Requirements for States to promote access to voter registration and 
voting for individuals with disabilities. 
Sec. 1102. Expansion and reauthorization of grant program to assure voting 
access for individuals with disabilities. 
Sec. 1103. Pilot programs for enabling individuals with disabilities to register 
to vote privately and independently at residences. 
Sec. 1104. GAO analysis and report on voting access for individuals with dis-
abilities. 
Subtitle C—Prohibiting Voter Caging 
Sec. 1201. Voter caging and other questionable challenges prohibited. 
Sec. 1202. Development and adoption of best practices for preventing voter 
caging. 
Subtitle D—Prohibiting Deceptive Practices and Preventing Voter 
Intimidation 
Sec. 1301. Short title. 
Sec. 1302. Prohibition on deceptive practices in Federal elections. 
Sec. 1303. Corrective action. 
Sec. 1304. Reports to Congress. 
Subtitle E—Democracy Restoration 
Sec. 1401. Short title. 
Sec. 1402. Findings. 
Sec. 1403. Rights of citizens. 
Sec. 1404. Enforcement. 
Sec. 1405. Notification of restoration of voting rights. 
Sec. 1406. Definitions. 
Sec. 1407. Relation to other laws.
Sec. 1408. Federal prison funds. 
Sec. 1409. Effective date. 
Subtitle F—Promoting Accuracy, Integrity, and Security Through Voter- 
Verified Permanent Paper Ballot 
Sec. 1501. Short title. 
Sec. 1502. Paper ballot and manual counting requirements. 
Sec. 1503. Accessibility and ballot verification for individuals with disabilities. 
Sec. 1504. Durability and readability requirements for ballots. 
Sec. 1505. Study and report on optimal ballot design. 
Sec. 1506. Paper ballot printing requirements. 
Sec. 1507. Effective date for new requirements. 
Subtitle G—Provisional Ballots 
Sec. 1601. Requirements for counting provisional ballots; establishment of uni-
form and nondiscriminatory standards. 
Subtitle H—Early Voting 
Sec. 1611. Early voting. 
Subtitle I—Voting by Mail 
Sec. 1621. Voting by mail. 
Sec. 1622. Absentee ballot tracking program. 
Sec. 1623. Voting materials postage. 
Sec. 1624. Study and report on vote-by-mail procedures. 
Subtitle J—Absent Uniformed Services Voters and Overseas Voters 
Sec. 1701. Pre-election reports on availability and transmission of absentee bal-
lots. 
Sec. 1702. Enforcement. 
Sec. 1703. Revisions to 45-day absentee ballot transmission rule. 
Sec. 1704. Use of single absentee ballot application for subsequent elections. 
Sec. 1705. Extending guarantee of residency for voting purposes to family 
members of absent military personnel. 
Sec. 1706. Requiring transmission of blank absentee ballots under UOCAVA to 
certain voters. 
Sec. 1707. Department of Justice report on voter disenfranchisement. 
Sec. 1708. Effective date. 
Subtitle K—Poll Worker Recruitment and Training 
Sec. 1801. Grants to States for poll worker recruitment and training. 
Sec. 1802. State defined. 
Subtitle L—Enhancement of Enforcement 
Sec. 1811. Enhancement of enforcement of Help America Vote Act of 2002. 
Subtitle M—Federal Election Integrity 
Sec. 1821. Prohibition on campaign activities by chief State election adminis-
tration officials.
Subtitle N—Promoting Voter Access Through Election Administration 
Improvements 
PART 1—PROMOTING VOTER ACCESS 
Sec. 1901. Treatment of institutions of higher education. 
Sec. 1902. Minimum notification requirements for voters affected by polling 
place changes. 
Sec. 1903. Permitting use of sworn written statement to meet identification re-
quirements for voting. 
Sec. 1904. Accommodations for voters residing in Indian lands. 
Sec. 1905. Voter information response systems and hotline. 
Sec. 1906. Ensuring equitable and efficient operation of polling places. 
Sec. 1907. Requiring States to provide secured drop boxes for voted absentee 
ballots in elections for Federal office. 
Sec. 1908. Prohibiting States from restricting curbside voting. 
Sec. 1909. Election Day as legal public holiday. 
Sec. 1910. GAO study on voter turnout rates. 
Sec. 1910A. Study on ranked-choice voting. 
PART 2—DISASTER AND EMERGENCY CONTINGENCY PLANS 
Sec. 1911. Requirements for Federal election contingency plans in response to 
natural disasters and emergencies. 
PART 3—IMPROVEMENTS IN OPERATION OF ELECTION ASSISTANCE 
COMMISSION 
Sec. 1921. Reauthorization of Election Assistance Commission. 
Sec. 1922. Requiring States to participate in post-general election surveys. 
Sec. 1923. Reports by National Institute of Standards and Technology on use 
of funds transferred from Election Assistance Commission. 
Sec. 1924. Recommendations to improve operations of Election Assistance 
Commission. 
Sec. 1925. Repeal of exemption of Election Assistance Commission from certain 
government contracting requirements. 
PART 4—MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 
Sec. 1931. Application of Federal election administration laws to territories of 
the United States. 
Sec. 1932. Definition of election for Federal office. 
Sec. 1933. Authorizing payments to voting accessibility protection and advocacy 
systems serving the American Indian Consortium. 
Sec. 1934. Application of Federal voter protection laws to territories of the 
United States. 
Sec. 1935. Placement of statues of citizens of territories of the United States 
in Statuary Hall. 
Sec. 1936. No effect on other laws. 
Sec. 1937. Clarification of Exemption for States Without Voter Registration. 
PART 5—VOTER NOTICE 
Sec. 1941. Short title. 
Sec. 1942. Public education campaigns in event of changes in elections in re-
sponse to emergencies. 
Sec. 1943. Requirements for websites of election officials.
Sec. 1944. Payments by Election Assistance Commission to States for costs of 
compliance. 
Subtitle O—Severability 
Sec. 1951. Severability. 
SEC. 1000. SHORT TITLE; STATEMENT OF POLICY. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This title may be cited as the 
‘‘Voter Empowerment Act of 2021’’. 
(b) STATEMENT OF POLICY.—It is the policy of the 
United States that— 
(1) the ability of all eligible citizens of the 
United States to access and exercise their constitu-
tional right to vote in a free, fair, and timely manner 
must be vigilantly enhanced, protected, and main-
tained; and 
(2) the integrity, security, and accountability of 
the voting process must be vigilantly protected, 
maintained, and enhanced in order to protect and 
preserve electoral and participatory democracy in the 
United States. 
Subtitle A—Voter Registration 
Modernization 
SEC. 1000A. SHORT TITLE. 
This subtitle may be cited as the ‘‘Voter Registration 
Modernization Act of 2021’’.
cial shall send the individual a notice of the disposi-
tion of the application. 
‘‘(3) METHOD OF NOTIFICATION.—The appro-
priate State or local election official shall send the 
notices required under this subsection by regular 
mail and— 
‘‘(A) in the case of an individual who has 
provided the official with an electronic mail ad-
dress, by electronic mail; and 
‘‘(B) at the option of the individual, by 
text message. 
‘‘(e) PROVISION
OF SERVICES
IN NONPARTISAN 
MANNER.—The services made available under subsection 
(a) shall be provided in a manner that ensures that, con-
sistent with section 7(a)(5)— 
‘‘(1) the online application does not seek to in-
fluence an applicant’s political preference or party 
registration; and 
‘‘(2) there is no display on the website pro-
moting any political preference or party allegiance, 
except that nothing in this paragraph may be con-
strued to prohibit an applicant from registering to 
vote as a member of a political party. 
‘‘(f) PROTECTION OF SECURITY OF INFORMATION.— 
In meeting the requirements of this section, the State shall
establish appropriate technological security measures to 
prevent to the greatest extent practicable any unauthor-
ized access to information provided by individuals using 
the services made available under subsection (a). 
‘‘(g) ACCESSIBILITY OF SERVICES.—A state shall en-
sure that the services made available under this section 
are made available to individuals with disabilities to the 
same extent as services are made available to all other in-
dividuals. 
‘‘(h) USE OF ADDITIONAL TELEPHONE-BASED SYS-
TEM.—A State shall make the services made available on-
line under subsection (a) available through the use of an 
automated telephone-based system, subject to the same 
terms and conditions applicable under this section to the 
services made available online, in addition to making the 
services available online in accordance with the require-
ments of this section. 
‘‘(i) NONDISCRIMINATION AMONG REGISTERED VOT-
ERS USING MAIL AND ONLINE REGISTRATION.—In car-
rying out this Act, the Help America Vote Act of 2002, 
or any other Federal, State, or local law governing the 
treatment of registered voters in the State or the adminis-
tration of elections for public office in the State, a State 
shall treat a registered voter who registered to vote online 
in accordance with this section in the same manner as the
State treats a registered voter who registered to vote by 
mail.’’. 
(b) SPECIAL
REQUIREMENTS
FOR
INDIVIDUALS 
USING ONLINE REGISTRATION.— 
(1) TREATMENT AS INDIVIDUALS REGISTERING 
TO VOTE BY MAIL FOR PURPOSES OF FIRST-TIME 
VOTER
IDENTIFICATION
REQUIREMENTS.—Section 
303(b)(1)(A) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 
(52 U.S.C. 21083(b)(1)(A)) is amended by striking 
‘‘by mail’’ and inserting ‘‘by mail or online under 
section 6A of the National Voter Registration Act of 
1993’’. 
(2) REQUIRING
SIGNATURE
FOR
FIRST-TIME 
VOTERS IN JURISDICTION.—Section 303(b) of such 
Act (52 U.S.C. 21083(b)) is amended— 
(A) by redesignating paragraph (5) as 
paragraph (6); and 
(B) by inserting after paragraph (4) the 
following new paragraph: 
‘‘(5) SIGNATURE
REQUIREMENTS
FOR
FIRST- 
TIME VOTERS USING ONLINE REGISTRATION.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—A State shall, in a 
uniform and nondiscriminatory manner, require 
an individual to meet the requirements of sub-
paragraph (B) if—
‘‘(i) the individual registered to vote 
in the State online under section 6A of the 
National Voter Registration Act of 1993; 
and 
‘‘(ii) the individual has not previously 
voted in an election for Federal office in 
the State. 
‘‘(B) 
REQUIREMENTS.—An 
individual 
meets the requirements of this subparagraph 
if— 
‘‘(i) in the case of an individual who 
votes in person, the individual provides the 
appropriate State or local election official 
with a handwritten signature; or 
‘‘(ii) in the case of an individual who 
votes by mail, the individual submits with 
the ballot a handwritten signature. 
‘‘(C) 
INAPPLICABILITY.—Subparagraph 
(A) does not apply in the case of an individual 
who is— 
‘‘(i) entitled to vote by absentee ballot 
under the Uniformed and Overseas Citi-
zens Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 
20302 et seq.);
‘‘(ii) provided the right to vote other-
wise 
than 
in 
person 
under 
section 
3(b)(2)(B)(ii) of the Voting Accessibility 
for the Elderly and Handicapped Act (52 
U.S.C. 20102(b)(2)(B)(ii)); or 
‘‘(iii) entitled to vote otherwise than 
in person under any other Federal law.’’. 
(3) CONFORMING
AMENDMENT
RELATING
TO 
EFFECTIVE
DATE.—Section 303(d)(2)(A) of such 
Act (52 U.S.C. 21083(d)(2)(A)) is amended by 
striking ‘‘Each State’’ and inserting ‘‘Except as pro-
vided in subsection (b)(5), each State’’. 
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) TIMING OF REGISTRATION.—Section 8(a)(1) 
of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 
U.S.C. 20507(a)(1)) is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of sub-
paragraph (C); 
(B) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as 
subparagraph (E); and 
(C) by inserting after subparagraph (C) 
the following new subparagraph: 
‘‘(D) in the case of online registration 
through the official public website of an election 
official under section 6A, if the valid voter reg-
istration application is submitted online not 
later than the lesser of 28 days, or the period 
provided by State law, before the date of the 
election (as determined by treating the date on 
which the application is sent electronically as 
the date on which it is submitted); and’’. 
(2) INFORMING
APPLICANTS
OF
ELIGIBILITY 
REQUIREMENTS
AND
PENALTIES.—Section 8(a)(5) 
of such Act (52 U.S.C. 20507(a)(5)) is amended by 
striking ‘‘and 7’’ and inserting ‘‘6A, and 7’’. 
SEC. 1002. USE OF INTERNET TO UPDATE REGISTRATION 
INFORMATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.— 
(1) UPDATES TO INFORMATION CONTAINED ON 
COMPUTERIZED
STATEWIDE
VOTER
REGISTRATION 
LIST.—Section 303(a) of the Help America Vote Act 
of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21083(a)) is amended by adding 
at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(6) USE OF INTERNET BY REGISTERED VOT-
ERS TO UPDATE INFORMATION.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The appropriate State 
or local election official shall ensure that any 
registered voter on the computerized list may at 
any time update the voter’s registration infor-
mation, including the voter’s address and elec-
tronic mail address, online through the official 
public website of the election official responsible 
for the maintenance of the list, so long as the 
voter attests to the contents of the update by 
providing a signature in electronic form in the 
same manner required under section 6A(c) of 
the National Voter Registration Act of 1993. 
‘‘(B) PROCESSING OF UPDATED INFORMA-
TION BY ELECTION OFFICIALS.—If a registered 
voter updates registration information under 
subparagraph (A), the appropriate State or 
local election official shall— 
‘‘(i) revise any information on the 
computerized list to reflect the update 
made by the voter; and 
‘‘(ii) if the updated registration infor-
mation affects the voter’s eligibility to vote 
in an election for Federal office, ensure 
that the information is processed with re-
spect to the election if the voter updates 
the information not later than the lesser of 
7 days, or the period provided by State 
law, before the date of the election. 
‘‘(C) CONFIRMATION AND DISPOSITION.—
‘‘(i) CONFIRMATION
OF
RECEIPT.— 
Upon the online submission of updated 
registration information by an individual 
under this paragraph, the appropriate 
State or local election official shall send 
the individual a notice confirming the 
State’s receipt of the updated information 
and providing instructions on how the indi-
vidual may check the status of the update. 
‘‘(ii) NOTICE
OF
DISPOSITION.—Not 
later than 7 days after the appropriate 
State or local election official has accepted 
or rejected updated information submitted 
by an individual under this paragraph, the 
official shall send the individual a notice of 
the disposition of the update. 
‘‘(iii) METHOD
OF
NOTIFICATION.— 
The appropriate State or local election offi-
cial shall send the notices required under 
this subparagraph by regular mail and— 
‘‘(I) in the case of an individual 
who has requested that the State pro-
vide voter registration and voting in-
formation through electronic mail, by 
electronic mail; and
‘‘(II) at the option of the indi-
vidual, by text message.’’. 
(2) CONFORMING
AMENDMENT
RELATING
TO 
EFFECTIVE
DATE.—Section 303(d)(1)(A) of such 
Act (52 U.S.C. 21083(d)(1)(A)) is amended by 
striking ‘‘subparagraph (B)’’ and inserting ‘‘sub-
paragraph (B) and subsection (a)(6)’’. 
(b) ABILITY OF REGISTRANT TO USE ONLINE UP-
DATE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON RESIDENCE.—Sec-
tion 8(d)(2)(A) of the National Voter Registration Act of 
1993 (52 U.S.C. 20507(d)(2)(A)) is amended— 
(1) in the first sentence, by inserting after ‘‘re-
turn the card’’ the following: ‘‘or update the reg-
istrant’s information on the computerized statewide 
voter registration list using the online method pro-
vided under section 303(a)(6) of the Help America 
Vote Act of 2002’’; and 
(2) in the second sentence, by striking ‘‘re-
turned,’’ and inserting the following: ‘‘returned or if 
the registrant does not update the registrant’s infor-
mation on the computerized Statewide voter reg-
istration list using such online method,’’.
SEC. 1003. PROVISION OF ELECTION INFORMATION BY 
ELECTRONIC MAIL TO INDIVIDUALS REG-
ISTERED TO VOTE. 
(a) INCLUDING OPTION ON VOTER REGISTRATION 
APPLICATION TO PROVIDE E-MAIL ADDRESS AND RE-
CEIVE INFORMATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 9(b) of the National 
Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 
20508(b)) is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of para-
graph (3); 
(B) by striking the period at the end of 
paragraph (4) and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(5) shall include a space for the applicant to 
provide (at the applicant’s option) an electronic mail 
address, together with a statement that, if the appli-
cant so requests, instead of using regular mail the 
appropriate State and local election officials shall 
provide to the applicant, through electronic mail sent 
to that address, the same voting information (as de-
fined in section 302(b)(2) of the Help America Vote 
Act of 2002) which the officials would provide to the 
applicant through regular mail.’’.
(2) PROHIBITING
USE
FOR
PURPOSES
UNRE-
LATED
TO
OFFICIAL
DUTIES
OF
ELECTION
OFFI-
CIALS.—Section 9 of such Act (52 U.S.C. 20508) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new 
subsection: 
‘‘(c) PROHIBITING USE OF ELECTRONIC MAIL AD-
DRESSES FOR OTHER THAN OFFICIAL PURPOSES.—The 
chief State election official shall ensure that any electronic 
mail address provided by an applicant under subsection 
(b)(5) is used only for purposes of carrying out official 
duties of election officials and is not transmitted by any 
State or local election official (or any agent of such an 
official, including a contractor) to any person who does 
not require the address to carry out such official duties 
and who is not under the direct supervision and control 
of a State or local election official.’’. 
(b) REQUIRING PROVISION
OF INFORMATION
BY 
ELECTION OFFICIALS.—Section 302(b) of the Help Amer-
ica Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21082(b)) is amended 
by adding at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(3) PROVISION OF OTHER INFORMATION BY 
ELECTRONIC MAIL.—If an individual who is a reg-
istered voter has provided the State or local election 
official with an electronic mail address for the pur-
pose of receiving voting information (as described in
section 9(b)(5) of the National Voter Registration 
Act of 1993), the appropriate State or local election 
official, through electronic mail transmitted not later 
than 7 days before the date of the election for Fed-
eral office involved, shall provide the individual with 
information on how to obtain the following informa-
tion by electronic means: 
‘‘(A) The name and address of the polling 
place at which the individual is assigned to vote 
in the election. 
‘‘(B) The hours of operation for the polling 
place. 
‘‘(C) A description of any identification or 
other information the individual may be re-
quired to present at the polling place.’’. 
SEC. 1004. CLARIFICATION OF REQUIREMENT REGARDING 
NECESSARY INFORMATION TO SHOW ELIGI-
BILITY TO VOTE. 
Section 8 of the National Voter Registration Act of 
1993 (52 U.S.C. 20507) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsection (j) as sub-
section (k); and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (i) the fol-
lowing new subsection:
‘‘(j) REQUIREMENT FOR STATE TO REGISTER APPLI-
CANTS PROVIDING NECESSARY INFORMATION TO SHOW 
ELIGIBILITY TO VOTE.—For purposes meeting the re-
quirement of subsection (a)(1) that an eligible applicant 
is registered to vote in an election for Federal office within 
the deadlines required under such subsection, the State 
shall consider an applicant to have provided a ‘valid voter 
registration form’ if— 
‘‘(1) the applicant has substantially completed 
the application form and attested to the statement 
required by section 9(b)(2); and 
‘‘(2) in the case of an applicant who registers 
to vote online in accordance with section 6A, the ap-
plicant provides a signature in accordance with sub-
section (c) of such section.’’. 
SEC. 1005. PROHIBITING STATE FROM REQUIRING APPLI-
CANTS TO PROVIDE MORE THAN LAST 4 DIG-
ITS OF SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER. 
(a) FORM
INCLUDED
WITH
APPLICATION
FOR 
MOTOR
VEHICLE
DRIVER’S
LICENSE.—Section 
5(c)(2)(B)(ii) of the National Voter Registration Act of 
1993 (52 U.S.C. 20504(c)(2)(B)(ii)) is amended by strik-
ing the semicolon at the end and inserting the following: 
‘‘, and to the extent that the application requires the appli-
cant to provide a Social Security number, may not require
the applicant to provide more than the last 4 digits of such 
number;’’. 
(b) NATIONAL MAIL VOTER REGISTRATION FORM.— 
Section 9(b)(1) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 20508(b)(1)) is 
amended by striking the semicolon at the end and insert-
ing the following: ‘‘, and to the extent that the form re-
quires the applicant to provide a Social Security number, 
the form may not require the applicant to provide more 
than the last 4 digits of such number;’’. 
SEC. 1006. REPORT ON DATA COLLECTION. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Attorney General shall submit to Congress 
a report on local, State, and Federal personally identifi-
able information data collections efforts, the cyber security 
resources necessary to defend such efforts from online at-
tacks, and the impact of a potential data breach of local, 
State, or Federal online voter registration systems. 
SEC. 1007. PERMITTING VOTER REGISTRATION APPLICA-
TION FORM TO SERVE AS APPLICATION FOR 
ABSENTEE BALLOT. 
Section 5(c)(2) of the National Voter Registration 
Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20504(c)(2)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of subpara-
graph (D);
(2) by striking the period at the end of sub-
paragraph (E) and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraph: 
‘‘(F) at the option of the applicant, shall serve 
as an application to vote by absentee ballot in the 
next election for Federal office held in the State and 
in each subsequent election for Federal office held in 
the State.’’. 
SEC. 1008. EFFECTIVE DATE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection 
(b), the amendments made by this part (other than the 
amendments made by section 1004) shall take effect Jan-
uary 1, 2022. 
(b) WAIVER.—Subject to the approval of the Election 
Assistance Commission, if a State certifies to the Election 
Assistance Commission that the State will not meet the 
deadline referred to in subsection (a) because of extraor-
dinary circumstances and includes in the certification the 
reasons for the failure to meet the deadline, subsection 
(a) shall apply to the State as if the reference in such 
subsection to ‘‘January 1, 2022’’ were a reference to 
‘‘January 1, 2024’’.
PART 2—AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION 
SEC. 1011. SHORT TITLE; FINDINGS AND PURPOSE. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This part may be cited as the 
‘‘Automatic Voter Registration Act of 2021’’. 
(b) FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.— 
(1) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that— 
(A) the right to vote is a fundamental 
right of citizens of the United States; 
(B) it is the responsibility of the State and 
Federal Governments to ensure that every eligi-
ble citizen is registered to vote; 
(C) existing voter registration systems can 
be inaccurate, costly, inaccessible and con-
fusing, with damaging effects on voter partici-
pation in elections for Federal office and dis-
proportionate impacts on young people, persons 
with disabilities, and racial and ethnic minori-
ties; and 
(D) voter registration systems must be up-
dated with 21st Century technologies and pro-
cedures to maintain their security. 
(2) PURPOSE.—It is the purpose of this part— 
(A) to establish that it is the responsibility 
of government at every level to ensure that all 
eligible citizens are registered to vote in elec-
tions for Federal office;
(B) to enable the State and Federal Gov-
ernments to register all eligible citizens to vote 
with accurate, cost-efficient, and up-to-date pro-
cedures; 
(C) to modernize voter registration and list 
maintenance procedures with electronic and 
internet capabilities; and 
(D) to protect and enhance the integrity, 
accuracy, efficiency, and accessibility of the 
electoral process for all eligible citizens. 
SEC. 1012. AUTOMATIC REGISTRATION OF ELIGIBLE INDI-
VIDUALS. 
(a) REQUIRING STATES TO ESTABLISH AND OPER-
ATE AUTOMATIC REGISTRATION SYSTEM.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The chief State election offi-
cial of each State shall establish and operate a sys-
tem of automatic registration for the registration of 
eligible individuals to vote for elections for Federal 
office in the State, in accordance with the provisions 
of this part. 
(2) DEFINITION.—The term ‘‘automatic reg-
istration’’ means a system that registers an indi-
vidual to vote in elections for Federal office in a 
State, if eligible, by electronically transferring the 
information necessary for registration from govern-
ment agencies to election officials of the State so 
that, unless the individual affirmatively declines to 
be registered, the individual will be registered to vote 
in such elections. 
(b) REGISTRATION
OF VOTERS BASED
ON NEW 
AGENCY RECORDS.—The chief State election official 
shall— 
(1) not later than 15 days after a contributing 
agency has transmitted information with respect to 
an individual pursuant to section 1013, ensure that 
the individual is registered to vote in elections for 
Federal office in the State if the individual is eligible 
to be registered to vote in such elections; and 
(2) not later than 120 days after a contributing 
agency has transmitted such information with re-
spect to the individual, send written notice to the in-
dividual, in addition to other means of notice estab-
lished by this part, of the individual’s voter registra-
tion status. 
(c) ONE-TIME REGISTRATION OF VOTERS BASED ON 
EXISTING CONTRIBUTING AGENCY RECORDS.—The chief 
State election official shall— 
(1) identify all individuals whose information is 
transmitted by a contributing agency pursuant to
section 1014 and who are eligible to be, but are not 
currently, registered to vote in that State; 
(2) promptly send each such individual written 
notice, in addition to other means of notice estab-
lished by this part, which shall not identify the con-
tributing agency that transmitted the information 
but shall include— 
(A) an explanation that voter registration 
is voluntary, but if the individual does not de-
cline registration, the individual will be reg-
istered to vote; 
(B) a statement offering the opportunity to 
decline voter registration through means con-
sistent with the requirements of this part; 
(C) in the case of a State in which affili-
ation or enrollment with a political party is re-
quired in order to participate in an election to 
select the party’s candidate in an election for 
Federal office, a statement offering the indi-
vidual the opportunity to affiliate or enroll with 
a political party or to decline to affiliate or en-
roll with a political party, through means con-
sistent with the requirements of this part; 
(D) the substantive qualifications of an 
elector in the State as listed in the mail voter
registration application form for elections for 
Federal office prescribed pursuant to section 9 
of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, 
the consequences of false registration, and a 
statement that the individual should decline to 
register if the individual does not meet all those 
qualifications; 
(E) instructions for correcting any erro-
neous information; 
(F) instructions for providing any addi-
tional information which is listed in the mail 
voter registration application form for elections 
for Federal office prescribed pursuant to section 
9 of the National Voter Registration Act of 
1993; and 
(G) an explanation of what information the 
State and local election officials maintain with 
respect to an individual voter registration status 
for purposes of elections for Federal office in 
the State, how that information is shared or 
sold and with whom, what information is auto-
matically kept confidential, what information is 
needed to access voter information online, and 
what privacy programs are available, such as 
those described in section 1056;
(3) ensure that each such individual who is eli-
gible to register to vote in elections for Federal of-
fice in the State is promptly registered to vote not 
later than 45 days after the official sends the indi-
vidual the written notice under paragraph (2), un-
less, during the 30-day period which begins on the 
date the election official sends the individual such 
written notice, the individual declines registration in 
writing, through a communication made over the 
internet, or by an officially logged telephone commu-
nication; and 
(4) send written notice to each such individual, 
in addition to other means of notice established by 
this part, of the individual’s voter registration sta-
tus. 
(d) TREATMENT OF INDIVIDUALS UNDER 18 YEARS 
OF AGE.—A State may not refuse to treat an individual 
as an eligible individual for purposes of this part on the 
grounds that the individual is less than 18 years of age 
at the time a contributing agency receives information 
with respect to the individual, so long as the individual 
is at least 16 years of age at such time. Nothing in the 
previous sentence may be construed to require a State to 
permit an individual who is under 18 years of age at the
time of an election for Federal office to vote in the elec-
tion. 
(e) CONTRIBUTING AGENCY DEFINED.—In this part, 
the term ‘‘contributing agency’’ means, with respect to a 
State, an agency listed in section 1013(e). 
SEC. 1013. CONTRIBUTING AGENCY ASSISTANCE IN REG-
ISTRATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In accordance with this part, each 
contributing agency in a State shall assist the State’s chief 
election official in registering to vote all eligible individuals 
served by that agency. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS
FOR
CONTRIBUTING
AGEN-
CIES.— 
(1) INSTRUCTIONS ON AUTOMATIC REGISTRA-
TION.—With each application for service or assist-
ance, and with each related recertification, renewal, 
or change of address, or, in the case of an institu-
tion of higher education, with each registration of a 
student for enrollment in a course of study, each 
contributing agency that (in the normal course of its 
operations) requests individuals to affirm United 
States citizenship (either directly or as part of the 
overall application for service or assistance) shall in-
form each such individual who is a citizen of the 
United States of the following:
(A) Unless that individual declines to reg-
ister to vote, or is found ineligible to vote, the 
individual will be registered to vote or, if appli-
cable, the individual’s registration will be up-
dated. 
(B) The substantive qualifications of an 
elector in the State as listed in the mail voter 
registration application form for elections for 
Federal office prescribed pursuant to section 9 
of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, 
the consequences of false registration, and the 
individual should decline to register if the indi-
vidual does not meet all those qualifications. 
(C) In the case of a State in which affili-
ation or enrollment with a political party is re-
quired in order to participate in an election to 
select the party’s candidate in an election for 
Federal office, the requirement that the indi-
vidual must affiliate or enroll with a political 
party in order to participate in such an election. 
(D) Voter registration is voluntary, and 
neither registering nor declining to register to 
vote will in any way affect the availability of 
services or benefits, nor be used for other pur-
poses.
(2) OPPORTUNITY TO DECLINE REGISTRATION 
REQUIRED.—Except as otherwise provided in this 
section, each contributing agency shall ensure that 
each application for service or assistance, and each 
related recertification, renewal, or change of address 
cannot be completed until the individual is given the 
opportunity to decline to be registered to vote. 
(3) INFORMATION
TRANSMITTAL.—Upon the 
expiration of the 30-day period which begins on the 
date a contributing agency as described in para-
graph (1) informs an individual of the information 
described in such paragraph, unless the individual 
has declined to be registered to vote or informs the 
agency that they are already registered to vote, each 
contributing agency shall electronically transmit to 
the appropriate State election official, in a format 
compatible with the statewide voter database main-
tained under section 303 of the Help America Vote 
Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21083), the following infor-
mation: 
(A) The individual’s given name(s) and 
surname(s). 
(B) The individual’s date of birth. 
(C) The individual’s residential address.
(D) Information showing that the indi-
vidual is a citizen of the United States. 
(E) The date on which information per-
taining to that individual was collected or last 
updated. 
(F) If available, the individual’s signature 
in electronic form. 
(G) Except in the case in which the con-
tributing agency is a covered institution of 
higher education, in the case of a State in 
which affiliation or enrollment with a political 
party is required in order to participate in an 
election to select the party’s candidate in an 
election for Federal office, information regard-
ing the individual’s affiliation or enrollment 
with a political party, but only if the individual 
provides such information. 
(H) Any additional information listed in 
the mail voter registration application form for 
elections for Federal office prescribed pursuant 
to section 9 of the National Voter Registration 
Act of 1993, including any valid driver’s license 
number or the last 4 digits of the individual’s 
social security number, if the individual pro-
vided such information.
(c) ALTERNATE PROCEDURE
FOR CERTAIN CON-
TRIBUTING AGENCIES.—With each application for service 
or assistance, and with each related recertification, re-
newal, or change of address, any contributing agency that 
in the normal course of its operations does not request 
individuals applying for service or assistance to affirm 
United States citizenship (either directly or as part of the 
overall application for service or assistance) shall— 
(1) complete the requirements of section 7(a)(6) 
of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 
U.S.C. 20506(a)(6)); 
(2) ensure that each applicant’s transaction 
with the agency cannot be completed until the appli-
cant has indicated whether the applicant wishes to 
register to vote or declines to register to vote in elec-
tions for Federal office held in the State; and 
(3) for each individual who wishes to register to 
vote, transmit that individual’s information in ac-
cordance with subsection (b)(3). 
(d) REQUIRED AVAILABILITY OF AUTOMATIC REG-
ISTRATION OPPORTUNITY WITH EACH APPLICATION FOR 
SERVICE
OR ASSISTANCE.—Each contributing agency 
shall offer each individual, with each application for serv-
ice or assistance, and with each related recertification, re-
newal, or change of address, or in the case of an institu-
tion of higher education, with each registration of a stu-
dent for enrollment in a course of study, the opportunity 
to register to vote as prescribed by this section without 
regard to whether the individual previously declined a reg-
istration opportunity. 
(e) CONTRIBUTING AGENCIES.— 
(1) STATE AGENCIES.—In each State, each of 
the following agencies shall be treated as a contrib-
uting agency: 
(A) Each agency in a State that is re-
quired by Federal law to provide voter registra-
tion services, including the State motor vehicle 
authority and other voter registration agencies 
under the National Voter Registration Act of 
1993. 
(B) Each agency in a State that admin-
isters a program pursuant to title III of the So-
cial Security Act (42 U.S.C. 501 et seq.), title 
XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 
et seq.), or the Patient Protection and Afford-
able Care Act (Public Law 111–148). 
(C) Each State agency primarily respon-
sible for regulating the private possession of 
firearms.
(D) Each State agency primarily respon-
sible for maintaining identifying information for 
students enrolled at public secondary schools, 
including, where applicable, the State agency 
responsible for maintaining the education data 
system described in section 6201(e)(2) of the 
America 
COMPETES 
Act 
(20 
U.S.C. 
9871(e)(2)). 
(E) In the case of a State in which an in-
dividual disenfranchised by a criminal convic-
tion may become eligible to vote upon comple-
tion of a criminal sentence or any part thereof, 
or upon formal restoration of rights, the State 
agency responsible for administering that sen-
tence, or part thereof, or that restoration of 
rights. 
(F) Any other agency of the State which is 
designated by the State as a contributing agen-
cy. 
(2) FEDERAL AGENCIES.—In each State, each 
of the following agencies of the Federal Government 
shall be treated as a contributing agency with re-
spect to individuals who are residents of that State 
(except as provided in subparagraph (C)):
(A) The Social Security Administration, 
the Department of Veterans Affairs, the De-
fense Manpower Data Center of the Depart-
ment of Defense, the Employee and Training 
Administration of the Department of Labor, 
and the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Serv-
ices of the Department of Health and Human 
Services. 
(B) The Bureau of Citizenship and Immi-
gration Services, but only with respect to indi-
viduals who have completed the naturalization 
process. 
(C) In the case of an individual who is a 
resident of a State in which an individual 
disenfranchised by a criminal conviction under 
Federal law may become eligible to vote upon 
completion of a criminal sentence or any part 
thereof, or upon formal restoration of rights, 
the Federal agency responsible for admin-
istering that sentence or part thereof (without 
regard to whether the agency is located in the 
same State in which the individual is a resi-
dent), but only with respect to individuals who 
have completed the criminal sentence or any 
part thereof.
(D) Any other agency of the Federal Gov-
ernment which the State designates as a con-
tributing agency, but only if the State and the 
head of the agency determine that the agency 
collects information sufficient to carry out the 
responsibilities of a contributing agency under 
this section. 
(3) PUBLICATION.—Not later than 180 days 
prior to the date of each election for Federal office 
held in the State, the chief State election official 
shall publish on the public website of the official an 
updated list of all contributing agencies in that 
State. 
(4) PUBLIC EDUCATION.—The chief State elec-
tion official of each State, in collaboration with each 
contributing agency, shall take appropriate measures 
to educate the public about voter registration under 
this section. 
(f) INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Each covered institution of 
higher education shall be treated as a contributing 
agency in the State in which the institution is lo-
cated with respect to in-State students. 
(2) PROCEDURES.—
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Notwithstanding sec-
tion 444 of the General Education Provisions 
Act (20 U.S.C. 1232g; commonly referred to as 
the ’Family Educational Rights and Privacy 
Act of 1974’’) or any other provision of law, 
each covered institution of higher education 
shall comply with the requirements of sub-
section (b) with respect to each in-State stu-
dent. 
(B) RULES
FOR
COMPLIANCE.—In com-
plying with the requirements described in sub-
paragraph (A), the institution— 
(i) may use information provided in 
the Free Application for Federal Student 
Aid described in section 483 of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1090) 
to collect information described in para-
graph (3) of such subsection for purposes 
of transmitting such information to the ap-
propriate State election official pursuant to 
such paragraph; and 
(ii) shall not be required to prevent or 
delay students from enrolling in a course 
of study or otherwise impede the comple-
tion of the enrollment process; and (iii)
shall not withhold, delay, or impede the 
provision of Federal financial aid provided 
under title IV of the Higher Education Act 
of 1965. 
(C) CLARIFICATION.—Nothing in this part 
may be construed to require an institution of 
higher education to request each student to af-
firm whether or not the student is a United 
States citizen or otherwise collect information 
with respect to citizenship. 
(3) DEFINITIONS.— 
(A) COVERED
INSTITUTION
OF
HIGHER 
EDUCATION.—In this section, the term ‘‘covered 
institution of higher education’’ means an insti-
tution of higher education that— 
(i) has a program participation agree-
ment in effect with the Secretary of Edu-
cation under section 487 of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1094); 
(ii) in its normal course of operations, 
requests each in-State student enrolling in 
the institution to affirm whether or not the 
student is a United States citizen; and 
(iii) is located in a State to which sec-
tion 4(b)(1) of the National Voter Reg-
istration 
Act 
of 
1993 
(52 
U.S.C. 
20503(b)(1)) does not apply. 
(B) IN-STATE STUDENT.—In this section, 
the term ‘‘in-State student’’— 
(i) means a student enrolled in a cov-
ered institution of higher education who, 
for purposes related to in-State tuition, fi-
nancial aid eligibility, or other similar pur-
poses, resides in the State; and 
(ii) includes a student described in 
clause (i) who is enrolled in a program of 
distance education, as defined in section 
103 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 1003). 
SEC. 1014. ONE-TIME CONTRIBUTING AGENCY ASSISTANCE 
IN REGISTRATION OF ELIGIBLE VOTERS IN 
EXISTING RECORDS. 
(a) INITIAL TRANSMITTAL OF INFORMATION.—For 
each individual already listed in a contributing agency’s 
records as of the date of enactment of this Act, and for 
whom the agency has the information listed in section 
1013(b)(3), the agency shall promptly transmit that infor-
mation to the appropriate State election official in accord-
ance with section 1013(b)(3) not later than the effective 
date described in section 1021(a).
(b) TRANSITION.—For each individual listed in a con-
tributing agency’s records as of the effective date de-
scribed in section 1021(a) (but who was not listed in a 
contributing agency’s records as of the date of enactment 
of this Act), and for whom the agency has the information 
listed in section 1013(b)(3), the Agency shall promptly 
transmit that information to the appropriate State election 
official in accordance with section 1013(b)(3) not later 
than 6 months after the effective date described in section 
1021(a). 
SEC. 1015. VOTER PROTECTION AND SECURITY IN AUTO-
MATIC REGISTRATION. 
(a) PROTECTIONS FOR ERRORS IN REGISTRATION.— 
An individual shall not be prosecuted under any Federal 
or State law, adversely affected in any civil adjudication 
concerning immigration status or naturalization, or sub-
ject to an allegation in any legal proceeding that the indi-
vidual is not a citizen of the United States on any of the 
following grounds: 
(1) The individual notified an election office of 
the individual’s automatic registration to vote under 
this part. 
(2) The individual is not eligible to vote in elec-
tions for Federal office but was automatically reg-
istered to vote under this part.
(3) The individual was automatically registered 
to vote under this part at an incorrect address. 
(4) The individual declined the opportunity to 
register to vote or did not make an affirmation of 
citizenship, including through automatic registration, 
under this part. 
(b) LIMITS
ON USE
OF AUTOMATIC REGISTRA-
TION.—The automatic registration of any individual or the 
fact that an individual declined the opportunity to register 
to vote or did not make an affirmation of citizenship (in-
cluding through automatic registration) under this part 
may not be used as evidence against that individual in any 
State or Federal law enforcement proceeding, and an indi-
vidual’s lack of knowledge or willfulness of such registra-
tion may be demonstrated by the individual’s testimony 
alone. 
(c) PROTECTION OF ELECTION INTEGRITY.—Noth-
ing in subsections (a) or (b) may be construed to prohibit 
or restrict any action under color of law against an indi-
vidual who— 
(1) knowingly and willfully makes a false state-
ment to effectuate or perpetuate automatic voter 
registration by any individual; or 
(2) casts a ballot knowingly and willfully in vio-
lation of State law or the laws of the United States.
(d) CONTRIBUTING AGENCIES’ PROTECTION OF IN-
FORMATION.—Nothing in this part authorizes a contrib-
uting agency to collect, retain, transmit, or publicly dis-
close any of the following: 
(1) An individual’s decision to decline to reg-
ister to vote or not to register to vote. 
(2) An individual’s decision not to affirm his or 
her citizenship. 
(3) Any information that a contributing agency 
transmits pursuant to section 1013(b)(3), except in 
pursuing the agency’s ordinary course of business. 
(e) ELECTION OFFICIALS’ PROTECTION OF INFOR-
MATION.— 
(1) PUBLIC DISCLOSURE PROHIBITED.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to subpara-
graph (B), with respect to any individual for 
whom any State election official receives infor-
mation from a contributing agency, the State 
election officials shall not publicly disclose any 
of the following: 
(i) The identity of the contributing 
agency. 
(ii) Any information not necessary to 
voter registration.
(iii) Any voter information otherwise 
shielded from disclosure under State law or 
section 8(a) of the National Voter Reg-
istration 
Act 
of 
1993 
(52 
U.S.C. 
20507(a)). 
(iv) Any portion of the individual’s so-
cial security number. 
(v) Any portion of the individual’s 
motor vehicle driver’s license number. 
(vi) The individual’s signature. 
(vii) The individual’s telephone num-
ber. 
(viii) The individual’s email address. 
(B) SPECIAL RULE FOR INDIVIDUALS REG-
ISTERED TO VOTE.—With respect to any indi-
vidual for whom any State election official re-
ceives information from a contributing agency 
and who, on the basis of such information, is 
registered to vote in the State under this part, 
the State election officials shall not publicly dis-
close any of the following: 
(i) The identity of the contributing 
agency. 
(ii) Any information not necessary to 
voter registration.
(iii) Any voter information otherwise 
shielded from disclosure under State law or 
section 8(a) of the National Voter Reg-
istration 
Act 
of 
1993 
(52 
U.S.C. 
20507(a)). 
(iv) Any portion of the individual’s so-
cial security number. 
(v) Any portion of the individual’s 
motor vehicle driver’s license number. 
(vi) The individual’s signature. 
(2) VOTER
RECORD
CHANGES.—Each State 
shall maintain for at least 2 years and shall make 
available for public inspection (and, where available, 
photocopying at a reasonable cost), including in elec-
tronic form and through electronic methods, all 
records of changes to voter records, including remov-
als, the reasons for removals, and updates. 
(3) DATABASE
MANAGEMENT
STANDARDS.— 
The Director of the National Institute of Standards 
and Technology shall, after providing the public with 
notice and the opportunity to comment— 
(A) establish standards governing the com-
parison of data for voter registration list main-
tenance purposes, identifying as part of such 
standards the specific data elements, the
matching rules used, and how a State may use 
the data to determine and deem that an indi-
vidual is ineligible under State law to vote in an 
election, or to deem a record to be a duplicate 
or outdated; 
(B) ensure that the standards developed 
pursuant to this paragraph are uniform and 
nondiscriminatory and are applied in a uniform 
and nondiscriminatory manner; and 
(C) not later than 45 days after the dead-
line for public notice and comment, publish the 
standards developed pursuant to this paragraph 
on the Director’s website and make those 
standards available in written form upon re-
quest. 
(4) SECURITY
POLICY.—The Director of the 
National Institute of Standards and Technology 
shall, after providing the public with notice and the 
opportunity to comment, publish privacy and secu-
rity standards for voter registration information not 
later than 45 days after the deadline for public no-
tice and comment. The standards shall require the 
chief State election official of each State to adopt a 
policy that shall specify—
(A) each class of users who shall have au-
thorized access to the computerized statewide 
voter registration list, specifying for each class 
the permission and levels of access to be grant-
ed, and setting forth other safeguards to pro-
tect the privacy, security, and accuracy of the 
information on the list; and 
(B) security safeguards to protect personal 
information transmitted through the informa-
tion transmittal processes of section 1013 or 
section 1014, the online system used pursuant 
to section 1017, any telephone interface, the 
maintenance of the voter registration database, 
and any audit procedure to track access to the 
system. 
(5) 
STATE
COMPLIANCE
WITH
NATIONAL 
STANDARDS.— 
(A) CERTIFICATION.—The chief executive 
officer of the State shall annually file with the 
Election Assistance Commission a statement 
certifying to the Director of the National Insti-
tute of Standards and Technology that the 
State is in compliance with the standards re-
ferred to in paragraphs (3) and (4). A State 
may meet the requirement of the previous sen-
tence by filing with the Commission a statement 
which reads as follows: ‘‘lllll hereby 
certifies that it is in compliance with the stand-
ards referred to in paragraphs (3) and (4) of 
section 1015(e) of the Automatic Voter Reg-
istration Act of 2021.’’ (with the blank to be 
filled in with the name of the State involved). 
(B) PUBLICATION OF POLICIES AND PRO-
CEDURES.—The chief State election official of a 
State shall publish on the official’s website the 
policies and procedures established under this 
section, and shall make those policies and pro-
cedures available in written form upon public 
request. 
(C) FUNDING
DEPENDENT
ON
CERTIFI-
CATION.—If a State does not timely file the cer-
tification required under this paragraph, it shall 
not receive any payment under this part for the 
upcoming fiscal year. 
(D) COMPLIANCE
OF
STATES
THAT
RE-
QUIRE CHANGES TO STATE LAW.—In the case 
of a State that requires State legislation to 
carry out an activity covered by any certifi-
cation submitted under this paragraph, for a 
period of not more than 2 years the State shall
be permitted to make the certification notwith-
standing that the legislation has not been en-
acted at the time the certification is submitted, 
and such State shall submit an additional cer-
tification once such legislation is enacted. 
(f) RESTRICTIONS ON USE OF INFORMATION.—No 
person acting under color of law may discriminate against 
any individual based on, or use for any purpose other than 
voter registration, election administration, or enforcement 
relating to election crimes, any of the following: 
(1) Voter registration records. 
(2) An individual’s declination to register to 
vote or complete an affirmation of citizenship under 
section 1013(b). 
(3) An individual’s voter registration status. 
(g) PROHIBITION ON THE USE OF VOTER REGISTRA-
TION INFORMATION FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES.—In-
formation collected under this part shall not be used for 
commercial purposes. Nothing in this subsection may be 
construed to prohibit the transmission, exchange, or dis-
semination of information for political purposes, including 
the support of campaigns for election for Federal, State, 
or local public office or the activities of political commit-
tees (including committees of political parties) under the 
Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971.
SEC. 1016. REGISTRATION PORTABILITY AND CORRECTION. 
(a) CORRECTING REGISTRATION INFORMATION AT 
POLLING PLACE.—Notwithstanding section 302(a) of the 
Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21082(a)), if 
an individual is registered to vote in elections for Federal 
office held in a State, the appropriate election official at 
the polling place for any such election (including a location 
used as a polling place on a date other than the date of 
the election) shall permit the individual to— 
(1) update the individual’s address for purposes 
of the records of the election official; 
(2) correct any incorrect information relating to 
the individual, including the individual’s name and 
political party affiliation, in the records of the elec-
tion official; and 
(3) cast a ballot in the election on the basis of 
the updated address or corrected information, and to 
have the ballot treated as a regular ballot and not 
as a provisional ballot under section 302(a) of such 
Act. 
(b) UPDATES TO COMPUTERIZED STATEWIDE VOTER 
REGISTRATION LISTS.—If an election official at the poll-
ing place receives an updated address or corrected infor-
mation from an individual under subsection (a), the offi-
cial shall ensure that the address or information is 
promptly entered into the computerized statewide voter
registration 
list 
in 
accordance 
with 
section 
303(a)(1)(A)(vi) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 
(52 U.S.C. 21083(a)(1)(A)(vi)). 
SEC. 1017. PAYMENTS AND GRANTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Election Assistance Commis-
sion shall make grants to each eligible State to assist the 
State in implementing the requirements of this part (or, 
in the case of an exempt State, in implementing its exist-
ing automatic voter registration program). 
(b) ELIGIBILITY; APPLICATION.—A State is eligible 
to receive a grant under this section if the State submits 
to the Commission, at such time and in such form as the 
Commission may require, an application containing— 
(1) a description of the activities the State will 
carry out with the grant; 
(2) an assurance that the State shall carry out 
such activities without partisan bias and without 
promoting any particular point of view regarding 
any issue; and 
(3) such other information and assurances as 
the Commission may require. 
(c) AMOUNT OF GRANT; PRIORITIES.—The Commis-
sion shall determine the amount of a grant made to an 
eligible State under this section. In determining the 
amounts of the grants, the Commission shall give priority
‘‘(2) EXCEPTION.—The requirements under 
paragraph (1) shall not apply to a State in which, 
under a State law in effect continuously on and after 
the date of the enactment of this section, there is no 
voter registration requirement for individuals in the 
State with respect to elections for Federal office. 
‘‘(b) ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUAL.—For purposes of this 
section, the term ‘eligible individual’ means, with respect 
to any election for Federal office, an individual who is oth-
erwise qualified to vote in that election. 
‘‘(c) ENSURING
AVAILABILITY
OF
FORMS.—The 
State shall ensure that each polling place has copies of 
any forms an individual may be required to complete in 
order to register to vote or revise the individual’s voter 
registration information under this section. 
‘‘(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Each State shall be re-
quired to comply with the requirements of subsection (a) 
for the regularly scheduled general election for Federal of-
fice occurring in November 2022 and for any subsequent 
election for Federal office.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT RELATING TO EN-
FORCEMENT.—Section 401 of such Act (52 U.S.C. 21111) 
is amended by striking ‘‘sections 301, 302, and 303’’ and 
inserting ‘‘subtitle A of title III’’.
311 
tion in Congress and freedom from congressional in-
terference in purely local matters. 
(5) The District of Columbia pays more Federal 
taxes per capita than any State and more Federal 
taxes than 22 States. 
(6) The District of Columbia has a larger popu-
lation than 2 States (Wyoming and Vermont), and 
6 States have a population under one million. 
(7) The District of Columbia has a larger budg-
et than 12 States. 
(8) The Constitution of the United States gives 
Congress the authority to admit new States (clause 
1, section 3, article IV) and reduce the size of the 
seat of the Government of the United States (clause 
17, section 8, article I). All 37 new States have been 
admitted by an Act of Congress, and Congress has 
previously reduced the size of the seat of the Gov-
ernment of the United States. 
(9) On June 26, 2020, by a vote of 232–180, 
the House of Representatives passed H.R. 51, the 
Washington, D.C. Admission Act, which would have 
admitted the State of Washington, Douglass Com-
monwealth from the residential portions of the Dis-
trict of Columbia and reduced the size of the seat 
of the Government of the United States to the