1747 
(B) the number of minority depository in-
stitutions that are eligible to participate in such 
program but do not have large financial institu-
tion mentors; and 
(C) recommendations for how to match such 
minority depository institutions with large fi-
nancial institution mentors. 
(2) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
(A) 
COVERED
MENTOR-PROTEGE
PRO-
GRAM.—The term ‘‘covered mentor-protege pro-
gram’’ means a mentor-protege program estab-
lished by the Secretary of the Treasury pursuant 
to section 45 of the Small Business Act (15 
U.S.C. 657r). 
(B) LARGE
FINANCIAL
INSTITUTION.—The 
term ‘‘large financial institution’’ means any en-
tity— 
(i) regulated by the Comptroller of the 
Currency, the Board of Governors of the 
Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit 
Insurance Corporation, or the National 
Credit Union Administration; and 
(ii) that has total consolidated assets 
greater than or equal to $50,000,000,000.
1748 
(j) CUSTODIAL DEPOSIT PROGRAM FOR COVERED MI-
NORITY DEPOSITORY INSTITUTIONS AND IMPACT BANKS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
the Treasury shall issue rules establishing a custodial 
deposit program under which a covered bank may re-
ceive deposits from a qualifying account. 
(2) REQUIREMENTS.—In issuing rules under 
paragraph (1), the Secretary of the Treasury shall— 
(A) consult with the Federal banking agen-
cies; 
(B) ensure each covered bank participating 
in the program established under this sub-
section— 
(i) has appropriate policies relating to 
management of assets, including measures 
to ensure the safety and soundness of each 
such covered bank; and 
(ii) is compliant with applicable law; 
and 
(C) ensure, to the extent practicable that the 
rules do not conflict with goals described in sec-
tion 308(a) of the Financial Institutions Reform, 
Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 (12 
U.S.C. 1463 note).
1749 
(3) LIMITATIONS.— 
(A) DEPOSITS.—With respect to the funds 
of an individual qualifying account, an entity 
may not deposit an amount greater than the in-
sured amount in a single covered bank. 
(B) TOTAL DEPOSITS.—The total amount of 
funds deposited in a covered bank under the cus-
todial deposit program described under this sub-
section may not exceed the lesser of— 
(i) 10 percent of the average amount of 
deposits held by such covered bank in the 
previous quarter; or 
(ii) $100,000,000 (as adjusted for in-
flation). 
(4) REPORT.—Each quarter, the Secretary of the 
Treasury shall submit to Congress a report on the im-
plementation of the program established under this 
subsection including information identifying partici-
pating covered banks and the total amount of deposits 
received by covered banks under the program. 
(5) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
(A) COVERED
BANK.—The term ‘‘covered 
bank’’ means—
1750 
(i) a minority depository institution 
that is well capitalized, as defined by the 
appropriate Federal banking agency; or 
(ii) a depository institution designated 
pursuant to subsection (c) that is well cap-
italized, as defined by the appropriate Fed-
eral banking agency. 
(B) INSURED AMOUNT.—The term ‘‘insured 
amount’’ means the amount that is the greater 
of— 
(i) the standard maximum deposit in-
surance amount (as defined in section 
11(a)(1)(E) of the Federal Deposit Insur-
ance Act (12 U.S.C. 1821(a)(1)(E))); or 
(ii) such higher amount negotiated be-
tween the Secretary of the Treasury and the 
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation 
under which the Corporation will insure all 
deposits of such higher amount. 
(C) FEDERAL
BANKING
AGENCIES.—The 
terms ‘‘appropriate Federal banking agency’’ 
and ‘‘Federal banking agencies’’ have the mean-
ing given those terms, respectively, under section 
3 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act.
1751 
(D) 
QUALIFYING
ACCOUNT.—The 
term 
‘‘qualifying account’’ means any account estab-
lished in the Department of the Treasury that— 
(i) is controlled by the Secretary; and 
(ii) is expected to maintain a balance 
greater than $200,000,000 for the following 
24-month period. 
(k) STREAMLINED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINAN-
CIAL INSTITUTION APPLICATIONS AND REPORTING.— 
(1) APPLICATION PROCESSES.—Not later than 12 
months after the date of the enactment of this Act and 
with respect to any person having assets under 
$3,000,000,000 that submits an application for de-
posit insurance with the Federal Deposit Insurance 
Corporation that could also become a community de-
velopment financial institution, the Federal Deposit 
Insurance Corporation, in consultation with the Ad-
ministrator of the Community Development Finan-
cial Institutions Fund, shall— 
(A) develop systems and procedures to 
record necessary information to allow the Ad-
ministrator to conduct preliminary analysis for 
such person to also become a community develop-
ment financial institution; and
1752 
(B) develop procedures to streamline the ap-
plication and annual certification processes and 
to reduce costs for such person to become, and 
maintain certification as, a community develop-
ment financial institution. 
(2) IMPLEMENTATION REPORT.—Not later than 
18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation shall sub-
mit to Congress a report describing the systems and 
procedures required under paragraph (1). 
(3) ANNUAL REPORT.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Section 17(a)(1) of the 
Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 
1827(a)(1)) is amended— 
(i) in subparagraph (E), by striking 
‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(ii) by redesignating subparagraph (F) 
as subparagraph (G); 
(iii) by inserting after subparagraph 
(E) the following new subparagraph: 
‘‘(F) applicants for deposit insurance that 
could also become a community development fi-
nancial institution (as defined in section 103 of 
the Riegle Community Development and Regu-
latory Improvement Act of 1994), a minority de-
1753 
pository institution (as defined in section 308 of 
the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, 
and Enforcement Act of 1989), or an impact 
bank (as designated pursuant to section 707(c) of 
the Promoting and Advancing Communities of 
Color through Inclusive Lending Act); and’’. 
(B) APPLICATION.—The amendment made 
by this paragraph shall apply with respect to the 
first report to be submitted after the date that is 
2 years after the date of the enactment of this 
Act. 
(l) TASK FORCE ON LENDING TO SMALL BUSINESS 
CONCERNS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 6 months after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Adminis-
trator of the Small Business Administration shall es-
tablish a task force to examine methods for improving 
relationships between the Small Business Administra-
tion and community development financial institu-
tions, minority depository institutions, and Impact 
Banks to increase the volume of loans provided by 
such institutions to small business concerns (as de-
fined under section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 
U.S.C. 632)).
1754 
(2) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 18 
months after the establishment of the task force de-
scribed in paragraph (1), the Administrator of the 
Small Business Administration shall submit to Con-
gress a report on the findings of such task force. 
SEC. 708. ESTABLISHMENT OF FINANCIAL AGENT PARTNER-
SHIP PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 308 of the Financial Insti-
tutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 (12 
U.S.C. 1463 note), as amended by section 706(e), is further 
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(e) FINANCIAL AGENT PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Treas-
ury shall establish a program to be known as the ‘Fi-
nancial Agent Partnership Program’ (in this sub-
section referred to as the ‘Program’) under which a fi-
nancial agent designated by the Secretary or a large 
financial institution may serve as a mentor, under 
guidance or regulations prescribed by the Secretary, 
to a small financial institution to allow such small 
financial institution— 
‘‘(A) to be prepared to perform as a finan-
cial agent; or
1755 
‘‘(B) to improve capacity to provide services 
to the customers of the small financial institu-
tion. 
‘‘(2) OUTREACH.—The Secretary shall hold out-
reach events to promote the participation of financial 
agents, large financial institutions, and small finan-
cial institutions in the Program at least once a year. 
‘‘(3) FINANCIAL PARTNERSHIPS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Any large financial in-
stitution participating in a program with the 
Department of the Treasury, if not already re-
quired to include a small financial institution, 
shall offer not more than 5 percent of every con-
tract under that program to a small financial 
institution. 
‘‘(B) ACCEPTANCE OF RISK.—As a require-
ment of participation in a contract described 
under subparagraph (A), a small financial insti-
tution shall accept the risk of the transaction 
equivalent to the percentage of any fee the insti-
tution receives under the contract. 
‘‘(C) PARTNER.—A large financial institu-
tion partner may work with small financial in-
stitutions, if necessary, to train professionals to
1756 
understand any risks involved in a contract 
under the Program. 
‘‘(D) INCREASED LIMIT FOR CERTAIN INSTI-
TUTIONS.—With respect to a program described 
under subparagraph (A), if the Secretary of the 
Treasury determines that it would be appro-
priate and would encourage capacity building, 
the Secretary may alter the requirements under 
subparagraph (A) to require both— 
‘‘(i) a higher percentage of the contract 
be offered to a small financial institution; 
and 
‘‘(ii) require the small financial insti-
tution to be a community development fi-
nancial institution or a minority deposi-
tory institution. 
‘‘(4) EXCLUSION.—The Secretary shall issue 
guidance or regulations to establish a process under 
which a financial agent, large financial institution, 
or small financial institution may be excluded from 
participation in the Program. 
‘‘(5) REPORT.—The Office of Minority and 
Women Inclusion of the Department of the Treasury 
shall include in the report submitted to Congress 
under section 342(e) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street
1757 
Reform and Consumer Protection Act information 
pertaining to the Program, including— 
‘‘(A) the number of financial agents, large 
financial institutions, and small financial insti-
tutions participating in such Program; and 
‘‘(B) the number of outreach events de-
scribed in paragraph (2) held during the year 
covered by such report. 
‘‘(6) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
‘‘(A) COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL 
INSTITUTION.—The term ‘community develop-
ment financial institution’ has the meaning 
given that term under section 103 of the Riegle 
Community Development and Regulatory Im-
provement Act of 1994 (12 U.S.C. 4702). 
‘‘(B) FINANCIAL AGENT.—The term ‘finan-
cial agent’ means any national banking associa-
tion designated by the Secretary of the Treasury 
to be employed as a financial agent of the Gov-
ernment. 
‘‘(C) LARGE FINANCIAL INSTITUTION.—The 
term ‘large financial institution’ means any en-
tity regulated by the Comptroller of the Cur-
rency, the Board of Governors of the Federal Re-
serve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Cor-
1758 
poration, or the National Credit Union Adminis-
tration that has total consolidated assets greater 
than or equal to $50,000,000,000. 
‘‘(D) SMALL FINANCIAL INSTITUTION.—The 
term ‘small financial institution’ means— 
‘‘(i) any entity regulated by the Comp-
troller of the Currency, the Board of Gov-
ernors of the Federal Reserve System, the 
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or 
the National Credit Union Administration 
that has total consolidated assets lesser than 
or equal to $2,000,000,000; or 
‘‘(ii) a minority depository institu-
tion.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section and the amend-
ments made by this section shall take effect 90 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 709. STRENGTHENING MINORITY LENDING INSTITU-
TIONS. 
(a) MINORITY LENDING INSTITUTION SET-ASIDE IN 
PROVIDING ASSISTANCE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 108 of the Commu-
nity Development Banking and Financial Institu-
tions Act of 1994 (12 U.S.C. 4707) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
1759 
‘‘(i) MINORITY LENDING INSTITUTION SET-ASIDE IN 
PROVIDING ASSISTANCE.—Notwithstanding any other pro-
vision of law, in providing any assistance, the Fund shall 
reserve 40 percent of such assistance for minority lending 
institutions.’’. 
(2) DEFINITIONS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Section 103 of the Com-
munity Development Banking and Financial In-
stitutions Act of 1994 (12 U.S.C. 4702) is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(22) MINORITY LENDING INSTITUTION DEFINI-
TIONS.— 
‘‘(A) 
MINORITY.—The 
term 
‘minority’ 
means any Black American, Hispanic American, 
Asian American, Native American, Native Alas-
kan, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander. 
‘‘(B) MINORITY
LENDING
INSTITUTION.— 
The term ‘minority lending institution’ means a 
community development financial institution— 
‘‘(i) with respect to which a majority 
of the total number of loans and a majority 
of the value of investments of the commu-
nity development financial institution are 
directed at minorities and other targeted 
populations;
1760 
‘‘(ii) that is a minority depository in-
stitution, as defined under section 308 of 
the Financial Institutions Reform, Recov-
ery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 (12 
U.S.C. 1463 note), or otherwise considered 
to be a minority depository institution by 
the appropriate Federal banking agency; or 
‘‘(iii) that is 51 percent owned by one 
or more socially and economically dis-
advantaged individuals. 
‘‘(C) ADDITIONAL
DEFINITIONS.—In this 
paragraph, the terms ‘other targeted populations’ 
and ‘socially and economically disadvantaged 
individual’ shall have the meaning given those 
terms by the Administrator.’’. 
(B) TEMPORARY SAFE HARBOR FOR CER-
TAIN INSTITUTIONS.—A community development 
financial institution that is a minority deposi-
tory institution listed in the Federal Deposit In-
surance Corporation’s Minority Depository In-
stitutions List published for the Second Quarter 
2020 shall be deemed a ‘‘minority lending insti-
tution’’ under section 103(22) of the Community 
Development Banking and Financial Institu-
tions Act of 1994 for purposes of—
1761 
(i) any program carried out using ap-
propriations authorized for the Community 
Development Financial Institutions Fund 
under section 706; and 
(ii) the Neighborhood Capital Invest-
ment Program established under section 
4003(i) of the CARES Act. 
(b) OFFICE OF MINORITY LENDING INSTITUTIONS.— 
Section 104 of the Community Development Banking and 
Financial Institutions Act of 1994 (12 U.S.C. 4703) is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(l) OFFICE OF MINORITY LENDING INSTITUTIONS.— 
‘‘(1) 
ESTABLISHMENT.—There 
is 
established 
within the Fund an Office of Minority Lending Insti-
tutions, which shall oversee assistance provided by the 
Fund to minority lending institutions. 
‘‘(2) DEPUTY DIRECTOR.—The head of the Office 
shall be the Deputy Director of Minority Lending In-
stitutions, who shall report directly to the Adminis-
trator of the Fund.’’. 
(c) REPORTING
ON MINORITY LENDING INSTITU-
TIONS.—Section 117 of the Community Development Bank-
ing and Financial Institutions Act of 1994 (12 U.S.C. 
4716) is amended by adding at the end the following:
1762 
‘‘(g) REPORTING
ON MINORITY LENDING INSTITU-
TIONS.—Each report required under subsection (a) shall in-
clude a description of the extent to which assistance from 
the Fund are provided to minority lending institutions.’’. 
(d) SUBMISSION OF DATA RELATING TO DIVERSITY BY 
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.— 
Section 104 of the Riegle Community Development and 
Regulatory Improvement Act of 1994 (12 U.S.C. 4703) is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(l) SUBMISSION
OF DATA RELATING
TO DIVER-
SITY.— 
‘‘(1) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection— 
‘‘(A) the term ‘executive officer’ has the 
meaning given the term in section 230.501(f) of 
title 17, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect 
on the date of enactment of this subsection; and 
‘‘(B) the term ‘veteran’ has the meaning 
given the term in section 101 of title 38, United 
States Code. 
‘‘(2) SUBMISSION OF DISCLOSURE.—Each Fund 
applicant and recipient shall provide the following: 
‘‘(A) Data, based on voluntary self-identi-
fication, on the racial, ethnic, and gender com-
position of—
1763 
‘‘(i) the board of directors of the insti-
tution; 
‘‘(ii) nominees for the board of direc-
tors of the institution; and 
‘‘(iii) the executive officers of the insti-
tution. 
‘‘(B) The status of any member of the board 
of directors of the institution, any nominee for 
the board of directors of the institution, or any 
executive officer of the institution, based on vol-
untary self-identification, as a veteran. 
‘‘(C) Whether the board of directors of the 
institution, or any committee of that board of di-
rectors, has, as of the date on which the institu-
tion makes a disclosure under this paragraph, 
adopted any policy, plan, or strategy to promote 
racial, ethnic, and gender diversity among— 
‘‘(i) the board of directors of the insti-
tution; 
‘‘(ii) nominees for the board of direc-
tors of the institution; or 
‘‘(iii) the executive officers of the insti-
tution. 
‘‘(3) ANNUAL
REPORT.—Not later than 18 
months after the date of enactment of this subsection,
1764 
and annually thereafter, the Fund shall submit to the 
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs 
of the Senate and the Committee on Financial Serv-
ices of the House of Representatives, and make pub-
licly available on the website of the Fund, a report— 
‘‘(A) on the data and trends of the diversity 
information made available pursuant to para-
graph (2); and 
‘‘(B) containing all administrative or legis-
lative recommendations of the Fund to enhance 
the implementation of this title or to promote di-
versity and inclusion within community develop-
ment financial institutions.’’. 
SEC. 710. CDFI BOND GUARANTEE REFORM. 
Effective October 1, 2020, section 114A(e)(2)(B) of the 
Riegle Community Development and Regulatory Improve-
ment Act of 1994 (12 U.S.C. 4713a(e)(2)(B)) is amended 
by striking ‘‘$100,000,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$50,000,000’’. 
SEC. 711. REPORTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Treasury shall 
provide to the appropriate committees of Congress— 
(1) within 30 days of the end of each month 
commencing with the first month in which trans-
actions are made under a program established under 
this title or the amendments made by this title, a
1765 
written report describing all of the transactions made 
during the reporting period pursuant to the authori-
ties granted under this title or the amendments made 
by this title; and 
(2) after the end of March and the end of Sep-
tember, commencing March 31, 2021, a written report 
on all projected costs and liabilities, all operating ex-
penses, including compensation for financial agents, 
and all transactions made by the Community Devel-
opment Financial Institutions Fund, including par-
ticipating institutions and amounts each institution 
has received under each program described in para-
graph (1). 
(b) BREAKDOWN OF FUNDS.—Each report required 
under subsection (a) shall specify the amount of funds 
under each program described under subsection (a)(1) that 
went to— 
(1) minority depository institutions that are de-
pository institutions; 
(2) minority depository institutions that are 
credit unions; 
(3) minority lending institutions; 
(4) community development financial institution 
loan funds;
1766 
(5) community development financial institu-
tions that are depository institutions; and 
(6) community development financial institu-
tions that are credit unions. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS.— 
The term ‘‘appropriate committees of Congress’’ 
means the Committee on Financial Services of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate. 
(2) COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTI-
TUTION.—The term ‘‘community development finan-
cial institution’’ has the meaning given that term 
under section 103 of the Riegle Community Develop-
ment and Regulatory Improvement Act of 1994. 
(3) CREDIT UNION.—The term ‘‘credit union’’ 
means a State credit union or a Federal credit union, 
as such terms are defined, respectively, under section 
101 of the Federal Credit Union Act. 
(4) DEPOSITORY INSTITUTION.—The term ‘‘de-
pository institution’’ has the meaning given that term 
under section 3 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act. 
(5) MINORITY
DEPOSITORY
INSTITUTION.—The 
term ‘‘minority depository institution’’ has the mean-
ing given under section 308 of the Financial Institu-
1767 
tions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 
. 
(6) MINORITY LENDING INSTITUTION.—The term 
‘‘minority lending institution’’ has the meaning given 
that term under section 103 of the Community Devel-
opment Banking and Financial Institutions Act of 
1994. 
SEC. 712. INSPECTOR GENERAL OVERSIGHT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Inspector General of the De-
partment of the Treasury shall conduct, supervise, and co-
ordinate audits and investigations of any program estab-
lished under this title or the amendments made by this title. 
(b) REPORTING.—The Inspector General of the Depart-
ment of the Treasury shall issue a report not less frequently 
than 2 times per year to Congress and the Secretary of the 
Treasury relating to the oversight provided by the Office 
of the Inspector General, including any recommendations 
for improvements to the programs described in subsection 
(a). 
SEC. 713. STUDY AND REPORT WITH RESPECT TO IMPACT 
OF PROGRAMS ON LOW- AND MODERATE-IN-
COME AND MINORITY COMMUNITIES. 
(a) STUDY.—The Secretary of the Treasury shall con-
duct a study of the impact of the programs established
1768 
under this title or any amendment made by this title on 
low- and moderate-income and minority communities. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 18 months after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Con-
gress a report on the results of the study conducted pursuant 
to subsection (a), which shall include, to the extent possible, 
the results of the study disaggregated by ethnic group. 
(c) INFORMATION PROVIDED TO THE SECRETARY.— 
Eligible institutions that participate in any of the pro-
grams described in subsection (a) shall provide the Sec-
retary of the Treasury with such information as the Sec-
retary may require to carry out the study required by this 
section. 
TITLE VIII—PROVIDING ASSIST-
ANCE 
FOR 
STATE, 
TERRI-
TORY, TRIBAL, AND LOCAL 
GOVERNMENTS 
SEC. 801. EMERGENCY RELIEF FOR STATE, TERRITORIAL, 
TRIBAL, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. 
(a) PURCHASE OF COVID–19 RELATED MUNICIPAL 
ISSUANCES.—Section 14(b) of the Federal Reserve Act (12 
U.S.C. 355) is amended by adding at the end the following 
new paragraph: 
‘‘(3) UNUSUAL AND EXIGENT CIRCUMSTANCES.— 
Under unusual and exigent circumstances, to buy any
1769 
bills, notes, revenue bonds, and warrants issued by 
any State, county, district, political subdivision, mu-
nicipality, or entity that is a combination of any of 
the several States, the District of Columbia, or any of 
the territories and possessions of the United States. In 
this paragraph, the term ‘State’ means each of the 
several States, the District of Columbia, each territory 
and possession of the United States, and each feder-
ally recognized Indian Tribe.’’. 
(b) FEDERAL RESERVE AUTHORIZATION
TO PUR-
CHASE
COVID–19 RELATED
MUNICIPAL
ISSUANCES.— 
Within 7 days after the date of the enactment of this sub-
section, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve Sys-
tem shall modify the Municipal Liquidity Facility (estab-
lished on April 9, 2020, pursuant to section 13(3) of the 
Federal Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 343(3))) to— 
(1) ensure such facility is operational until Feb-
ruary 1, 2021; 
(2) allow for the purchase of bills, notes, bonds, 
and warrants with maximum maturity of 10 years 
from the date of such purchase; 
(3) ensure that any purchases made are at an 
interest rate equal to the discount window primary 
credit interest rate most recently published on the 
Federal Reserve Statistical Release on selected interest
1770 
rates (daily or weekly), commonly referred to as the 
‘‘H.15 release’’ or the ‘‘Federal funds rate’’; 
(4) ensure that an eligible issuer does not need 
to attest to an inability to secure credit elsewhere; 
and 
(5) include in the list of eligible issuers for such 
purchases— 
(A) any of the territories and possessions of 
the United States; 
(B) a political subdivision of a State with 
a population of more than 50,000 residents; and 
(C) an entity that is a combination of any 
of the several States, the District of Columbia, or 
any of the territories and possessions of the 
United States. 
SEC. 802. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS. 
(a) FUNDING AND ALLOCATIONS.— 
(1) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There is authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000,000 
for assistance in accordance with this section under 
the community development block grant program 
under title I of the Housing and Community Develop-
ment Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.), which 
shall remain available until September 30, 2023.
1771 
(2) ALLOCATION.—Amounts made available pur-
suant to paragraph (1) shall be distributed pursuant 
to section 106 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 5306) to grant-
ees and such allocations shall be made within 30 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(b) TIME LIMITATION ON EMERGENCY GRANT PAY-
MENTS.—Paragraph (4) of section 570.207(b) of the Sec-
retary’s regulations (24 C.F.R. 570.207(b)(4)) shall be ap-
plied with respect to grants with amounts made available 
pursuant to subsection (a), by substituting ‘‘12 consecutive 
months’’ for ‘‘3 consecutive months’’. 
(c) MATCHING OF AMOUNTS USED FOR ADMINISTRA-
TIVE COSTS.—Any requirement for a State to match or sup-
plement amounts expended for program administration of 
State grants under section 106(d) of the Housing and Com-
munity Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5306(d)) shall 
not apply with respect to amounts made available pursuant 
to subsection (a). 
(d) CAPER INFORMATION.—During the period that be-
gins on the date of enactment of this Act and ends on the 
date of the termination by the Federal Emergency Manage-
ment Agency of the emergency declared on March 13, 2020, 
by the President under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Re-
lief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 4121 et seq.) 
relating to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID–19) pan-
1772 
demic, the Secretary shall make all information included 
in Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Re-
ports relating to assistance made available pursuant to this 
section publicly available on its website on a quarterly 
basis. 
(e) AUTHORITY; WAIVERS.—Any provisions of, and 
waivers and alternative requirements issued by the Sec-
retary pursuant to, the heading ‘‘Department of Housing 
and Urban Development—Community Planning and De-
velopment —Community Development Fund’’ in title XII 
of division B of the CARES Act (Public Law 116–136) 
shall apply with respect to amounts made available pursu-
ant to subsection (a) of this section. 
TITLE IX—SUPPORT FOR A RO-
BUST GLOBAL RESPONSE TO 
THE COVID–19 PANDEMIC 
SEC. 901. UNITED STATES POLICIES. 
(a) UNITED STATES POLICIES AT THE INTERNATIONAL 
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Treasury 
shall instruct the United States Executive Director at 
each international financial institution (as defined in 
section 1701(c)(2) of the International Financial In-
stitutions Act (22 U.S.C. 262r(c)(2))) to use the voice
1773 
and vote of the United States at the respective institu-
tion— 
(A) to seek to ensure adequate fiscal space 
for world economies in response to the global 
coronavirus disease 2019 (commonly referred to 
as ‘‘COVID–19’’) pandemic through— 
(i) the suspension of all debt service 
payments to the institution; and 
(ii) the relaxation of fiscal targets for 
any government operating a program sup-
ported by the institution, or seeking financ-
ing from the institution, in response to the 
pandemic; 
(B) to oppose the approval or endorsement 
of any loan, grant, document, or strategy that 
would lead to a decrease in health care spending 
or in any other spending that would impede the 
ability of any country to prevent or contain the 
spread of, or treat persons who are or may be in-
fected with, the SARS–CoV–2 virus; and 
(C) to require approval of all Special 
Drawing 
Rights 
allocation 
transfers 
from 
wealthier member countries to countries that are 
emerging markets or developing countries, based 
on confirmation of implementable transparency
1774 
mechanisms or protocols to ensure the allocations 
are used for the public good and in response the 
global pandemic. 
(2) IMF 
ISSUANCE
OF
SPECIAL
DRAWING 
RIGHTS.—It is the policy of the United States to sup-
port the issuance of a special allocation of not less 
than 2,000,000,000,000 Special Drawing Rights so 
that governments are able to access additional re-
sources to finance their responses to the global 
COVID–19 pandemic. The Secretary of the Treasury 
shall use the voice and vote of the United States to 
support the issuance, and shall instruct the United 
States Executive Director at the International Mone-
tary Fund to support the same. 
(3) ALLOCATION
OF
U.S. SPECIAL
DRAWING 
RIGHTS.—It is also the policy of the United States, 
which has large reserves and little use for its Special 
Drawing Rights, to contribute a significant portion of 
its current stock, and any future allocation of, Spe-
cial Drawing Rights to the Poverty Reduction and 
Growth Facility (PRGF) or a similar special purpose 
vehicle at the International Monetary Fund to help 
developing and low-income countries respond to the 
health and economic impacts of the COVID–19 pan-
demic.
1775 
(4) IMPLEMENTATION.—The Secretary of the 
Treasury shall instruct the United States Executive 
Director at the International Monetary Fund to use 
the voice and vote of the United States to actively 
promote and take all appropriate actions with respect 
to implementing the policy goals of the United States 
set forth in paragraphs (2) and (3), and shall post the 
instruction on the website of the Department of the 
Treasury. 
(b) UNITED STATES POLICY AT THE G20.—The Sec-
retary of the Treasury shall commence immediate efforts to 
reach an agreement with the Group of Twenty to extend 
through the end of 2021 the current moratorium on debt 
service payments to official bilateral creditors by the world’s 
poorest countries. 
(c) REPORT REQUIRED.—The Chairman of the Na-
tional Advisory Council on International Monetary and Fi-
nancial Policies shall include in the annual report required 
by section 1701 of the International Financial Institutions 
Act (22 U.S.C. 262r) a description of progress made toward 
advancing the policies described in subsection (a) of this 
section. 
(d) TERMINATION.—Subsections (a) and (c) shall have 
no force or effect after the earlier of—
1776 
(1) the date that is 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act; or 
(2) the date that is 30 days after the date on 
which the Secretary of the Treasury submits to the 
Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the 
Committee on Financial Services of the House of Rep-
resentatives a report stating that the SARS–CoV–2 
virus is no longer a serious threat to public health in 
any part of the world. 
TITLE 
X—PROVIDING 
OVER-
SIGHT AND PROTECTING TAX-
PAYERS 
SEC. 1001. MANDATORY REPORTS TO CONGRESS. 
(a) DISCLOSURE OF TRANSACTION REPORTS.—Section 
4026(b)(1)(A)(iii) of the CARES Act (Public Law 116–136) 
is amended— 
(1) in subclause (IV)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘and the justification for 
such exercise of authority’’ after ‘‘authority’’; 
and 
(B) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(2) in subclause (V), by striking the period at the 
end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following:
1777 
‘‘(VI) the identity of each recipi-
ent of a loan or loan guarantee de-
scribed in subclause (I); 
‘‘(VII) the date and amount of 
each such loan or loan guarantee and 
the form in which each such loan or 
loan guarantee was provided; 
‘‘(VIII) the material terms of each 
such loan or loan guarantee, includ-
ing— 
‘‘(aa) duration; 
‘‘(bb) collateral pledged and 
the value thereof; 
‘‘(cc) all interest, fees, and 
other revenue or items of value to 
be received in exchange for such 
loan or loan guarantee; 
‘‘(dd) any requirements im-
posed on the recipient with respect 
to employee compensation, dis-
tribution of dividends, or any 
other corporate decision in ex-
change for the assistance; and 
‘‘(ee) the expected costs to the 
Federal Government with respect
1778 
to such loans or loan guaran-
tees.’’. 
(b) REPORTS BY THE SECRETARY OF THE TREAS-
URY.—Section 4018 of the CARES Act (Public Law 116– 
136) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(k) REPORTS BY THE SECRETARY.—Not later than 
7 days after the last day of each month, the Secretary shall 
submit to the Special Inspector General, the Committee on 
Financial Services of the House of Representatives, and the 
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the 
Senate a report that includes the information specified in 
subparagraphs (A) through (E) of subsection (c)(1) with re-
spect to the making, purchase, management, and sale of 
loans, loan guarantees, and other investments made by the 
Secretary under any program established by the Secretary 
under this Act.’’. 
SEC. 1002. DISCRETIONARY REPORTS TO CONGRESS. 
Section 4020(b) of the CARES Act (Public Law 116– 
136) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) DISCRETIONARY REPORTS TO CONGRESS.— 
In addition to the reports required under paragraph 
(2), the Oversight Commission may submit other re-
ports to Congress at such time, in such manner, and 
containing such information as the Oversight Com-
mission determines appropriate.’’.
1779 
SEC. 1003. DEFINITION OF APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL 
COMMITTEES. 
(a) PANDEMIC
RESPONSE
ACCOUNTABILITY
COM-
MITTEE.—Section 15010(a)(2) of the CARES Act (Public 
Law 116–136) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) through 
(D) as subparagraphs (D) through (F), respectively; 
and 
(2) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(B) the Committee on Banking, Housing, 
and Urban Affairs of the Senate; 
‘‘(C) the Committee on Financial Services 
of the House of Representatives;’’. 
(b) OVERSIGHT
AND AUDIT AUTHORITY.—Section 
19010(a)(1) of the CARES Act (Public Law 116–136) is 
amended— 
(1) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) through 
(G) as subparagraphs (D) through (I), respectively; 
and 
(2) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(B) the Committee on Banking, Housing, 
and Urban Affairs of the Senate; 
‘‘(C) the Committee on Financial Services 
of the House of Representatives;’’.
1780 
SEC. 1004. ADDITIONAL REPORTING ON FUNDING FOR DI-
VERSE-OWNED BUSINESSES. 
Section 15010(d)(2) of the CARES Act (Public Law 
116–136) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as sub-
paragraph (D); and 
(2) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(C) The Committee shall submit to Congress, 
including the appropriate congressional committees, 
quarterly reports that include an analysis of Federal 
funds provided during the pandemic that have been 
used to support communities of color, including mi-
nority-owned businesses and minority depository in-
stitutions, broken down by race and ethnicity.’’; and 
SEC. 1005. REPORTING BY INSPECTORS GENERAL. 
(a) DEFINITION OF COVERED AGENCY.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘‘covered agency’’ means— 
(1) the Department of the Treasury; 
(2) the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; 
(3) the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency; 
(4) the Board of Governors of the Federal Re-
serve System; 
(5) the National Credit Union Administration; 
(6) the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protec-
tion;
1781 
(7) the Department of Housing and Urban De-
velopment; 
(8) the Department of Agriculture, Rural Hous-
ing Service; 
(9) the Securities and Exchange Commission; 
and 
(10) the Federal Housing Finance Agency. 
(b) REPORT.—The Inspector General of each covered 
agency shall include in each semiannual report submitted 
by the Inspector General the findings of the Inspector Gen-
eral on the effectiveness of— 
(1) rulemaking by the covered agency related to 
COVID–19; and 
(2) supervision and oversight by the covered 
agency of institutions and entities that participate in 
COVID–19-related relief, funding, lending, or other 
programs of the covered agency. 
(c) SUBMISSION.—The Inspector General of each cov-
ered agency shall submit the information required to be in-
cluded in each semiannual report under subsection (b) to— 
(1) the Special Inspector General for Pandemic 
Recovery appointed under section 4018 of division A 
of the CARES Act (Public Law 116–136);
1782 
(2) the Pandemic Response Accountability Com-
mittee established under section 15010 of division B 
of the CARES Act (Public Law 116–136); and 
(3) the Congressional Oversight Commission es-
tablished under section 4020 of division A of the 
CARES Act (Public Law 116–136). 
DIVISION P—ACCESS ACT 
SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘American Coronavirus/ 
COVID–19 Election Safety and Security Act’’ or the ‘‘AC-
CESS Act’’. 
SEC. 102. REQUIREMENTS FOR FEDERAL ELECTION CON-
TINGENCY PLANS IN RESPONSE TO NATURAL 
DISASTERS AND EMERGENCIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 90 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, each State 
and each jurisdiction in a State which is responsible 
for administering elections for Federal office shall es-
tablish and make publicly available a contingency 
plan to enable individuals to vote in elections for Fed-
eral office during a state of emergency, public health 
emergency, or national emergency which has been de-
clared for reasons including— 
(A) a natural disaster; or
1783 
(B) an infectious disease. 
(2) UPDATING.—Each State and jurisdiction 
shall update the contingency plan established under 
this subsection not less frequently than every 5 years. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO SAFETY.—The con-
tingency plan established under subsection (a) shall include 
initiatives to provide equipment and resources needed to 
protect the health and safety of poll workers and voters 
when voting in person. 
(c) REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO RECRUITMENT OF 
POLL WORKERS.—The contingency plan established under 
subsection (a) shall include initiatives by the chief State 
election official and local election officials to recruit poll 
workers from resilient or unaffected populations, which 
may include— 
(1) employees of other State and local govern-
ment offices; and 
(2) in the case in which an infectious disease 
poses significant increased health risks to elderly in-
dividuals, students of secondary schools and institu-
tions of higher education in the State. 
(d) ENFORCEMENT.— 
(1) ATTORNEY GENERAL.—The Attorney General 
may bring a civil action against any State or juris-
diction in an appropriate United States District
1784 
Court for such declaratory and injunctive relief (in-
cluding a temporary restraining order, a permanent 
or temporary injunction, or other order) as may be 
necessary to carry out the requirements of this sec-
tion. 
(2) PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—In the case of a violation 
of this section, any person who is aggrieved by 
such violation may provide written notice of the 
violation to the chief election official of the State 
involved. 
(B) RELIEF.—If the violation is not cor-
rected within 20 days after receipt of a notice 
under subparagraph (A), or within 5 days after 
receipt of the notice if the violation occurred 
within 120 days before the date of an election for 
Federal office, the aggrieved person may, in a 
civil action, obtain declaratory or injunctive re-
lief with respect to the violation. 
(C) SPECIAL
RULE.—If the violation oc-
curred within 5 days before the date of an elec-
tion for Federal office, the aggrieved person need 
not provide notice to the chief election official of 
the State involved under subparagraph (A) be-
1785 
fore bringing a civil action under subparagraph 
(B). 
(e) DEFINITIONS.— 
(1) ELECTION FOR FEDERAL OFFICE.—For pur-
poses of this section, the term ‘‘election for Federal of-
fice’’ means a general, special, primary, or runoff 
election for the office of President or Vice President, 
or of Senator or Representative in, or Delegate or 
Resident Commissioner to, the Congress. 
(2) STATE.—For purposes of this section, the 
term ‘‘State’’ includes the District of Columbia, the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American 
Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, and the 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. 
(f) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall apply with 
respect to the regularly scheduled general election for Fed-
eral office held in November 2020 and each succeeding elec-
tion for Federal office. 
SEC. 103. EARLY VOTING AND VOTING BY MAIL. 
(a) REQUIREMENTS.—Title III of the Help America 
Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.) is amended by 
adding at the end the following new subtitle:
1786 
‘‘Subtitle C—Other Requirements 
‘‘SEC. 321. EARLY VOTING. 
‘‘(a) REQUIRING ALLOWING VOTING PRIOR TO DATE 
OF ELECTION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Each State shall allow indi-
viduals to vote in an election for Federal office during 
an early voting period which occurs prior to the date 
of the election, in the same manner as voting is al-
lowed on such date. 
‘‘(2) LENGTH OF PERIOD.—The early voting pe-
riod required under this subsection with respect to an 
election shall consist of a period of consecutive days 
(including weekends) which begins on the 15th day 
before the date of the election (or, at the option of the 
State, on a day prior to the 15th day before the date 
of the election) and ends on the date of the election. 
‘‘(b) MINIMUM EARLY VOTING REQUIREMENTS.—Each 
polling place which allows voting during an early voting 
period under subsection (a) shall— 
‘‘(1) allow such voting for no less than 10 hours 
on each day; 
‘‘(2) have uniform hours each day for which such 
voting occurs; and
1787 
‘‘(3) allow such voting to be held for some period 
of time prior to 9:00 a.m (local time) and some pe-
riod of time after 5:00 p.m. (local time). 
‘‘(c) LOCATION OF POLLING PLACES.— 
‘‘(1) PROXIMITY TO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.— 
To the greatest extent practicable, a State shall ensure 
that each polling place which allows voting during an 
early voting period under subsection (a) is located 
within walking distance of a stop on a public trans-
portation route. 
‘‘(2) AVAILABILITY IN RURAL AREAS.—The State 
shall ensure that polling places which allow voting 
during an early voting period under subsection (a) 
will be located in rural areas of the State, and shall 
ensure that such polling places are located in commu-
nities which will provide the greatest opportunity for 
residents of rural areas to vote during the early vot-
ing period. 
‘‘(d) STANDARDS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall issue 
standards for the administration of voting prior to 
the day scheduled for a Federal election. Such stand-
ards shall include the nondiscriminatory geographic 
placement of polling places at which such voting oc-
curs.
1788 
‘‘(2) DEVIATION.—The standards described in 
paragraph (1) shall permit States, upon providing 
adequate public notice, to deviate from any require-
ment in the case of unforeseen circumstances such as 
a natural disaster, terrorist attack, or a change in 
voter turnout. 
‘‘(e) BALLOT PROCESSING AND SCANNING REQUIRE-
MENTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The State shall begin proc-
essing and scanning ballots cast during early voting 
for tabulation at least 14 days prior to the date of the 
election involved. 
‘‘(2) LIMITATION.—Nothing in this subsection 
shall be construed to permit a State to tabulate bal-
lots in an election before the closing of the polls on 
the date of the election. 
‘‘(f) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall apply with 
respect to the regularly scheduled general election for Fed-
eral office held in November 2020 and each succeeding elec-
tion for Federal office. 
‘‘SEC. 322. PROMOTING ABILITY OF VOTERS TO VOTE BY 
MAIL. 
‘‘(a) UNIFORM AVAILABILITY OF ABSENTEE VOTING TO 
ALL VOTERS.—
1789 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—If an individual in a State 
is eligible to cast a vote in an election for Federal of-
fice, the State may not impose any additional condi-
tions or requirements on the eligibility of the indi-
vidual to cast the vote in such election by absentee 
ballot by mail. 
‘‘(2) ADMINISTRATION OF VOTING BY MAIL.— 
‘‘(A) PROHIBITING
IDENTIFICATION
RE-
QUIREMENT AS CONDITION OF OBTAINING BAL-
LOT.—A State may not require an individual to 
provide any form of identification as a condition 
of obtaining an absentee ballot, except that noth-
ing in this paragraph may be construed to pre-
vent a State from requiring a signature of the 
individual or similar affirmation as a condition 
of obtaining an absentee ballot. 
‘‘(B) PROHIBITING REQUIREMENT TO PRO-
VIDE NOTARIZATION OR WITNESS SIGNATURE AS 
CONDITION
OF
OBTAINING
OR
CASTING
BAL-
LOT.—A State may not require notarization or 
witness signature or other formal authentication 
(other than voter attestation) as a condition of 
obtaining or casting an absentee ballot. 
‘‘(C) DEADLINE FOR RETURNING BALLOT.— 
A State may impose a deadline for requesting
1790 
the absentee ballot and related voting materials 
from the appropriate State or local election offi-
cial and for returning the ballot to the appro-
priate State or local election official. 
‘‘(3) APPLICATION
FOR
ALL
FUTURE
ELEC-
TIONS.—At the option of an individual, a State shall 
treat the individual’s application to vote by absentee 
ballot by mail in an election for Federal office as an 
application to vote by absentee ballot by mail in all 
subsequent Federal elections held in the State. 
‘‘(b) DUE PROCESS REQUIREMENTS FOR STATES RE-
QUIRING SIGNATURE VERIFICATION.— 
‘‘(1) REQUIREMENT.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—A State may not im-
pose a signature verification requirement as a 
condition of accepting and counting an absentee 
ballot submitted by any individual with respect 
to an election for Federal office unless the State 
meets the due process requirements described in 
paragraph (2). 
‘‘(B) SIGNATURE
VERIFICATION
REQUIRE-
MENT DESCRIBED.—In this subsection, a ‘signa-
ture verification requirement’ is a requirement 
that an election official verify the identification 
of an individual by comparing the individual’s
1791 
signature on the absentee ballot with the individ-
ual’s signature on the official list of registered 
voters in the State or another official record or 
other document used by the State to verify the 
signatures of voters. 
‘‘(2) DUE PROCESS REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(A) NOTICE AND OPPORTUNITY TO CURE 
DISCREPANCY.—If an individual submits an ab-
sentee ballot and the appropriate State or local 
election official determines that a discrepancy 
exists between the signature on such ballot and 
the signature of such individual on the official 
list of registered voters in the State or other offi-
cial record or document used by the State to 
verify the signatures of voters, such election offi-
cial, prior to making a final determination as to 
the validity of such ballot, shall— 
‘‘(i) make a good faith effort to imme-
diately notify the individual by mail, tele-
phone, and (if available) electronic mail 
that— 
‘‘(I) a discrepancy exists between 
the signature on such ballot and the 
signature of the individual on the offi-
1792 
cial list of registered voters in the 
State, and 
‘‘(II) if such discrepancy is not 
cured prior to the expiration of the 10- 
day period which begins on the date 
the official notifies the individual of 
the discrepancy, such ballot will not be 
counted; and 
‘‘(ii) cure such discrepancy and count 
the ballot if, prior to the expiration of the 
10-day period described in clause (i)(II), 
the individual provides the official with in-
formation to cure such discrepancy, either 
in person, by telephone, or by electronic 
methods. 
‘‘(B) NOTICE AND OPPORTUNITY TO PRO-
VIDE
MISSING
SIGNATURE.—If an individual 
submits an absentee ballot without a signature, 
the appropriate State or local election official, 
prior to making a final determination as to the 
validity of the ballot, shall— 
‘‘(i) make a good faith effort to imme-
diately notify the individual by mail, tele-
phone, and (if available) electronic mail 
that—
1793 
‘‘(I) the ballot did not include a 
signature, and 
‘‘(II) if the individual does not 
provide the missing signature prior to 
the expiration of the 10-day period 
which begins on the date the official 
notifies the individual that the ballot 
did not include a signature, such ballot 
will not be counted; and 
‘‘(ii) count the ballot if, prior to the ex-
piration of the 10-day period described in 
clause (i)(II), the individual provides the 
official with the missing signature on a 
form proscribed by the State. 
‘‘(C) OTHER REQUIREMENTS.—An election 
official may not make a determination that a 
discrepancy exists between the signature on an 
absentee ballot and the signature of the indi-
vidual who submits the ballot on the official list 
of registered voters in the State or other official 
record or other document used by the State to 
verify the signatures of voters unless— 
‘‘(i) at least 2 election officials make 
the determination; and
1794 
‘‘(ii) each official who makes the deter-
mination has received training in proce-
dures used to verify signatures. 
‘‘(3) REPORT.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 120 
days after the end of a Federal election cycle, 
each chief State election official shall submit to 
Congress a report containing the following infor-
mation for the applicable Federal election cycle 
in the State: 
‘‘(i) The number of ballots invalidated 
due to a discrepancy under this subsection. 
‘‘(ii) Description of attempts to contact 
voters to provide notice as required by this 
subsection. 
‘‘(iii) Description of the cure process 
developed by such State pursuant to this 
subsection, including the number of ballots 
determined valid as a result of such process. 
‘‘(B) 
FEDERAL
ELECTION
CYCLE
DE-
FINED.—For purposes of this subsection, the 
term ‘Federal election cycle’ means the period be-
ginning on January 1 of any odd numbered year 
and ending on December 31 of the following 
year.
1796 
by the individual prior to the date of the election so 
long as the individual’s request is received by the offi-
cial not later than 5 days (excluding Saturdays, Sun-
days, and legal public holidays) before the date of the 
election, except that nothing in this paragraph shall 
preclude a State or local jurisdiction from allowing 
for the acceptance and processing of ballot requests 
submitted or received after such required period. 
‘‘(d) ACCESSIBILITY FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABIL-
ITIES.—The State shall ensure that all absentee ballots and 
related voting materials in elections for Federal office are 
accessible to individuals with disabilities in a manner that 
provides the same opportunity for access and participation 
(including with privacy and independence) as for other vot-
ers. 
‘‘(e) UNIFORM
DEADLINE
FOR
ACCEPTANCE
OF 
MAILED BALLOTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A State may not refuse to 
accept or process a ballot submitted by an individual 
by mail with respect to an election for Federal office 
in the State on the grounds that the individual did 
not meet a deadline for returning the ballot to the ap-
propriate State or local election official if— 
‘‘(A) the ballot is postmarked, signed, or 
otherwise indicated by the United States Postal
1797 
Service to have been mailed on or before the date 
of the election; and 
‘‘(B) the ballot is received by the appro-
priate election official prior to the expiration of 
the 10-day period which begins on the date of the 
election. 
‘‘(2) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this 
subsection shall be construed to prohibit a State from 
having a law that allows for counting of ballots in an 
election for Federal office that are received through 
the mail after the date that is 10 days after the date 
of the election. 
‘‘(f) ALTERNATIVE METHODS
OF RETURNING BAL-
LOTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In addition to permitting an 
individual to whom a ballot in an election was pro-
vided under this section to return the ballot to an 
election official by mail, the State shall permit the in-
dividual to cast the ballot by delivering the ballot at 
such times and to such locations as the State may es-
tablish, including— 
‘‘(A) permitting the individual to deliver 
the ballot to a polling place on any date on 
which voting in the election is held at the polling 
place; and
1798 
‘‘(B) permitting the individual to deliver 
the ballot to a designated ballot drop-off location. 
‘‘(2) PERMITTING VOTERS TO DESIGNATE OTHER 
PERSON TO RETURN BALLOT.—The State— 
‘‘(A) shall permit a voter to designate any 
person to return a voted and sealed absentee bal-
lot to the post office, a ballot drop-off location, 
tribally designated building, or election office so 
long as the person designated to return the ballot 
does not receive any form of compensation based 
on the number of ballots that the person has re-
turned and no individual, group, or organiza-
tion provides compensation on this basis; and 
‘‘(B) may not put any limit on how many 
voted and sealed absentee ballots any designated 
person can return to the post office, a ballot drop 
off location, tribally designated building, or elec-
tion office. 
‘‘(g) BALLOT PROCESSING AND SCANNING REQUIRE-
MENTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The State shall begin proc-
essing and scanning ballots cast by mail for tabula-
tion at least 14 days prior to the date of the election 
involved.
1799 
‘‘(2) LIMITATION.—Nothing in this subsection 
shall be construed to permit a State to tabulate bal-
lots in an election before the closing of the polls on 
the date of the election. 
‘‘(h) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion shall be construed to affect the authority of States to 
conduct elections for Federal office through the use of polling 
places at which individuals cast ballots. 
‘‘(i) NO EFFECT ON BALLOTS SUBMITTED BY ABSENT 
MILITARY AND OVERSEAS VOTERS.—Nothing in this sec-
tion may be construed to affect the treatment of any ballot 
submitted by an individual who is entitled to vote by absen-
tee ballot under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Ab-
sentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20301 et seq.). 
‘‘(j) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall apply with 
respect to the regularly scheduled general election for Fed-
eral office held in November 2020 and each succeeding elec-
tion for Federal office. 
‘‘SEC. 323. ABSENTEE BALLOT TRACKING PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) REQUIREMENT.—Each State shall carry out a 
program to track and confirm the receipt of absentee ballots 
in an election for Federal office under which the State or 
local election official responsible for the receipt of voted ab-
sentee ballots in the election carries out procedures to track 
and confirm the receipt of such ballots, and makes informa-
1800 
tion on the receipt of such ballots available to the individual 
who cast the ballot, by means of online access using the 
Internet site of the official’s office. 
‘‘(b) INFORMATION ON WHETHER VOTE WAS COUNT-
ED.—The information referred to under subsection (a) with 
respect to the receipt of an absentee ballot shall include in-
formation regarding whether the vote cast on the ballot was 
counted, and, in the case of a vote which was not counted, 
the reasons therefor. 
‘‘(c) USE OF TOLL-FREE TELEPHONE NUMBER BY OF-
FICIALS WITHOUT INTERNET SITE.—A program established 
by a State or local election official whose office does not 
have an Internet site may meet the requirements of sub-
section (a) if the official has established a toll-free telephone 
number that may be used by an individual who cast an 
absentee ballot to obtain the information on the receipt of 
the voted absentee ballot as provided under such subsection. 
‘‘(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall begin to 
apply on that date that is 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this section. 
‘‘SEC. 324. RULES FOR COUNTING PROVISIONAL BALLOTS. 
‘‘(a) STATEWIDE COUNTING OF PROVISIONAL BAL-
LOTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—For purposes of section 
302(a)(4), notwithstanding the precinct or polling
1801 
place at which a provisional ballot is cast within the 
State, the appropriate election official shall count 
each vote on such ballot for each election in which the 
individual who cast such ballot is eligible to vote. 
‘‘(2) EFFECTIVE
DATE.—This subsection shall 
apply with respect to the regularly scheduled general 
election for Federal office held in November 2020 and 
each succeeding election for Federal office. 
‘‘(b) UNIFORM
AND
NONDISCRIMINATORY
STAND-
ARDS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Consistent with the require-
ments of section 302, each State shall establish uni-
form and nondiscriminatory standards for the 
issuance, handling, and counting of provisional bal-
lots. 
‘‘(2) EFFECTIVE
DATE.—This subsection shall 
apply with respect to the regularly scheduled general 
election for Federal office held in November 2020 and 
each succeeding election for Federal office. 
‘‘SEC. 325. COVERAGE OF COMMONWEALTH OF NORTHERN 
MARIANA ISLANDS. 
‘‘In this subtitle, the term ‘State’ includes the Com-
monwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
1802 
‘‘SEC. 326. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR EXPANDING ABIL-
ITY OF INDIVIDUALS TO VOTE. 
‘‘The requirements of this subtitle are minimum re-
quirements, and nothing in this subtitle may be construed 
to prevent a State from establishing standards which pro-
mote the ability of individuals to vote in elections for Fed-
eral office, so long as such standards are not inconsistent 
with the requirements of this subtitle or other Federal 
laws.’’. 
(b) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENT
RELATING
TO 
ISSUANCE OF VOLUNTARY GUIDANCE BY ELECTION ASSIST-
ANCE COMMISSION.—Section 311(b) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 
21101(b)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of paragraph 
(2); 
(2) by striking the period at the end of para-
graph (3) and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new para-
graph: 
‘‘(4) in the case of the recommendations with re-
spect to subtitle C, June 30, 2020.’’. 
(c) ENFORCEMENT.— 
(1) COVERAGE UNDER EXISTING ENFORCEMENT 
PROVISIONS.—Section 401 of such Act (52 U.S.C. 
21111) is amended by striking ‘‘and 303’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘303, and subtitle C of title III’’.
1803 
(2) AVAILABILITY
OF
PRIVATE
RIGHT
OF
AC-
TION.—Title IV of such (52 U.S.C. 21111 et seq.) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new sec-
tion: 
‘‘SEC. 403. PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION FOR VIOLATIONS OF 
CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—In the case of a violation of sub-
title C of title III, section 402 shall not apply and any 
person who is aggrieved by such violation may provide 
written notice of the violation to the chief election official 
of the State involved. 
‘‘(b) RELIEF.—If the violation is not corrected within 
20 days after receipt of a notice under subsection (a), or 
within 5 days after receipt of the notice if the violation oc-
curred within 120 days before the date of an election for 
Federal office, the aggrieved person may, in a civil action, 
obtain declaratory or injunctive relief with respect to the 
violation. 
‘‘(c) SPECIAL RULE.—If the violation occurred within 
5 days before the date of an election for Federal office, the 
aggrieved person need not provide notice to the chief election 
official of the State involved under subsection (a) before 
bringing a civil action under subsection (b).’’. 
(d) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents of 
such Act is amended—
1804 
(1) by adding at the end of the items relating to 
title III the following: 
‘‘Subtitle C—Other Requirements 
‘‘Sec. 321. Early voting. 
‘‘Sec. 322. Promoting ability of voters to vote by mail. 
‘‘Sec. 323. Absentee ballot tracking program. 
‘‘Sec. 324. Rules for counting provisional ballots. 
‘‘Sec. 325. Coverage of Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands. 
‘‘Sec. 326. Minimum requirements for expanding ability of individuals to vote.’’; 
and 
(2) by adding at the end of the items relating to 
title IV the following new item: 
‘‘Sec. 403. Private right of action for violations of certain requirements.’’. 
SEC. 104. PERMITTING USE OF SWORN WRITTEN STATE-
MENT TO MEET IDENTIFICATION REQUIRE-
MENTS FOR VOTING. 
(a) PERMITTING USE OF STATEMENT.—Subtitle C of 
title III of the Help America Vote Act of 2002, as added 
by section 160003(a), is amended— 
(1) by redesignating sections 325 and 326 as sec-
tions 326 and 327; and 
(2) by inserting after section 324 the following 
new section: 
‘‘SEC. 325. PERMITTING USE OF SWORN WRITTEN STATE-
MENT TO MEET IDENTIFICATION REQUIRE-
MENTS. 
‘‘(a) USE OF STATEMENT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in sub-
section (c), if a State has in effect a requirement that
1805 
an individual present identification as a condition of 
casting a ballot in an election for Federal office, the 
State shall permit the individual to meet the require-
ment— 
‘‘(A) in the case of an individual who de-
sires to vote in person, by presenting the appro-
priate State or local election official with a 
sworn written statement, signed by the indi-
vidual under penalty of perjury, attesting to the 
individual’s identity and attesting that the indi-
vidual is eligible to vote in the election; or 
‘‘(B) in the case of an individual who de-
sires to vote by mail, by submitting with the bal-
lot the statement described in subparagraph (A). 
‘‘(2) DEVELOPMENT OF PRE-PRINTED VERSION 
OF
STATEMENT
BY
COMMISSION.—The Commission 
shall develop a pre-printed version of the statement 
described in paragraph (1)(A) which includes a blank 
space for an individual to provide a name and signa-
ture for use by election officials in States which are 
subject to paragraph (1). 
‘‘(3) PROVIDING PRE-PRINTED COPY OF STATE-
MENT.—A State which is subject to paragraph (1) 
shall—
1806 
‘‘(A) make copies of the pre-printed version 
of the statement described in paragraph (1)(A) 
which is prepared by the Commission available 
at polling places for election officials to dis-
tribute to individuals who desire to vote in per-
son; and 
‘‘(B) include a copy of such pre-printed 
version of the statement with each blank absentee 
or other ballot transmitted to an individual who 
desires to vote by mail. 
‘‘(b) REQUIRING USE OF BALLOT IN SAME MANNER 
AS INDIVIDUALS PRESENTING IDENTIFICATION.—An indi-
vidual who presents or submits a sworn written statement 
in accordance with subsection (a)(1) shall be permitted to 
cast a ballot in the election in the same manner as an indi-
vidual who presents identification. 
‘‘(c) EXCEPTION
FOR
FIRST-TIME
VOTERS
REG-
ISTERING BY MAIL.—Subsections (a) and (b) do not apply 
with respect to any individual described in paragraph (1) 
of section 303(b) who is required to meet the requirements 
of paragraph (2) of such section.’’. 
(b) REQUIRING STATES TO INCLUDE INFORMATION ON 
USE OF SWORN WRITTEN STATEMENT IN VOTING INFORMA-
TION MATERIAL POSTED AT POLLING PLACES.—Section
1807 
302(b)(2) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 21082(b)(2)), is amend-
ed— 
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of subpara-
graph (E); 
(2) by striking the period at the end of subpara-
graph (F) and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraph: 
‘‘(G) in the case of a State that has in effect 
a requirement that an individual present identi-
fication as a condition of casting a ballot in an 
election for Federal office, information on how 
an individual may meet such requirement by 
presenting a sworn written statement in accord-
ance with section 303A.’’. 
(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents of 
such Act, as amended by section 160003, is amended— 
(1) by redesignating the items relating to sec-
tions 325 and 326 as relating to sections 326 and 
327; and 
(2) by inserting after the item relating to section 
324 the following new item: 
‘‘Sec. 325. Permitting use of sworn written statement to meet identification re-
quirements.’’.
1808 
(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this 
section shall apply with respect to elections occurring on 
or after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 105. VOTING MATERIALS POSTAGE. 
(a) PREPAYMENT OF POSTAGE ON RETURN ENVE-
LOPES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subtitle C of title III of the 
Help America Vote Act of 2002, as added by section 
160003(a) and as amended by section 160004(a), is 
further amended— 
(A) by redesignating sections 326 and 327 
as sections 327 and 328; and 
(B) by inserting after section 325 the fol-
lowing new section: 
‘‘SEC. 326. PREPAYMENT OF POSTAGE ON RETURN ENVE-
LOPES FOR VOTING MATERIALS. 
‘‘(a) PROVISION OF RETURN ENVELOPES.—The appro-
priate State or local election official shall provide a self- 
sealing return envelope with— 
‘‘(1) any voter registration application form 
transmitted to a registrant by mail; 
‘‘(2) any application for an absentee ballot 
transmitted to an applicant by mail; and 
‘‘(3) any blank absentee ballot transmitted to a 
voter by mail.
1809 
‘‘(b) PREPAYMENT OF POSTAGE.—Consistent with reg-
ulations of the United States Postal Service, the State or 
the unit of local government responsible for the administra-
tion of the election involved shall prepay the postage on any 
envelope provided under subsection (a). 
‘‘(c) NO EFFECT ON BALLOTS OR BALLOTING MATE-
RIALS TRANSMITTED TO ABSENT MILITARY AND OVERSEAS 
VOTERS.—Nothing in this section may be construed to af-
fect the treatment of any ballot or balloting materials trans-
mitted to an individual who is entitled to vote by absentee 
ballot under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee 
Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20301 et seq.). 
‘‘(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect 
on the date that is 90 days after the date of the enactment 
of this section, except that— 
‘‘(1) State and local jurisdictions shall make ar-
rangements with the United States Postal Service to 
pay for all postage costs that such jurisdictions would 
be required to pay under this section if this section 
took effect on the date of enactment; and 
‘‘(2) States shall take all reasonable efforts to 
provide self-sealing return envelopes as provided in 
this section.’’.
1810 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of con-
tents of such Act, as amended by section 160004(c), 
is amended— 
(A) by redesignating the items relating to 
sections 326 and 327 as relating to sections 327 
and 328; and 
(B) by inserting after the item relating to 
section 325 the following new item: 
‘‘Sec. 326. Prepayment of postage on return envelopes for voting materials’’. 
(b) ROLE OF UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 34 of title 39, United 
States Code, is amended by adding after section 3406 
the following: 
‘‘§ 3407. Voting materials 
‘‘(a) Any voter registration application, absentee ballot 
application, or absentee ballot with respect to any election 
for Federal office shall be carried expeditiously, with post-
age on the return envelope prepaid by the State or unit 
of local government responsible for the administration of 
the election. 
‘‘(b) As used in this section— 
‘‘(1) the term ‘absentee ballot’ means any ballot 
transmitted by a voter by mail in an election for Fed-
eral office, but does not include any ballot covered by 
section 3406; and
1811 
‘‘(2) the term ‘election for Federal office’ means 
a general, special, primary, or runoff election for the 
office of President or Vice President, or of Senator or 
Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commis-
sioner to, the Congress. 
‘‘(c) Nothing in this section may be construed to affect 
the treatment of any ballot or balloting materials trans-
mitted to an individual who is entitled to vote by absentee 
ballot under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee 
Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20301 et seq.).’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions for chapter 34 of such title is amended by in-
serting after the item relating to section 3406 the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘3407. Voting materials.’’. 
SEC. 106. REQUIRING TRANSMISSION OF BLANK ABSENTEE 
BALLOTS UNDER UOCAVA TO CERTAIN VOT-
ERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Uniformed and Overseas Citi-
zens Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20301 et seq.) is 
amended by inserting after section 103B the following new 
section: 
‘‘SEC. 103C. TRANSMISSION OF BLANK ABSENTEE BALLOTS 
TO CERTAIN OTHER VOTERS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—
1812 
‘‘(1) STATE RESPONSIBILITIES.—Subject to the 
provisions of this section, each State shall transmit 
blank absentee ballots electronically to qualified indi-
viduals who request such ballots in the same manner 
and under the same terms and conditions under 
which the State transmits such ballots electronically 
to absent uniformed services voters and overseas voters 
under the provisions of section 102(f), except that no 
such marked ballots shall be returned electronically. 
‘‘(2) REQUIREMENTS.—Any blank absentee ballot 
transmitted to a qualified individual under this sec-
tion— 
‘‘(A) must comply with the language re-
quirements under section 203 of the Voting 
Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 10503); and 
‘‘(B) must comply with the disability re-
quirements under section 508 of the Rehabilita-
tion Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794d). 
‘‘(3) AFFIRMATION.—The State may not trans-
mit a ballot to a qualified individual under this sec-
tion unless the individual provides the State with a 
signed affirmation in electronic form that— 
‘‘(A) the individual is a qualified indi-
vidual (as defined in subsection (b));
1813 
‘‘(B) the individual has not and will not 
cast another ballot with respect to the election; 
and 
‘‘(C) 
acknowledges 
that 
a 
material 
misstatement of fact in completing the ballot 
may constitute grounds for conviction of perjury. 
‘‘(4) CLARIFICATION
REGARDING
FREE
POST-
AGE.—An absentee ballot obtained by a qualified in-
dividual under this section shall be considered bal-
loting materials as defined in section 107 for pur-
poses of section 3406 of title 39, United States Code. 
‘‘(5) PROHIBITING REFUSAL TO ACCEPT BALLOT 
FOR FAILURE TO MEET CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS.—A 
State shall not refuse to accept and process any other-
wise valid blank absentee ballot which was trans-
mitted to a qualified individual under this section 
and used by the individual to vote in the election sole-
ly on the basis of the following: 
‘‘(A) Notarization or witness signature re-
quirements. 
‘‘(B) Restrictions on paper type, including 
weight and size. 
‘‘(C) Restrictions on envelope type, includ-
ing weight and size. 
‘‘(b) QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL.—
1814 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—In this section, except as 
provided in paragraph (2), the term ‘qualified indi-
vidual’ means any individual who is otherwise quali-
fied to vote in an election for Federal office and who 
meets any of the following requirements: 
‘‘(A) The individual— 
‘‘(i) has previously requested an absen-
tee ballot from the State or jurisdiction in 
which such individual is registered to vote; 
and 
‘‘(ii) has not received such absentee 
ballot at least 2 days before the date of the 
election. 
‘‘(B) The individual— 
‘‘(i) resides in an area of a State with 
respect to which an emergency or public 
health emergency has been declared by the 
chief executive of the State or of the area in-
volved within 5 days of the date of the elec-
tion under the laws of the State due to rea-
sons including a natural disaster, including 
severe weather, or an infectious disease; and 
‘‘(ii) has not previously requested an 
absentee ballot.
1815 
‘‘(C) The individual expects to be absent 
from such individual’s jurisdiction on the date of 
the election due to professional or volunteer serv-
ice in response to a natural disaster or emer-
gency as described in subparagraph (B). 
‘‘(D) The individual is hospitalized or ex-
pects to be hospitalized on the date of the elec-
tion. 
‘‘(E) The individual is an individual with 
a disability (as defined in section 3 of the Amer-
icans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 
12102)) and resides in a State which does not 
offer voters the ability to use secure and acces-
sible remote ballot marking. For purposes of this 
subparagraph, a State shall permit an indi-
vidual to self-certify that the individual is an in-
dividual with a disability. 
‘‘(2) EXCLUSION OF ABSENT UNIFORMED SERV-
ICES AND OVERSEAS VOTERS.—The term ‘qualified 
individual’ shall not include an absent uniformed 
services voter or an overseas voter. 
‘‘(c) STATE.—For purposes of this section, the term 
‘State’ includes the District of Columbia, the Common-
wealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the United
1816 
States Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the North-
ern Mariana Islands. 
‘‘(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall apply with 
respect to the regularly scheduled general election for Fed-
eral office held in November 2020 and each succeeding elec-
tion for Federal office.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 102(a) of 
such Act (52 U.S.C. 20302(a)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of paragraph 
(10); 
(2) by striking the period at the end of para-
graph (11) and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new para-
graph: 
‘‘(12) meet the requirements of section 103C with 
respect to the provision of blank absentee ballots for 
the use of qualified individuals described in such sec-
tion.’’. 
(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.—The table of contents of 
such Act is amended by inserting the following after section 
103: 
‘‘Sec. 103A. Procedures for collection and delivery of marked absentee ballots of 
absent overseas uniformed services voters. 
‘‘Sec. 103B. Federal voting assistance program improvements. 
‘‘Sec. 103C. Transmission of blank absentee ballots to certain other voters.’’.
1817 
SEC. 107. VOTER REGISTRATION. 
(a) REQUIRING AVAILABILITY
OF INTERNET
FOR 
VOTER REGISTRATION.— 
(1) REQUIRING AVAILABILITY OF INTERNET FOR 
REGISTRATION.—The National Voter Registration Act 
of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20501 et seq.) is amended by in-
serting after section 6 the following new section: 
‘‘SEC. 6A. INTERNET REGISTRATION. 
‘‘(a) REQUIRING AVAILABILITY OF INTERNET FOR ON-
LINE REGISTRATION.— 
‘‘(1) AVAILABILITY
OF
ONLINE
REGISTRATION 
AND CORRECTION OF EXISTING REGISTRATION INFOR-
MATION.—Each State, acting through the chief State 
election official, shall ensure that the following serv-
ices are available to the public at any time on the of-
ficial public websites of the appropriate State and 
local election officials in the State, in the same man-
ner and subject to the same terms and conditions as 
the services provided by voter registration agencies 
under section 7(a): 
‘‘(A) Online application for voter registra-
tion. 
‘‘(B) Online assistance to applicants in ap-
plying to register to vote. 
‘‘(C) Online completion and submission by 
applicants of the mail voter registration applica-
1818 
tion form prescribed by the Election Assistance 
Commission pursuant to section 9(a)(2), includ-
ing assistance with providing a signature as re-
quired under subsection (c). 
‘‘(D) Online receipt of completed voter reg-
istration applications. 
‘‘(b) ACCEPTANCE OF COMPLETED APPLICATIONS.—A 
State shall accept an online voter registration application 
provided by an individual under this section, and ensure 
that the individual is registered to vote in the State, if— 
‘‘(1) the individual meets the same voter reg-
istration requirements applicable to individuals who 
register to vote by mail in accordance with section 
6(a)(1) using the mail voter registration application 
form prescribed by the Election Assistance Commis-
sion pursuant to section 9(a)(2); and 
‘‘(2) the individual meets the requirements of 
subsection (c) to provide a signature in electronic 
form (but only in the case of applications submitted 
during or after the second year in which this section 
is in effect in the State). 
‘‘(c) SIGNATURE REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of this section, 
an individual meets the requirements of this sub-
section as follows:
1819 
‘‘(A) In the case of an individual who has 
a signature on file with a State agency, includ-
ing the State motor vehicle authority, that is re-
quired to provide voter registration services 
under this Act or any other law, the individual 
consents to the transfer of that electronic signa-
ture. 
‘‘(B) If subparagraph (A) does not apply, 
the individual submits with the application an 
electronic copy of the individual’s handwritten 
signature through electronic means. 
‘‘(C) If subparagraph (A) and subpara-
graph (B) do not apply, the individual executes 
a computerized mark in the signature field on 
an online voter registration application, in ac-
cordance with reasonable security measures es-
tablished by the State, but only if the State ac-
cepts such mark from the individual. 
‘‘(2) TREATMENT OF INDIVIDUALS UNABLE TO 
MEET REQUIREMENT.—If an individual is unable to 
meet the requirements of paragraph (1), the State 
shall— 
‘‘(A) permit the individual to complete all 
other elements of the online voter registration ap-
plication;
1820 
‘‘(B) permit the individual to provide a sig-
nature at the time the individual requests a bal-
lot in an election (whether the individual re-
quests the ballot at a polling place or requests the 
ballot by mail); and 
‘‘(C) if the individual carries out the steps 
described in subparagraph (A) and subpara-
graph (B), ensure that the individual is reg-
istered to vote in the State. 
‘‘(3) NOTICE.—The State shall ensure that indi-
viduals applying to register to vote online are notified 
of the requirements of paragraph (1) and of the treat-
ment of individuals unable to meet such requirements, 
as described in paragraph (2). 
‘‘(d) CONFIRMATION AND DISPOSITION.— 
‘‘(1) CONFIRMATION OF RECEIPT.—Upon the on-
line submission of a completed voter registration ap-
plication by an individual under this section, the ap-
propriate State or local election official shall send the 
individual a notice confirming the State’s receipt of 
the application and providing instructions on how 
the individual may check the status of the applica-
tion. 
‘‘(2) NOTICE OF DISPOSITION.—Not later than 7 
days after the appropriate State or local election offi-
1821 
cial has approved or rejected an application sub-
mitted by an individual under this section, the offi-
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 no-
tices 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 an individual, by text 
message. 
‘‘(e) PROVISION OF SERVICES IN NONPARTISAN MAN-
NER.—The services made available under subsection (a) 
shall be provided in a manner that ensures that, consistent 
with section 7(a)(5)— 
‘‘(1) the online application does not seek to influ-
ence an applicant’s political preference or party reg-
istration; and 
‘‘(2) there is no display on the website promoting 
any political preference or party allegiance, except 
that nothing in this paragraph may be construed to 
prohibit an applicant from registering to vote as a 
member of a political party.