21081(a)(3)) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new flush sentence: 
‘‘Nothing in subparagraph (B) shall be construed to 
prohibit the use of an accessible ballot that may be 
printed or marked by the voter at home.’’. 
(b) SPECIFIC REQUIREMENT OF STUDY, TESTING, AND 
DEVELOPMENT
OF
ACCESSIBLE
PAPER
BALLOT 
VERIFICATION MECHANISMS.— 
(1) STUDY AND REPORTING.—Subtitle C of title 
II of such Act (52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.) is amended— 
(A) by redesignating section 247 as section 
248; and 
(B) by inserting after section 246 the fol-
lowing new section: 
‘‘SEC. 247. STUDY AND REPORT ON ACCESSIBLE PAPER BAL-
LOT VERIFICATION MECHANISMS. 
‘‘(a) STUDY AND REPORT.—The Director of the Na-
tional Science Foundation shall make grants to not fewer 
than 3 eligible entities to study, test, and develop accessible 
paper ballot voting, verification, and casting mechanisms 
and devices and best practices to enhance the accessibility 
of paper ballot voting and verification mechanisms for indi-
viduals with disabilities, for voters whose primary language 
is not English, and for voters with difficulties in literacy, 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:09 Jun 26, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H2722.RH
H2722
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
including best practices for the mechanisms themselves and 
the processes through which the mechanisms are used. 
‘‘(b) ELIGIBILITY.—An entity is eligible to receive a 
grant under this part if it submits to the Director (at such 
time and in such form as the Director may require) an 
application containing— 
‘‘(1) certifications that the entity shall specifi-
cally investigate enhanced methods or devices, includ-
ing non-electronic devices, that will assist such indi-
viduals and voters in marking voter-verified paper 
ballots and presenting or transmitting the informa-
tion printed or marked on such ballots back to such 
individuals and voters, and casting such ballots; 
‘‘(2) a certification that the entity shall complete 
the activities carried out with the grant not later 
than December 31, 2020; and 
‘‘(3) such other information and certifications as 
the Director may require. 
‘‘(c) AVAILABILITY OF TECHNOLOGY.—Any technology 
developed with the grants made under this section shall be 
treated as non-proprietary and shall be made available to 
the public, including to manufacturers of voting systems. 
‘‘(d) COORDINATION WITH GRANTS FOR TECHNOLOGY 
IMPROVEMENTS.—The Director shall carry out this section 
so that the activities carried out with the grants made 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:09 Jun 26, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H2722.RH
H2722
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
under subsection (a) are coordinated with the research con-
ducted under the grant program carried out by the Commis-
sion under section 271, to the extent that the Director and 
Commission determine necessary to provide for the advance-
ment of accessible voting technology. 
‘‘(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out subsection (a) 
$5,000,000, to remain available until expended.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of con-
tents of such Act is amended— 
(A) by redesignating the item relating to 
section 247 as relating to section 248; and 
(B) by inserting after the item relating to 
section 246 the following new item: 
‘‘Sec. 247. Study and report on accessible paper ballot verification mechanisms.’’. 
(c) CLARIFICATION
OF ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS 
UNDER
VOLUNTARY
VOTING
SYSTEM
GUIDANCE.—In 
adopting any voluntary guidance under subtitle B of title 
III of the Help America Vote Act with respect to the accessi-
bility of the paper ballot verification requirements for indi-
viduals with disabilities, the Election Assistance Commis-
sion shall include and apply the same accessibility stand-
ards applicable under the voluntary guidance adopted for 
accessible voting systems under such subtitle. 
(d) PERMITTING USE OF FUNDS FOR PROTECTION AND 
ADVOCACY SYSTEMS TO SUPPORT ACTIONS TO ENFORCE 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:09 Jun 26, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H2722.RH
H2722
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
ELECTION-RELATED DISABILITY ACCESS.—Section 292(a) 
of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21062(a)) 
is amended by striking ‘‘; except that’’ and all that follows 
and inserting a period. 
SEC. 104. DURABILITY AND READABILITY REQUIREMENTS 
FOR BALLOTS. 
Section 301(a) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 
(52 U.S.C. 21081(a)) is amended by adding at the end the 
following new paragraph: 
‘‘(7) DURABILITY
AND
READABILITY
REQUIRE-
MENTS FOR BALLOTS.— 
‘‘(A) 
DURABILITY
REQUIREMENTS
FOR 
PAPER BALLOTS.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—All voter-verified 
paper ballots required to be used under this 
Act shall be marked or printed on durable 
paper. 
‘‘(ii) DEFINITION.—For purposes of 
this Act, paper is ‘durable’ if it is capable 
of withstanding multiple counts and re-
counts by hand without compromising the 
fundamental integrity of the ballots, and ca-
pable of retaining the information marked 
or printed on them for the full duration of 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:09 Jun 26, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00015
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H2722.RH
H2722
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
a retention and preservation period of 22 
months. 
‘‘(B) READABILITY
REQUIREMENTS
FOR 
PAPER BALLOTS MARKED BY BALLOT MARKING 
DEVICE.—All voter-verified paper ballots com-
pleted by the voter through the use of a ballot 
marking device shall be clearly readable by the 
voter without assistance (other than eyeglasses or 
other personal vision enhancing devices) and by 
an optical character recognition device or other 
device equipped for individuals with disabil-
ities.’’. 
SEC. 105. PAPER BALLOT PRINTING REQUIREMENTS. 
(a) REQUIRING PAPER BALLOTS TO BE PRINTED ON 
RECYCLED PAPER MANUFACTURED IN UNITED STATES.— 
Section 301(a) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 
U.S.C. 21081(a)), as amended by section 104, is amended 
by adding at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(8) PRINTING REQUIREMENTS FOR BALLOTS.— 
All paper ballots used in an election for Federal office 
shall be printed in the United States on recycled 
paper manufactured in the United States.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by sub-
section (a) shall apply with respect to elections occurring 
on or after January 1, 2021. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:09 Jun 26, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00016
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H2722.RH
H2722
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS