I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8053 
To enforce the Twenty-sixth Amendment, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
AUGUST 14, 2020 
Mr. PAPPAS (for himself, Mr. NEGUSE, Mr. GALLEGO, Ms. MENG, and Mrs. 
MURPHY of Florida) introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
the Committee on the Judiciary 
A BILL 
To enforce the Twenty-sixth Amendment, 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 ‘‘Protect the Youth Vote 
Act of 2020’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) The right to vote is a fundamental right of 
citizens of the United States. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:58 Sep 08, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8053.IH
H8053
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with BILLS
(2) The Twenty-sixth Amendment of the United 
States Constitution guarantees that ‘‘The right of 
citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years 
of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or 
abridged by the United States or by any State on 
account of age.’’. 
(3) The Twenty-sixth Amendment of the United 
States Constitution grants Congress the power to 
enforce the Amendment by appropriate legislation. 
(4) The language of the Twenty-sixth Amend-
ment closely mirrors that of the Fifteenth Amend-
ment and the Nineteenth Amendment. Like those 
Amendments, the Twenty-sixth Amendment not only 
prohibits denial of the right to vote but also pro-
hibits any actions that abridge the right to vote. 
(5) Youth voter suppression undercuts partici-
pation in our democracy by introducing arduous ob-
stacles to new voters and discouraging a culture of 
democratic engagement. 
(6) Voting is habit forming, and allowing youth 
voters unobstructed access to voting ensures that 
more Americans will start a life-long habit of voting 
as soon as possible. 
(7) Youth voter suppression is a clear, per-
sistent, and growing problem. The actions of States 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:58 Sep 08, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8053.IH
H8053
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with BILLS
and political subdivisions resulting in at least four 
findings of Twenty-sixth Amendment violations as 
well as pending litigation demonstrate the need for 
Congress to take action to enforce the Twenty-sixth 
Amendment. 
(8) In League of Women Voters of Florida, Inc. 
v. Detzner (2018), the United States District Court 
in the Northern District of Florida found that the 
Secretary of State’s actions that prevented in-person 
early voting sites from being located on university 
property revealed a stark pattern of discrimination 
that was unexplainable on grounds other than age 
and thus violated university students’ Twenty-sixth 
Amendment rights. 
(9) In 2019, Michigan agreed to a settlement to 
enhance college-age voters’ access after a Twenty- 
sixth Amendment challenge was filed in federal 
court. The challenge prompted the removal of a 
Michigan voting law which required first time voters 
who registered by mail or through a third-party 
voter registration drive to vote in person for the first 
time, as well as the removal of another law which re-
quired the address listed on a voter’s driver license 
to match the address listed on their voter registra-
tion card. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:58 Sep 08, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8053.IH
H8053
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with BILLS
(10) Youth voter suppression tactics are often 
linked to other tactics aimed at minority voters. For 
example, students at Prairie View A&M University 
(PVAMU), a historically black university in Texas, 
have been the targets of voter suppression tactics for 
decades. Before the 2018 election, PVAMU students 
sued Waller County on the basis of both racial and 
age discrimination over the County’s failure to en-
sure equal early voting opportunities for students, 
spurring the County to reverse course and expand 
early voting access for students. 
(11) The more than 25 million United States 
citizens ages 18-24 deserve equal opportunity to par-
ticipate in the electoral process as guaranteed by the 
Twenty-sixth Amendment. 
SEC. 3. PREVENTING AGE DISCRIMINATION IN VOTING. 
(a) RIGHT TO VOTE.—No voting qualification or pre-
requisite to voting or standard, practice, or procedure shall 
be imposed or applied by any State or political subdivision 
in a manner which results in a denial or abridgement of 
the right of any citizen of the United States to vote on 
account of age, as provided in subsection (b). 
(b) VIOLATION OF RIGHT TO VOTE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—A violation of subsection (a) 
is established if, based on the totality of cir-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:58 Sep 08, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8053.IH
H8053
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with BILLS
cumstances, it is shown that the political processes 
leading to nomination or election in the State or po-
litical subdivision are not equally open to participa-
tion by members of a class of citizens protected by 
subsection (a) in that its members have less oppor-
tunity than other members of the electorate to par-
ticipate in the political process and to elect rep-
resentatives of their choice: Provided, That nothing 
in this section establishes a right to have members 
of a protected class under subsection (a) elected in 
numbers equal to their proportion in the population. 
(2) VIOLATIONS.—A violation under subsection 
(a) shall include: 
(A) Laws or requirements implemented in 
a State or political subdivision that reduce or 
abridge the ability for students who attend an 
institution of higher education and reside in the 
jurisdiction of the institution while attending 
the institution to register to vote in elections in 
that jurisdiction. 
(B) Addition of seats elected at-large in a 
State or political subdivision or conversion of 
one or more seats elected from a single member 
district to one or more at-large seats or seats 
from a multi-member district in a State or po-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:58 Sep 08, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8053.IH
H8053
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with BILLS
litical subdivision with a significant proportion 
of youth age voters. 
(C) Boundaries of a political subdivision 
designed to reduce the proportion of the polit-
ical subdivision’s voting-age population that is 
comprised of youth age voters in a State or po-
litical subdivision with a significant proportion 
of youth age voters. 
(D) Requirements for documentation or 
proof of identity to vote that exceed or are more 
stringent than the requirements for voting that 
are described in section 303(b) of the Help 
America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 
21083(b)) or any other requirements for docu-
mentation or proof of identity to vote that have 
the purpose or effect of denying or abridging 
the right to vote on account of age. 
(E) Reduction of voting materials or alter-
nation of the manner in which such materials 
are provided or distributed at institutions of 
higher education, where no similar reduction or 
alteration occurs in materials provided at other 
sites for such election. 
(F) Any reduction, consolidation, or reloca-
tion of voting locations, including early, absen-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:58 Sep 08, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8053.IH
H8053
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with BILLS
tee, and election day voting locations in a single 
political subdivision with a significant propor-
tion of youth age voters. 
SEC. 4. FEDERAL OBSERVERS TO PREVENT AGE DISCRIMI-
NATION. 
(a) FEDERAL OBSERVERS.—Whenever the Attorney 
General or an aggrieved person institutes a proceeding 
under any statute to enforce the voting guarantees of the 
Twenty-sixth Amendment in any State or political subdivi-
sion the court shall authorize the appointment of Federal 
observers by the United States Office of Personnel Man-
agement to serve for such period of time and for such po-
litical subdivisions as the court shall determine is appro-
priate to enforce the voting guarantees of the Twenty- 
sixth Amendment (1) as part of any interlocutory order 
if the court determines that the appointment of such ob-
servers is necessary to enforce such voting guarantees or 
(2) as part of any final judgment if the court finds that 
violations of the Twenty-sixth Amendment, violations of 
this Act, or violations of any Federal law that prohibits 
discrimination in voting on the basis of age, justifying eq-
uitable relief have occurred in such State or subdivision: 
Provided, That the court need not authorize the appoint-
ment of observers if any incidents of denial or abridgement 
of the right to vote on account of age, (1) have been few 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:58 Sep 08, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8053.IH
H8053
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with BILLS
in number and have been promptly and effectively cor-
rected by State or local action, (2) the continuing effect 
of such incidents has been eliminated, and (3) there is no 
reasonable probability of their recurrence in the future. 
(b) JURISDICTION.—If any action under any statute 
in which a party (including the Attorney General) seeks 
to enforce the voting guarantees of the Twenty-sixth 
Amendment in any State or political subdivision the court 
finds that violations of the Twenty-sixth Amendment, vio-
lations of this Act, or violations of any Federal law that 
prohibits discrimination in voting on the basis of age, jus-
tifying equitable relief have occurred within the territory 
of such State or political subdivision, the court, in addition 
to such relief as it may grant, shall retain jurisdiction for 
such period as it may deem appropriate and during such 
period no voting qualification or prerequisite to voting, or 
standard, practice, or procedure with respect to voting dif-
ferent from that in force or effect at the time the action 
was commenced shall be enforced unless and until the 
court finds that such qualification, prerequisite, standard, 
practice, or procedure does not have the purpose and will 
not have the effect of denying or abridging the right to 
vote on account of age: Provided, That such qualification, 
prerequisite, standard, practice, or procedure may be en-
forced if the qualification, prerequisite, standard, practice, 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:58 Sep 08, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8053.IH
H8053
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with BILLS
or procedure has been submitted by the chief legal officer 
or other appropriate official of such State or subdivision 
to the Attorney General and the Attorney General has not 
interposed an objection within sixty days after such sub-
mission, except that neither the court’s finding nor the 
Attorney General’s failure to object shall bar a subsequent 
action to enjoin enforcement of such qualification, pre-
requisite, standard, practice, or procedure. 
(c) ENFORCEMENT BY ATTORNEY GENERAL.—The 
Attorney General is authorized to monitor and enforce the 
voting guarantees of the Twenty-sixth Amendment, viola-
tions of this Act, or violations of any Federal law that 
prohibits discrimination in voting on the basis of age, 
whenever Federal observers are appointed under any pro-
vision of Federal law. 
SEC. 5. DETERMINATION OF VOTING RIGHTS VIOLATION. 
For purposes of this Act, a voting rights violation oc-
curred in a State or political subdivision if any of the fol-
lowing applies: 
(1) FINAL JUDGEMENT; VIOLATION OF TWEN-
TY-SIXTH AMENDMENT.—In a final judgment (which 
has not been reversed on appeal), any court of the 
United States has determined that a denial or 
abridgement of the right of any citizen of the United 
States to vote on account of age, in violation of the 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:58 Sep 08, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8053.IH
H8053
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with BILLS
Twenty-sixth Amendment, occurred anywhere within 
the State or subdivision. 
(2) FINAL JUDGEMENT; VIOLATIONS OF THIS 
ACT.—In a final judgment (which has not been re-
versed on appeal), any court of the United States 
has determined that a voting qualification or pre-
requisite to voting or standard, practice, or proce-
dure with respect to voting was imposed or applied 
or would have been imposed or applied anywhere 
within the State or subdivision in a manner that re-
sulted or would have resulted in a denial or 
abridgement of the right of any citizen of the United 
States to vote on account of age, in violation of sec-
tion 3. 
(3) FINAL JUDGEMENT; DENIAL OF DECLARA-
TORY JUDGEMENT.—In a final judgment (which has 
not been reversed on appeal), any court of the 
United States has denied the request of the State or 
subdivision for a declaratory judgment under section 
3(b), and thereby prevented a voting qualification or 
prerequisite to voting or standard, practice, or pro-
cedure with respect to voting from being enforced 
anywhere within the State or subdivision. 
(4) OBJECTION BY ATTORNEY GENERAL.—The 
Attorney General has interposed an objection under 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:58 Sep 08, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8053.IH
H8053
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with BILLS
section 3(b) (and the objection has not been over-
turned by a final judgment of a court or withdrawn 
by the Attorney General), and thereby prevented a 
voting qualification or prerequisite to voting or 
standard, practice, or procedure with respect to vot-
ing from being enforced anywhere within the State 
or subdivision. 
(5) TIMING OF DETERMINATIONS.— 
(A) DETERMINATIONS OF VOTING RIGHTS 
VIOLATIONS.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—As early as prac-
ticable during each calendar year, the At-
torney General shall make the determina-
tions required by this subsection, including 
updating the list of voting rights violations 
occurring in each State and political sub-
division for the previous calendar year. 
(ii) 
PUBLICATION.—The 
Attorney 
General shall make the list required under 
clause (i) public on the internet website of 
the Department of Justice. 
(B) FEDERAL REGISTER PUBLICATION.—A 
determination or certification of the Attorney 
General under this section shall be effective 
upon publication in the Federal Register. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:58 Sep 08, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8053.IH
H8053
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with BILLS
SEC. 6. TRANSPARENCY REGARDING CHANGES TO PRO-
TECT VOTING RIGHTS. 
(a) NOTICE OF ENACTED CHANGES.— 
(1) NOTICE OF CHANGES.—If a State or polit-
ical subdivision makes any change in any pre-
requisite to voting or standard, practice, or proce-
dure with respect to voting in any election for Fed-
eral office that will result in the prerequisite, stand-
ard, practice, or procedure being different from that 
which was in effect as of 180 days before the date 
of the election for Federal office, the State or polit-
ical subdivision shall provide reasonable public notice 
in such State or political subdivision and on the 
Internet, of a concise description of the change, in-
cluding the difference between the changed pre-
requisite, standard, practice, or procedure and the 
prerequisite, standard, practice, or procedure which 
was previously in effect. The public notice described 
in this paragraph, in such State or political subdivi-
sion and on the Internet, shall be in a format that 
is reasonably convenient and accessible to voters 
with disabilities, including voters who have low vi-
sion or are blind. 
(2) DEADLINE FOR NOTICE.—A State or polit-
ical subdivision shall provide the public notice re-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:58 Sep 08, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8053.IH
H8053
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with BILLS
quired under paragraph (1) not later than 48 hours 
after making the change involved. 
(b) TRANSPARENCY REGARDING POLLING PLACE 
RESOURCES.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—In order to identify any 
changes that may impact the right to vote of any 
person, prior to the 30th day before the date of an 
election for Federal office, each State or political 
subdivision with responsibility for allocating reg-
istered voters, voting machines, and official poll 
workers to particular precincts and polling places 
shall provide reasonable public notice in such State 
or political subdivision and on the Internet, of the 
information described in paragraph (2) for precincts 
and polling places within such State or political sub-
division. The public notice described in this para-
graph, in such State or political subdivision and on 
the Internet, shall be in a format that is reasonably 
convenient and accessible to voters with disabilities 
including voters who have low vision or are blind. 
(2) INFORMATION
DESCRIBED.—The informa-
tion described in this paragraph with respect to a 
precinct or polling place is each of the following: 
(A) The name or number. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:58 Sep 08, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8053.IH
H8053
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with BILLS
(B) In the case of a polling place, the loca-
tion, including the street address, and whether 
such polling place is accessible to persons with 
disabilities. 
(C) The voting-age population of the area 
served by the precinct or polling place, broken 
down by demographic group if such breakdown 
is reasonably available to such State or political 
subdivision. 
(D) The number of registered voters as-
signed to the precinct or polling place, broken 
down by demographic group if such breakdown 
is reasonably available to such State or political 
subdivision. 
(E) The number of voting machines as-
signed, including the number of voting ma-
chines accessible to voters with disabilities, in-
cluding voters who have low vision or are blind. 
(F) The number of official paid poll work-
ers assigned. 
(G) The number of official volunteer poll 
workers assigned. 
(H) In the case of a polling place, the 
dates and hours of operation of such polling 
place. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:58 Sep 08, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8053.IH
H8053
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with BILLS
(3) UPDATES IN INFORMATION REPORTED.—If 
a State or political subdivision makes any change in 
any of the information described in paragraph (2), 
the State or political subdivision shall provide rea-
sonable public notice in such State or political sub-
division and on the Internet, of the change in the in-
formation not later than 48 hours after the change 
occurs or, if the change occurs fewer than 48 hours 
before the date of the election for Federal office, as 
soon as practicable after the change occurs. The 
public notice described in this paragraph in such 
State or political subdivision and on the Internet 
shall be in a format that is reasonably convenient 
and accessible to voters with disabilities including 
voters who have low vision or are blind. 
(c) TRANSPARENCY OF CHANGES RELATING TO DE-
MOGRAPHICS AND ELECTORAL DISTRICTS.— 
(1) REQUIRING PUBLIC NOTICE OF CHANGES.— 
Not later than 10 days after making any change in 
the constituency that will participate in an election 
for Federal, State, or local office or the boundaries 
of a voting unit or electoral district in an election for 
Federal, State, or local office (including through re-
districting, reapportionment, changing from at-large 
elections to district-based elections, or changing 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:58 Sep 08, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00015
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8053.IH
H8053
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with BILLS
from district-based elections to at-large elections), a 
State or political subdivision shall provide reasonable 
public notice in such State or political subdivision 
and on the Internet, of the demographic and elec-
toral data described in paragraph (3) for each of the 
geographic areas described in paragraph (2). 
(2) GEOGRAPHIC AREAS DESCRIBED.—The geo-
graphic areas described in this paragraph are as fol-
lows: 
(A) The State as a whole, if the change 
applies statewide, or the political subdivision as 
a whole, if the change applies across the entire 
political subdivision. 
(B) If the change includes a plan to re-
place or eliminate voting units or electoral dis-
tricts, each voting unit or electoral district that 
will be replaced or eliminated. 
(C) If the change includes a plan to estab-
lish new voting units or electoral districts, each 
such new voting unit or electoral district. 
(3) DEMOGRAPHIC
AND
ELECTORAL
DATA.— 
The demographic and electoral data described in this 
paragraph with respect to a geographic area de-
scribed in paragraph (2) are each of the following: 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:58 Sep 08, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00016
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8053.IH
H8053
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with BILLS
(A) 
The 
voting-age 
population, 
disaggregated by age group. 
(B) The number of voting-age students. 
(C) If it is reasonably available to the 
State or political subdivision involved, an esti-
mate of the population of the area which con-
sists of citizens of the United States who are 18 
years of age or older, disaggregated by age 
group and status as a student. 
(D) The number of registered voters, 
disaggregated by age group and status as a stu-
dent if such breakdown is reasonably available 
to the State or political subdivision involved. 
(E) If the change applies— 
(i) to a State, the actual number of 
votes, or (if it is not reasonably practicable 
for the State to ascertain the actual num-
ber of votes) the estimated number of votes 
received by each candidate in each state-
wide election held during the 5-year period 
which ends on the date the change involved 
is made; and 
(ii) to only one political subdivision, 
the actual number of votes, or (if it is not 
reasonably practicable for the political sub-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:58 Sep 08, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00017
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8053.IH
H8053
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with BILLS
division to ascertain the actual number of 
votes) in each subdivision-wide election 
held during the 5-year period which ends 
on the date the change involved is made. 
(4) VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE BY SMALLER JU-
RISDICTION.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Compliance with this 
subsection shall be voluntary for a political sub-
division of a State unless the subdivision is one 
of the following: 
(i) A county or parish. 
(ii) A municipality with a population 
greater than 10,000, as determined by the 
Bureau of the Census under the most re-
cent decennial census. 
(iii) A school district with a popu-
lation greater than 10,000, as determined 
by the Bureau of the Census under the 
most recent decennial census. 
(B) SCHOOL
DISTRICT
DEFINED.—For 
purposes of this subparagraph, the term ‘‘school 
district’’ means the geographic area under the 
jurisdiction of a local educational agency (as de-
fined in section 9101 of the Elementary and 
Secondary Education Act of 1965). 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:58 Sep 08, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00018
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8053.IH
H8053
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with BILLS
(d) RULES
REGARDING
FORMAT
OF
INFORMA-
TION.—The Attorney General may issue rules specifying 
a reasonably convenient and accessible format that States 
and political subdivisions shall use to provide public notice 
of information under this section. 
(e) NO DENIAL OF RIGHT TO VOTE.—The right to 
vote of any person shall not be denied or abridged because 
the person failed to comply with any change made by a 
State or political subdivision to a voting qualification, 
standard, practice, or procedure if the State or political 
subdivision involved did not meet the applicable require-
ments of this section with respect to the change. 
SEC. 7. VOTING OFFENSES. 
(a) PERMISSION TO VOTE.—No person acting under 
color of law shall fail or refuse to permit any person to 
vote who is entitled to vote under any provision of this 
Act or is otherwise qualified to vote, or willfully fail or 
refuse to tabulate, count and report such person’s vote. 
(b) INTIMIDATION.—No person, whether acting 
under color of law or otherwise, shall intimidate, threaten, 
or coerce, or attempt to intimidate, threaten, or coerce any 
person for voting or attempting to vote, or intimidate, 
threaten, or coerce, or attempt to intimidate, threaten, or 
coerce any person for urging or aiding any person to vote 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:58 Sep 08, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00019
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8053.IH
H8053
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with BILLS
or attempt to vote, or intimidate, threaten, or coerce any 
person for exercising the right to vote. 
(c) FALSE INFORMATION.—Whoever knowingly or 
willfully give false information as to their name, address, 
or period of residence in the voting district for the purpose 
of establishing his eligibility to register or vote, or con-
spires with another individual for the purpose of encour-
aging his false registration to vote or illegal voting, or pays 
or offers to pay or accepts payment either for registration 
to vote or for voting shall be fined not more than $5,000 
or imprisoned not more than five years, or both: Provided, 
however, That this provision shall be applicable only to a 
general, special, or primary elections held solely or in part 
for the purpose of selecting or electing any candidate for 
the office of President, Vice President, presidential elector, 
Member of the United States Senate, Member of the 
United States House of Representatives, Delegate from 
the District of Columbia, Guam, Northern Mariana Is-
lands, American Samoa, or the Virgin Islands, or Resident 
Commissioner of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. 
(d) DUPLICATIVE VOTING.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Whoever votes more than 
once in an election referred to in paragraph (2) shall 
be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned not 
more than five years, or both. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:58 Sep 08, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00020
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8053.IH
H8053
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with BILLS
(2) APPLICABLE ELECTIONS.—The prohibition 
of this subsection applies with respect to any gen-
eral, special, or primary election held solely or in 
part for the purpose of selecting or electing any can-
didate for the office of President, Vice President, 
presidential elector, Member of the United States 
Senate, Member of the United States House of Rep-
resentatives, Delegate from the District of Columbia, 
Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, 
or the Virgin Islands, or Resident Commissioner of 
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. 
(3) VOTES MORE THAN ONCE DEFINED.—As 
used in this subsection, the term ‘‘votes more than 
once’’ does not include the casting of an additional 
ballot if all prior ballots of that voter were in vali-
dated, nor does it include the voting in two jurisdic-
tions under section 202 of the Voting Rights Act of 
1965 (52 U.S.C. 10502), to the extent two ballots 
are not cast for an election to the same candidacy 
or office. 
SEC. 8. VOTING OFFENSES AND RELIEF. 
(a) OFFENSE FOR DEPRIVING VOTING RIGHTS.— 
Whoever shall deprive or attempt to deprive any person 
of any right secured by the Twenty-sixth Amendment, this 
Act, or any Federal voting rights law that prohibits dis-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:58 Sep 08, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00021
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8053.IH
H8053
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with BILLS
crimination on the basis of age, shall be fined not more 
than $5,000, or imprisoned not more than five years, or 
both. 
(b) OFFENSE FOR MANIPULATION OF BALLOTS.— 
Whoever, within a year following an election in a political 
subdivision in which an observer has been assigned (1) de-
stroys, defaces, mutilates, or otherwise alters the marking 
of a paper ballot which has been cast in such election, or 
(2) alters any official record of voting in such election tab-
ulated from a voting machine or otherwise, shall be fined 
not more than $5,000, or imprisoned not more than five 
years, or both. 
(c) CONSPIRACY.—Whoever conspires to violate the 
provisions of subsection (a) or (b) of this section, or inter-
feres with any right secured by the Twenty-sixth Amend-
ment, this Act, or any Federal voting rights law that pro-
hibits discrimination on the basis of age shall be fined not 
more than $5,000, or imprisoned not more than five years, 
or both. 
(d) PREVENTATIVE RELIEF.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Whenever any person has 
engaged or there are reasonable grounds to believe 
that any person is about to engage in any act or 
practice prohibited by the Twenty-sixth Amendment, 
this Act, or any Federal voting rights law that pro-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:58 Sep 08, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00022
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8053.IH
H8053
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with BILLS
hibits discrimination on the basis of age, the ag-
grieved person or (in the name of the United States) 
the Attorney General may institute an action for 
preventative relief, including an application for a 
temporary or permanent injunction, restraining 
order, or other order, and including an order di-
rected to the State and State or local election offi-
cials to require them— 
(A) to permit persons listed under this Act 
to vote; and 
(B) to count such votes. 
(2) PRELIMINARY RELIEF.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—In any action for pre-
liminary relief described in this subsection, the 
court shall grant the relief if the court deter-
mines that the complainant has raised a serious 
question whether the challenged voting quali-
fication or prerequisite to voting or standard, 
practice, or procedure violates this Act or the 
Constitution and, on balance, the hardship im-
posed upon the defendant by the grant of the 
relief will be less than the hardship which would 
be imposed upon the plaintiff if the relief were 
not granted. In balancing the harms, the court 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:58 Sep 08, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00023
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8053.IH
H8053
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with BILLS
shall give due weight to the fundamental right 
to cast an effective ballot. 
(B) ADDITIONAL FACTORS TO BE CONSID-
ERED.—In making its determination under this 
paragraph, with respect to a change in any vot-
ing qualification, prerequisite to voting, or 
standard, practice, or procedure with respect to 
voting, the court shall consider all relevant fac-
tors and give due weight to the following fac-
tors, if they are present: 
(i) Whether the qualification, pre-
requisite, standard, practice, or procedure 
in effect prior to the change was adopted 
as a remedy for a Federal court judgment, 
consent decree, or admission regarding— 
(I) discrimination on the basis of 
age in violation of the Twenty-sixth 
Amendment; 
(II) a violation of this Act; or 
(III) voting discrimination on the 
basis of age in violation of any other 
Federal or State law. 
(ii) Whether the qualification, pre-
requisite, standard, practice, or procedure 
in effect prior to the change served as a 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:58 Sep 08, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00024
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8053.IH
H8053
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with BILLS
ground for the dismissal or settlement of a 
claim alleging— 
(I) discrimination on the basis of 
age in violation of the Twenty-sixth 
Amendment; 
(II) a violation of this Act; or 
(III) voting discrimination on the 
basis of age in violation of any other 
Federal or State law. 
(iii) Whether the change was adopted 
fewer than 180 days before the date of the 
election with respect to which the change is 
to take effect. 
(iv) Whether the defendant failed to 
provide timely or complete notice of the 
adoption of the change as required by ap-
plicable Federal or State law. 
(3) PUBLIC INTEREST.—A jurisdiction’s inabil-
ity to enforce its voting or election laws, regulations, 
policies, or redistricting plans, standing alone, shall 
not be deemed to constitute irreparable harm to the 
public interest or to the interests of a defendant in 
an action arising under the U.S. Constitution or any 
Federal law that prohibits discrimination on the 
basis of age in the voting process, for the purposes 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:58 Sep 08, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00025
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8053.IH
H8053
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with BILLS
of determining whether a stay of a court’s order or 
an interlocutory appeal under section 1253 of title 
28, United States Code, is warranted. 
(e) NOTIFICATION TO ATTORNEY GENERAL.—When-
ever in any political subdivision in which there are observ-
ers appointed pursuant to this Act, a person alleges to 
such observer within forty-eight hours after the closing of 
the polls, that notwithstanding (1) their listing under this 
Act or registration by an appropriate election official and 
(2) their eligibility to vote, they have not been permitted 
to vote in such election, the observer shall forthwith notify 
the Attorney General if such allegations in the opinion of 
such observer appear to be well founded. Upon receipt of 
such notification the Attorney General may forthwith file 
with the district court an application for an order pro-
viding for the marking, casting, and counting of the bal-
lots of such persons and requiring the inclusion of their 
votes in the total vote before the results of such election 
shall be deemed final and any force or effect given thereto. 
The district court shall hear and determine such matters 
immediately after the filing of such application. The rem-
edy provided in this subsection shall not preclude any 
other remedy available under State or Federal law. 
(f) JURISDICTION OF PROCEEDINGS.—The district 
courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction of pro-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:58 Sep 08, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00026
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8053.IH
H8053
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with BILLS
ceedings instituted pursuant to this Act and shall exercise 
the same without regard to whether a person asserting 
rights under the provisions of this Act shall have ex-
hausted any administrative or other remedies that may be 
provided by law. 
(g) ATTORNEY’S FEES.—In any action or proceeding 
to enforce the voting guarantees of the Twenty-sixth 
Amendment, the court, in its discretion, may allow the 
prevailing party, other than the United States, a reason-
able attorney’s fee, reasonable expert fees, and other rea-
sonable litigation expenses, as part of the costs. 
SEC. 9. SEVERABILITY. 
If any provision of this Act or the application of such 
provision to any person or circumstance is held invalid, 
the remainder of this Act and the application of such pro-
vision to other persons or circumstances shall not be af-
fected thereby. 
SEC. 10. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) AGE GROUP.—The term ‘‘age group’’ means 
the number of individuals who are 18 years or older, 
disaggregated by the number of individuals in each 
five year age period. 
(2) DEMOGRAPHIC GROUP.—The term ‘‘demo-
graphic group’’ means each group which section 3 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:58 Sep 08, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00027
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8053.IH
H8053
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with BILLS