UPDATE Act
Bill: H.R.1662 | Sponsor: Rep. Van Drew, Jefferson (R-NJ)
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics

Summary:
Updating Postal Data on Addresses for Trustworthy Elections Act or the UPDATE Act
This bill requires the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to regularly provide chief state election officials with change-of-address information. Specifically, the USPS must provide this information within 90 days and every 90 days thereafter. Additionally, the Election Assistance Commission must make payments to states to maintain their computerized voter registration lists.

To amend the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to require the 
 Postmaster General to provide State election officials with change of 
 address information before a general election for Federal office, and 
                          for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Updating Postal Data on Addresses 
for Trustworthy Elections Act'' or the ``UPDATE Act''.

SEC. 2. CHANGE OF ADDRESS INFORMATION PROVIDED TO STATE ELECTION 
              OFFICIALS.

    (a) In General.--Section 9 of the National Voter Registration Act 
of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20508) is amended by adding at the end the following 
new subsection:
    ``(c) United States Postal Service Change of Address Information.--
Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this subsection, 
and every 90 days thereafter, the Postmaster General of the United 
States Postal Service shall provide to the chief State election 
official of each State the change of address records available in the 
National Change of Address product maintained by the United States 
Postal Service.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section shall take 
effect on the date of enactment of this Act.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Postmaster General of the United States Postal 
Service $600,000 to carry out the amendment made by this section.

SEC. 3. PAYMENTS TO STATES FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF VOTER REGISTRATION 
              LISTS.

    (a) In General.--The Election Assistance Commission shall make a 
payment to each eligible State for carrying out maintenance of each 
such State's computerized voter registration list under section 303 of 
the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21083) and for carrying 
out programs under section 8 of the National Voter Registration Act of 
1993 (52 U.S.C. 20507) to ensure the accuracy of voter registration 
lists in the State.
    (b) Eligibility.--A State is eligible to receive a payment under 
this section if the State submits to the Commission an application at 
such time, in such form, and containing such information and assurances 
as the Commission may require.
    (c) Amount of Payment.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the amount of a 
        payment made to a State under this section shall be equal to 
        the product of--
                    (A) the total amount appropriated for such payments 
                pursuant to the authorization under subsection (f); and
                    (B) the State allocation percentage for the State.
            (2) Minimum amount of payment.--The amount of a payment 
        made to a State under this section may not be less than--
                    (A) in the case of any of the several States or the 
                District of Columbia, one-half of 1 percent of the 
                total amount appropriated for such payments; or
                    (B) in the case of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, 
                Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, 
                and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, 
                one-tenth of 1 percent of such total amount.
            (3) Pro rata reductions.--The Commission shall make such 
        pro rata reductions to the allocations determined under 
        paragraph (1) as are necessary to comply with the requirements 
        of paragraph (2).
    (d) Continuing Availability of Funds After Appropriation.--A 
payment made to a State under this section shall be available to the 
State without fiscal year limitation.
    (e) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the several 
        States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto 
        Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the United States Virgin Islands, 
        and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
            (2) State allocation percentage.--The term ``State 
        allocation percentage'' means, with respect to a State, the 
        amount (expressed as a percentage) equal to the quotient of--
                    (A) the voting age population of the State (as 
                reported in the most recent decennial census); and
                    (B) the total voting age population of all States 
                (as reported in the most recent decennial census).
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated $25,000,000 for payments under this section.
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