Voter Empowerment Act of 2021

Bill: 117-hr-2358
Sponsor: Rep. Clyburn, James E. [D-SC-6]
Introduced: 2021-04-05 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Aging
Civil actions and liability
Congressional elections
Congressional oversight
Correctional facilities and imprisonment
Disability and paralysis
Disaster relief and insurance
Election Assistance Commission
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Elementary and secondary education
Emergency planning and evacuation
Employee hiring
Family relationships
Foreign language and bilingual programs
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Higher education
Indian lands and resources rights
Indian social and development programs
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Law enforcement administration and funding
Military personnel and dependents
Natural disasters
Northern Ireland
Postal service
Public contracts and procurement
State and local government operations
U.S. territories and protectorates
Voting rights
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2021-04-05
text: 
 
Voter Empowerment Act of 2021 

 
This bill expands voter registration and voting access.
 
Specifically, the bill expands voter registration by requiring states to (1) make available online voter registration, (2) establish automatic voter registration systems, (3) permit same-day voter registration, and (4) accept voter registration applications from individuals under age 18.
 
Further, the bill limits removing voters from voter rolls and prohibits interference with voter registration or voting.
 
Next, the bill requires states to allow individuals with disabilities to use absentee registration procedures and to vote by absentee ballot in federal elections. 
 
The bill also prohibits voter caging (the practice of sending mail to addresses on voter rolls, compiling a list of the undeliverable mail, and using the list to remove registered voters from voter rolls).
 
Next, the bill expands voting access by requiring states to allow early voting and voting by mail without additional conditions. It also requires states to provide secured drop boxes at which individuals may drop off their completed absentee ballots.
 
In addition, the bill declares that the right of a U.S. citizen to vote in any federal election shall not be denied or abridged because that individual has been convicted of a criminal offense unless, at the time of the election, such individual is serving a felony sentence.
 
Finally, the bill permanently reauthorizes the Election Assistance Commission (EAC). It also directs the EAC to make grants to states for specified activities, including to implement automatic voter registration systems.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-19
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
action_date: 2021-04-05
text: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Science, Space, and Technology, Oversight and Reform, Education and Labor, and Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2021-04-05
text: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Science, Space, and Technology, Oversight and Reform, Education and Labor, and Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2021-04-05
text: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Science, Space, and Technology, Oversight and Reform, Education and Labor, and Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2021-04-05
text: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Science, Space, and Technology, Oversight and Reform, Education and Labor, and Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2021-04-05
text: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Science, Space, and Technology, Oversight and Reform, Education and Labor, and Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2021-04-05
text: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Science, Space, and Technology, Oversight and Reform, Education and Labor, and Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2021-04-05
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Research and Technology.
action_date: 2021-04-05
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2021-04-05
text: Introduced in House