I 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2358 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 5, 2021 Mr. Clyburn (for himself, Ms. Williams of Georgia , Ms. Adams , Ms. Barragán , Mrs. Beatty , Mr. Bishop of Georgia , Mr. Blumenauer , Mr. Brown , Ms. Bush , Mr. Courtney , Mrs. Demings , Mr. Evans , Ms. Garcia of Texas , Mr. Grijalva , Mr. Hastings , Mrs. Hayes , Ms. Jayapal , Mrs. Lawrence , Ms. Lee of California , Mrs. McBath , Mr. McGovern , Ms. Norton , Mr. Pocan , Mr. Rush , Mr. Sarbanes , Ms. Schakowsky , Mr. Soto , Mr. Takano , Mr. Torres of New York , Mrs. Trahan , and Mr. Welch ) introduced the following bill; which was 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 A BILL To modernize voter registration, promote access to voting for individuals with disabilities, protect the ability of individuals to exercise the right to vote in elections for Federal office, and for other purposes.

1. Short title; statement of policy (a) Short title This Act may be cited as the Voter Empowerment Act of 2021 . (b) Statement of policy It is the policy of the United States that— (1) the ability of all eligible citizens of the United States to access and exercise their constitutional right to vote in a free, fair, and timely manner must be vigilantly enhanced, protected, and maintained; and (2) the integrity, security, and accountability of the voting process must be vigilantly protected, maintained, and enhanced in order to protect and preserve electoral and participatory democracy in the United States. 2. Table of contents The table of contents of this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; statement of policy. Sec. 2. Table of contents. Title I—Voter Registration Modernization Subtitle A—Promoting Internet Registration Sec. 1001. Requiring availability of internet for voter registration. Sec. 1002. Use of internet to update registration information. Sec. 1003. Provision of election information by electronic mail to individuals registered to vote. Sec. 1004. Clarification of requirement regarding necessary information to show eligibility to vote. Sec. 1005. Prohibiting State from requiring applicants to provide more than last 4 digits of Social Security number. Sec. 1006. Report on data collection. Sec. 1007. Permitting voter registration application form to serve as application for absentee ballot. Sec. 1008. Effective date. Subtitle B—Automatic Voter Registration Sec. 1101. Findings and purpose. Sec. 1102. Automatic registration of eligible individuals. Sec. 1103. Contributing agency assistance in registration. Sec. 1104. One-time contributing agency assistance in registration of eligible voters in existing records. Sec. 1105. Voter protection and security in automatic registration. Sec. 1106. Registration portability and correction. Sec. 1107. Payments and grants. Sec. 1108. Treatment of exempt States. Sec. 1109. Miscellaneous provisions. Sec. 1110. Definitions. Sec. 1111. Effective date. Subtitle C—Same Day Voter Registration Sec. 1201. Same day registration. Subtitle D—Conditions on Removal on Basis of Interstate Cross-Checks Sec. 1301. Conditions on removal of registrants from official list of eligible voters on basis of interstate cross-checks. Subtitle E—Other Initiatives To Promote Voter Registration Sec. 1401. Annual reports on voter registration statistics. Sec. 1402. Ensuring pre-election registration deadlines are consistent with timing of legal public holidays. Sec. 1403. Use of Postal Service hard copy change of address form to remind individuals to update voter registration. Sec. 1404. Grants to States for activities to encourage involvement of minors in election activities. Sec. 1405. Permission to place exhibits. Sec. 1406. Requiring States to establish and operate voter privacy programs. Sec. 1407. Inclusion of voter registration information with certain leases and vouchers for federally assisted rental housing and mortgage applications. Subtitle F—Availability of HAVA Requirements Payments Sec. 1501. Availability of requirements payments under HAVA to cover costs of compliance with new requirements. Subtitle G—Prohibiting Interference With Voter Registration Sec. 1601. Prohibiting hindering, interfering with, or preventing voter registration. Sec. 1602. Establishment of best practices. Subtitle H—Voter Registration Efficiency Act Sec. 1701. Requiring applicants for motor vehicle driver’s licenses in new State to indicate whether State serves as residence for voter registration purposes. Subtitle I—Providing Voter Registration Information to Secondary School Students Sec. 1801. Pilot program for providing voter registration information to secondary school students prior to graduation. Sec. 1802. Reports. Sec. 1803. Authorization of appropriations. Subtitle J—Voter Registration of Minors Sec. 1901. Acceptance of voter registration applications from individuals under 18 years of age. Title II—Access to Voting for Individuals With Disabilities Sec. 2001. Requirements for States to promote access to voter registration and voting for individuals with disabilities. Sec. 2002. Expansion and reauthorization of grant program to assure voting access for individuals with disabilities. Sec. 2003. Pilot programs for enabling individuals with disabilities to register to vote privately and independently at residences. Sec. 2004. GAO analysis and report on voting access for individuals with disabilities. Title III—Prohibiting Voter Caging Sec. 3001. Voter caging and other questionable challenges prohibited. Sec. 3002. Development and adoption of best practices for preventing voter caging. Title IV—Prohibiting Deceptive Practices and Preventing Voter Intimidation Sec. 4001. Prohibition on deceptive practices in Federal elections. Sec. 4002. Corrective action. Sec. 4003. Reports to Congress. Title V—Democracy Restoration Sec. 5001. Findings. Sec. 5002. Rights of citizens. Sec. 5003. Enforcement. Sec. 5004. Notification of restoration of voting rights. Sec. 5005. Definitions. Sec. 5006. Relation to other laws. Sec. 5007. Federal prison funds. Sec. 5008. Effective date. Title VI—Promoting Accuracy, Integrity, and Security Through Voter-Verified Permanent Paper Ballot Sec. 6001. Paper ballot and manual counting requirements. Sec. 6002. Accessibility and ballot verification for individuals with disabilities. Sec. 6003. Durability and readability requirements for ballots. Sec. 6004. Study and report on optimal ballot design. Sec. 6005. Paper ballot printing requirements. Sec. 6006. Effective date for new requirements. Title VII—Provisional Ballots Sec. 7001. Requirements for counting provisional ballots; establishment of uniform and nondiscriminatory standards. Title VIII—Early Voting Sec. 8001. Early voting. Title IX—Voting by Mail Sec. 9001. Voting by mail. Sec. 9002. Absentee ballot tracking program. Sec. 9003. Voting materials postage. Sec. 9004. Study and report on vote-by-mail procedures. Title X—Absent Uniformed Services Voters and Overseas Voters Sec. 10001. Pre-election reports on availability and transmission of absentee ballots. Sec. 10002. Enforcement. Sec. 10003. Revisions to 45-day absentee ballot transmission rule. Sec. 10004. Use of single absentee ballot application for subsequent elections. Sec. 10005. Extending guarantee of residency for voting purposes to family members of absent military personnel. Sec. 10006. Requiring transmission of blank absentee ballots under UOCAVA to certain voters. Sec. 10007. Department of Justice report on voter disenfranchisement. Sec. 10008. Effective date. Title XI—Poll Worker Recruitment and Training Sec. 11001. Grants to States for poll worker recruitment and training. Sec. 11002. State defined. Title XII—Enhancement of Enforcement Sec. 12001. Enhancement of enforcement of Help America Vote Act of 2002. Title XIII—Federal Election Integrity Sec. 13001. Prohibition on campaign activities by chief State election administration officials. Title XIV—Promoting Voter Access Through Election Administration Improvements Subtitle A—Promoting Voter Access Sec. 14001. Treatment of institutions of higher education. Sec. 14002. Minimum notification requirements for voters affected by polling place changes. Sec. 14003. Permitting use of sworn written statement to meet identification requirements for voting. Sec. 14004. Accommodations for voters residing in Indian lands. Sec. 14005. Voter information response systems and hotline. Sec. 14006. Ensuring equitable and efficient operation of polling places. Sec. 14007. Requiring States to provide secured drop boxes for voted absentee ballots in elections for Federal office. Sec. 14008. Prohibiting States from restricting curbside voting. Sec. 14009. Election Day holiday. Sec. 14010. GAO study on voter turnout rates. Sec. 14011. Study on ranked-choice voting. Subtitle B—Disaster and Emergency Contingency Plans Sec. 14101. Requirements for Federal election contingency plans in response to natural disasters and emergencies. Subtitle C—Improvements in Operation of Election Assistance Commission Sec. 14201. Reauthorization of Election Assistance Commission. Sec. 14202. Requiring States to participate in post-general election surveys. Sec. 14203. Reports by National Institute of Standards and Technology on use of funds transferred from Election Assistance Commission. Sec. 14204. Recommendations to improve operations of Election Assistance Commission. Sec. 14205. Repeal of exemption of Election Assistance Commission from certain government contracting requirements. Subtitle D—Miscellaneous Provisions Sec. 14301. Application of Federal election administration laws to territories of the United States. Sec. 14302. Definition of election for Federal office. Sec. 14303. Authorizing payments to voting accessibility protection and advocacy systems serving the American Indian Consortium. Sec. 14304. Application of Federal voter protection laws to territories of the United States. Sec. 14305. Placement of statues of citizens of territories of the United States in Statuary Hall. Sec. 14306. No effect on other laws. Sec. 14307. Clarification of exemption for States without voter registration. Subtitle E—Voter Notice Sec. 14401. Public education campaigns in event of changes in elections in response to emergencies. Sec. 14402. Requirements for websites of election officials. Sec. 14403. Payments by Election Assistance Commission to States for costs of compliance. Title XV—Severability Sec. 15001. Severability. I Voter Registration Modernization A Promoting Internet Registration 1001. Requiring availability of internet for voter registration (a) Requiring Availability of internet for Registration The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 ( 52 U.S.C. 20501 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 6 the following new section: 6A. Internet registration (a) Requiring Availability of internet for Online Registration Each State, acting through the chief State election official, shall ensure that the following services are available to the public at any time on the official public websites of the appropriate State and local election officials in the State, in the same manner and subject to the same terms and conditions as the services provided by voter registration agencies under section 7(a): (1) Online application for voter registration. (2) Online assistance to applicants in applying to register to vote. (3) Online completion and submission by applicants of the mail voter registration application form prescribed by the Election Assistance Commission pursuant to section 9(a)(2), including assistance with providing a signature as required under subsection (c)). (4) Online receipt of completed voter registration 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 registration 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 Commission 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 subsection as follows: (A) In the case of an individual who has a signature on file with a State agency, including the State motor vehicle authority, that is required to provide voter registration services under this Act or any other law, the individual consents to the transfer of that electronic signature. (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 subparagraph (B) do not apply, the individual executes a computerized mark in the signature field on an online voter registration application, in accordance with reasonable security measures established by the State, but only if the State accepts 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 application; (B) permit the individual to provide a signature at the time the individual requests a ballot in an election (whether the individual requests 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 subparagraph (B), ensure that the individual is registered to vote in the State. (3) Notice The State shall ensure that individuals applying to register to vote online are notified of the requirements of paragraph (1) and of the treatment of individuals unable to meet such requirements, as described in paragraph (2). (d) Confirmation and disposition (1) Confirmation of receipt Upon the online submission of a completed voter registration application by an individual under this section, the appropriate 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 application. (2) Notice of disposition Not later than 7 days after the appropriate State or local election official has approved or rejected an application submitted by an individual under this section, the official shall send the individual a notice of the disposition of the application. (3) Method of notification The appropriate State or local election official shall send the notices required under this subsection by regular mail and— (A) in the case of an individual who has provided the official with an electronic mail address, by electronic mail; and (B) at the option of the individual, by text message. (e) Provision of Services in Nonpartisan Manner 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 influence an applicant’s political preference or party registration; 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. (f) Protection of Security of Information In meeting the requirements of this section, the State shall establish appropriate technological security measures to prevent to the greatest extent practicable any unauthorized access to information provided by individuals using the services made available under subsection (a). (g) Accessibility of services A state shall ensure that the services made available under this section are made available to individuals with disabilities to the same extent as services are made available to all other individuals. (h) Use of Additional Telephone-Based System A State shall make the services made available online under subsection (a) available through the use of an automated telephone-based system, subject to the same terms and conditions applicable under this section to the services made available online, in addition to making the services available online in accordance with the requirements of this section. (i) Nondiscrimination among registered voters using mail and online registration In carrying out this Act, the Help America Vote Act of 2002, or any other Federal, State, or local law governing the treatment of registered voters in the State or the administration of elections for public office in the State, a State shall treat a registered voter who registered to vote online in accordance with this section in the same manner as the State treats a registered voter who registered to vote by mail. . (b) Special requirements for individuals using online registration (1) Treatment as individuals registering to vote by mail for purposes of first-time voter identification requirements Section 303(b)(1)(A) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 ( 52 U.S.C. 21083(b)(1)(A) ) is amended by striking by mail and inserting by mail or online under section 6A of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 . (2) Requiring signature for first-time voters in jurisdiction Section 303(b) of such Act ( 52 U.S.C. 21083(b) ) is amended— (A) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (6); and (B) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following new paragraph: (5) Signature requirements for first-time voters using online registration (A) In general A State shall, in a uniform and nondiscriminatory manner, require an individual to meet the requirements of subparagraph (B) if— (i) the individual registered to vote in the State online under section 6A of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993; and (ii) the individual has not previously voted in an election for Federal office in the State. (B) Requirements An individual meets the requirements of this subparagraph if— (i) in the case of an individual who votes in person, the individual provides the appropriate State or local election official with a handwritten signature; or (ii) in the case of an individual who votes by mail, the individual submits with the ballot a handwritten signature. (C) Inapplicability Subparagraph (A) does not apply in the case of an individual who is— (i) entitled to vote by absentee ballot under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act ( 52 U.S.C. 20302 et seq.); (ii) provided the right to vote otherwise than in person under section 3(b)(2)(B)(ii) of the Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act ( 52 U.S.C. 20102(b)(2)(B)(ii) ); or (iii) entitled to vote otherwise than in person under any other Federal law. . (3) Conforming amendment relating to effective date Section 303(d)(2)(A) of such Act ( 52 U.S.C. 21083(d)(2)(A) ) is amended by striking Each State and inserting Except as provided in subsection (b)(5), each State . (c) Conforming Amendments (1) Timing of registration Section 8(a)(1) of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 ( 52 U.S.C. 20507(a)(1) ) is amended— (A) by striking and at the end of subparagraph (C); (B) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as subparagraph (E); and (C) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following new subparagraph: (D) in the case of online registration through the official public website of an election official under section 6A, if the valid voter registration application is submitted online not later than the lesser of 28 days, or the period provided by State law, before the date of the election (as determined by treating the date on which the application is sent electronically as the date on which it is submitted); and . (2) Informing applicants of eligibility requirements and penalties Section 8(a)(5) of such Act ( 52 U.S.C. 20507(a)(5) ) is amended by striking and 7 and inserting 6A, and 7 . 1002. Use of internet to update registration information (a) In General (1) Updates to information contained on computerized statewide voter registration list Section 303(a) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 ( 52 U.S.C. 21083(a) ) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (6) Use of Internet by registered voters to update information (A) In general The appropriate State or local election official shall ensure that any registered voter on the computerized list may at any time update the voter’s registration information, including the voter’s address and electronic mail address, online through the official public website of the election official responsible for the maintenance of the list, so long as the voter attests to the contents of the update by providing a signature in electronic form in the same manner required under section 6A(c) of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993. (B) Processing of updated information by election officials If a registered voter updates registration information under subparagraph (A), the appropriate State or local election official shall— (i) revise any information on the computerized list to reflect the update made by the voter; and (ii) if the updated registration information affects the voter’s eligibility to vote in an election for Federal office, ensure that the information is processed with respect to the election if the voter updates the information not later than the lesser of 7 days, or the period provided by State law, before the date of the election. (C) Confirmation and disposition (i) Confirmation of receipt Upon the online submission of updated registration information by an individual under this paragraph, the appropriate State or local election official shall send the individual a notice confirming the State’s receipt of the updated information and providing instructions on how the individual may check the status of the update. (ii) Notice of disposition Not later than 7 days after the appropriate State or local election official has accepted or rejected updated information submitted by an individual under this paragraph, the official shall send the individual a notice of the disposition of the update. (iii) Method of notification The appropriate State or local election official shall send the notices required under this subparagraph by regular mail and— (I) in the case of an individual who has requested that the State provide voter registration and voting information through electronic mail, by electronic mail; and (II) at the option of the individual, by text message. . (2) Conforming amendment relating to effective date Section 303(d)(1)(A) of such Act ( 52 U.S.C. 21083(d)(1)(A) ) is amended by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting subparagraph (B) and subsection (a)(6) . (b) Ability of registrant To use online update To provide information on residence Section 8(d)(2)(A) of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 ( 52 U.S.C. 20507(d)(2)(A) ) is amended— (1) in the first sentence, by inserting after return the card the following: or update the registrant’s information on the computerized statewide voter registration list using the online method provided under section 303(a)(6) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 ; and (2) in the second sentence, by striking returned, and inserting the following: returned or if the registrant does not update the registrant’s information on the computerized Statewide voter registration list using such online method, . 1003. Provision of election information by electronic mail to individuals registered to vote (a) Including Option on Voter Registration Application To Provide Email Address and Receive Information (1) In general Section 9(b) of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 ( 52 U.S.C. 20508(b) ) is amended— (A) by striking and at the end of paragraph (3); (B) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (4) and inserting ; and ; and (C) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (5) shall include a space for the applicant to provide (at the applicant’s option) an electronic mail address, together with a statement that, if the applicant so requests, instead of using regular mail the appropriate State and local election officials shall provide to the applicant, through electronic mail sent to that address, the same voting information (as defined in section 302(b)(2) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002) which the officials would provide to the applicant through regular mail. . (2) Prohibiting use for purposes unrelated to official duties of election officials Section 9 of such Act ( 52 U.S.C. 20508 ) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (c) Prohibiting use of electronic mail addresses for other than official purposes The chief State election official shall ensure that any electronic mail address provided by an applicant under subsection (b)(5) is used only for purposes of carrying out official duties of election officials and is not transmitted by any State or local election official (or any agent of such an official, including a contractor) to any person who does not require the address to carry out such official duties and who is not under the direct supervision and control of a State or local election official. . (b) Requiring Provision of Information by Election Officials Section 302(b) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 ( 52 U.S.C. 21082(b) ) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (3) Provision of other information by electronic mail If an individual who is a registered voter has provided the State or local election official with an electronic mail address for the purpose of receiving voting information (as described in section 9(b)(5) of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993), the appropriate State or local election official, through electronic mail transmitted not later than 7 days before the date of the election for Federal office involved, shall provide the individual with information on how to obtain the following information by electronic means: (A) The name and address of the polling place at which the individual is assigned to vote in the election. (B) The hours of operation for the polling place. (C) A description of any identification or other information the individual may be required to present at the polling place. . 1004. Clarification of requirement regarding necessary information to show eligibility to vote Section 8 of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 ( 52 U.S.C. 20507 ) is amended— (1) by redesignating subsection (j) as subsection (k); and (2) by inserting after subsection (i) the following new subsection: (j) Requirement for State To Register Applicants Providing Necessary Information To Show Eligibility To Vote For purposes meeting the requirement of subsection (a)(1) that an eligible applicant is registered to vote in an election for Federal office within the deadlines required under such subsection, the State shall consider an applicant to have provided a valid voter registration form if— (1) the applicant has substantially completed the application form and attested to the statement required by section 9(b)(2); and (2) in the case of an applicant who registers to vote online in accordance with section 6A, the applicant provides a signature in accordance with subsection (c) of such section. . 1005. Prohibiting State from requiring applicants to provide more than last 4 digits of Social Security number (a) Form included with application for motor vehicle driver’s license Section 5(c)(2)(B)(ii) of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 ( 52 U.S.C. 20504(c)(2)(B)(ii) ) is amended by striking the semicolon at the end and inserting the following: , and to the extent that the application requires the applicant to provide a Social Security number, may not require the applicant to provide more than the last 4 digits of such number; . (b) National mail voter registration form Section 9(b)(1) of such Act ( 52 U.S.C. 20508(b)(1) ) is amended by striking the semicolon at the end and inserting the following: , and to the extent that the form requires the applicant to provide a Social Security number, the form may not require the applicant to provide more than the last 4 digits of such number; . 1006. Report on data collection Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall submit to Congress a report on local, State, and Federal personally identifiable information data collections efforts, the cyber security resources necessary to defend such efforts from online attacks, and the impact of a potential data breach of local, State, or Federal online voter registration systems. 1007. Permitting voter registration application form to serve as application for absentee ballot Section 5(c)(2) of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 ( 52 U.S.C. 20504(c)(2) ) is amended— (1) by striking and at the end of subparagraph (D); (2) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (E) and inserting ; and ; and (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (F) at the option of the applicant, shall serve as an application to vote by absentee ballot in the next election for Federal office held in the State and in each subsequent election for Federal office held in the State. . 1008. Effective date (a) In General Except as provided in subsection (b), the amendments made by this subtitle (other than the amendments made by section 1004) shall take effect January 1, 2022. (b) Waiver Subject to the approval of the Election Assistance Commission, if a State certifies to the Election Assistance Commission that the State will not meet the deadline referred to in subsection (a) because of extraordinary circumstances and includes in the certification the reasons for the failure to meet the deadline, subsection (a) shall apply to the State as if the reference in such subsection to January 1, 2022 were a reference to January 1, 2024 . B Automatic Voter Registration 1101. Findings and purpose (a) Findings Congress finds that— (1) the right to vote is a fundamental right of citizens of the United States; (2) it is the responsibility of the State and Federal Governments to ensure that every eligible citizen is registered to vote; (3) existing voter registration systems can be inaccurate, costly, inaccessible and confusing, with damaging effects on voter participation in elections for Federal office and disproportionate impacts on young people, persons with disabilities, and racial and ethnic minorities; and (4) voter registration systems must be updated with 21st Century technologies and procedures to maintain their security. (b) Purpose It is the purpose of this subtitle— (1) to establish that it is the responsibility of government at every level to ensure that all eligible citizens are registered to vote in elections for Federal office; (2) to enable the State and Federal Governments to register all eligible citizens to vote with accurate, cost-efficient, and up-to-date procedures; (3) to modernize voter registration and list maintenance procedures with electronic and internet capabilities; and (4) to protect and enhance the integrity, accuracy, efficiency, and accessibility of the electoral process for all eligible citizens. 1102. Automatic registration of eligible individuals (a) Requiring States To establish and operate automatic registration system (1) In general The chief State election official of each State shall establish and operate a system of automatic registration for the registration of eligible individuals to vote for elections for Federal office in the State, in accordance with the provisions of this part. (2) Definition The term automatic registration means a system that registers an individual to vote in elections for Federal office in a State, if eligible, by electronically transferring the information necessary for registration from government agencies to election officials of the State so that, unless the individual affirmatively declines to be registered, the individual will be registered to vote in such elections. (b) Registration of voters based on new agency records The chief State election official shall— (1) not later than 15 days after a contributing agency has transmitted information with respect to an individual pursuant to section 1103, ensure that the individual is registered to vote in elections for Federal office in the State if the individual is eligible to be registered to vote in such elections; and (2) not later than 120 days after a contributing agency has transmitted such information with respect to the individual, send written notice to the individual, in addition to other means of notice established by this subtitle, of the individual’s voter registration status. (c) One-Time registration of voters based on existing contributing agency records The chief State election official shall— (1) identify all individuals whose information is transmitted by a contributing agency pursuant to section 1104 and who are eligible to be, but are not currently, registered to vote in that State; (2) promptly send each such individual written notice, in addition to other means of notice established by this subtitle, which shall not identify the contributing agency that transmitted the information but shall include— (A) an explanation that voter registration is voluntary, but if the individual does not decline registration, the individual will be registered to vote; (B) a statement offering the opportunity to decline voter registration through means consistent with the requirements of this subtitle; (C) in the case of a State in which affiliation or enrollment with a political party is required in order to participate in an election to select the party’s candidate in an election for Federal office, a statement offering the individual the opportunity to affiliate or enroll with a political party or to decline to affiliate or enroll with a political party, through means consistent with the requirements of this subtitle; (D) the substantive qualifications of an elector in the State as listed in the mail voter registration application form for elections for Federal office prescribed pursuant to section 9 of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, the consequences of false registration, and a statement that the individual should decline to register if the individual does not meet all those qualifications; (E) instructions for correcting any erroneous information; (F) instructions for providing any additional information which is listed in the mail voter registration application form for elections for Federal office prescribed pursuant to section 9 of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993; and (G) an explanation of what information the State and local election officials maintain with respect to an individual voter registration status for purposes of elections for Federal office in the State, how that information is shared or sold and with whom, what information is automatically kept confidential, what information is needed to access voter information online, and what privacy programs are available, such as those described in section 1406; (3) ensure that each such individual who is eligible to register to vote in elections for Federal office in the State is promptly registered to vote not later than 45 days after the official sends the individual the written notice under paragraph (2), unless, during the 30-day period which begins on the date the election official sends the individual such written notice, the individual declines registration in writing, through a communication made over the internet, or by an officially logged telephone communication; and (4) send written notice to each such individual, in addition to other means of notice established by this subtitle, of the individual’s voter registration status. (d) Treatment of individuals under 18 years of age A State may not refuse to treat an individual as an eligible individual for purposes of this subtitle on the grounds that the individual is less than 18 years of age at the time a contributing agency receives information with respect to the individual, so long as the individual is at least 16 years of age at such time. Nothing in the previous sentence may be construed to require a State to permit an individual who is under 18 years of age at the time of an election for Federal office to vote in the election. (e) Contributing agency defined In this subtitle, the term contributing agency means, with respect to a State, an agency listed in section 1103(e). 1103. Contributing agency assistance in registration (a) In general In accordance with this subtitle, each contributing agency in a State shall assist the State’s chief election official in registering to vote all eligible individuals served by that agency. (b) Requirements for contributing agencies (1) Instructions on automatic registration With each application for service or assistance, and with each related recertification, renewal, or change of address, or, in the case of an institution of higher education, with each registration of a student for enrollment in a course of study, each contributing agency that (in the normal course of its operations) requests individuals to affirm United States citizenship (either directly or as part of the overall application for service or assistance) shall inform each such individual who is a citizen of the United States of the following: (A) Unless that individual declines to register to vote, or is found ineligible to vote, the individual will be registered to vote or, if applicable, the individual’s registration will be updated. (B) The substantive qualifications of an elector in the State as listed in the mail voter registration application form for elections for Federal office prescribed pursuant to section 9 of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, the consequences of false registration, and the individual should decline to register if the individual does not meet all those qualifications. (C) In the case of a State in which affiliation or enrollment with a political party is required in order to participate in an election to select the party’s candidate in an election for Federal office, the requirement that the individual must affiliate or enroll with a political party in order to participate in such an election. (D) Voter registration is voluntary, and neither registering nor declining to register to vote will in any way affect the availability of services or benefits, nor be used for other purposes. (2) Opportunity to decline registration required Except as otherwise provided in this section, each contributing agency shall ensure that each application for service or assistance, and each related recertification, renewal, or change of address cannot be completed until the individual is given the opportunity to decline to be registered to vote. (3) Information transmittal Upon the expiration of the 30-day period which begins on the date a contributing agency as described in paragraph (1) informs an individual of the information described in such paragraph, unless the individual has declined to be registered to vote or informs the agency that they are already registered to vote, each contributing agency shall electronically transmit to the appropriate State election official, in a format compatible with the statewide voter database maintained under section 303 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 ( 52 U.S.C. 21083 ), the following information: (A) The individual’s given name(s) and surname(s). (B) The individual’s date of birth. (C) The individual’s residential address. (D) Information showing that the individual is a citizen of the United States. (E) The date on which information pertaining to that individual was collected or last updated. (F) If available, the individual’s signature in electronic form. (G) Except in the case in which the contributing agency is a covered institution of higher education, in the case of a State in which affiliation or enrollment with a political party is required in order to participate in an election to select the party’s candidate in an election for Federal office, information regarding the individual’s affiliation or enrollment with a political party, but only if the individual provides such information. (H) Any additional information listed in the mail voter registration application form for elections for Federal office prescribed pursuant to section 9 of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, including any valid driver's license number or the last 4 digits of the individual's social security number, if the individual provided such information. (c) Alternate procedure for certain contributing agencies With each application for service or assistance, and with each related recertification, renewal, or change of address, any contributing agency that in the normal course of its operations does not request individuals applying for service or assistance to affirm United States citizenship (either directly or as part of the overall application for service or assistance) shall— (1) complete the requirements of section 7(a)(6) of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 ( 52 U.S.C. 20506(a)(6) ); (2) ensure that each applicant’s transaction with the agency cannot be completed until the applicant has indicated whether the applicant wishes to register to vote or declines to register to vote in elections for Federal office held in the State; and (3) for each individual who wishes to register to vote, transmit that individual’s information in accordance with subsection (b)(3). (d) Required availability of automatic registration opportunity with each application for service or assistance Each contributing agency shall offer each individual, with each application for service or assistance, and with each related recertification, renewal, or change of address, or in the case of an institution of higher education, with each registration of a student for enrollment in a course of study, the opportunity to register to vote as prescribed by this section without regard to whether the individual previously declined a registration opportunity. (e) Contributing agencies (1) State agencies In each State, each of the following agencies shall be treated as a contributing agency: (A) Each agency in a State that is required by Federal law to provide voter registration services, including the State motor vehicle authority and other voter registration agencies under the National Voter Registration Act of 1993. (B) Each agency in a State that administers a program pursuant to title III of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 501 et seq.), title XIX of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.), or the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ( Public Law 111–148 ). (C) Each State agency primarily responsible for regulating the private possession of firearms. (D) Each State agency primarily responsible for maintaining identifying information for students enrolled at public secondary schools, including, where applicable, the State agency responsible for maintaining the education data system described in section 6201(e)(2) of the America COMPETES Act ( 20 U.S.C. 9871(e)(2) ). (E) In the case of a State in which an individual disenfranchised by a criminal conviction may become eligible to vote upon completion of a criminal sentence or any part thereof, or upon formal restoration of rights, the State agency responsible for administering that sentence, or part thereof, or that restoration of rights. (F) Any other agency of the State which is designated by the State as a contributing agency. (2) Federal agencies In each State, each of the following agencies of the Federal Government shall be treated as a contributing agency with respect to individuals who are residents of that State (except as provided in subparagraph (C)): (A) The Social Security Administration, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Defense Manpower Data Center of the Department of Defense, the Employee and Training Administration of the Department of Labor, and the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services of the Department of Health and Human Services. (B) The Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services, but only with respect to individuals who have completed the naturalization process. (C) In the case of an individual who is a resident of a State in which an individual disenfranchised by a criminal conviction under Federal law may become eligible to vote upon completion of a criminal sentence or any part thereof, or upon formal restoration of rights, the Federal agency responsible for administering that sentence or part thereof (without regard to whether the agency is located in the same State in which the individual is a resident), but only with respect to individuals who have completed the criminal sentence or any part thereof. (D) Any other agency of the Federal Government which the State designates as a contributing agency, but only if the State and the head of the agency determine that the agency collects information sufficient to carry out the responsibilities of a contributing agency under this section. (3) Publication Not later than 180 days prior to the date of each election for Federal office held in the State, the chief State election official shall publish on the public website of the official an updated list of all contributing agencies in that State. (4) Public education The chief State election official of each State, in collaboration with each contributing agency, shall take appropriate measures to educate the public about voter registration under this section. (f) Institutions of higher education (1) In general Each covered institution of higher education shall be treated as a contributing agency in the State in which the institution is located with respect to in-State students. (2) Procedures (A) In general Notwithstanding section 444 of the General Education Provisions Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1232g ; commonly referred to as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 ) or any other provision of law, each covered institution of higher education shall comply with the requirements of subsection (b) with respect to each in-State student. (B) Rules for compliance In complying with the requirements described in subparagraph (A), the institution— (i) may use information provided in the Free Application for Federal Student Aid described in section 483 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1090 ) to collect information described in paragraph (3) of such subsection for purposes of transmitting such information to the appropriate State election official pursuant to such paragraph; and (ii) shall not be required to prevent or delay students from enrolling in a course of study or otherwise impede the completion of the enrollment process; and (iii) shall not withhold, delay, or impede the provision of Federal financial aid provided under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965. (C) Clarification Nothing in this subtitle may be construed to require an institution of higher education to request each student to affirm whether or not the student is a United States citizen or otherwise collect information with respect to citizenship. (3) Definitions (A) Covered institution of higher education In this section, the term covered institution of higher education means an institution of higher education that— (i) has a program participation agreement in effect with the Secretary of Education under section 487 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1094 ); (ii) in its normal course of operations, requests each in-State student enrolling in the institution to affirm whether or not the student is a United States citizen; and (iii) is located in a State to which section 4(b)(1) of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 ( 52 U.S.C. 20503(b)(1) ) does not apply. (B) In-State student In this section, the term in-State student — (i) means a student enrolled in a covered institution of higher education who, for purposes related to in-State tuition, financial aid eligibility, or other similar purposes, resides in the State; and (ii) includes a student described in clause (i) who is enrolled in a program of distance education, as defined in section 103 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1003 ). 1104. One-time contributing agency assistance in registration of eligible voters in existing records (a) Initial transmittal of information For each individual already listed in a contributing agency’s records as of the date of enactment of this Act, and for whom the agency has the information listed in section 1103(b)(3), the agency shall promptly transmit that information to the appropriate State election official in accordance with section 1103(b)(3) not later than the effective date described in section 1111(a). (b) Transition For each individual listed in a contributing agency’s records as of the effective date described in section 1111(a) (but who was not listed in a contributing agency’s records as of the date of enactment of this Act), and for whom the agency has the information listed in section 1103(b)(3), the Agency shall promptly transmit that information to the appropriate State election official in accordance with section 1103(b)(3) not later than 6 months after the effective date described in section 1111(a). 1105. Voter protection and security in automatic registration (a) Protections for errors in registration An individual shall not be prosecuted under any Federal or State law, adversely affected in any civil adjudication concerning immigration status or naturalization, or subject to an allegation in any legal proceeding that the individual is not a citizen of the United States on any of the following grounds: (1) The individual notified an election office of the individual’s automatic registration to vote under this part. (2) The individual is not eligible to vote in elections for Federal office but was automatically registered to vote under this part. (3) The individual was automatically registered to vote under this subtitle at an incorrect address. (4) The individual declined the opportunity to register to vote or did not make an affirmation of citizenship, including through automatic registration, under this part. (b) Limits on use of automatic registration The automatic registration of any individual or the fact that an individual declined the opportunity to register to vote or did not make an affirmation of citizenship (including through automatic registration) under this subtitle may not be used as evidence against that individual in any State or Federal law enforcement proceeding, and an individual’s lack of knowledge or willfulness of such registration may be demonstrated by the individual’s testimony alone. (c) Protection of election integrity Nothing in subsections (a) or (b) may be construed to prohibit or restrict any action under color of law against an individual who— (1) knowingly and willfully makes a false statement to effectuate or perpetuate automatic voter registration by any individual; or (2) casts a ballot knowingly and willfully in violation of State law or the laws of the United States. (d) Contributing agencies’ protection of information Nothing in this subtitle authorizes a contributing agency to collect, retain, transmit, or publicly disclose any of the following: (1) An individual’s decision to decline to register to vote or not to register to vote. (2) An individual’s decision not to affirm his or her citizenship. (3) Any information that a contributing agency transmits pursuant to section 1103(b)(3), except in pursuing the agency’s ordinary course of business. (e) Election officials’ protection of information (1) Public disclosure prohibited (A) In general Subject to subparagraph (B), with respect to any individual for whom any State election official receives information from a contributing agency, the State election officials shall not publicly disclose any of the following: (i) The identity of the contributing agency. (ii) Any information not necessary to voter registration. (iii) Any voter information otherwise shielded from disclosure under State law or section 8(a) of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 ( 52 U.S.C. 20507(a) ). (iv) Any portion of the individual’s social security number. (v) Any portion of the individual’s motor vehicle driver’s license number. (vi) The individual’s signature. (vii) The individual’s telephone number. (viii) The individual’s email address. (B) Special rule for individuals registered to vote With respect to any individual for whom any State election official receives information from a contributing agency and who, on the basis of such information, is registered to vote in the State under this subtitle, the State election officials shall not publicly disclose any of the following: (i) The identity of the contributing agency. (ii) Any information not necessary to voter registration. (iii) Any voter information otherwise shielded from disclosure under State law or section 8(a) of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 ( 52 U.S.C. 20507(a) ). (iv) Any portion of the individual’s social security number. (v) Any portion of the individual’s motor vehicle driver’s license number. (vi) The individual’s signature. (2) Voter record changes Each State shall maintain for at least 2 years and shall make available for public inspection (and, where available, photocopying at a reasonable cost), including in electronic form and through electronic methods, all records of changes to voter records, including removals, the reasons for removals, and updates. (3) Database management standards The Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology shall, after providing the public with notice and the opportunity to comment— (A) establish standards governing the comparison of data for voter registration list maintenance purposes, identifying as part of such standards the specific data elements, the matching rules used, and how a State may use the data to determine and deem that an individual is ineligible under State law to vote in an election, or to deem a record to be a duplicate or outdated; (B) ensure that the standards developed pursuant to this paragraph are uniform and nondiscriminatory and are applied in a uniform and nondiscriminatory manner; and (C) not later than 45 days after the deadline for public notice and comment, publish the standards developed pursuant to this paragraph on the Director’s website and make those standards available in written form upon request. (4) Security policy The Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology shall, after providing the public with notice and the opportunity to comment, publish privacy and security standards for voter registration information not later than 45 days after the deadline for public notice and comment. The standards shall require the chief State election official of each State to adopt a policy that shall specify— (A) each class of users who shall have authorized access to the computerized statewide voter registration list, specifying for each class the permission and levels of access to be granted, and setting forth other safeguards to protect the privacy, security, and accuracy of the information on the list; and (B) security safeguards to protect personal information transmitted through the information transmittal processes of section 1103 or section 1104, the online system used pursuant to section 1107, any telephone interface, the maintenance of the voter registration database, and any audit procedure to track access to the system. (5) State compliance with national standards (A) Certification The chief executive officer of the State shall annually file with the Election Assistance Commission a statement certifying to the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology that the State is in compliance with the standards referred to in paragraphs (3) and (4). A State may meet the requirement of the previous sentence by filing with the Commission a statement which reads as follows: _____ hereby certifies that it is in compliance with the standards referred to in paragraphs (3) and (4) of section 1105(e) of the Voter Empowerment Act of 2021. (with the blank to be filled in with the name of the State involved). (B) Publication of policies and procedures The chief State election official of a State shall publish on the official’s website the policies and procedures established under this section, and shall make those policies and procedures available in written form upon public request. (C) Funding dependent on certification If a State does not timely file the certification required under this paragraph, it shall not receive any payment under this subtitle for the upcoming fiscal year. (D) Compliance of States that require changes to State law In the case of a State that requires State legislation to carry out an activity covered by any certification submitted under this paragraph, for a period of not more than 2 years the State shall be permitted to make the certification notwithstanding that the legislation has not been enacted at the time the certification is submitted, and such State shall submit an additional certification once such legislation is enacted. (f) Restrictions on use of information No person acting under color of law may discriminate against any individual based on, or use for any purpose other than voter registration, election administration, or enforcement relating to election crimes, any of the following: (1) Voter registration records. (2) An individual’s declination to register to vote or complete an affirmation of citizenship under section 1103(b). (3) An individual’s voter registration status. (g) Prohibition on the use of voter registration information for commercial purposes Information collected under this subtitle shall not be used for commercial purposes. Nothing in this subsection may be construed to prohibit the transmission, exchange, or dissemination of information for political purposes, including the support of campaigns for election for Federal, State, or local public office or the activities of political committees (including committees of political parties) under the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971. 1106. Registration portability and correction (a) Correcting registration information at polling place Notwithstanding section 302(a) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 ( 52 U.S.C. 21082(a) ), if an individual is registered to vote in elections for Federal office held in a State, the appropriate election official at the polling place for any such election (including a location used as a polling place on a date other than the date of the election) shall permit the individual to— (1) update the individual’s address for purposes of the records of the election official; (2) correct any incorrect information relating to the individual, including the individual’s name and political party affiliation, in the records of the election official; and (3) cast a ballot in the election on the basis of the updated address or corrected information, and to have the ballot treated as a regular ballot and not as a provisional ballot under section 302(a) of such Act. (b) Updates to computerized Statewide voter registration lists If an election official at the polling place receives an updated address or corrected information from an individual under subsection (a), the official shall ensure that the address or information is promptly entered into the computerized statewide voter registration list in accordance with section 303(a)(1)(A)(vi) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 ( 52 U.S.C. 21083(a)(1)(A)(vi) ). 1107. Payments and grants (a) In general The Election Assistance Commission shall make grants to each eligible State to assist the State in implementing the requirements of this subtitle (or, in the case of an exempt State, in implementing its existing automatic voter registration program). (b) Eligibility; application A State is eligible to receive a grant under this section if the State submits to the Commission, at such time and in such form as the Commission may require, an application containing— (1) a description of the activities the State will carry out with the grant; (2) an assurance that the State shall carry out such activities without partisan bias and without promoting any particular point of view regarding any issue; and (3) such other information and assurances as the Commission may require. (c) Amount of grant; priorities The Commission shall determine the amount of a grant made to an eligible State under this section. In determining the amounts of the grants, the Commission shall give priority to providing funds for those activities which are most likely to accelerate compliance with the requirements of this subtitle (or, in the case of an exempt State, which are most likely to enhance the ability of the State to automatically register individuals to vote through its existing automatic voter registration program), including— (1) investments supporting electronic information transfer, including electronic collection and transfer of signatures, between contributing agencies and the appropriate State election officials; (2) updates to online or electronic voter registration systems already operating as of the date of the enactment of this Act; (3) introduction of online voter registration systems in jurisdictions in which those systems did not previously exist; and (4) public education on the availability of new methods of registering to vote, updating registration, and correcting registration. (d) Authorization of appropriations (1) Authorization There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section— (A) $500,000,000 for fiscal year 2021; and (B) such sums as may be necessary for each succeeding fiscal year. (2) Continuing availability of funds Any amounts appropriated pursuant to the authority of this subsection shall remain available without fiscal year limitation until expended. 1108. Treatment of exempt States (a) Waiver of requirements Except as provided in subsection (b), this subtitle does not apply with respect to an exempt State. (b) Exceptions The following provisions of this subtitle apply with respect to an exempt State: (1) Section 1106 (relating to registration portability and correction). (2) Section 1107 (relating to payments and grants). (3) Section 1109(e) (relating to enforcement). (4) Section 1109(f) (relating to relation to other laws). 1109. Miscellaneous provisions (a) Accessibility of registration services Each contributing agency shall ensure that the services it provides under this subtitle are made available to individuals with disabilities to the same extent as services are made available to all other individuals. (b) Transmission through secure third party permitted Nothing in this subtitle shall be construed to prevent a contributing agency from contracting with a third party to assist the agency in meeting the information transmittal requirements of this subtitle, so long as the data transmittal complies with the applicable requirements of this subtitle, including the privacy and security provisions of section 1105. (c) Nonpartisan, nondiscriminatory provision of services The services made available by contributing agencies under this subtitle and by the State under sections 1105 and 1106 shall be made in a manner consistent with paragraphs (4), (5), and (6)(C) of section 7(a) of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 ( 52 U.S.C. 20506(a) ). (d) Notices Each State may send notices under this subtitle via electronic mail if the individual has provided an electronic mail address and consented to electronic mail communications for election-related materials. All notices sent pursuant to this subtitle that require a response must offer the individual notified the opportunity to respond at no cost to the individual. (e) Enforcement Section 11 of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 ( 52 U.S.C. 20510 ), relating to civil enforcement and the availability of private rights of action, shall apply with respect to this subtitle in the same manner as such section applies to such Act. (f) Relation to other laws Except as provided, nothing in this subtitle may be construed to authorize or require conduct prohibited under, or to supersede, restrict, or limit the application of any of the following: (1) The Voting Rights Act of 1965 ( 52 U.S.C. 10301 et seq.). (2) The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act ( 52 U.S.C. 20301 et seq.). (3) The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 ( 52 U.S.C. 20501 et seq.). (4) The Help America Vote Act of 2002 ( 52 U.S.C. 20901 et seq.). 1110. Definitions In this subtitle, the following definitions apply: (1) The term chief State election official means, with respect to a State, the individual designated by the State under section 10 of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 ( 52 U.S.C. 20509 ) to be responsible for coordination of the State’s responsibilities under such Act. (2) The term Commission means the Election Assistance Commission. (3) The term exempt State means a State which, under law which is in effect continuously on and after the date of the enactment of this Act, operates an automatic voter registration program under which an individual is automatically registered to vote in elections for Federal office in the State if the individual provides the motor vehicle authority of the State (or, in the case of a State in which an individual is automatically registered to vote at the time the individual applies for benefits or services with a Permanent Dividend Fund of the State, provides the appropriate official of such Fund) with such identifying information as the State may require. (4) The term State means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. 1111. Effective date (a) In general Except as provided in subsection (b), this subtitle and the amendments made by this subtitle shall apply with respect to a State beginning January 1, 2023. (b) Waiver Subject to the approval of the Commission, if a State certifies to the Commission that the State will not meet the deadline referred to in subsection (a) because of extraordinary circumstances and includes in the certification the reasons for the failure to meet the deadline, subsection (a) shall apply to the State as if the reference in such subsection to January 1, 2023 were a reference to January 1, 2025 . C Same Day Voter Registration 1201. Same day registration (a) In general Title III of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 ( 52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.) is amended— (1) by redesignating sections 304 and 305 as sections 305 and 306; and (2) by inserting after section 303 the following new section: 304. Same day registration (a) In general (1) Registration Each State shall permit any eligible individual on the day of a Federal election and on any day when voting, including early voting, is permitted for a Federal election— (A) to register to vote in such election at the polling place using a form that meets the requirements under section 9(b) of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (or, if the individual is already registered to vote, to revise any of the individual’s voter registration information); and (B) to cast a vote in such election. (2) Exception The requirements under paragraph (1) shall not apply to a State in which, under a State law in effect continuously on and after the date of the enactment of this section, there is no voter registration requirement for individuals in the State with respect to elections for Federal office. (b) Eligible individual For purposes of this section, the term eligible individual means, with respect to any election for Federal office, an individual who is otherwise qualified to vote in that election. (c) Ensuring availability of forms The State shall ensure that each polling place has copies of any forms an individual may be required to complete in order to register to vote or revise the individual’s voter registration information under this section. (d) Effective date Each State shall be required to comply with the requirements of subsection (a) for the regularly scheduled general election for Federal office occurring in November 2022 and for any subsequent election for Federal office. . (b) Conforming amendment relating to enforcement Section 401 of such Act ( 52 U.S.C. 21111 ) is amended by striking sections 301, 302, and 303 and inserting subtitle A of title III . (c) Clerical amendment The table of contents of such Act is amended— (1) by redesignating the items relating to sections 304 and 305 as relating to sections 305 and 306; and (2) by inserting after the item relating to section 303 the following new item: Sec. 304. Same day registration. . D Conditions on Removal on Basis of Interstate Cross-Checks 1301. Conditions on removal of registrants from official list of eligible voters on basis of interstate cross-checks (a) Minimum information required for removal under cross-Check Section 8(c)(2) of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 ( 52 U.S.C. 20507(c) )(2)) is amended— (1) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (D); and (2) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following new subparagraphs: (B) To the extent that the program carried out by a State under subparagraph (A) to systematically remove the names of ineligible voters from the official lists of eligible voters uses information obtained in an interstate cross-check, in addition to any other conditions imposed under this Act on the authority of the State to remove the name of the voter from such a list, the State may not remove the name of the voter from such a list unless— (i) the State obtained the voter’s full name (including the voter’s middle name, if any) and date of birth, and the last 4 digits of the voter’s social security number, in the interstate cross-check; or (ii) the State obtained documentation from the ERIC system that the voter is no longer a resident of the State. (C) In this paragraph— (i) the term interstate cross-check means the transmission of information from an election official in one State to an election official of another State; and (ii) the term ERIC system means the system operated by the Electronic Registration Information Center to share voter registration information and voter identification information among participating States. . (b) Requiring completion of cross-Checks not later than 6 months prior to election Subparagraph (A) of section 8(c)(2) of such Act ( 52 U.S.C. 20507(c)(2) ) is amended by striking not later than 90 days and inserting the following: not later than 90 days (or, in the case of a program in which the State uses interstate cross-checks, not later than 6 months) . (c) Conforming amendment Subparagraph (D) of section 8(c)(2) of such Act ( 52 U.S.C. 20507(c)(2) ), as redesignated by subsection (a)(1), is amended by striking Subparagraph (A) and inserting This paragraph . (d) Effective date The amendments made by this Act shall apply with respect to elections held on or after the expiration of the 6-month period which begins on the date of the enactment of this Act. E Other Initiatives To Promote Voter Registration 1401. Annual reports on voter registration statistics (a) Annual report Not later than 90 days after the end of each year, each State shall submit to the Election Assistance Commission and Congress a report containing the following categories of information for the year: (1) The number of individuals who were registered under part 2. (2) The number of voter registration application forms completed by individuals that were transmitted by motor vehicle authorities in the State (pursuant to section 5(d) of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993) and voter registration agencies in the State (as designated under section 7 of such Act) to the chief State election official of the State, broken down by each such authority and agency. (3) The number of such individuals whose voter registration application forms were accepted and who were registered to vote in the State and the number of such individuals whose forms were rejected and who were not registered to vote in the State, broken down by each such authority and agency. (4) The number of change of address forms and other forms of information indicating that an individual’s identifying information has been changed that were transmitted by such motor vehicle authorities and voter registration agencies to the chief State election official of the State, broken down by each such authority and agency and the type of form transmitted. (5) The number of individuals on the statewide computerized voter registration list (as established and maintained under section 303 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002) whose voter registration information was revised by the chief State election official as a result of the forms transmitted to the official by such motor vehicle authorities and voter registration agencies (as described in paragraph (3)), broken down by each such authority and agency and the type of form transmitted. (6) The number of individuals who requested the chief State election official to revise voter registration information on such list, and the number of individuals whose information was revised as a result of such a request. (7) The number of individuals who were purged from the official voter registration list or moved to inactive status, broken down by the reason for those actions, including the method used for identifying those voters. (b) Breakdown of information In preparing the report under this section, the State shall, for each category of information described in subsection (a), include a breakdown by race, ethnicity, age, and gender of the individuals whose information is included in the category, to the extent that information on the race, ethnicity, age, and gender of such individuals is available to the State. (c) Confidentiality of information In preparing and submitting a report under this section, the chief State election official shall ensure that no information regarding the identification of any individual is revealed. (d) State defined In this section, a State includes the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, but does not include any State in which, under a State law in effect continuously on and after the date of the enactment of this Act, there is no voter registration requirement for individuals in the State with respect to elections for Federal office. 1402. Ensuring pre-election registration deadlines are consistent with timing of legal public holidays (a) In general Section 8(a)(1) of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 ( 52 U.S.C. 20507(a)(1) ) is amended by striking 30 days each place it appears and inserting 28 days . (b) Effective date The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to elections held in 2022 or any succeeding year. 1403. Use of Postal Service hard copy change of address form to remind individuals to update voter registration (a) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Postmaster General shall modify any hard copy change of address form used by the United States Postal Service so that such form contains a reminder that any individual using such form should update the individual’s voter registration as a result of any change in address. (b) Application The requirement in subsection (a) shall not apply to any electronic version of a change of address form used by the United States Postal Service. 1404. Grants to States for activities to encourage involvement of minors in election activities (a) Grants (1) In general The Election Assistance Commission (hereafter in this section referred to as the Commission ) shall make grants to eligible States to enable such States to carry out a plan to increase the involvement of individuals under 18 years of age in public election activities in the State. (2) Contents of plans A State’s plan under this subsection shall include— (A) methods to promote the use of the pre-registration process implemented under section 8A of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (as added by section 2(a)); (B) modifications to the curriculum of secondary schools in the State to promote civic engagement; and (C) such other activities to encourage the involvement of young people in the electoral process as the State considers appropriate. (b) Eligibility A State is eligible to receive a grant under this section if the State submits to the Commission, at such time and in such form as the Commission may require, an application containing— (1) a description of the State’s plan under subsection (a); (2) a description of the performance measures and targets the State will use to determine its success in carrying out the plan; and (3) such other information and assurances as the Commission may require. (c) Period of grant; Report (1) Period of grant A State receiving a grant under this section shall use the funds provided by the grant over a 2-year period agreed to between the State and the Commission. (2) Report Not later than 6 months after the end of the 2-year period agreed to under paragraph (1), the State shall submit to the Commission a report on the activities the State carried out with the funds provided by the grant, and shall include in the report an analysis of the extent to which the State met the performance measures and targets included in its application under subsection (b)(2). (d) State defined In this section, the term State means each of the several States and the District of Columbia. (e) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated for grants under this section $25,000,000, to remain available until expended. 1405. Permission to place exhibits The Secretary of Homeland Security shall implement procedures to allow the chief election officer of a State to provide information about voter registration, including through a display or exhibit, after the conclusion of an administrative naturalization ceremony in that State. 1406. Requiring States to establish and operate voter privacy programs (a) In general Each State shall establish and operate a privacy program to enable victims of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, sexual assault, and trafficking to have personally identifiable information that the State or local election officials maintain with respect to an individual voter registration status for purposes of elections for Federal office in the State, including addresses, be kept confidential. (b) Notice Each State shall notify residents of that State of the information that State and local election officials maintain with respect to an individual voter registration status for purposes of elections for Federal office in the State, how that information is shared or sold and with whom, what information is automatically kept confidential, what information is needed to access voter information online, and the privacy programs that are available. (c) Public availability Each State shall make information about the program established under subsection (a) available on a publicly accessible website. (d) Definitions In this section: (1) The terms domestic violence , stalking , sexual assault , and dating violence have the meanings given such terms in section 40002 of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 ( 34 U.S.C. 12291 ). (2) The term trafficking means an act or practice described in paragraph (11) or (12) of section 103 of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 ( 22 U.S.C. 7102 ). 1407. Inclusion of voter registration information with certain leases and vouchers for federally assisted rental housing and mortgage applications (a) Development of uniform statement The Director of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, in coordination with the Election Assistance Commission, shall develop a uniform statement designed to provide recipients of such statement pursuant to this section of how they can register to vote and their voting rights under law. (b) Leases and vouchers for Federally assisted rental housing The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall require— (1) each public housing agency to provide a copy of the uniform statement developed pursuant to subsection (a) to each lessee of a dwelling unit in public housing administered by such agency— (A) together with the lease for such a dwelling unit, at the same time such lease is provided to the lessee; and (B) together with any income verification form, at the same time such form is provided to the lessee; (2) each public housing agency that administers rental assistance under the Housing Choice Voucher program under section 8(o) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437f(o) ), including the program under paragraph (13) of such section 8(o), to provide a copy of the uniform statement developed pursuant to subsection (a) to each assisted family or individual— (A) together with the voucher for such assistance, at the time such voucher is issued for such family or individual; and (B) together with any income verification form, at the same time such form is provided to the applicant or assisted family or individual; and (3) each owner of a dwelling unit assisted with Federal project-based rental assistance to provide a copy of the uniform statement developed pursuant to subsection (a) to provide to the lessee of such dwelling unit— (A) together with the lease for such dwelling unit, at the same time such form is provided to the lessee; and (B) together with any income verification form, at the same time such form is provided to the applicant or tenant; except that the Secretary of Agriculture shall administer the requirement under this paragraph with respect to Federal project-based rental assistance specified in subsection (e)(1)(D). (c) Applications for residential mortgage loans The Director of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection shall require each creditor that receives an application (within the meaning of such term as used in the Equal Credit Opportunity Act ( 15 U.S.C. 1691 )) for a residential mortgage loan to provide a copy of the uniform statement developed pursuant to subsection (a) in written form to the applicant for such residential mortgage loan, within 5 business days of the date of application. (d) Optional completion of application Nothing in this section may be construed to require any individual to complete an application for voter registration. (e) Definitions As used in this section: (1) Federal project-based rental assistance The term Federal project-based rental assistance means project-based rental assistance provided under— (A) section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437f ); (B) section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959 ( 12 U.S.C. 1701q ); (C) section 811 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act ( 42 U.S.C. 8013 ); (D) title V of the Housing Act of 1949 ( 42 U.S.C. 1471 et seq.), including voucher assistance under section 542 of such title ( 42 U.S.C. 1490r ); (E) subtitle D of title VIII of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act ( 42 U.S.C. 12901 et seq.); (F) title II of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act ( 42 U.S.C. 12721 et seq.); (G) the Housing Trust Fund program under section 1338 of the Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness Act of 1992 ( 12 U.S.C. 4588 ); or (H) subtitle C of title IV of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 11381 et seq.). (2) Owner The term owner has the meaning given such term in section 8(f) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437f(f) ). (3) Public housing; public housing agency The terms public housing and public housing agency have the meanings given such terms in section 3(b) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437a(b) ). (4) Residential mortgage loan The term residential mortgage loan includes any loan which is secured by a first or subordinate lien on residential real property (including individual units of condominiums and cooperatives) designed principally for the occupancy of from 1 to 4 families. (f) Regulations The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau may issue such regulations as may be necessary to carry out this section. F Availability of HAVA Requirements Payments 1501. Availability of requirements payments under HAVA to cover costs of compliance with new requirements (a) In General Section 251(b) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 ( 52 U.S.C. 21001(b) ) is amended— (1) in paragraph (1), by striking as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3) and inserting as otherwise provided in this subsection ; and (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (4) Certain voter registration activities A State may use a requirements payment to carry out any of the requirements of the Voter Registration Modernization Act of 2021, including the requirements of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 which are imposed pursuant to the amendments made to such Act by the Voter Registration Modernization Act of 2021. . (b) Conforming Amendment Section 254(a)(1) of such Act ( 52 U.S.C. 21004(a)(1) ) is amended by striking section 251(a)(2) and inserting section 251(b)(2) . (c) Effective Date The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to fiscal year 2022 and each succeeding fiscal year. G Prohibiting Interference With Voter Registration 1601. Prohibiting hindering, interfering with, or preventing voter registration (a) In general Chapter 29 of title 18, United States Code is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 612. Hindering, interfering with, or preventing registering to vote (a) Prohibition It shall be unlawful for any person, whether acting under color of law or otherwise, to corruptly hinder, interfere with, or prevent another person from registering to vote or to corruptly hinder, interfere with, or prevent another person from aiding another person in registering to vote. (b) Attempt Any person who attempts to commit any offense described in subsection (a) shall be subject to the same penalties as those prescribed for the offense that the person attempted to commit. (c) Penalty Any person who violates subsection (a) shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections for chapter 29 of title 18, United States Code is amended by adding at the end the following new item: 612. Hindering, interfering with, or preventing registering to vote. . (c) Effective Date The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to elections held on or after the date of the enactment of this Act, except that no person may be found to have violated section 612 of title 18, United States Code (as added by subsection (a)), on the basis of any act occurring prior to the date of the enactment of this Act. 1602. Establishment of best practices (a) Best practices Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Election Assistance Commission shall develop and publish recommendations for best practices for States to use to deter and prevent violations of section 612 of title 18, United States Code (as added by section 1601), and section 12 of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 ( 52 U.S.C. 20511 ) (relating to the unlawful interference with registering to vote, or voting, or attempting to register to vote or vote), including practices to provide for the posting of relevant information at polling places and voter registration agencies under such Act, the training of poll workers and election officials, and relevant educational materials. For purposes of this subsection, 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. (b) Inclusion in voter information requirements Section 302(b)(2) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 ( 52 U.S.C. 21082(b)(2) ) is amended— (1) by striking and at the end of subparagraph (E); (2) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (F) and inserting ; and ; and (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (G) information relating to the prohibitions of section 612 of title 18, United States Code, and section 12 of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 ( 52 U.S.C. 20511 ) (relating to the unlawful interference with registering to vote, or voting, or attempting to register to vote or vote), including information on how individuals may report allegations of violations of such prohibitions. . H Voter Registration Efficiency Act 1701. Requiring applicants for motor vehicle driver’s licenses in new State to indicate whether State serves as residence for voter registration purposes (a) Requirements for applicants for licenses Section 5(d) of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 ( 52 U.S.C. 20504(d) ) is amended— (1) by striking Any change and inserting (1) Any change ; and (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (2) (A) A State motor vehicle authority shall require each individual applying for a motor vehicle driver’s license in the State— (i) to indicate whether the individual resides in another State or resided in another State prior to applying for the license, and, if so, to identify the State involved; and (ii) to indicate whether the individual intends for the State to serve as the individual’s residence for purposes of registering to vote in elections for Federal office. (B) If pursuant to subparagraph (A)(ii) an individual indicates to the State motor vehicle authority that the individual intends for the State to serve as the individual’s residence for purposes of registering to vote in elections for Federal office, the authority shall notify the motor vehicle authority of the State identified by the individual pursuant to subparagraph (A)(i), who shall notify the chief State election official of such State that the individual no longer intends for that State to serve as the individual’s residence for purposes of registering to vote in elections for Federal office. . (b) Effective date The amendments made by subsection (a) shall take effect with respect to elections occurring in 2021 or any succeeding year. I Providing Voter Registration Information to Secondary School Students 1801. Pilot program for providing voter registration information to secondary school students prior to graduation (a) Pilot program The Election Assistance Commission (hereafter in this subtitle referred to as the Commission ) shall carry out a pilot program under which the Commission shall provide funds during the 1-year period beginning after the date of the enactment of this subtitle to eligible local educational agencies for initiatives to provide information on registering to vote in elections for public office to secondary school students in the 12th grade. (b) Eligibility A local educational agency is eligible to receive funds under the pilot program under this subtitle if the agency submits to the Commission, at such time and in such form as the Commission may require, an application containing— (1) a description of the initiatives the agency intends to carry out with the funds; (2) a description of how the agency will prioritize access to such initiatives for schools that serve— (A) the highest numbers or percentages of students counted under section 1124(c) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 6333(c) ); and (B) the highest percentages of students who are eligible for a free or reduced price lunch under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) (which, in the case of a high school, may be calculated using comparable data from the schools that feed into the high school), as compared to other public schools in the jurisdiction of the agency; (3) an estimate of the costs associated with such initiatives; and (4) such other information and assurances as the Commission may require. (c) Priority for schools receiving title I funds In selecting among eligible local educational agencies for receiving funds under the pilot program under this subtitle, the Commission shall give priority to local educational agencies that receive funds under part A of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 6311 et seq.). (d) Consultation with election officials A local educational agency receiving funds under the pilot program shall consult with the State and local election officials who are responsible for administering elections for public office in the area served by the agency in developing the initiatives the agency will carry out with the funds. (e) Definitions In this subtitle, the terms local educational agency and secondary school have the meanings given such terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7801 ). 1802. Reports (a) Reports by recipients of funds Not later than the expiration of the 90-day period which begins on the date of the receipt of the funds, each local educational agency receiving funds under the pilot program under this subtitle shall submit a report to the Commission describing the initiatives carried out with the funds and analyzing their effectiveness. (b) Report by Commission Not later than the expiration of the 60-day period which begins on the date the Commission receives the final report submitted by a local educational agency under subsection (a), the Commission shall submit a report to Congress on the pilot program under this part. 1803. Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this subtitle. J Voter Registration of Minors 1901. Acceptance of voter registration applications from individuals under 18 years of age (a) Acceptance of applications Section 8 of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 ( 52 U.S.C. 20507 ), as amended by section 1004, is amended— (1) by redesignating subsection (k) as subsection (l); and (2) by inserting after subsection (j) the following new subsection: (k) Acceptance of applications from individuals under 18 years of age (1) In general A State may not refuse to accept or process an individual’s application to register to vote in elections for Federal office on the grounds that the individual is under 18 years of age at the time the individual submits the application, so long as the individual is at least 16 years of age at such time. (2) No effect on State voting age requirements Nothing in paragraph (1) may be construed to require a State to permit an individual who is under 18 years of age at the time of an election for Federal office to vote in the election. . (b) Effective date The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to elections occurring on or after January 1, 2022. II Access to Voting for Individuals With Disabilities 2001. Requirements for States to promote access to voter registration and voting for individuals with disabilities (a) Requirements Subtitle A of title III of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 ( 52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.), as amended by section 1201(a), is amended— (1) by redesignating sections 305 and 306 as sections 306 and 307; and (2) by inserting after section 304 the following new section: 305. Access to voter registration and voting for individuals with disabilities (a) Treatment of applications and ballots Each State shall— (1) permit individuals with disabilities to use absentee registration procedures and to vote by absentee ballot in elections for Federal office; (2) accept and process, with respect to any election for Federal office, any otherwise valid voter registration application and absentee ballot application from an individual with a disability if the application is received by the appropriate State election official within the deadline for the election which is applicable under Federal law; (3) in addition to any other method of registering to vote or applying for an absentee ballot in the State, establish procedures— (A) for individuals with disabilities to request by mail and electronically voter registration applications and absentee ballot applications with respect to elections for Federal office in accordance with subsection (c); (B) for States to send by mail and electronically (in accordance with the preferred method of transmission designated by the individual under subparagraph (C)) voter registration applications and absentee ballot applications requested under subparagraph (A) in accordance with subsection (c)); and (C) by which such an individual can designate whether the individual prefers that such voter registration application or absentee ballot application be transmitted by mail or electronically; (4) in addition to any other method of transmitting blank absentee ballots in the State, establish procedures for transmitting by mail and electronically blank absentee ballots to individuals with disabilities with respect to elections for Federal office in accordance with subsection (d); (5) transmit a validly requested absentee ballot to an individual with a disability— (A) except as provided in subsection (e), in the case in which the request is received at least 45 days before an election for Federal office, not later than 45 days before the election; and (B) in the case in which the request is received less than 45 days before an election for Federal office— (i) in accordance with State law; and (ii) if practicable and as determined appropriate by the State, in a manner that expedites the transmission of such absentee ballot; and (6) if the State declares or otherwise holds a runoff election for Federal office, establish a written plan that provides absentee ballots are made available to individuals with disabilities in a manner that gives them sufficient time to vote in the runoff election. (b) Designation of single State office To Provide Information on Registration and Absentee Ballot Procedures for All Disabled Voters in State Each State shall designate a single office which shall be responsible for providing information regarding voter registration procedures and absentee ballot procedures to be used by individuals with disabilities with respect to elections for Federal office to all individuals with disabilities who wish to register to vote or vote in any jurisdiction in the State. (c) Designation of Means of Electronic Communication for Individuals with Disabilities To Request and for States To Send Voter Registration Applications and Absentee Ballot Applications, and for Other Purposes Related to Voting Information (1) In general Each State shall, in addition to the designation of a single State office under subsection (b), designate not less than 1 means of electronic communication— (A) for use by individuals with disabilities who wish to register to vote or vote in any jurisdiction in the State to request voter registration applications and absentee ballot applications under subsection (a)(3); (B) for use by States to send voter registration applications and absentee ballot applications requested under such subsection; and (C) for the purpose of providing related voting, balloting, and election information to individuals with disabilities. (2) Clarification regarding provision of multiple means of electronic communication A State may, in addition to the means of electronic communication so designated, provide multiple means of electronic communication to individuals with disabilities, including a means of electronic communication for the appropriate jurisdiction of the State. (3) Inclusion of designated means of electronic communication with informational and instructional materials that accompany balloting materials Each State shall include a means of electronic communication so designated with all informational and instructional materials that accompany balloting materials sent by the State to individuals with disabilities. (4) Transmission if no preference indicated In the case where an individual with a disability does not designate a preference under subsection (a)(3)(C), the State shall transmit the voter registration application or absentee ballot application by any delivery method allowable in accordance with applicable State law, or if there is no applicable State law, by mail. (d) Transmission of blank absentee ballots by mail and electronically (1) In general Each State shall establish procedures— (A) to securely transmit blank absentee ballots by mail and electronically (in accordance with the preferred method of transmission designated by the individual with a disability under subparagraph (B)) to individuals with disabilities for an election for Federal office; and (B) by which the individual with a disability can designate whether the individual prefers that such blank absentee ballot be transmitted by mail or electronically. (2) Transmission if no preference indicated In the case where an individual with a disability does not designate a preference under paragraph (1)(B), the State shall transmit the ballot by any delivery method allowable in accordance with applicable State law, or if there is no applicable State law, by mail. (3) Application of methods to track delivery to and return of ballot by individual requesting ballot Under the procedures established under paragraph (1), the State shall apply such methods as the State considers appropriate, such as assigning a unique identifier to the ballot, to ensure that if an individual with a disability requests the State to transmit a blank absentee ballot to the individual in accordance with this subsection, the voted absentee ballot which is returned by the individual is the same blank absentee ballot which the State transmitted to the individual. (e) Hardship Exemption (1) In general If the chief State election official determines that the State is unable to meet the requirement under subsection (a)(5)(A) with respect to an election for Federal office due to an undue hardship described in paragraph (2)(B), the chief State election official shall request that the Attorney General grant a waiver to the State of the application of such subsection. Such request shall include— (A) a recognition that the purpose of such subsection is to individuals with disabilities enough time to vote in an election for Federal office; (B) an explanation of the hardship that indicates why the State is unable to transmit such individuals an absentee ballot in accordance with such subsection; (C) the number of days prior to the election for Federal office that the State requires absentee ballots be transmitted to such individuals; and (D) a comprehensive plan to ensure that such individuals are able to receive absentee ballots which they have requested and submit marked absentee ballots to the appropriate State election official in time to have that ballot counted in the election for Federal office, which includes— (i) the steps the State will undertake to ensure that such individuals have time to receive, mark, and submit their ballots in time to have those ballots counted in the election; (ii) why the plan provides such individuals sufficient time to vote as a substitute for the requirements under such subsection; and (iii) the underlying factual information which explains how the plan provides such sufficient time to vote as a substitute for such requirements. (2) Approval of waiver request The Attorney General shall approve a waiver request under paragraph (1) if the Attorney General determines each of the following requirements are met: (A) The comprehensive plan under subparagraph (D) of such paragraph provides individuals with disabilities sufficient time to receive absentee ballots they have requested and submit marked absentee ballots to the appropriate State election official in time to have that ballot counted in the election for Federal office. (B) One or more of the following issues creates an undue hardship for the State: (i) The State's primary election date prohibits the State from complying with subsection (a)(5)(A). (ii) The State has suffered a delay in generating ballots due to a legal contest. (iii) The State Constitution prohibits the State from complying with such subsection. (3) Timing of waiver (A) In general Except as provided under subparagraph (B), a State that requests a waiver under paragraph (1) shall submit to the Attorney General the written waiver request not later than 90 days before the election for Federal office with respect to which the request is submitted. The Attorney General shall approve or deny the waiver request not later than 65 days before such election. (B) Exception If a State requests a waiver under paragraph (1) as the result of an undue hardship described in paragraph (2)(B)(ii), the State shall submit to the Attorney General the written waiver request as soon as practicable. The Attorney General shall approve or deny the waiver request not later than 5 business days after the date on which the request is received. (4) Application of waiver A waiver approved under paragraph (2) shall only apply with respect to the election for Federal office for which the request was submitted. For each subsequent election for Federal office, the Attorney General shall only approve a waiver if the State has submitted a request under paragraph (1) with respect to such election. (f) Rule of construction Nothing in this section may be construed to allow the marking or casting of ballots over the internet. (g) Individual with a disability defined In this section, an individual with a disability means an individual with an impairment that substantially limits any major life activities and who is otherwise qualified to vote in elections for Federal office. (h) Effective date This section shall apply with respect to elections for Federal office held on or after January 1, 2022. . (b) Conforming amendment relating to issuance of voluntary guidance by election assistance commission (1) Timing of issuance Section 311(b) of such Act ( 52 U.S.C. 21101(b) ) is amended— (A) by striking and at the end of paragraph (2); (B) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (3) and inserting ; and ; and (C) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (4) in the case of the recommendations with respect to section 305, January 1, 2022. . (2) Redesignation Title III of such Act ( 52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.) is amended by redesignating sections 311 and 312 as sections 321 and 322. (c) Clerical amendments The table of contents of such Act, as amended by section 1201(c)), is amended— (1) by redesignating the items relating to sections 305 and 306 as relating to sections 306 and 307; (2) by inserting after the item relating to section 304 the following new item: Sec. 305. Access to voter registration and voting for individuals with disabilities. ; and (3) by redesignating the items relating to sections 311 and 312 as relating to sections 321 and 322. 2002. Expansion and reauthorization of grant program to assure voting access for individuals with disabilities (a) Purposes of payments Section 261(b) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 ( 52 U.S.C. 21021(b) ) is amended by striking paragraphs (1) and (2) and inserting the following: (1) making absentee voting and voting at home accessible to individuals with the full range of disabilities (including impairments involving vision, hearing, mobility, or dexterity) through the implementation of accessible absentee voting systems that work in conjunction with assistive technologies for which individuals have access at their homes, independent living centers, or other facilities; (2) making polling places, including the path of travel, entrances, exits, and voting areas of each polling facility, accessible to individuals with disabilities, including the blind and visually impaired, in a manner that provides the same opportunity for access and participation (including privacy and independence) as for other voters; and (3) providing solutions to problems of access to voting and elections for individuals with disabilities that are universally designed and provide the same opportunities for individuals with and without disabilities. . (b) Reauthorization Section 264(a) of such Act ( 52 U.S.C. 21024(a) ) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (4) For fiscal year 2022 and each succeeding fiscal year, such sums as may be necessary to carry out this part. . (c) Period of availability of funds Section 264 of such Act ( 52 U.S.C. 21024 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (b), by striking Any amounts and inserting Except as provided in subsection (b), any amounts ; and (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection: (c) Return and transfer of certain funds (1) Deadline for obligation and expenditure In the case of any amounts appropriated pursuant to the authority of subsection (a) for a payment to a State or unit of local government for fiscal year 2022 or any succeeding fiscal year, any portion of such amounts which have not been obligated or expended by the State or unit of local government prior to the expiration of the 4-year period which begins on the date the State or unit of local government first received the amounts shall be transferred to the Commission. (2) Reallocation of transferred amounts (A) In general The Commission shall use the amounts transferred under paragraph (1) to make payments on a pro rata basis to each covered payment recipient described in subparagraph (B), which may obligate and expend such payment for the purposes described in section 261(b) during the 1-year period which begins on the date of receipt. (B) Covered payment recipients described In subparagraph (A), a covered payment recipient is a State or unit of local government with respect to which— (i) amounts were appropriated pursuant to the authority of subsection (a); and (ii) no amounts were transferred to the Commission under paragraph (1). . 2003. Pilot programs for enabling individuals with disabilities to register to vote privately and independently at residences (a) Establishment of pilot programs The Election Assistance Commission (hereafter referred to as the Commission ) shall, subject to the availability of appropriations to carry out this section, make grants to eligible States to conduct pilot programs under which individuals with disabilities may use electronic means (including the internet and telephones utilizing assistive devices) to register to vote and to request and receive absentee ballots in a manner which permits such individuals to do so privately and independently at their own residences. (b) Reports (1) In general A State receiving a grant for a year under this section shall submit a report to the Commission on the pilot programs the State carried out with the grant with respect to elections for public office held in the State during the year. (2) Deadline A State shall submit a report under paragraph (1) not later than 90 days after the last election for public office held in the State during the year. (c) Eligibility A State is eligible to receive a grant under this section if the State submits to the Commission, at such time and in such form as the Commission may require, an application containing such information and assurances as the Commission may require. (d) Timing The Commission shall make the first grants under this section for pilot programs which will be in effect with respect to elections for Federal office held in 2022, or, at the option of a State, with respect to other elections for public office held in the State in 2022. (e) State defined In 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. 2004. GAO analysis and report on voting access for individuals with disabilities (a) Analysis The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct an analysis after each regularly scheduled general election for Federal office with respect to the following: (1) In relation to polling places located in houses of worship or other facilities that may be exempt from accessibility requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act— (A) efforts to overcome accessibility challenges posed by such facilities; and (B) the extent to which such facilities are used as polling places in elections for Federal office. (2) Assistance provided by the Election Assistance Commission, Department of Justice, or other Federal agencies to help State and local officials improve voting access for individuals with disabilities during elections for Federal office. (3) When accessible voting machines are available at a polling place, the extent to which such machines— (A) are located in places that are difficult to access; (B) malfunction; or (C) fail to provide sufficient privacy to ensure that the ballot of the individual cannot be seen by another individual. (4) The process by which Federal, State, and local governments track compliance with accessibility requirements related to voting access, including methods to receive and address complaints. (5) The extent to which poll workers receive training on how to assist individuals with disabilities, including the receipt by such poll workers of information on legal requirements related to voting rights for individuals with disabilities. (6) The extent and effectiveness of training provided to poll workers on the operation of accessible voting machines. (7) The extent to which individuals with a developmental or psychiatric disability experience greater barriers to voting, and whether poll worker training adequately addresses the needs of such individuals. (8) The extent to which State or local governments employ, or attempt to employ, individuals with disabilities to work at polling sites. (b) Report (1) In general Not later than 9 months after the date of a regularly scheduled general election for Federal office, the Comptroller General shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report with respect to the most recent regularly scheduled general election for Federal office that contains the following: (A) The analysis required by subsection (a). (B) Recommendations, as appropriate, to promote the use of best practices used by State and local officials to address barriers to accessibility and privacy concerns for individuals with disabilities in elections for Federal office. (2) Appropriate congressional committees For purposes of this subsection, the term appropriate congressional committees means— (A) the Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives; (B) the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate; (C) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and (D) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate. III Prohibiting Voter Caging 3001. Voter caging and other questionable challenges prohibited (a) In General Chapter 29 of title 18, United States Code, as amended by section 1601(a), is amended by adding at the end the following: 613. Voter caging and other questionable challenges (a) Definitions In this section— (1) the term voter caging document means— (A) a nonforwardable document that is returned to the sender or a third party as undelivered or undeliverable despite an attempt to deliver such document to the address of a registered voter or applicant; or (B) any document with instructions to an addressee that the document be returned to the sender or a third party but is not so returned, despite an attempt to deliver such document to the address of a registered voter or applicant, unless at least two Federal election cycles have passed since the date of the attempted delivery; (2) the term voter caging list means a list of individuals compiled from voter caging documents; and (3) the term unverified match list means a list produced by matching the information of registered voters or applicants for voter registration to a list of individuals who are ineligible to vote in the registrar’s jurisdiction, by virtue of death, conviction, change of address, or otherwise; unless one of the pieces of information matched includes a signature, photograph, or unique identifying number ensuring that the information from each source refers to the same individual. (b) Prohibition Against Voter Caging No State or local election official shall prevent an individual from registering or voting in any election for Federal office, or permit in connection with any election for Federal office a formal challenge under State law to an individual’s registration status or eligibility to vote, if the basis for such decision is evidence consisting of— (1) a voter caging document or voter caging list; (2) an unverified match list; (3) an error or omission on any record or paper relating to any application, registration, or other act requisite to voting, if such error or omission is not material to an individual’s eligibility to vote under section 2004 of the Revised Statutes, as amended ( 52 U.S.C. 10101(a)(2)(B) ); or (4) any other evidence so designated for purposes of this section by the Election Assistance Commission, except that the election official may use such evidence if it is corroborated by independent evidence of the individual’s ineligibility to register or vote. (c) Requirements for Challenges by Persons Other Than Election Officials (1) Requirements for challenges No person, other than a State or local election official, shall submit a formal challenge to an individual’s eligibility to register to vote in an election for Federal office or to vote in an election for Federal office unless that challenge is supported by personal knowledge regarding the grounds for ineligibility which is— (A) documented in writing; and (B) subject to an oath or attestation under penalty of perjury that the challenger has a good faith factual basis to believe that the individual who is the subject of the challenge is ineligible to register to vote or vote in that election, except a challenge which is based on the age, race, ethnicity, or national origin of the individual who is the subject of the challenge may not be considered to have a good faith factual basis for purposes of this paragraph. (2) Prohibition on challenges on or near date of election No person, other than a State or local election official, shall be permitted— (A) to challenge an individual’s eligibility to vote in an election for Federal office on Election Day, or (B) to challenge an individual’s eligibility to register to vote in an election for Federal office or to vote in an election for Federal office less than 10 days before the election unless the individual registered to vote less than 20 days before the election. (d) Penalties for Knowing Misconduct Whoever knowingly challenges the eligibility of one or more individuals to register or vote or knowingly causes the eligibility of such individuals to be challenged in violation of this section with the intent that one or more eligible voters be disqualified, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both, for each such violation. Each violation shall be a separate offense. (e) No Effect on Related Laws Nothing in this section is intended to override the protections of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 ( 52 U.S.C. 20501 et seq.) or to affect the Voting Rights Act of 1965 ( 52 U.S.C. 10301 et seq.). . (b) Clerical Amendment The table of sections for chapter 29 of title 18, United States Code, as amended by section 1601(b), is amended by adding at the end the following: 613. Voter caging and other questionable challenges. . 3002. Development and adoption of best practices for preventing voter caging (a) Best practices Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Election Assistance Commission shall develop and publish for the use of States recommendations for best practices to deter and prevent violations of section 613 of title 18, United States Code, as added by section 3001(a), including practices to provide for the posting of relevant information at polling places and voter registration agencies, the training of poll workers and election officials, and relevant educational measures. For purposes of this subsection, 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. (b) Inclusion in voting information requirements Section 302(b)(2) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 ( 52 U.S.C. 21082(b)(2) ), as amended by section 1602(b), is amended— (1) by striking and at the end of subparagraph (F); (2) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (G) and inserting ; and ; and (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (H) information relating to the prohibition against voter caging and other questionable challenges (as set forth in section 613 of title 18, United States Code), including information on how individuals may report allegations of violations of such prohibition. . IV Prohibiting Deceptive Practices and Preventing Voter Intimidation 4001. Prohibition on deceptive practices in Federal elections (a) Prohibition Subsection (b) of section 2004 of the Revised Statutes ( 52 U.S.C. 10101(b) ) is amended— (1) by striking No person and inserting the following: (1) In general No person ; and (2) by inserting at the end the following new paragraphs: (2) False statements regarding Federal elections (A) Prohibition No person, whether acting under color of law or otherwise, shall, within 60 days before an election described in paragraph (5), by any means, including by means of written, electronic, or telephonic communications, communicate or cause to be communicated information described in subparagraph (B), or produce information described in subparagraph (B) with the intent that such information be communicated, if such person— (i) knows such information to be materially false; and (ii) has the intent to impede or prevent another person from exercising the right to vote in an election described in paragraph (5). (B) Information described Information is described in this subparagraph if such information is regarding— (i) the time, place, or manner of holding any election described in paragraph (5); or (ii) the qualifications for or restrictions on voter eligibility for any such election, including— (I) any criminal, civil, or other legal penalties associated with voting in any such election; or (II) information regarding a voter's registration status or eligibility. (3) False statements regarding public endorsements (A) Prohibition No person, whether acting under color of law or otherwise, shall, within 60 days before an election described in paragraph (5), by any means, including by means of written, electronic, or telephonic communications, communicate, or cause to be communicated, a materially false statement about an endorsement, if such person— (i) knows such statement to be false; and (ii) has the intent to impede or prevent another person from exercising the right to vote in an election described in paragraph (5). (B) Definition of materially false For purposes of subparagraph (A), a statement about an endorsement is materially false if, with respect to an upcoming election described in paragraph (5)— (i) the statement states that a specifically named person, political party, or organization has endorsed the election of a specific candidate for a Federal office described in such paragraph; and (ii) such person, political party, or organization has not endorsed the election of such candidate. (4) Hindering, interfering with, or preventing voting or registering to vote No person, whether acting under color of law or otherwise, shall intentionally hinder, interfere with, or prevent another person from voting, registering to vote, or aiding another person to vote or register to vote in an election described in paragraph (5). (5) Election described An election described in this paragraph is any general, primary, run-off, or special election held solely or in part for the purpose of nominating or electing a candidate for the office of President, Vice President, presidential elector, Member of the Senate, Member of the House of Representatives, or Delegate or Commissioner from a Territory or possession. . (b) Private right of action (1) In general Subsection (c) of section 2004 of the Revised Statutes ( 52 U.S.C. 10101(c) ) is amended— (A) by striking Whenever any person and inserting the following: (1) In general Whenever any person ; and (B) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (2) Civil action Any person aggrieved by a violation of subsection (b)(2), (b)(3), or (b)(4) may institute a civil action for preventive relief, including an application in a United States district court for a permanent or temporary injunction, restraining order, or other order. In any such action, the court, in its discretion, may allow the prevailing party a reasonable attorney’s fee as part of the costs. . (2) Conforming amendments Section 2004 of the Revised Statutes ( 52 U.S.C. 10101 ) is amended— (A) in subsection (e), by striking subsection (c) and inserting subsection (c)(1) ; and (B) in subsection (g), by striking subsection (c) and inserting subsection (c)(1) . (c) Criminal penalties (1) Deceptive acts Section 594 of title 18, United States Code, is amended— (A) by striking Whoever and inserting the following: (a) Intimidation Whoever ; (B) in subsection (a), as inserted by subparagraph (A), by striking at any election and inserting at any general, primary, run-off, or special election ; and (C) by adding at the end the following new subsections: (b) Deceptive acts (1) False statements regarding Federal elections (A) Prohibition It shall be unlawful for any person, whether acting under color of law or otherwise, within 60 days before an election described in subsection (e), by any means, including by means of written, electronic, or telephonic communications, to communicate or cause to be communicated information described in subparagraph (B), or produce information described in subparagraph (B) with the intent that such information be communicated, if such person— (i) knows such information to be materially false; and (ii) has the intent to mislead voters, or the intent to impede or prevent another person from exercising the right to vote in an election described in subsection (e). (B) Information described Information is described in this subparagraph if such information is regarding— (i) the time or place of holding any election described in subsection (e); or (ii) the qualifications for or restrictions on voter eligibility for any such election, including— (I) any criminal, civil, or other legal penalties associated with voting in any such election; or (II) information regarding a voter's registration status or eligibility. (2) Penalty Any person who violates paragraph (1) shall be fined not more than $100,000, imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both. (c) Hindering, interfering with, or preventing voting or registering To vote (1) Prohibition It shall be unlawful for any person, whether acting under color of law or otherwise, to intentionally hinder, interfere with, or prevent another person from voting, registering to vote, or aiding another person to vote or register to vote in an election described in subsection (e), including by operating a polling place or ballot box that falsely purports to be an official location established for such an election by a unit of government. (2) Penalty Any person who violates paragraph (1) shall be fined not more than $100,000, imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both. (d) Attempt Any person who attempts to commit any offense described in subsection (a), (b)(1), or (c)(1) shall be subject to the same penalties as those prescribed for the offense that the person attempted to commit. (e) Election described An election described in this subsection is any general, primary, run-off, or special election held solely or in part for the purpose of nominating or electing a candidate for the office of President, Vice President, presidential elector, Senator, Member of the House of Representatives, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to the Congress. . (2) Modification of penalty for voter intimidation Section 594(a) of title 18, United States Code, as amended by paragraph (1), is amended by striking fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year and inserting fined not more than $100,000, imprisoned for not more than 5 years . (3) Sentencing guidelines (A) Review and amendment Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the United States Sentencing Commission, pursuant to its authority under section 994 of title 28, United States Code, and in accordance with this section, shall review and, if appropriate, amend the Federal sentencing guidelines and policy statements applicable to persons convicted of any offense under section 594 of title 18, United States Code, as amended by this section. (B) Authorization The United States Sentencing Commission may amend the Federal Sentencing Guidelines in accordance with the procedures set forth in section 21(a) of the Sentencing Act of 1987 ( 28 U.S.C. 994 note) as though the authority under that section had not expired. (4) Payments for refraining from voting Subsection (c) of section 11 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 ( 52 U.S.C. 10307 ) is amended by striking either for registration to vote or for voting and inserting for registration to vote, for voting, or for not voting . 4002. Corrective action (a) Corrective action (1) In general If the Attorney General receives a credible report that materially false information has been or is being communicated in violation of paragraphs (2) and (3) of section 2004(b) of the Revised Statutes ( 52 U.S.C. 10101(b) ), as added by section 4001(a), and if the Attorney General determines that State and local election officials have not taken adequate steps to promptly communicate accurate information to correct the materially false information, the Attorney General shall, pursuant to the written procedures and standards under subsection (b), communicate to the public, by any means, including by means of written, electronic, or telephonic communications, accurate information designed to correct the materially false information. (2) Communication of corrective information Any information communicated by the Attorney General under paragraph (1)— (A) shall— (i) be accurate and objective; (ii) consist of only the information necessary to correct the materially false information that has been or is being communicated; and (iii) to the extent practicable, be by a means that the Attorney General determines will reach the persons to whom the materially false information has been or is being communicated; and (B) shall not be designed to favor or disfavor any particular candidate, organization, or political party. (b) Written procedures and standards for taking corrective action (1) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall publish written procedures and standards for determining when and how corrective action will be taken under this section. (2) Inclusion of appropriate deadlines The procedures and standards under paragraph (1) shall include appropriate deadlines, based in part on the number of days remaining before the upcoming election. (3) Consultation In developing the procedures and standards under paragraph (1), the Attorney General shall consult with the Election Assistance Commission, State and local election officials, civil rights organizations, voting rights groups, voter protection groups, and other interested community organizations. (c) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to the Attorney General such sums as may be necessary to carry out this subtitle. 4003. Reports to Congress (a) In general Not later than 180 days after each general election for Federal office, the Attorney General shall submit to Congress a report compiling all allegations received by the Attorney General of deceptive practices described in paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) of section 2004(b) of the Revised Statutes ( 52 U.S.C. 10101(b) ), as added by section 4001(a), relating to the general election for Federal office and any primary, run-off, or a special election for Federal office held in the 2 years preceding the general election. (b) Contents (1) In general Each report submitted under subsection (a) shall include— (A) a description of each allegation of a deceptive practice described in subsection (a), including the geographic location, racial and ethnic composition, and language minority-group membership of the persons toward whom the alleged deceptive practice was directed; (B) the status of the investigation of each allegation described in subparagraph (A); (C) a description of each corrective action taken by the Attorney General under section 4(a) in response to an allegation described in subparagraph (A); (D) a description of each referral of an allegation described in subparagraph (A) to other Federal, State, or local agencies; (E) to the extent information is available, a description of any civil action instituted under section 2004(c)(2) of the Revised Statutes ( 52 U.S.C. 10101(c)(2) ), as added by section 4001(b), in connection with an allegation described in subparagraph (A); and (F) a description of any criminal prosecution instituted under section 594 of title 18, United States Code, as amended by section 4001(c), in connection with the receipt of an allegation described in subparagraph (A) by the Attorney General. (2) Exclusion of certain information (A) In general The Attorney General shall not include in a report submitted under subsection (a) any information protected from disclosure by rule 6(e) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure or any Federal criminal statute. (B) Exclusion of certain other information The Attorney General may determine that the following information shall not be included in a report submitted under subsection (a): (i) Any information that is privileged. (ii) Any information concerning an ongoing investigation. (iii) Any information concerning a criminal or civil proceeding conducted under seal. (iv) Any other nonpublic information that the Attorney General determines the disclosure of which could reasonably be expected to infringe on the rights of any individual or adversely affect the integrity of a pending or future criminal investigation. (c) Report made public On the date that the Attorney General submits the report under subsection (a), the Attorney General shall also make the report publicly available through the internet and other appropriate means. V Democracy Restoration 5001. Findings Congress makes the following findings: (1) The right to vote is the most basic constitutive act of citizenship. Regaining the right to vote reintegrates individuals with criminal convictions into free society, helping to enhance public safety. (2) Article I, section 4, of the Constitution grants Congress ultimate supervisory power over Federal elections, an authority which has repeatedly been upheld by the Supreme Court. (3) Basic constitutional principles of fairness and equal protection require an equal opportunity for citizens of the United States to vote in Federal elections. The right to vote may not be abridged or denied by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, gender, or previous condition of servitude. The 13th, 14th, 15th, 19th, 24th, and 26th Amendments to the Constitution empower Congress to enact measures to protect the right to vote in Federal elections. The 8th Amendment to the Constitution provides for no excessive bail to be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. (4) There are 3 areas in which discrepancies in State laws regarding criminal convictions lead to unfairness in Federal elections: (A) The lack of a uniform standard for voting in Federal elections leads to an unfair disparity and unequal participation in Federal elections based solely on where a person lives. (B) Laws governing the restoration of voting rights after a criminal conviction vary throughout the country, and persons in some States can easily regain their voting rights while in other States persons effectively lose their right to vote permanently. (C) State disenfranchisement laws disproportionately impact racial and ethnic minorities. (5) Two States (Maine and Vermont), the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico do not disenfranchise individuals with criminal convictions at all, but 48 States have laws that deny convicted individuals the right to vote while they are in prison. (6) In some States disenfranchisement results from varying State laws that restrict voting while individuals are under the supervision of the criminal justice system or after they have completed a criminal sentence. In 30 States, convicted individuals may not vote while they are on parole and 27 States disenfranchise individuals on felony probation as well. In 11 States, a conviction can result in lifetime disenfranchisement. (7) Several States deny the right to vote to individuals convicted of certain misdemeanors. (8) An estimated 5,200,000 citizens of the United States, or about 1 in 44 adults in the United States, currently cannot vote as a result of a felony conviction. Of the 5,200,000 citizens barred from voting, only 24 percent are in prison. By contrast, 75 percent of the disenfranchised reside in their communities while on probation or parole or after having completed their sentences. Approximately 2,200,000 citizens who have completed their sentences remain disenfranchised due to restrictive State laws. In at least 6 States—Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Virginia—more than 5 percent of the total voting-age population is disenfranchised. (9) In those States that disenfranchise individuals post-sentence, the right to vote can be regained in theory, but in practice this possibility is often granted in a non-uniform and potentially discriminatory manner. Disenfranchised individuals must either obtain a pardon or an order from the Governor or an action by the parole or pardon board, depending on the offense and State. Individuals convicted of a Federal offense often have additional barriers to regaining voting rights. (10) State disenfranchisement laws disproportionately impact racial and ethnic minorities. More than 6 percent of the African-American voting-age population, or 1,800,000 African Americans, are disenfranchised. Currently, 1 of every 16 voting-age African Americans are rendered unable to vote because of felony disenfranchisement, which is a rate more than 3.7 times greater than non-African Americans. Over 6 percent of African-American adults are disenfranchised whereas only 1.7 percent of non-African Americans are. In 7 States (Alabama, 16 percent; Florida, 15 percent; Kentucky, 15 percent; Mississippi, 16 percent; Tennessee, 21 percent; Virginia, 16 percent; and Wyoming, 36 percent), more than 1 in 7 African Americans are unable to vote because of prior convictions, twice the national average for African Americans. (11) Latino citizens are disproportionately disenfranchised based upon their disproportionate representation in the criminal justice system. In recent years, Latinos have been imprisoned at 2.5 times the rate of Whites. More than 2 percent of the voting-age Latino population, or 560,000 Latinos, are disenfranchised due to a felony conviction. In 34 states Latinos are disenfranchised at a higher rate than the general population. In 11 states 4 percent or more of Latino adults are disenfranchised due to a felony conviction (Alabama, 4 percent; Arizona, 7 percent; Arkansas, 4 percent; Idaho, 4 percent; Iowa, 4 percent; Kentucky, 6 percent; Minnesota, 4 percent; Mississippi, 5 percent; Nebraska, 6 percent; Tennessee, 11 percent, Wyoming, 4 percent), twice the national average for Latinos. (12) Disenfranchising citizens who have been convicted of a criminal offense and who are living and working in the community serves no compelling State interest and hinders their rehabilitation and reintegration into society. (13) State disenfranchisement laws can suppress electoral participation among eligible voters by discouraging voting among family and community members of disenfranchised persons. Future electoral participation by the children of disenfranchised parents may be impacted as well. (14) The United States is the only Western democracy that permits the permanent denial of voting rights for individuals with felony convictions. 5002. Rights of citizens The right of an individual who is a citizen of the United States to vote in any election for Federal office shall not be denied or abridged because that individual has been convicted of a criminal offense unless such individual is serving a felony sentence in a correctional institution or facility at the time of the election. 5003. Enforcement (a) Attorney general The Attorney General may, in a civil action, obtain such declaratory or injunctive relief as is necessary to remedy a violation of this subtitle. (b) Private right of action (1) In general A person who is aggrieved by a violation of this title may provide written notice of the violation to the chief election official of the State involved. (2) Relief Except as provided in paragraph (3), if the violation is not corrected within 90 days after receipt of a notice under paragraph (1), or within 20 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 relief with respect to the violation. (3) Exception If the violation occurred within 30 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 under paragraph (1) before bringing a civil action to obtain declaratory or injunctive relief with respect to the violation. 5004. Notification of restoration of voting rights (a) State notification (1) Notification On the date determined under paragraph (2), each State shall notify in writing any individual who has been convicted of a criminal offense under the law of that State that such individual has the right to vote in an election for Federal office pursuant to the Democracy Restoration Act of 2021 and may register to vote in any such election and provide such individual with any materials that are necessary to register to vote in any such election. (2) Date of notification (A) Felony conviction In the case of such an individual who has been convicted of a felony, the notification required under paragraph (1) shall be given on the date on which the individual— (i) is sentenced to serve only a term of probation; or (ii) is released from the custody of that State (other than to the custody of another State or the Federal Government to serve a term of imprisonment for a felony conviction). (B) Misdemeanor conviction In the case of such an individual who has been convicted of a misdemeanor, the notification required under paragraph (1) shall be given on the date on which such individual is sentenced by a State court. (b) Federal notification (1) Notification Any individual who has been convicted of a criminal offense under Federal law shall be notified in accordance with paragraph (2) that such individual has the right to vote in an election for Federal office pursuant to the Democracy Restoration Act of 2021 and may register to vote in any such election and provide such individual with any materials that are necessary to register to vote in any such election. (2) Date of notification (A) Felony conviction In the case of such an individual who has been convicted of a felony, the notification required under paragraph (1) shall be given— (i) in the case of an individual who is sentenced to serve only a term of probation, by the Assistant Director for the Office of Probation and Pretrial Services of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts on the date on which the individual is sentenced; or (ii) in the case of any individual committed to the custody of the Bureau of Prisons, by the Director of the Bureau of Prisons, during the period beginning on the date that is 6 months before such individual is released and ending on the date such individual is released from the custody of the Bureau of Prisons. (B) Misdemeanor conviction In the case of such an individual who has been convicted of a misdemeanor, the notification required under paragraph (1) shall be given on the date on which such individual is sentenced by a court established by an Act of Congress. 5005. Definitions For purposes of this title: (1) Correctional institution or facility The term correctional institution or facility means any prison, penitentiary, jail, or other institution or facility for the confinement of individuals convicted of criminal offenses, whether publicly or privately operated, except that such term does not include any residential community treatment center (or similar public or private facility). (2) Election The term election means— (A) a general, special, primary, or runoff election; (B) a convention or caucus of a political party held to nominate a candidate; (C) a primary election held for the selection of delegates to a national nominating convention of a political party; or (D) a primary election held for the expression of a preference for the nomination of persons for election to the office of President. (3) Federal office The term Federal office means the office of President or Vice President of the United States, or of Senator or Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress of the United States. (4) Probation The term probation means probation, imposed by a Federal, State, or local court, with or without a condition on the individual involved concerning— (A) the individual’s freedom of movement; (B) the payment of damages by the individual; (C) periodic reporting by the individual to an officer of the court; or (D) supervision of the individual by an officer of the court. 5006. Relation to other laws (a) State laws relating to voting rights Nothing in this title be construed to prohibit the States from enacting any State law which affords the right to vote in any election for Federal office on terms less restrictive than those established by this subtitle. (b) Certain Federal Acts The rights and remedies established by this title are in addition to all other rights and remedies provided by law, and neither rights and remedies established by this Act shall supersede, restrict, or limit the application of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 ( 52 U.S.C. 10301 et seq.) or the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 ( 52 U.S.C. 20501 et seq.). 5007. Federal prison funds No State, unit of local government, or other person may receive or use, to construct or otherwise improve a prison, jail, or other place of incarceration, any Federal funds unless that person has in effect a program under which each individual incarcerated in that person’s jurisdiction who is a citizen of the United States is notified, upon release from such incarceration, of that individual’s rights under section 5002. 5008. Effective date This subtitle shall apply to citizens of the United States voting in any election for Federal office held after the date of the enactment of this Act. VI Promoting Accuracy, Integrity, and Security Through Voter-Verified Permanent Paper Ballot 6001. Paper ballot and manual counting requirements (a) In general Section 301(a)(2) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 ( 52 U.S.C. 21081(a)(2) ) is amended to read as follows: (2) Paper ballot requirement (A) Voter-verified paper ballots (i) Paper ballot requirement (I) The voting system shall require the use of an individual, durable, voter-verified paper ballot of the voter’s vote that shall be marked and made available for inspection and verification by the voter before the voter’s vote is cast and counted, and which shall be counted by hand or read by an optical character recognition device or other counting device. For purposes of this subclause, the term individual, durable, voter-verified paper ballot means a paper ballot marked by the voter by hand or a paper ballot marked through the use of a nontabulating ballot marking device or system, so long as the voter shall have the option to mark his or her ballot by hand. (II) The voting system shall provide the voter with an opportunity to correct any error on the paper ballot before the permanent voter-verified paper ballot is preserved in accordance with clause (ii). (III) The voting system shall not preserve the voter-verified paper ballots in any manner that makes it possible, at any time after the ballot has been cast, to associate a voter with the record of the voter’s vote without the voter’s consent. (ii) Preservation as official record The individual, durable, voter-verified paper ballot used in accordance with clause (i) shall constitute the official ballot and shall be preserved and used as the official ballot for purposes of any recount or audit conducted with respect to any election for Federal office in which the voting system is used. (iii) Manual counting requirements for recounts and audits (I) Each paper ballot used pursuant to clause (i) shall be suitable for a manual audit, and shall be counted by hand in any recount or audit conducted with respect to any election for Federal office. (II) In the event of any inconsistencies or irregularities between any electronic vote tallies and the vote tallies determined by counting by hand the individual, durable, voter-verified paper ballots used pursuant to clause (i), and subject to subparagraph (B), the individual, durable, voter-verified paper ballots shall be the true and correct record of the votes cast. (iv) Application to all ballots The requirements of this subparagraph shall apply to all ballots cast in elections for Federal office, including ballots cast by absent uniformed services voters and overseas voters under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act and other absentee voters. (B) Special rule for treatment of disputes when paper ballots have been shown to be compromised (i) In general In the event that— (I) there is any inconsistency between any electronic vote tallies and the vote tallies determined by counting by hand the individual, durable, voter-verified paper ballots used pursuant to subparagraph (A)(i) with respect to any election for Federal office; and (II) it is demonstrated by clear and convincing evidence (as determined in accordance with the applicable standards in the jurisdiction involved) in any recount, audit, or contest of the result of the election that the paper ballots have been compromised (by damage or mischief or otherwise) and that a sufficient number of the ballots have been so compromised that the result of the election could be changed, the determination of the appropriate remedy with respect to the election shall be made in accordance with applicable State law, except that the electronic tally shall not be used as the exclusive basis for determining the official certified result. (ii) Rule for consideration of ballots associated with each voting machine For purposes of clause (i), only the paper ballots deemed compromised, if any, shall be considered in the calculation of whether or not the result of the election could be changed due to the compromised paper ballots. . (b) Conforming amendment clarifying applicability of alternative language accessibility Section 301(a)(4) of such Act ( 52 U.S.C. 21081(a)(4) ) is amended by inserting (including the paper ballots required to be used under paragraph (2)) after voting system . (c) Other conforming amendments Section 301(a)(1) of such Act ( 52 U.S.C. 21081(a)(1) ) is amended— (1) in subparagraph (A)(i), by striking counted and inserting counted, in accordance with paragraphs (2) and (3) ; (2) in subparagraph (A)(ii), by striking counted and inserting counted, in accordance with paragraphs (2) and (3) ; (3) in subparagraph (A)(iii), by striking counted each place it appears and inserting counted, in accordance with paragraphs (2) and (3) ; and (4) in subparagraph (B)(ii), by striking counted and inserting counted, in accordance with paragraphs (2) and (3) . 6002. Accessibility and ballot verification for individuals with disabilities (a) In general Section 301(a)(3)(B) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 ( 52 U.S.C. 21081(a)(3)(B) ) is amended to read as follows: (B) (i) ensure that individuals with disabilities and others are given an equivalent opportunity to vote, including with privacy and independence, in a manner that produces a voter-verified paper ballot as for other voters; (ii) satisfy the requirement of subparagraph (A) through the use of a sufficient number, but at least one, of voting systems, as determined by the Commission in consultation with the United States Access Board and the National Institute of Standards and Technology, equipped to serve individuals with and without disabilities, including nonvisual and enhanced visual accessibility for the blind and visually impaired, and nonmanual and enhanced manual accessibility for the mobility and dexterity impaired, for all in person voting options; and (iii) meet the requirements of subparagraph (A) and paragraph (2)(A) by using a system that— (I) allows the voter to privately and independently verify the permanent paper ballot through the presentation, in accessible form, of the printed or marked vote selections from the same printed or marked information that would be used for any vote counting or auditing; and (II) allows the voter to privately and independently verify and cast the permanent paper ballot without requiring the voter to manually handle the paper ballot; . (b) Specific requirement of study, testing, and development of accessible voting options (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 following new section: 247. Study and report on accessible voting options (a) Grants To study and report The Commission, in coordination with the Access Board and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, shall make grants to not fewer than three eligible entities to study, test, and develop accessible and secure remote voting systems and voting, verification, and casting devices to enhance the accessibility of voting and verification for individuals with disabilities. (b) Eligibility An entity is eligible to receive a grant under this part if it submits to the Commission (at such time and in such form as the Commission may require) an application containing— (1) a certification that the entity shall complete the activities carried out with the grant not later than January 1, 2024; and (2) such other information and certifications as the Commission 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 Commission shall carry out this section so that the activities carried out with the grants made under subsection (a) are coordinated with the research conducted under the grant program carried out by the Commission under section 271, to the extent that the Commission determines necessary to provide for the advancement of accessible voting technology. (e) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out subsection (a) $10,000,000, to remain available until expended. . (2) Clerical amendment The table of contents 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 voting options. . (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 accessibility of the paper ballot verification requirements for individuals with disabilities, the Election Assistance Commission shall include and apply the same accessibility standards 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 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. 6003. 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 requirements 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 recounts by hand without compromising the fundamental integrity of the ballots, and capable of retaining the information marked or printed on them for the full duration of a retention and preservation period of 22 months. (B) Readability requirements for paper ballots marked by ballot marking device All voter-verified paper ballots completed 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 disabilities. . 6004. Study and report on optimal ballot design (a) Study The Election Assistance Commission shall conduct a study of the best ways to design ballots used in elections for public office, including paper ballots and electronic or digital ballots, to minimize confusion and user errors. (b) Report Not later than January 1, 2022, the Election Assistance Commission shall submit to Congress a report on the study conducted under subsection (a). 6005. Paper ballot printing requirements Section 301(a) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 ( 52 U.S.C. 21081(a) ), as amended by section 6003, is further 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 paper manufactured in the United States. . 6006. Effective date for new requirements Section 301(d) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 ( 52 U.S.C. 21081(d) ) is amended to read as follows: (d) Effective Date (1) In general Except as provided in paragraph (2), each State and jurisdiction shall be required to comply with the requirements of this section on and after January 1, 2006. (2) Special rule for certain requirements (A) In general Except as provided in subparagraphs (B) and (C), the requirements of this section which are first imposed on a State and jurisdiction pursuant to the amendments made by the Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2021 shall apply with respect to voting systems used for any election for Federal office held in 2022 or any succeeding year. (B) Delay for jurisdictions using certain paper record printers or certain systems using or producing voter-verifiable paper records in 2020 (i) Delay In the case of a jurisdiction described in clause (ii), subparagraph (A) shall apply to a voting system in the jurisdiction as if the reference in such subparagraph to 2022 were a reference to 2024 , but only with respect to the following requirements of this section: (I) Paragraph (2)(A)(i)(I) of subsection (a) (relating to the use of voter-verified paper ballots). (II) Paragraph (3)(B)(ii)(I) and (II) of subsection (a) (relating to access to verification from and casting of the durable paper ballot). (III) Paragraph (7) of subsection (a) (relating to durability and readability requirements for ballots). (ii) Jurisdictions described A jurisdiction described in this clause is a jurisdiction— (I) which used voter verifiable paper record printers attached to direct recording electronic voting machines, or which used other voting systems that used or produced paper records of the vote verifiable by voters but that are not in compliance with paragraphs (2)(A)(i)(I), (3)(B)(iii)(i) and (II), and (7) of subsection (a) (as amended or added by the Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2021), for the administration of the regularly scheduled general election for Federal office held in November 2020; and (II) which will continue to use such printers or systems for the administration of elections for Federal office held in years before 2024. (iii) Mandatory availability of paper ballots at polling places using grandfathered printers and systems (I) Requiring ballots to be offered and provided The appropriate election official at each polling place that uses a printer or system described in clause (ii)(I) for the administration of elections for Federal office shall offer each individual who is eligible to cast a vote in the election at the polling place the opportunity to cast the vote using a blank pre-printed paper ballot which the individual may mark by hand and which is not produced by the direct recording electronic voting machine or other such system. The official shall provide the individual with the ballot and the supplies necessary to mark the ballot, and shall ensure (to the greatest extent practicable) that the waiting period for the individual to cast a vote is the lesser of 30 minutes or the average waiting period for an individual who does not agree to cast the vote using such a paper ballot under this clause. (II) Treatment of ballot Any paper ballot which is cast by an individual under this clause shall be counted and otherwise treated as a regular ballot for all purposes (including by incorporating it into the final unofficial vote count (as defined by the State) for the precinct) and not as a provisional ballot, unless the individual casting the ballot would have otherwise been required to cast a provisional ballot. (III) Posting of notice The appropriate election official shall ensure there is prominently displayed at each polling place a notice that describes the obligation of the official to offer individuals the opportunity to cast votes using a pre-printed blank paper ballot. The notice shall take into consideration factors including the linguistic preferences of voters in the jurisdiction. (IV) Training of election officials The chief State election official shall ensure that election officials at polling places in the State are aware of the requirements of this clause, including the requirement to display a notice under subclause (III), and are aware that it is a violation of the requirements of this title for an election official to fail to offer an individual the opportunity to cast a vote using a blank pre-printed paper ballot. (V) Period of applicability The requirements of this clause apply only during the period in which the delay is in effect under clause (i). (C) Special rule for jurisdictions using certain nontabulating ballot marking devices In the case of a jurisdiction which uses a nontabulating ballot marking device which automatically deposits the ballot into a privacy sleeve, subparagraph (A) shall apply to a voting system in the jurisdiction as if the reference in such subparagraph to any election for Federal office held in 2022 or any succeeding year were a reference to elections for Federal office occurring held in 2024 or each succeeding year , but only with respect to paragraph (3)(B)(iii)(II) of subsection (a) (relating to nonmanual casting of the durable paper ballot). . VII Provisional Ballots 7001. Requirements for counting provisional ballots; establishment of uniform and nondiscriminatory standards (a) In general Section 302 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 ( 52 U.S.C. 21082 ) is amended— (1) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (f); and (2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following new subsections: (d) Statewide counting of provisional ballots (1) In general For purposes of subsection (a)(4), notwithstanding the precinct or polling place at which a provisional ballot is cast within the State, the appropriate election official of the jurisdiction in which the individual is registered 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 elections held on or after January 1, 2022. (e) Uniform and nondiscriminatory standards (1) In general Consistent with the requirements of this section, each State shall establish uniform and nondiscriminatory standards for the issuance, handling, and counting of provisional ballots. (2) Effective date This subsection shall apply with respect to elections held on or after January 1, 2022. . (b) Conforming amendment Section 302(f) of such Act ( 52 U.S.C. 21082(f) ), as redesignated by subsection (a), is amended by striking Each State and inserting Except as provided in subsections (d)(2) and (e)(2), each State . VIII Early Voting 8001. Early voting (a) Requirements Subtitle A of title III of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 ( 52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.), as amended by section 1201(a) and section 2001(a), is amended— (1) by redesignating sections 306 and 307 as sections 307 and 308; and (2) by inserting after section 305 the following new section: 306. Early voting (a) Requiring Voting Prior to Date of Election (1) In general Each State shall allow individuals 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 allowed on such date. (2) Length of period The early voting period 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 (3) allow such voting to be held for some period of time prior to 9:00 a.m (local time) and some period 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 transportation 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 communities which will provide the greatest opportunity for residents of rural areas to vote during the early voting period. (3) College campuses The State shall ensure that polling places which allow voting during an early voting period under subsection (a) will be located on campuses of institutions of higher education in the State. (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 standards shall include the nondiscriminatory geographic placement of polling places at which such voting occurs. (2) Deviation The standards described in paragraph (1) shall permit States, upon providing adequate public notice, to deviate from any requirement in the case of unforeseen circumstances such as a natural disaster, terrorist attack, or a change in voter turnout. (e) Ballot processing and scanning requirements (1) In general The State shall begin processing and scanning ballots cast during in-person 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 ballots 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 Federal office held in November 2022 and each succeeding election for Federal office. . (b) Conforming amendment relating to issuance of voluntary guidance by Election Assistance Commission Section 321(b) of such Act ( 52 U.S.C. 21101(b) ), as redesignated and amended by section 2001(b), is amended— (1) by striking and at the end of paragraph (3); (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (4) and inserting ; and ; and (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (5) except as provided in paragraph (4), in the case of the recommendations with respect to any section added by the Voter Empowerment Act of 2021, June 30, 2022. . (c) Clerical amendment The table of contents of such Act, as amended by section 1201(c) and section 2001(c), is amended— (1) by redesignating the items relating to sections 306 and 307 as relating to sections 307 and 308; and (2) by inserting after the item relating to section 305 the following new item: Sec. 306. Early voting. . IX Voting by Mail 9001. Voting by mail (a) Requirements Subtitle A of title III of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 ( 52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.), as amended by section 1201(a), section 2001(a), and section 8001(a), is amended— (1) by redesignating sections 307 and 308 as sections 308 and 309; and (2) by inserting after section 306 the following new section: 307. Promoting ability of voters to vote by mail (a) Uniform availability of absentee voting to all voters (1) In general If an individual in a State is eligible to cast a vote in an election for Federal office, the State may not impose any additional conditions or requirements on the eligibility of the individual to cast the vote in such election by absentee ballot by mail. (2) Administration of voting by mail (A) Prohibiting identification requirement as condition of obtaining ballot A State may not require an individual to provide any form of identification as a condition of obtaining an absentee ballot, except that nothing in this paragraph may be construed to prevent a State from requiring a signature of the individual or similar affirmation as a condition of obtaining an absentee ballot. (B) Prohibiting requirement to provide notarization or witness signature as condition of obtaining or casting ballot 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 reasonable deadline for requesting the absentee ballot and related voting materials from the appropriate State or local election official and for returning the ballot to the appropriate State or local election official. (3) No effect on identification requirements for first-time voters registering by mail Nothing in this subsection may be construed to exempt any individual described in paragraph (1) of section 303(b) from meeting the requirements of paragraph (2) of such section. (b) Due process requirements for States requiring signature verification (1) Requirement (A) In general A State may not impose 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 requirement described In this subsection, a signature verification requirement is a requirement that an election official verify the identification of an individual by comparing the individual’s signature on the absentee ballot with the individual’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 in signatures If an individual submits an absentee 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 official record or document used by the State to verify the signatures of voters, such election official, prior to making a final determination as to the validity of such ballot, shall— (i) make a good faith effort to immediately notify the individual by mail, telephone, and (if available) text message and electronic mail that— (I) a discrepancy exists between the signature on such ballot and the signature of the individual on the official list of registered voters in the State or other official record or document used by the State to verify the signatures of voters, 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 information to cure such discrepancy, either in person, by telephone, or by electronic methods. (B) Notice and opportunity to cure missing signature or other defect If an individual submits an absentee ballot without a signature or submits an absentee ballot with another defect which, if left uncured, would cause the ballot to not be counted, 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 immediately notify the individual by mail, telephone, and (if available) text message and electronic mail that— (I) the ballot did not include a signature or has some other defect, and (II) if the individual does not provide the missing signature or cure the other defect 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 or has some other defect, such ballot will not be counted; and (ii) count the ballot if, prior to the expiration 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 or cures the other defect. This subparagraph does not apply with respect to a defect consisting of the failure of a ballot to meet the applicable deadline for the acceptance of the ballot, as described in subsection (e). (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 individual 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; (ii) each official who makes the determination has received training in procedures used to verify signatures; and (iii) of the officials who make the determination, at least one is affiliated with the political party whose candidate received the most votes in the most recent statewide election for Federal office held in the State and at least one is affiliated with the political party whose candidate received the second most votes in the most recent statewide election for Federal office held in the State. (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 and the Commission a report containing the following information 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 defined For purposes of this subsection, the term Federal election cycle means the period beginning on January 1 of any odd numbered year and ending on December 31 of the following year. (4) Rule of construction Nothing in this subsection shall be construed— (A) to prohibit a State from rejecting a ballot attempted to be cast in an election for Federal office by an individual who is not eligible to vote in the election; or (B) to prohibit a State from providing an individual with more time and more methods for curing a discrepancy in the individual’s signature, providing a missing signature, or curing any other defect than the State is required to provide under this subsection. (c) Transmission of applications, ballots, and balloting materials to voters (1) Automatic transmission of absentee ballot applications by mail (A) Transmission of applications Not later than 60 days before the date of an election for Federal office, the appropriate State or local election official shall transmit by mail an application for an absentee ballot for the election to each individual who is registered to vote in the election, or, in the case of any State that does not register voters, all individuals who are in the State’s central voter file (or if the State does not keep a central voter file, all individuals who are eligible to vote in such election). (B) Exception for individuals already receiving applications automatically Subparagraph (A) does not apply with respect to an individual to whom the State is already required to transmit an application for an absentee ballot for the election because the individual exercised the option described in subparagraph (D) of paragraph (2) to treat an application for an absentee ballot in a previous election for Federal office in the State as an application for an absentee ballot in all subsequent elections for Federal office in the State. (C) Exception for States transmitting ballots without application Subparagraph (A) does not apply with respect to a State which transmits a ballot in an election for Federal office in the State to a voter prior to the date of the election without regard to whether or not the voter submitted an application for the ballot to the State. (D) Rule of construction Nothing in this paragraph may be construed to prohibit an individual from submitting to the appropriate State or local election official an application for an absentee ballot in an election for Federal office, including through the methods described in paragraph (2). (2) Other methods for applying for absentee ballot (A) In general In addition to such other methods as the State may establish for an individual to apply for an absentee ballot, the State shall permit an individual— (i) to submit an application for an absentee ballot online; and (ii) to submit an application for an absentee ballot through the use of an automated telephone-based system, subject to the same terms and conditions applicable under this paragraph to the services made available online. (B) Treatment of websites The State shall be considered to meet the requirements of subparagraph (A)(i) if the website of the appropriate State or local election official allows an application for an absentee ballot to be completed and submitted online and if the website permits the individual— (i) to print the application so that the individual may complete the application and return it to the official; or (ii) request that a paper copy of the application be transmitted to the individual by mail or electronic mail so that the individual may complete the application and return it to the official. (C) Ensuring delivery prior to election If an individual who is eligible to vote in an election for Federal office submits an application for an absentee ballot in the election, the appropriate State or local election official shall ensure that the ballot and relating voting materials are received by the individual prior to the date of the election so long as the individual’s application is received by the official not later than 5 days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, 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 absentee ballot applications submitted or received after such required period. (D) Application for all future elections 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 for an absentee ballot by mail in all subsequent Federal elections held in the State. (3) Same-day processing The United States Postal Service shall ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that ballots are processed and cleared from any postal facility or post office on the same day the ballots are received at such a facility or post office. (d) Accessibility for individuals with disabilities The State shall ensure that all absentee ballot applications, 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 voters. (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 appropriate State or local election official if— (A) the ballot is postmarked or otherwise indicated by the United States Postal Service to have been mailed on or before the date of the election, or has been signed by the voter on or before the date of the election; and (B) the ballot is received by the appropriate 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 ballots (1) In general In addition to permitting an individual to whom a ballot in an election was provided under this section to return the ballot to an election official by mail, the State shall permit the individual to cast the ballot by delivering the ballot at such times and to such locations as the State may establish, 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 (B) permitting the individual to deliver the ballot to a designated ballot drop-off location, a tribally designated building, or the office of a State or local election official. (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 ballot 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 returned and no individual, group, or organization 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 election office. (g) Ballot processing and scanning requirements (1) In general The State shall begin processing and scanning ballots cast by mail 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 ballots in an election before the closing of the polls on the date of the election. (h) Prohibiting certain restrictions on access to voting materials (1) Distribution of absentee ballot applications by third parties A State may not prohibit any person from providing an application for an absentee ballot in the election to any individual who is eligible to vote in the election. (2) Unsolicited provision of voter registration applications by election officials A State may not prohibit an election official from providing an unsolicited application to register to vote in an election for Federal office to any individual who is eligible to register to vote in the election. (i) Rule of construction Nothing in this section 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. (j) No effect on ballots submitted by absent military and overseas voters Nothing in this section may be construed to affect the treatment of any ballot submitted by 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.). (k) Effective date This section shall apply with respect to the regularly scheduled general election for Federal office held in November 2022 and each succeeding election for Federal office. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of contents of such Act, as amended by section 1201(c), section 2001(c), and section 8001(c), is amended— (1) by redesignating the items relating to sections 307 and 308 as relating to sections 308 and 309; and (2) by inserting after the item relating to section 306 the following new item: Sec. 307. Promoting ability of voters to vote by mail. . (c) Development of alternative verification methods (1) Development of standards The National Institute of Standards, in consultation with the Election Assistance Commission, shall develop standards for the use of alternative methods which could be used in place of signature verification requirements for purposes of verifying the identification of an individual voting by absentee ballot in elections for Federal office. (2) Public notice and comment The National Institute of Standards shall solicit comments from the public in the development of standards under paragraph (1). (3) Deadline Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the National Institute of Standards shall publish the standards developed under paragraph (1). 9002. Absentee ballot tracking program (a) Requirements Subtitle A of title III of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 ( 52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.), as amended by section 1201(a), section 2001(a), section 8001(a), and section 9001(a), is amended— (1) by redesignating sections 308 and 309 as sections 309 and 310; and (2) by inserting after section 307 the following new section: 308. 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 absentee ballots in the election carries out procedures to track and confirm the receipt of such ballots, and makes information 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 accepted The information referred to under subsection (a) with respect to the receipt of an absentee ballot shall include information regarding whether the vote cast on the ballot was accepted, and, in the case of a vote which was rejected, the reasons therefor. (c) Use of Toll-Free Telephone Number by Officials 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 subsection (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 apply with respect to the regularly scheduled general election for Federal office held in November 2022 and each succeeding election for Federal office. . (b) Reimbursement for costs incurred by States in establishing program Subtitle D of title II of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 ( 42 U.S.C. 15401 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new part: 7 Payments To Reimburse States for Costs Incurred in Establishing Program To Track and Confirm Receipt of Absentee Ballots 297. Payments to States (a) Payments For Costs of Program In accordance with this section, the Commission shall make a payment to a State to reimburse the State for the costs incurred in establishing the absentee ballot tracking program under section 308 (including costs incurred prior to the date of the enactment of this part). (b) Certification of Compliance and Costs (1) Certification required In order to receive a payment under this section, a State shall submit to the Commission a statement containing— (A) a certification that the State has established an absentee ballot tracking program with respect to elections for Federal office held in the State; and (B) a statement of the costs incurred by the State in establishing the program. (2) Amount of payment The amount of a payment made to a State under this section shall be equal to the costs incurred by the State in establishing the absentee ballot tracking program, as set forth in the statement submitted under paragraph (1), except that such amount may not exceed the product of— (A) the number of jurisdictions in the State which are responsible for operating the program; and (B) $3,000. (3) Limit on number of payments received A State may not receive more than one payment under this part. 297A. Authorization of Appropriations (a) Authorization There are authorized to be appropriated to the Commission for fiscal year 2022 and each succeeding fiscal year such sums as may be necessary for payments under this part. (b) Continuing Availability of Funds Any amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization under this section shall remain available until expended. . (c) Clerical amendments The table of contents of such Act, as amended by section 1201(c), section 2001(c), section 8001(c), and section 9001(b), is amended— (1) by adding at the end of the items relating to subtitle D of title II the following: Part 7—Payments To Reimburse States for Costs Incurred in Establishing Program To Track and Confirm Receipt of Absentee Ballots Sec. 297. Payments to States. Sec. 297A. Authorization of appropriations. ; (2) by redesignating the items relating to sections 308 and 309 as relating to sections 309 and 310; and (3) by inserting after the item relating to section 307 the following new item: Sec. 308. Absentee ballot tracking program. . 9003. Voting materials postage (a) Prepayment of postage on return envelopes (1) In general Subtitle A of title III of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 ( 52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.), as amended by section 1201(a), section 2001(a), section 8001(a), section 9001(a), and section 9002(a), is amended— (A) by redesignating sections 309 and 310 as sections 310 and 311; and (B) by inserting after section 308 the following new section: 309. Prepayment of postage on return envelopes for voting materials (a) Provision of return envelopes The appropriate 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. (b) Prepayment of postage Consistent with regulations of the United States Postal Service, the State or the unit of local government responsible for the administration of the election involved shall prepay the postage on any envelope provided under subsection (a). (c) No effect on ballots or balloting materials transmitted to absent military and overseas voters Nothing in this section may be construed to affect the treatment of any ballot or balloting materials transmitted 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 arrangements 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. . (2) Clerical amendment The table of contents of such Act, as amended by section 1201(c), section 2001(c), section 8001(c), and section 9001(b), is amended— (A) by redesignating the items relating to sections 309 and 310 as relating to sections 310 and 311; and (B) by inserting after the item relating to section 308 the following new item: Sec. 309. 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; restrictions on operational changes prior to elections (a) Any voter registration application, absentee ballot application, or absentee ballot with respect to any election for Federal office shall be carried in accordance with the service standards established for first-class mail, regardless of the class of postage prepaid. (b) In the case of any election mail carried by the Postal Service that consists of a ballot, the Postal Service shall indicate on the ballot envelope, using a postmark or otherwise— (1) the fact that the ballot was carried by the Postal Service; and (2) the date on which the ballot was mailed. (c) During the 120-day period which ends on the date of an election for Federal office, the Postal Service may not carry out any new operational change that would restrict the prompt and reliable delivery of voting materials with respect to the election, including voter registration applications, absentee ballot applications, and absentee ballots. This paragraph applies to operational changes which include removing or eliminating any mail collection box without immediately replacing it, and removing, decommissioning, or any other form of stopping the operation of mail sorting machines, other than for routine maintenance. (d) The Postal Service shall appoint an Election Mail Coordinator in every Postal Area and District to facilitate relevant information sharing with State, territorial, local, and tribal election officials in regards to the mailing of voter registration applications, absentee ballot applications, and absentee ballots. (e) As used in this section— (1) the term absentee ballot means any ballot transmitted by a voter by mail in an election for Federal office, but does not include any ballot covered by section 3406; and (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 Commissioner to, the Congress. (f) Nothing in this section may be construed to affect the treatment of any ballot or balloting materials transmitted 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) Mail-in ballots and Postal Service barcode service (A) In general Section 3001 of title 39, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: (p) Any ballot sent within the United States for an election for Federal office is nonmailable and shall not be carried or delivered by mail unless the ballot is mailed in an envelope that— (1) contains a Postal Service barcode (or successive service or marking) that enables tracking of each individual ballot; (2) satisfies requirements for ballot envelope design that the Postal Service may promulgate by regulation; (3) satisfies requirements for machineable letters that the Postal Service may promulgate by regulation; and (4) includes the Official Election Mail Logo (or any successor label that the Postal Service may establish for ballots). . (B) Application The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply to any election for Federal office occurring after the date of enactment of this Act. (3) Clerical amendment The table of sections for chapter 34 of such title is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 3406 the following: 3407. Voting materials; restrictions on operational changes prior to elections. . 9004. Study and report on vote-by-mail procedures (a) Study The Election Assistance Commission shall conduct a study on the 2020 elections and compile a list of recommendations to— (1) help States transitioning to vote-by-mail procedures; and (2) improve their current vote-by-mail systems. (b) Report Not later than January 1, 2022, the Election Assistance Commission shall submit to Congress a report on the study conducted under subsection (a). X Absent Uniformed Services Voters and Overseas Voters 10001. Pre-election reports on availability and transmission of absentee ballots Section 102(c) of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act ( 52 U.S.C. 20302(c) ) is amended to read as follows: (c) Reports on Availability, transmission, and receipt of absentee ballots (1) Pre-election report on absentee ballot availability Not later than 55 days before any regularly scheduled general election for Federal office, each State shall submit a report to the Attorney General, the Election Assistance Commission (hereafter in this subsection referred to as the Commission ), and the Presidential Designee, and make that report publicly available that same day, certifying that absentee ballots for the election are or will be available for transmission to absent uniformed services voters and overseas voters by not later than 45 days before the election. The report shall be in a form prescribed jointly by the Attorney General and the Commission and shall require the State to certify specific information about ballot availability from each unit of local government which will administer the election. (2) Pre-election report on absentee ballot transmission Not later than 43 days before any regularly scheduled general election for Federal office, each State shall submit a report to the Attorney General, the Commission, and the Presidential Designee, and make that report publicly available that same day, certifying whether all absentee ballots have been transmitted by not later than 45 days before the election to all qualified absent uniformed services and overseas voters whose requests were received at least 45 days before the election. The report shall be in a form prescribed jointly by the Attorney General and the Commission, and shall require the State to certify specific information about ballot transmission, including the total numbers of ballot requests received and ballots transmitted, from each unit of local government which will administer the election. (3) Post-election report on number of absentee ballots transmitted and received Not later than 90 days after the date of each regularly scheduled general election for Federal office, each State and unit of local government which administered the election shall (through the State, in the case of a unit of local government) submit a report to the Attorney General, the Commission, and the Presidential Designee on the combined number of absentee ballots transmitted to absent uniformed services voters and overseas voters for the election and the combined number of such ballots which were returned by such voters and cast in the election, and shall make such report available to the general public that same day. . 10002. Enforcement (a) Availability of civil penalties and private rights of action Section 105 of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act ( 52 U.S.C. 20307 ) is amended to read as follows: 105. Enforcement (a) Action by Attorney General (1) In general The Attorney General may bring civil action in an appropriate district court for such declaratory or injunctive relief as may be necessary to carry out this title. (2) Penalty In a civil action brought under paragraph (1), if the court finds that the State violated any provision of this title, it may, to vindicate the public interest, assess a civil penalty against the State— (A) in an amount not to exceed $110,000 for each such violation, in the case of a first violation; or (B) in an amount not to exceed $220,000 for each such violation, for any subsequent violation. (3) Report to Congress Not later than December 31 of each year, the Attorney General shall submit to Congress an annual report on any civil action brought under paragraph (1) during the preceding year. (b) Private right of action A person who is aggrieved by a State's violation of this title may bring a civil action in an appropriate district court for such declaratory or injunctive relief as may be necessary to carry out this title. (c) State as only necessary defendant In any action brought under this section, the only necessary party defendant is the State, and it shall not be a defense to any such action that a local election official or a unit of local government is not named as a defendant, notwithstanding that a State has exercised the authority described in section 576 of the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act to delegate to another jurisdiction in the State any duty or responsibility which is the subject of an action brought under this section. . (b) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to violations alleged to have occurred on or after the date of the enactment of this Act. 10003. Revisions to 45-day absentee ballot transmission rule (a) Repeal of waiver authority (1) In general Section 102 of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act ( 52 U.S.C. 20302 ) is amended by striking subsection (g). (2) Conforming amendment Section 102(a)(8)(A) of such Act ( 52 U.S.C. 20302(a)(8)(A) ) is amended by striking except as provided in subsection (g), . (b) Requiring use of express delivery in case of failure To meet requirement Section 102 of such Act ( 52 U.S.C. 20302 ), as amended by subsection (a), is amended by inserting after subsection (f) the following new subsection: (g) Requiring use of express delivery in case of failure To transmit ballots within deadlines (1) Transmission of ballot by express delivery If a State fails to meet the requirement of subsection (a)(8)(A) to transmit a validly requested absentee ballot to an absent uniformed services voter or overseas voter not later than 45 days before the election (in the case in which the request is received at least 45 days before the election)— (A) the State shall transmit the ballot to the voter by express delivery; or (B) in the case of a voter who has designated that absentee ballots be transmitted electronically in accordance with subsection (f)(1), the State shall transmit the ballot to the voter electronically. (2) Special rule for transmission fewer than 40 days before the election If, in carrying out paragraph (1), a State transmits an absentee ballot to an absent uniformed services voter or overseas voter fewer than 40 days before the election, the State shall enable the ballot to be returned by the voter by express delivery, except that in the case of an absentee ballot of an absent uniformed services voter for a regularly scheduled general election for Federal office, the State may satisfy the requirement of this paragraph by notifying the voter of the procedures for the collection and delivery of such ballots under section 103A. (3) Payment for use of express delivery The State shall be responsible for the payment of the costs associated with the use of express delivery for the transmittal of ballots under this subsection. . (c) Clarification of treatment of weekends Section 102(a)(8)(A) of such Act ( 52 U.S.C. 20302(a)(8)(A) ) is amended by striking the election; and inserting the following: the election (or, if the 45th day preceding the election is a weekend or legal public holiday, not later than the most recent weekday which precedes such 45th day and which is not a legal public holiday, but only if the request is received by at least such most recent weekday); . 10004. Use of single absentee ballot application for subsequent elections (a) In general Section 104 of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act ( 52 U.S.C. 20306 ) is amended to read as follows: 104. Use of single application for subsequent elections (a) In general If a State accepts and processes an official post card form (prescribed under section 101) submitted by an absent uniformed services voter or overseas voter for simultaneous voter registration and absentee ballot application (in accordance with section 102(a)(4)) and the voter requests that the application be considered an application for an absentee ballot for each subsequent election for Federal office held in the State through the next regularly scheduled general election for Federal office (including any runoff elections which may occur as a result of the outcome of such general election), the State shall provide an absentee ballot to the voter for each such subsequent election. (b) Exception for voters changing registration Subsection (a) shall not apply with respect to a voter registered to vote in a State for any election held after the voter notifies the State that the voter no longer wishes to be registered to vote in the State or after the State determines that the voter has registered to vote in another State or is otherwise no longer eligible to vote in the State. (c) Prohibition of refusal of application on grounds of early submission A State may not refuse to accept or to process, with respect to any election for Federal office, any otherwise valid voter registration application or absentee ballot application (including the postcard form prescribed under section 101) submitted by an absent uniformed services voter or overseas voter on the grounds that the voter submitted the application before the first date on which the State otherwise accepts or processes such applications for that election which are submitted by absentee voters who are not members of the uniformed services or overseas citizens. . (b) Effective date The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to voter registration and absentee ballot applications which are submitted to a State or local election official on or after the date of the enactment of this Act. 10005. Extending guarantee of residency for voting purposes to family members of absent military personnel Section 102 of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act ( 52 U.S.C. 20302 ) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (j) Guarantee of residency for spouses and dependents of absent members of uniformed service For the purposes of voting for in any election for any Federal office or any State or local office, a spouse or dependent of an individual who is an absent uniformed services voter described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of section 107(1) shall not, solely by reason of that individual’s absence and without regard to whether or not such spouse or dependent is accompanying that individual— (1) be deemed to have lost a residence or domicile in that State, without regard to whether or not that individual intends to return to that State; (2) be deemed to have acquired a residence or domicile in any other State; or (3) be deemed to have become a resident in or a resident of any other State. . 10006. Requiring transmission of blank absentee ballots under UOCAVA to certain voters (a) In general The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act ( 52 U.S.C. 20301 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 103B the following new section: 103C. Transmission of blank absentee ballots to certain other voters (a) In general (1) State responsibilities Subject to the provisions of this section, each State shall transmit blank absentee ballots electronically to qualified individuals 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 section— (A) must comply with the language requirements under section 203 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 ( 52 U.S.C. 10503 ); and (B) must comply with the disability requirements under section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 ( 29 U.S.C. 794d ). (3) Affirmation The State may not transmit a ballot to a qualified individual under this section unless the individual provides the State with a signed affirmation in electronic form that— (A) the individual is a qualified individual (as defined in subsection (b)); (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 postage An absentee ballot obtained by a qualified individual under this section shall be considered balloting materials as defined in section 107 for purposes 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 otherwise valid blank absentee ballot which was transmitted to a qualified individual under this section and used by the individual to vote in the election solely on the basis of the following: (A) Notarization or witness signature requirements. (B) Restrictions on paper type, including weight and size. (C) Restrictions on envelope type, including weight and size. (b) Qualified individual (1) In general In this section, except as provided in paragraph (2), the term qualified individual means any individual who is otherwise qualified to vote in an election for Federal office and who meets any of the following requirements: (A) The individual— (i) has previously requested an absentee 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 involved within 5 days of the date of the election under the laws of the State due to reasons including a natural disaster, including severe weather, or an infectious disease; and (ii) has not previously requested an absentee ballot. (C) The individual expects to be absent from such individual’s jurisdiction on the date of the election due to professional or volunteer service in response to a natural disaster or emergency as described in subparagraph (B). (D) The individual is hospitalized or expects to be hospitalized on the date of the election. (E) The individual is an individual with a disability (as defined in section 3 of the Americans 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 accessible remote ballot marking. For purposes of this subparagraph, a State shall permit an individual to self-certify that the individual is an individual with a disability. (2) Exclusion of absent uniformed services 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 Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. (d) Effective date This section shall apply with respect to the regularly scheduled general election for Federal office held in November 2022 and each succeeding election 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 paragraph (11) and inserting ; and ; and (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (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 section. . (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. . 10007. Department of Justice report on voter disenfranchisement Not later than 1 year of enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall submit to Congress a report on the impact of wide-spread mail-in voting on the ability of active duty military servicemembers to vote, how quickly their votes are counted, and whether higher volumes of mail-in votes makes it harder for such individuals to vote in federal elections. 10008. Effective date Except as provided in section 10002(b) and section 10004(b), the amendments made by this title shall apply with respect to elections occurring on or after January 1, 2022. XI Poll Worker Recruitment and Training 11001. Grants to States for poll worker recruitment and training (a) Grants by Election Assistance Commission (1) In general The Election Assistance Commission (hereafter referred to as the Commission ) shall, subject to the availability of appropriations provided to carry out this section, make a grant to each eligible State for recruiting and training individuals to serve as poll workers on dates of elections for public office. (2) Use of Commission materials In carrying out activities with a grant provided under this section, the recipient of the grant shall use the manual prepared by the Commission on successful practices for poll worker recruiting, training and retention as an interactive training tool, and shall develop training programs with the participation and input of experts in adult learning. (3) Access and cultural considerations The Commission shall ensure that the manual described in paragraph (2) provides training in methods that will enable poll workers to provide access and delivery of services in a culturally competent manner to all voters who use their services, including those with limited English proficiency, diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds, disabilities, and regardless of gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity. These methods must ensure that each voter will have access to poll worker services that are delivered in a manner that meets the unique needs of the voter. (b) Requirements for Eligibility (1) Application Each State that desires to receive a payment under this section shall submit an application for the payment to the Commission at such time and in such manner and containing such information as the Commission shall require. (2) Contents of Application Each application submitted under paragraph (1) shall— (A) describe the activities for which assistance under this section is sought; (B) provide assurances that the funds provided under this section will be used to supplement and not supplant other funds used to carry out the activities; (C) provide assurances that the State will furnish the Commission with information on the number of individuals who served as poll workers after recruitment and training with the funds provided under this section; (D) provide assurances that the State will dedicate poll worker recruitment efforts with respect to youth and minors, including by recruiting at institutions of higher education and secondary education; and (E) provide such additional information and certifications as the Commission determines to be essential to ensure compliance with the requirements of this section. (c) Amount of Grant (1) In general The amount of a grant made to a State under this section shall be equal to the product of— (A) the aggregate amount made available for grants to States under this section; and (B) the voting age population percentage for the State. (2) Voting age population percentage defined In paragraph (1), the voting age population percentage for a State is the quotient of— (A) the voting age population of the State (as determined on the basis of the most recent information available from the Bureau of the Census); and (B) the total voting age population of all States (as determined on the basis of the most recent information available from the Bureau of the Census). (d) Reports to Congress (1) Reports by recipients of grants Not later than 6 months after the date on which the final grant is made under this section, each recipient of a grant shall submit a report to the Commission on the activities conducted with the funds provided by the grant. (2) Reports by Commission Not later than 1 year after the date on which the final grant is made under this section, the Commission shall submit a report to Congress on the grants made under this section and the activities carried out by recipients with the grants, and shall include in the report such recommendations as the Commission considers appropriate. (e) Funding (1) Continuing availability of amount appropriated Any amount appropriated to carry out this section shall remain available without fiscal year limitation until expended. (2) Administrative expenses Of the amount appropriated for any fiscal year to carry out this section, not more than 3 percent shall be available for administrative expenses of the Commission. 11002. State defined In this title, 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. XII Enhancement of Enforcement 12001. Enhancement of enforcement of Help America Vote Act of 2002 (a) Complaints; availability of private right of action Section 401 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 ( 52 U.S.C. 21111 ) is amended— (1) by striking The Attorney General and inserting (a) In General.— The Attorney General ; and (2) by adding at the end the following new subsections: (b) Filing of Complaints by Aggrieved Persons (1) In general A person who is aggrieved by a violation of title III which has occurred, is occurring, or is about to occur may file a written, signed, notarized complaint with the Attorney General describing the violation and requesting the Attorney General to take appropriate action under this section. The Attorney General shall immediately provide a copy of a complaint filed under the previous sentence to the entity responsible for administering the State-based administrative complaint procedures described in section 402(a) for the State involved. (2) Response by Attorney General The Attorney General shall respond to each complaint filed under paragraph (1), in accordance with procedures established by the Attorney General that require responses and determinations to be made within the same (or shorter) deadlines which apply to a State under the State-based administrative complaint procedures described in section 402(a)(2). The Attorney General shall immediately provide a copy of the response made under the previous sentence to the entity responsible for administering the State-based administrative complaint procedures described in section 402(a) for the State involved. (c) Availability of private right of action Any person who is authorized to file a complaint under subsection (b)(1) (including any individual who seeks to enforce the individual’s right to a voter-verified paper ballot, the right to have the voter-verified paper ballot counted in accordance with this Act, or any other right under title III) may file an action under section 1979 of the Revised Statutes of the United States ( 42 U.S.C. 1983 ) to enforce the uniform and nondiscriminatory election technology and administration requirements under subtitle A of title III. (d) No effect on State procedures Nothing in this section may be construed to affect the availability of the State-based administrative complaint procedures required under section 402 to any person filing a complaint under this subsection. . (b) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to violations occurring with respect to elections for Federal office held in 2022 or any succeeding year. XIII Federal Election Integrity 13001. Prohibition on campaign activities by chief State election administration officials (a) In General Title III of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 ( 52 U.S.C. 30101 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 319 the following new section: 319A. Campaign activities by chief State election administration officials (a) Prohibition It shall be unlawful for a chief State election administration official to take an active part in political management or in a political campaign with respect to any election for Federal office over which such official has supervisory authority. (b) Chief State election administration official The term chief State election administration official means the highest State official with responsibility for the administration of Federal elections under State law. (c) Active part in political management or in a political campaign The term active part in political management or in a political campaign means— (1) holding any position (including any unpaid or honorary position) with an authorized committee of a candidate, or participating in any decision-making of an authorized committee of a candidate; (2) the use of official authority or influence for the purpose of interfering with or affecting the result of an election for Federal office; (3) the solicitation, acceptance, or receipt of a contribution from any person on behalf of a candidate for Federal office; and (4) any other act which would be prohibited under paragraph (2) or (3) of section 7323(b) of title 5, United States Code, if taken by an individual to whom such paragraph applies (other than any prohibition on running for public office). (d) Exception in case of recusal from administration of elections involving official or immediate family member (1) In general This section does not apply to a chief State election administration official with respect to an election for Federal office in which the official or an immediate family member of the official is a candidate, but only if— (A) such official recuses himself or herself from all of the official’s responsibilities for the administration of such election; and (B) the official who assumes responsibility for supervising the administration of the election does not report directly to such official. (2) Immediate family member defined In paragraph (1), the term immediate family member means, with respect to a candidate, a father, mother, son, daughter, brother, sister, husband, wife, father-in-law, or mother-in-law. . (b) Effective Date The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to elections for Federal office held after December 2021. XIV Promoting Voter Access Through Election Administration Improvements A Promoting Voter Access 14001. Treatment of institutions of higher education (a) Treatment of certain institutions as voter registration agencies under National Voter Registration Act of 1993 Section 7(a) of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 ( 52 U.S.C. 20506(a) ) is amended— (1) in paragraph (2)— (A) by striking and at the end of subparagraph (A); (B) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (B) and inserting ; and ; and (C) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (C) each institution of higher education which has a program participation agreement in effect with the Secretary of Education under section 487 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1094 ), other than an institution which is treated as a contributing agency under the Automatic Voter Registration Act of 2021. ; and (2) in paragraph (6)(A), by inserting or, in the case of an institution of higher education, with each registration of a student for enrollment in a course of study, including enrollment in a program of distance education, as defined in section 103(7) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1003(7) ), after assistance, . (b) Responsibilities of institutions under Higher Education Act of 1965 (1) In general Section 487(a)(23) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1094(a)(23) ) is amended to read as follows: (23) (A) (i) The institution will ensure that an appropriate staff person or office is designated publicly as a Campus Vote Coordinator and will ensure that such person’s or office’s contact information is included on the institution’s website. (ii) Not fewer than twice during each calendar year (beginning with 2021), the Campus Vote Coordinator shall transmit electronically to each student enrolled in the institution (including students enrolled in distance education programs) a message containing the following information: (I) Information on the location of polling places in the jurisdiction in which the institution is located, together with information on available methods of transportation to and from such polling places. (II) A referral to a government-affiliated website or online platform which provides centralized voter registration information for all States, including access to applicable voter registration forms and information to assist individuals who are not registered to vote in registering to vote. (III) Any additional voter registration and voting information the Coordinator considers appropriate, in consultation with the appropriate State election official. (iii) In addition to transmitting the message described in clause (ii) not fewer than twice during each calendar year, the Campus Vote Coordinator shall transmit the message under such clause, and shall include on the institution's website and boost awareness on the institution's social media platforms, not fewer than 30 days prior to the deadline for registering to vote for any election for Federal, State, or local office in the State. (B) If the institution in its normal course of operations requests each student registering for enrollment in a course of study, including students registering for enrollment in a program of distance education, to affirm whether or not the student is a United States citizen, the institution will comply with the applicable requirements for a contributing agency under the Automatic Voter Registration Act of 2021. (C) If the institution is not described in subparagraph (B), the institution will comply with the requirements for a voter registration agency in the State in which it is located in accordance with section 7 of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 ( 52 U.S.C. 20506 ). (D) This paragraph applies only with respect to an institution which is located in a State to which section 4(b) of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 ( 52 U.S.C. 20503(b) ) does not apply. . (2) Effective date The amendments made by this subsection shall apply with respect to elections held on or after January 1, 2022. (c) Grants to institutions demonstrating excellence in student voter registration (1) Grants authorized The Secretary of Education may award competitive grants to public and private nonprofit institutions of higher education that are subject to the requirements of section 487(a)(23) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1094(a)(23) ), as amended by subsection (a), and that the Secretary determines have demonstrated excellence in registering students to vote in elections for public office beyond meeting the minimum requirements of such section. (2) Eligibility An institution of higher education is eligible to receive a grant under this subsection if the institution submits to the Secretary of Education, at such time and in such form as the Secretary may require, an application containing such information and assurances as the Secretary may require to make the determination described in paragraph (1), including information and assurances that the institution carried out activities to promote voter registration by students, such as the following: (A) Sponsoring large on-campus voter mobilization efforts. (B) Engaging the surrounding community in nonpartisan voter registration and get out the vote efforts, including initiatives to facilitate the enfranchisement of groups of individuals that have historically faced barriers to voting. (C) Creating a website for students with centralized information about voter registration and election dates. (D) Inviting candidates to speak on campus. (E) Offering rides to students to the polls to increase voter education, registration, and mobilization. (3) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2022 and each succeeding fiscal year such sums as may be necessary to award grants under this subsection. Of the funds appropriated, the Secretary shall ensure that 25 percent is reserved for Minority Institutions described in section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1067q(a) ). (d) Sense of Congress relating to option of students To register in jurisdiction of institution of higher education or jurisdiction of domicile It is the sense of Congress that, as provided under existing law, students who attend an institution of higher education and reside in the jurisdiction of the institution while attending the institution should have the option of registering to vote, without being subjected to intimidation or deceptive practices, in elections for Federal office in that jurisdiction or in the jurisdiction of their own domicile. 14002. Minimum notification requirements for voters affected by polling place changes (a) Requirements Section 302 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 ( 52 U.S.C. 21082 ), as amended by section 7001(a), is amended— (1) by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (g); and (2) by inserting after subsection (e) the following new subsection: (f) Minimum notification requirements for voters affected by polling place changes (1) In general If a State assigns an individual who is a registered voter in a State to a polling place with respect to an election for Federal office which is not the same polling place to which the individual was previously assigned with respect to the most recent election for Federal office in the State in which the individual was eligible to vote— (A) the State shall notify the individual of the location of the polling place not later than 7 days before the date of the election or the first day of an early voting period (whichever occurs first); or (B) if the State makes such an assignment fewer than 7 days before the date of the election and the individual appears on the date of the election at the polling place to which the individual was previously assigned, the State shall make every reasonable effort to enable the individual to vote on the date of the election. (2) Methods of notification The State shall notify an individual under subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) by mail, telephone, and (if available) text message and electronic mail, taking into consideration factors which include the linguistic preferences of voters in the jurisdiction. (3) Placement of signs at closed polling places If a location which served as a polling place in an election for Federal office does not serve as a polling place in the next election for Federal office held in the jurisdiction involved, the State shall ensure that signs are posted at such location on the date of the election and during any early voting period for the election containing the following information, taking into consideration factors which include the linguistic preferences of voters in the jurisdiction: (A) A statement that the location is not serving as a polling place in the election. (B) The locations serving as polling places in the election in the jurisdiction involved. (C) Contact information, including a telephone number and website, for the appropriate State or local election official through which an individual may find the polling place to which the individual is assigned for the election. (4) Effective date This subsection shall apply with respect to elections held on or after January 1, 2021. . (b) Conforming amendment Section 302(g) of such Act ( 52 U.S.C. 21082(g) ), as redesignated by subsection (a) and as amended by section 7001(b), is amended by striking (d)(2) and (e)(2) and inserting (d)(2), (e)(2), and (f)(4) . 14003. Permitting use of sworn written statement to meet identification requirements for voting (a) Permitting use of statement Title III of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 ( 52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 303 the following new section: 303A. Permitting use of sworn written statement to meet identification requirements (a) Use of statement (1) In general Except as provided in subsection (c), if a State has in effect a requirement that an individual present identification as a condition of receiving and casting a ballot in an election for Federal office, the State shall permit the individual to meet the requirement— (A) in the case of an individual who desires to vote in person, by presenting the appropriate State or local election official with a sworn written statement, signed by the individual under penalty of perjury, attesting to the individual’s identity and attesting that the individual is eligible to vote in the election; or (B) in the case of an individual who desires to vote by mail, by submitting with the ballot 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 signature for use by election officials in States which are subject to paragraph (1). (3) Providing pre-printed copy of statement A State which is subject to paragraph (1) shall— (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 distribute to individuals who desire to vote in person; 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 individual 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 individual who presents identification. (c) Exception for first-Time voters registering 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 information material posted at polling places Section 302(b)(2) of such Act ( 52 U.S.C. 21082(b)(2) ), as amended by section 1602(b) and section 3002(b), is amended— (1) by striking and at the end of subparagraph (G); (2) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (H) and inserting ; and ; and (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (I) in the case of a State that has in effect a requirement that an individual present identification as a condition of receiving and 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 accordance with section 303A. . (c) Clerical amendment The table of contents of such Act is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 303 the following new item: Sec. 303A. Permitting use of sworn written statement to meet identification requirements. . (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. 14004. Accommodations for voters residing in Indian lands (a) Accommodations Described (1) Designation of ballot pickup and collection locations Given the widespread lack of residential mail delivery in Indian Country, an Indian Tribe may designate buildings as ballot pickup and collection locations with respect to an election for Federal office at no cost to the Indian Tribe. An Indian Tribe may designate one building per precinct located within Indian lands. The applicable State or political subdivision shall collect ballots from those locations. The applicable State or political subdivision shall provide the Indian Tribe with accurate precinct maps for all precincts located within Indian lands 60 days before the election. (2) Provision of mail-in and absentee ballots The State or political subdivision shall provide mail-in and absentee ballots with respect to an election for Federal office to each individual who is registered to vote in the election who resides on Indian lands in the State or political subdivision involved without requiring a residential address or a mail-in or absentee ballot request. (3) Use of designated building as residential and mailing address The address of a designated building that is a ballot pickup and collection location with respect to an election for Federal office may serve as the residential address and mailing address for voters living on Indian lands if the tribally designated building is in the same precinct as that voter. If there is no tribally designated building within a voter’s precinct, the voter may use another tribally designated building within the Indian lands where the voter is located. Voters using a tribally designated building outside of the voter’s precinct may use the tribally designated building as a mailing address and may separately designate the voter’s appropriate precinct through a description of the voter’s address, as specified in section 9428.4(a)(2) of title 11, Code of Federal Regulations. (4) Language accessibility In the case of a State or political subdivision that is a covered State or political subdivision under section 203 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 ( 52 U.S.C. 10503 ), that State or political subdivision shall provide absentee or mail-in voting materials with respect to an election for Federal office in the language of the applicable minority group as well as in the English language, bilingual election voting assistance, and written translations of all voting materials in the language of the applicable minority group, as required by section 203 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 ( 52 U.S.C. 10503 ), as amended by subsection (b). (5) Clarification Nothing in this section alters the ability of an individual voter residing on Indian lands to request a ballot in a manner available to all other voters in the State. (6) Definitions In this section: (A) Election for Federal office 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 Commissioner to, the Congress. (B) Indian The term Indian has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act ( 25 U.S.C. 5304 ). (C) Indian lands The term Indian lands includes— (i) any Indian country of an Indian Tribe, as defined under section 1151 of title 18, United States Code; (ii) any land in Alaska owned, pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act ( 43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), by an Indian Tribe that is a Native village (as defined in section 3 of that Act ( 43 U.S.C. 1602 )) or by a Village Corporation that is associated with an Indian Tribe (as defined in section 3 of that Act ( 43 U.S.C. 1602 )); (iii) any land on which the seat of the Tribal Government is located; and (iv) any land that is part or all of a Tribal designated statistical area associated with an Indian Tribe, or is part or all of an Alaska Native village statistical area associated with an Indian Tribe, as defined by the Census Bureau for the purposes of the most recent decennial census. (D) Indian tribe The term Indian Tribe has the meaning given the term Indian tribe in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act ( 25 U.S.C. 5304 ). (E) Tribal government The term Tribal Government means the recognized governing body of an Indian Tribe. (7) Enforcement (A) Attorney general The Attorney General may bring a civil action in an appropriate district court for such declaratory or injunctive relief as is necessary to carry out this subsection. (B) Private right of action (i) A person or Tribal Government who is aggrieved by a violation of this subsection may provide written notice of the violation to the chief election official of the State involved. (ii) An aggrieved person or Tribal Government may bring a civil action in an appropriate district court for declaratory or injunctive relief with respect to a violation of this subsection, if— (I) that person or Tribal Government provides the notice described in clause (i); and (II) (aa) in the case of a violation that occurs more than 120 days before the date of an election for Federal office, the violation remains and 90 days or more have passed since the date on which the chief election official of the State receives the notice under clause (i); or (bb) in the case of a violation that occurs 120 days or less before the date of an election for Federal office, the violation remains and 20 days or more have passed since the date on which the chief election official of the State receives the notice under clause (i). (iii) In the case of a violation of this section that occurs 30 days or less before the date of an election for Federal office, an aggrieved person or Tribal Government may bring a civil action in an appropriate district court for declaratory or injunctive relief with respect to the violation without providing notice to the chief election official of the State under clause (i). (b) Bilingual election requirements Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 ( 52 U.S.C. 10503 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (b)(3)(C)), by striking 1990 and inserting 2010 ; and (2) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following: (c) Provision of voting materials in the language of a minority group (1) In General Whenever any State or political subdivision subject to the prohibition of subsection (b) of this section provides any registration or voting notices, forms, instructions, assistance, or other materials or information relating to the electoral process, including ballots, it shall provide them in the language of the applicable minority group as well as in the English language. (2) Exceptions (A) In the case of a minority group that is not American Indian or Alaska Native and the language of that minority group is oral or unwritten, the State or political subdivision shall only be required to furnish, in the covered language, oral instructions, assistance, translation of voting materials, or other information relating to registration and voting. (B) In the case of a minority group that is American Indian or Alaska Native, the State or political subdivision shall only be required to furnish in the covered language oral instructions, assistance, or other information relating to registration and voting, including all voting materials, if the Tribal Government of that minority group has certified that the language of the applicable American Indian or Alaska Native language is presently unwritten or the Tribal Government does not want written translations in the minority language. (3) Written translations for election workers Notwithstanding paragraph (2), the State or political division may be required to provide written translations of voting materials, with the consent of any applicable Indian Tribe, to election workers to ensure that the translations from English to the language of a minority group are complete, accurate, and uniform. . (c) Effective date This section and the amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to the regularly scheduled general election for Federal office held in November 2022 and each succeeding election for Federal office. 14005. Voter information response systems and hotline (a) Establishment and operation of systems and services (1) State-based response systems The Attorney General shall coordinate the establishment of a State-based response system for responding to questions and complaints from individuals voting or seeking to vote, or registering to vote or seeking to register to vote, in elections for Federal office. Such system shall provide— (A) State-specific, same-day, and immediate assistance to such individuals, including information on how to register to vote, the location and hours of operation of polling places, and how to obtain absentee ballots; and (B) State-specific, same-day, and immediate assistance to individuals encountering problems with registering to vote or voting, including individuals encountering intimidation or deceptive practices. (2) Hotline The Attorney General, in consultation with State election officials, shall establish and operate a toll-free telephone service, using a telephone number that is accessible throughout the United States and that uses easily identifiable numerals, through which individuals throughout the United States— (A) may connect directly to the State-based response system described in paragraph (1) with respect to the State involved; (B) may obtain information on voting in elections for Federal office, including information on how to register to vote in such elections, the locations and hours of operation of polling places, and how to obtain absentee ballots; and (C) may report information to the Attorney General on problems encountered in registering to vote or voting, including incidences of voter intimidation or suppression. (3) Collaboration with State and local election officials (A) Collection of information from states The Attorney General shall coordinate the collection of information on State and local election laws and policies, including information on the statewide computerized voter registration lists maintained under title III of the Help America Vote Act of 2002, so that individuals who contact the free telephone service established under paragraph (2) on the date of an election for Federal office may receive an immediate response on that day. (B) Forwarding questions and complaints to States If an individual contacts the free telephone service established under paragraph (2) on the date of an election for Federal office with a question or complaint with respect to a particular State or jurisdiction within a State, the Attorney General shall forward the question or complaint immediately to the appropriate election official of the State or jurisdiction so that the official may answer the question or remedy the complaint on that date. (4) Consultation requirements for development of systems and services The Attorney General shall ensure that the State-based response system under paragraph (1) and the free telephone service under paragraph (2) are each developed in consultation with civil rights organizations, voting rights groups, State and local election officials, voter protection groups, and other interested community organizations, especially those that have experience in the operation of similar systems and services. (b) Use of service by individuals with disabilities and individuals with limited English language proficiency The Attorney General shall design and operate the telephone service established under this section in a manner that ensures that individuals with disabilities are fully able to use the service, and that assistance is provided in any language in which the State (or any jurisdiction in the State) is required to provide election materials under section 203 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. (c) Voter Hotline Task Force (1) Appointment by attorney general The Attorney General shall appoint individuals (in such number as the Attorney General considers appropriate but in no event fewer than 3) to serve on a Voter Hotline Task Force to provide ongoing analysis and assessment of the operation of the telephone service established under this section, and shall give special consideration in making appointments to the Task Force to individuals who represent civil rights organizations. At least one member of the Task Force shall be a representative of an organization promoting voting rights or civil rights which has experience in the operation of similar telephone services or in protecting the rights of individuals to vote, especially individuals who are members of racial, ethnic, or linguistic minorities or of communities who have been adversely affected by efforts to suppress voting rights. (2) Eligibility An individual shall be eligible to serve on the Task Force under this subsection if the individual meets such criteria as the Attorney General may establish, except that an individual may not serve on the task force if the individual has been convicted of any criminal offense relating to voter intimidation or voter suppression. (3) Term of service An individual appointed to the Task Force shall serve a single term of 2 years, except that the initial terms of the members first appointed to the Task Force shall be staggered so that there are at least 3 individuals serving on the Task Force during each year. A vacancy in the membership of the Task Force shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. (4) No compensation for service Members of the Task Force shall serve without pay, but shall receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with applicable provisions under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code. (d) Bi-Annual report to Congress Not later than March 1 of each odd-numbered year, the Attorney General shall submit a report to Congress on the operation of the telephone service established under this section during the previous 2 years, and shall include in the report— (1) an enumeration of the number and type of calls that were received by the service; (2) a compilation and description of the reports made to the service by individuals citing instances of voter intimidation or suppression, together with a description of any actions taken in response to such instances of voter intimidation or suppression; (3) an assessment of the effectiveness of the service in making information available to all households in the United States with telephone service; (4) any recommendations developed by the Task Force established under subsection (c) with respect to how voting systems may be maintained or upgraded to better accommodate voters and better ensure the integrity of elections, including but not limited to identifying how to eliminate coordinated voter suppression efforts and how to establish effective mechanisms for distributing updates on changes to voting requirements; and (5) any recommendations on best practices for the State-based response systems established under subsection (a)(1). (e) Authorization of appropriations (1) Authorization There are authorized to be appropriated to the Attorney General for fiscal year 2021 and each succeeding fiscal year such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section. (2) Set-aside for outreach Of the amounts appropriated to carry out this section for a fiscal year pursuant to the authorization under paragraph (1), not less than 15 percent shall be used for outreach activities to make the public aware of the availability of the telephone service established under this section, with an emphasis on outreach to individuals with disabilities and individuals with limited proficiency in the English language. 14006. Ensuring equitable and efficient operation of polling places (a) In general Subtitle A of title III of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 ( 52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.), as amended by section 1201(a), section 2001(a), section 8001(a), section 9001(a), section 9002(a), and section 9003(a), is amended— (1) by redesignating sections 310 and 311 as sections 311 and 312; and (2) by inserting after section 309 the following new section: 310. Ensuring equitable and efficient operation of polling places (a) Preventing unreasonable waiting times for voters (1) In general Each State shall provide a sufficient number of voting systems, poll workers, and other election resources (including physical resources) at a polling place used in any election for Federal office, including a polling place at which individuals may cast ballots prior to the date of the election, to ensure— (A) a fair and equitable waiting time for all voters in the State; and (B) that no individual will be required to wait longer than 30 minutes to cast a ballot at the polling place. (2) Criteria In determining the number of voting systems, poll workers, and other election resources provided at a polling place for purposes of paragraph (1), the State shall take into account the following factors: (A) The voting age population. (B) Voter turnout in past elections. (C) The number of voters registered. (D) The number of voters who have registered since the most recent Federal election. (E) Census data for the population served by the polling place, such as the proportion of the voting-age population who are under 25 years of age or who are naturalized citizens. (F) The needs and numbers of voters with disabilities and voters with limited English proficiency. (G) The type of voting systems used. (H) The length and complexity of initiatives, referenda, and other questions on the ballot. (I) Such other factors, including relevant demographic factors relating to the population served by the polling place, as the State considers appropriate. (3) Rule of construction Nothing in this subsection may be construed to authorize a State to meet the requirements of this subsection by closing any polling place, prohibiting an individual from entering a line at a polling place, or refusing to permit an individual who has arrived at a polling place prior to closing time from voting at the polling place. (4) Guidelines Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Commission shall establish and publish guidelines to assist States in meeting the requirements of this subsection. (5) Effective date This subsection shall take effect upon the expiration of the 180-day period which begins on the date of the enactment of this subsection, without regard to whether or not the Commission has established and published guidelines under paragraph (4). (b) Limiting variations on number of hours of operation of polling places within a State (1) Limitation (A) In general Except as provided in subparagraph (B) and paragraph (2), each State shall establish hours of operation for all polling places in the State on the date of any election for Federal office held in the State such that the polling place with the greatest number of hours of operation on such date is not in operation for more than 2 hours longer than the polling place with the fewest number of hours of operation on such date. (B) Permitting variance on basis of population Subparagraph (A) does not apply to the extent that the State establishes variations in the hours of operation of polling places on the basis of the overall population or the voting age population (as the State may select) of the unit of local government in which such polling places are located. (2) Exceptions for polling places with hours established by units of local government Paragraph (1) does not apply in the case of a polling place— (A) whose hours of operation are established, in accordance with State law, by the unit of local government in which the polling place is located; or (B) which is required pursuant to an order by a court to extend its hours of operation beyond the hours otherwise established. (c) Minimum hours of operation outside of typical working hours Each State shall establish hours of operation for all polling places in the State on the date of any election for Federal office held in the State such that no polling place is open for less than a total of 4 hours outside of the hours between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. in time zone in which the polling place is located. . (b) Study of methods To enforce fair and equitable waiting times (1) Study The Election Assistance Commission and the Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a joint study of the effectiveness of various methods of enforcing the requirements of section 310(a) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002, as added by subsection (a), including methods of best allocating resources to jurisdictions which have had the most difficulty in providing a fair and equitable waiting time at polling places to all voters, and to communities of color in particular. (2) Report Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Election Assistance Commission and the Comptroller General of the United States shall publish and submit to Congress a report on the study conducted under paragraph (1). (c) Clerical amendment The table of contents of the Help America Vote Act of 2002, as amended by section 1201(c), section 2001(c), section 8001(c), section 9001(b), section 9002(c), and section 9003(a), is amended— (1) by redesignating the items relating to sections 310 and 311 as relating to sections 311 and 312; and (2) by inserting after the item relating to section 309 the following new item: Sec. 310. Ensuring equitable and efficient operation of polling places. . 14007. Requiring States to provide secured drop boxes for voted absentee ballots in elections for Federal office (a) Requirement Subtitle A of title III of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 ( 52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.), as amended by section 1201(a), section 2001(a), section 8001(a), section 9001(a), section 9002(a), section 9003(a), and section 14006(a), is amended— (1) by redesignating sections 311 and 312 as sections 312 and 313; and (2) by inserting after section 310 the following new section: 311. Use of secured drop boxes for voted absentee ballots (a) Requiring use of drop boxes In each county in the State, each State shall provide in-person, secured, and clearly labeled drop boxes at which individuals may, at any time during the period described in subsection (b), drop off voted absentee ballots in an election for Federal office. (b) Minimum period for availability of drop boxes The period described in this subsection is, with respect to an election, the period which begins 45 days before the date of the election and which ends at the time the polls close for the election in the county involved. (c) Accessibility (1) In general Each State shall ensure that the drop boxes provided under this section are accessible for use— (A) by individuals with disabilities, as determined in consultation with the protection and advocacy systems (as defined in section 102 of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 ( 42 U.S.C. 15002 )) of the State; (B) by individuals with limited proficiency in the English language; and (C) by homeless individuals (as defined in section 103 of the McKinney–Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 1987 ( 42 U.S.C. 11302 )) of the State. (2) Determination of accessibility for individuals with disabilities For purposes of this subsection, drop boxes shall be considered to be accessible for use by individuals with disabilities if the drop boxes meet such criteria as the Attorney General may establish for such purposes. (3) Rule of construction If a State provides a drop box under this section on the grounds of or inside a building or facility which serves as a polling place for an election during the period described in subsection (b), nothing in this subsection may be construed to waive any requirements regarding the accessibility of such polling place for the use of individuals with disabilities or individuals with limited proficiency in the English language. (d) Number of drop boxes (1) Formula for determination of number The number of drop boxes provided under this section in a county with respect to an election shall be determined as follows: (A) In the case of a county in which the number of individuals who are residents of the county and who are registered to vote in the election is equal to or greater than 20,000, the number of drop boxes shall be a number equal to or greater than the number of such individuals divided by 20,000 (rounded to the nearest whole number). (B) In the case of any other county, the number of drop boxes shall be equal to or greater than one. (C) The State shall ensure that the number of drop boxes provided is sufficient to provide a reasonable opportunity for voters to submit their voted ballots in a timely manner. (2) Timing For purposes of this subsection, the number of individuals who reside in a county and who are registered to vote in the election shall be determined as of the 90th day before the date of the election. (e) Location of drop boxes The State shall determine the location of drop boxes provided under this section in a county on the basis of criteria which ensure that the drop boxes are— (1) available to all voters on a non-discriminatory basis; (2) accessible to voters with disabilities (in accordance with subsection (c)); (3) accessible by public transportation to the greatest extent possible; (4) available during all hours of the day; (5) sufficiently available in all communities in the county, including rural communities and on Tribal lands within the county (subject to subsection (f)); and (6) geographically distributed to provide a reasonable opportunity for voters to submit their voted ballot in a timely manner. (f) Rules for drop boxes on Tribal lands In making a determination of the number and location of drop boxes provided under this section on Tribal lands in a county, the appropriate State and local election officials shall— (1) consult with Tribal leaders prior to making the determination; and (2) take into account criteria such as the availability of direct-to-door residential mail delivery, the distance and time necessary to travel to the drop box locations (including in inclement weather), modes of transportation available, conditions of roads, and the availability (if any) of public transportation. (g) Timing of scanning and processing of ballots For purposes of section 306(e) (relating to the timing of the processing and scanning of ballots for tabulation), a vote cast using a drop box provided under this section shall be treated in the same manner as any other vote cast during early voting. (h) Posting of information On or adjacent to each drop box provided under this section, the State shall post information on the requirements that voted absentee ballots must meet in order to be counted and tabulated in the election. (i) Remote surveillance permitted The State may provide for the security of drop boxes through remote or electronic surveillance. (j) Effective date This section shall apply with respect to the regularly scheduled general election for Federal office held in November 2022 and each succeeding election for Federal office. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of contents of such Act, as amended by section 1201(c), section 2001(c), section 8001(c), section 9001(b), section 9002(c), section 9003(a), and section 14006(c), is amended— (1) by redesignating the items relating to sections 311 and 312 as relating to sections 312 and 313; and (2) by inserting after the item relating to section 310 the following new item: Sec. 311. Use of secured drop boxes for voted absentee ballots. . 14008. Prohibiting States from restricting curbside voting (a) Requirement Subtitle A of title III of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 ( 52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.), as amended by section 1201(a), section 2001(a), section 8001(a), section 9001(a), section 9002(a), section 9003(a), section 14006(a), and section 14007(a), is amended— (1) by redesignating sections 312 and 313 as sections 313 and 314; and (2) by inserting after section 311 the following new section: 312. Prohibiting States from restricting curbside voting (a) Prohibition A State may not— (1) prohibit any jurisdiction administering an election for Federal office in the State from utilizing curbside voting as a method by which individuals may cast ballots in the election; or (2) impose any restrictions which would exclude any individual who is eligible to vote in such an election in a jurisdiction which utilizes curbside voting from casting a ballot in the election by the method of curbside voting. (b) Effective date This section shall apply with respect to the regularly scheduled general election for Federal office held in November 2022 and each succeeding election for Federal office. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of contents of such Act, as amended by section 1201(c), section 2001(c), section 8001(c), section 9001(b), section 9002(c), section 9003(a), section 14006(c), and section 14007(b), is amended— (1) by redesignating the items relating to sections 312 and 313 as relating to sections 313 and 314; and (2) by inserting after the item relating to section 311 the following new item: Sec. 312. Prohibiting States from restricting curbside voting. . 14009. Election Day holiday (a) Treatment of Election Day in same manner as legal public holiday for purposes of Federal employment For purposes of any law relating to Federal employment, the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November in 2022 and each even-numbered year thereafter shall be treated in the same manner as a legal public holiday described in section 6103 of title 5, United States Code. (b) Sense of Congress relating to treatment of day by private employers It is the sense of Congress that private employers in the United States should give their employees a day off on the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November in 2022 and each even-numbered year thereafter to enable the employees to cast votes in the elections held on that day. 14010. GAO study on voter turnout rates The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study on voter turnout rates delineated by age in States and localities that permit voters to participate in elections before reaching the age of 18, with a focus on localities that permit voting upon reaching the age of 16. 14011. Study on ranked-choice voting (a) Study The Comptroller General shall conduct a study on the implementation and impact of ranked-choice voting in States and localities with a focus on how to best implement a model for Federal elections nationwide. The study shall include the impact on voter turnout, negative campaigning, and who decides to run for office. (b) Report Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, the Comptroller General shall transmit to Congress a report on the study conducted under subsection (a), including any recommendations on how to best implement a ranked-choice voting for Federal elections nationwide. B Disaster and Emergency Contingency Plans 14101. Requirements for Federal election contingency 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 establish and make publicly available a contingency plan to enable individuals to vote in elections for Federal office during a state of emergency, public health emergency, or national emergency which has been declared for reasons including— (A) a natural disaster; or (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 contingency 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 government offices; and (2) in the case in which an infectious disease poses significant increased health risks to elderly individuals, students of secondary schools and institutions of higher education in the State. (d) Enforcement (1) Attorney general The Attorney General may bring a civil action against any State or jurisdiction in an appropriate United States District Court for such declaratory and injunctive relief (including a temporary restraining order, a permanent or temporary injunction, or other order) as may be necessary to carry out the requirements of this section. (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 corrected 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 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 subparagraph (A) before bringing a civil action under subparagraph (B). (e) Definitions (1) Election for Federal office For purposes of this section, 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 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 Federal office held in November 2022 and each succeeding election for Federal office. C Improvements in Operation of Election Assistance Commission 14201. Reauthorization of Election Assistance Commission Section 210 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 ( 52 U.S.C. 20930 ) is amended— (1) by striking for each of the fiscal years 2003 through 2005 and inserting for fiscal year 2021 and each succeeding fiscal year ; and (2) by striking (but not to exceed $10,000,000 for each such year) . 14202. Requiring States to participate in post-general election surveys (a) Requirement Title III of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 ( 52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.), as amended by section 14003(a), is further amended by inserting after section 303A the following new section: 303B. Requiring participation in post-general election surveys (a) Requirement Each State shall furnish to the Commission such information as the Commission may request for purposes of conducting any post-election survey of the States with respect to the administration of a regularly scheduled general election for Federal office. (b) Effective date This section shall apply with respect to the regularly scheduled general election for Federal office held in November 2022 and any succeeding election. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of contents of such Act, as amended by section 14003(c), is further amended by inserting after the item relating to section 303A the following new item: Sec. 303B. Requiring participation in post-general election surveys. . 14203. Reports by National Institute of Standards and Technology on use of funds transferred from Election Assistance Commission (a) Requiring reports on use funds as condition of receipt Section 231 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 ( 52 U.S.C. 20971 ) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (e) Report on use of funds transferred from Commission To the extent that funds are transferred from the Commission to the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology for purposes of carrying out this section during any fiscal year, the Director may not use such funds unless the Director certifies at the time of transfer that the Director will submit a report to the Commission not later than 90 days after the end of the fiscal year detailing how the Director used such funds during the year. . (b) Effective date The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to fiscal year 2022 and each succeeding fiscal year. 14204. Recommendations to improve operations of Election Assistance Commission (a) Assessment of information technology and cybersecurity Not later than December 31, 2021, the Election Assistance Commission shall carry out an assessment of the security and effectiveness of the Commission’s information technology systems, including the cybersecurity of such systems. (b) Improvements to administrative complaint procedures (1) Review of procedures The Election Assistance Commission shall carry out a review of the effectiveness and efficiency of the State-based administrative complaint procedures established and maintained under section 402 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 ( 52 U.S.C. 21112 ) for the investigation and resolution of allegations of violations of title III of such Act. (2) Recommendations to streamline procedures Not later than December 31, 2021, the Commission shall submit to Congress a report on the review carried out under paragraph (1), and shall include in the report such recommendations as the Commission considers appropriate to streamline and improve the procedures which are the subject of the review. 14205. Repeal of exemption of Election Assistance Commission from certain government contracting requirements (a) In general Section 205 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 ( 52 U.S.C. 20925 ) is amended by striking subsection (e). (b) Effective date The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to contracts entered into by the Election Assistance Commission on or after the date of the enactment of this Act. D Miscellaneous Provisions 14301. Application of Federal election administration laws to territories of the United States (a) National Voter Registration Act of 1993 Section 3(4) of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 ( 52 U.S.C. 20502(4) ) is amended by striking States and the District of Columbia and inserting States, 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 . (b) Help America Vote Act of 2002 (1) Coverage of Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Section 901 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 ( 52 U.S.C. 21141 ) is amended by striking and the United States Virgin Islands and inserting the United States Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands . (2) Conforming amendments to Help America Vote Act of 2002 Such Act is further amended as follows: (A) The second sentence of section 213(a)(2) ( 52 U.S.C. 20943(a)(2) ) is amended by striking and American Samoa and inserting American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands . (B) Section 252(c)(2) ( 52 U.S.C. 21002(c)(2) ) is amended by striking or the United States Virgin Islands and inserting the United States Virgin Islands, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands . (3) Conforming amendment relating to consultation of Help America Vote Foundation with local election officials Section 90102(c) of title 36, United States Code, is amended by striking and the United States Virgin Islands and inserting the United States Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands . 14302. Definition of election for Federal office (a) Definition Title IX of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 ( 52 U.S.C. 21141 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 907. Election for Federal office defined For purposes of titles I through III, 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 Commissioner to, the Congress. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of contents of such Act is amended by adding at the end of the items relating to title IX the following new item: Sec. 907. Election for Federal office defined. . 14303. Authorizing payments to voting accessibility protection and advocacy systems serving the American Indian Consortium (a) Recipients defined Section 291 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 ( 52 U.S.C. 21061 ) is amended— (1) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d); and (2) by inserting after subsection (b) the following new subsection: (c) American Indian Consortium eligibility A system serving the American Indian Consortium for which funds have been reserved under section 509(c)(1)(B) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 ( 29 U.S.C. 794e(c)(1)(B) ) shall be eligible for payments under subsection (a) in the same manner as a protection and advocacy system of a State. . (b) Grant minimums for American Indian Consortium Section 291(b) of such Act ( 52 U.S.C. 21061(b) ) is amended— (1) by inserting (c)(1)(B), after as set forth in subsections ; and (2) by striking subsections (c)(3)(B) and (c)(4)(B) of that section shall be not less than $70,000 and $35,000, respectively and inserting subsection (c)(3)(B) shall not be less than $70,000, and the amount of the grants to systems referred to in subsections (c)(1)(B) and (c)(4)(B) shall not be less than $35,000 . (c) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall take effect at the start of the first fiscal year following the date of enactment of this Act. 14304. Application of Federal voter protection laws to territories of the United States (a) Intimidation of voters Section 594 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘Delegate from the District of Columbia, or Resident Commissioner,’’ and inserting ‘‘or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to the Congress’’. (b) Interference by government employees Section 595 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘Delegate from the District of Columbia, or Resident Commissioner,’’ and inserting ‘‘or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to the Congress’’. (c) Voting by noncitizens Section 611(a) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘Delegate from the District of Columbia, or Resident Commissioner,’’ and inserting ‘‘or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to the Congress’’. 14305. Placement of statues of citizens of territories of the United States in Statuary Hall (a) In general Section 1814 of the Revised Statutes of the United States ( 2 U.S.C. 2131 ) is amended by adding at the end the following new sentence: For purposes of this section, the term State includes American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the United States Virgin Islands, and the term citizen includes a national of the United States, as defined in section 101(a)(22) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(22) ). . (b) Conforming amendment relating to procedures for replacement of statues Section 311 of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2001 ( 2 U.S.C. 2132 ) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (f) For purposes of this section, the term State includes American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the United States Virgin Islands. . 14306. No effect on other laws (a) In general Except as specifically provided, nothing in this Act may be construed to authorize or require conduct prohibited under any of the following laws, or to supersede, restrict, or limit the application of such laws: (1) The Voting Rights Act of 1965 ( 52 U.S.C. 10301 et seq.). (2) The Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act ( 52 U.S.C. 20101 et seq.). (3) The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act ( 52 U.S.C. 20301 et seq.). (4) The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 ( 52 U.S.C. 20501 et seq.). (5) The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.). (6) The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 ( 29 U.S.C. 701 et seq.). (b) No effect on preclearance or other requirements under Voting Rights Act The approval by any person of a payment or grant application under this Act, or any other action taken by any person under this Act, shall not be considered to have any effect on requirements for preclearance under section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 ( 52 U.S.C. 10304 ) or any other requirements of such Act. (c) No effect on authority of States To provide greater opportunities for voting Nothing in this Act or the amendments made by this Act may be construed to prohibit any State from enacting any law which provides greater opportunities for individuals to register to vote and to vote in elections for Federal office than are provided by this Act and the amendments made by this Act. 14307. Clarification of exemption for States without voter registration To the extent that any provision of this Act or any amendment made by this Act imposes a requirement on a State relating to registering individuals to vote in elections for Federal office, such provision shall not apply in the case of any State in which, under law that is in effect continuously on and after the date of the enactment of this Act, there is no voter registration requirement for any voter in the State with respect to an election for Federal office. E Voter Notice 14401. Public education campaigns in event of changes in elections in response to emergencies (a) Requirement for election officials to conduct campaigns Section 302 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 ( 52 U.S.C. 21082 ), as amended by section 7001(a) and section 14001(a), is amended— (1) by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (h); and (2) by inserting after subsection (f) the following new subsection: (g) Public education campaigns in event of changes in elections in response to emergencies (1) Requirement If the administration of an election for Federal office, including the methods of voting or registering to vote in the election, is changed in response to an emergency affecting public health and safety, the appropriate State or local election official shall conduct a public education campaign through at least one direct mailing to each individual who is registered to vote in the election, and through additional direct mailings, newspaper advertisements, broadcasting (including through television, radio, satellite, and the Internet), and social media, to notify individuals who are eligible to vote or to register to vote in the election of the changes. (2) Frequency and methods of providing information The election official shall carry out the public education campaign under this subsection at such frequency, and using such methods, as will have the greatest likelihood of providing timely knowledge of the change in the administration of the election to those individuals who will be most adversely affected by the change. (3) Language accessibility In the case of a State or political subdivision that is a covered State or political subdivision under section 203 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 ( 52 U.S.C. 10503 ), the appropriate election official shall ensure that the information disseminated under a public education campaign conducted under this subsection is provided in the language of the applicable minority group as well as in the English language, as required by section 203 of such Act. (4) 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) Conforming amendment relating to effective date Section 302(h) of such Act ( 52 U.S.C. 21082(h) ), as redesignated by subsection (a) and as amended by section 7001(b) and section 14001(b), is amended by striking and (f)(4) and inserting (f)(4), and (g)(4) . 14402. Requirements for websites of election officials (a) Requirements Subtitle A of title III of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 ( 52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.), as amended by section 1201(a), section 2001(a), section 8001(a), section 9001(a), section 9002(a), section 9003(a), section 14006(a), section 14007(a), and 14008(a), is amended— (1) by redesignating sections 313 and 314 as sections 314 and 315; and (2) by inserting after section 312 the following new section: 313. Requirements for websites of election officials (a) Accessibility Each State and local election official shall ensure that the official public website of the official is fully accessible for individuals with disabilities, including the blind and visually impaired, in a manner that provides the same opportunity for access and participation as the website provides for other individuals. (b) Continuing operation in case of emergencies (1) Establishment of best practices (A) In general The Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology shall establish and regularly update best practices for ensuring the continuing operation of the official public websites of State and local election officials during emergencies affecting public health and safety. (B) Deadline The Director shall first establish the best practices required under this paragraph as soon as practicable after the date of the enactment of this section, but in no case later than August 15, 2021. (2) Requiring websites to meet best practices Each State and local election official shall ensure that the official public website of the official is in compliance with the best practices established by the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology under paragraph (2). (c) Effective date This section 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) Conforming amendment relating to adoption of voluntary guidance by Election Assistance Commission Section 321(b) of such Act ( 52 U.S.C. 21101(b) ), as redesignated and amended by section 2001(b) and section 8001(b), is amended— (1) by striking and at the end of paragraph (4); (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (5) and inserting ; and ; and (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (6) in the case of the recommendations with respect to section 304, as soon as practicable after the date of the enactment of this paragraph, but in no case later than August 15, 2021. . (c) Clerical amendment The table of contents of such Act, as amended by section 1201(c), section 2001(c), section 8001(c), section 9001(b), section 9002(c), section 9003(a), section 14006(c), section 14007(b), and section 14008(b), is amended— (1) by redesignating the items relating to sections 313 and 314 as relating to sections 314 and 315; and (2) by inserting after the item relating to section 312 the following new item: Sec. 313. Requirements for websites of election officials. . 14403. Payments by Election Assistance Commission to States for costs of compliance (a) Availability of payments Title IX of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 ( 52 U.S.C. 21141 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 907. Payments for costs of compliance with certain requirements relating to public notification (a) Payments (1) Availability and use of payments The Commission shall make a payment to each eligible State to cover the costs the State incurs or expects to incur in meeting the requirements of section 302(g) (relating to public education campaigns in event of changes in elections in response to emergencies) and section 313 (relating to requirements for the websites of election officials). (2) Schedule of payments As soon as practicable after the date of the enactment of this section, and not less frequently than once each calendar year thereafter, the Commission shall make payments under this section. (3) Administration of payments The chief State election official of the State shall receive the payment made to a State under this section, and may use the payment for the purposes set forth in this section without intervening action by the legislature of the State. (b) Amount of payment (1) In general The amount of a payment made to an eligible State for a year under this section shall be determined by the Commission on the basis of the information provided by the State in its application under subsection (c). (2) Continuing availability of funds after appropriation A payment made to an eligible State under this section shall be available without fiscal year limitation. (c) Requirements for eligibility (1) Application Each State that desires to receive a payment under this section for a fiscal year shall submit an application for the payment to the Commission at such time and in such manner and containing such information as the Commission shall require. (2) Contents of application Each application submitted under paragraph (1) shall— (A) describe the activities for which assistance under this section is sought; and (B) provide an estimate of the costs the State has incurred or expects to incur in carrying out the provisions described in subsection (a), together with such additional information and certifications as the Commission determines to be essential to ensure compliance with the requirements of this section. (d) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated for payments under this section such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2022 through 2025. (e) Reports (1) Reports by recipients Not later than the 6 months after the end of each fiscal year for which an eligible State received a payment under this section, the State shall submit a report to the Commission on the activities conducted with the funds provided during the year. (2) Reports by Commission to committees With respect to each fiscal year for which the Commission makes payments under this section, the Commission shall submit a report on the activities carried out under this part to the Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of contents of such Act is amended by adding at the end of the items relating to title IX the following: Sec. 907. Payments for costs of compliance with certain requirements relating to public notification. . XV Severability 15001. Severability If any provision of this Act or amendment made by this Act, or the application of a provision or amendment to any person or circumstance, is held to be unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act and amendments made by this Act, and the application of the provisions and amendment to any person or circumstance, shall not be affected by the holding.