Federal Bureau of Prisons Voting Assistance Act of 2021

Bill: 117-hr-4425
Sponsor: full_name: Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
Introduced: 2021-07-13
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Latest action: action_date: 2022-11-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-07-13
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Federal Bureau of Prisons Voting Assistance Act of 2021</strong></p> <p>This bill requires the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to provide information about voting to inmates from jurisdictions that allow inmates to vote while in custody. </p> <p>Specifically, before a federal, state, or local election, the BOP must send inmates voting-related information, such as how to register to vote and how to request an absentee ballot. The BOP must send additional voting-related information to the reentry affairs coordinator at each federal correctional facility. The information must be provided in English and Spanish. </p>

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 4425 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 13, 2021 Ms. Norton (for herself, Ms. Pingree , and Mr. Welch ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To require the Director of the Bureau of Prisons to provide certain information to inmates with respect to voting, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Federal Bureau of Prisons Voting Assistance Act of 2021 . 2. Information with respect to voting (a) In general Not later than 90 days before a Federal, State or local election, the Director of the Bureau of Prisons shall send to— (1) each inmate, through the Trust Fund Limited Inmate Computer System (TRULINCS) (or a successor platform), who is (or prior to incarceration was) a resident of a State that allows an inmate to vote while in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons, a message including— (A) information on how to register to vote; and (B) information on how to request an absentee ballot; and (2) each Re-entry Affairs Coordinator of each Federal correctional facility, information including— (A) criteria for voter registration for each State that allows an inmate to vote while in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons; (B) instructions on voter registration for each State that allows an inmate to vote while in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons; (C) printed voter registration forms for each State that allows an inmate to vote while in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons; and (D) prepaid envelopes for voter registration forms, as provided by a State Bureau of Election. (b) Publication; delivery (1) Federal correctional facility In each Federal correctional facility, the Director shall make available to inmates the information under subsection (a), including by posting such information physically at the correctional facility. (2) Internet website The Director shall publish on the internet website of the Bureau of Prisons the information under subsection (a). (3) Delivery The Re-entry Affairs Coordinator of each Federal correctional facility shall provide each inmate who is (or prior to incarceration was) a resident of a State that allows an inmate to vote while in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons information identified under subsection (a)(2). (c) Language availabilities The Director shall provide any information under subsection (a) in both English and Spanish, if the State that allows an inmate to vote while in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons makes available such information in both English and Spanish. (d) Support for certain inmates The Director shall provide support to any inmate who needs assistance with voter registration as a result of a recognized disability. (e) State defined In this section, the term State means a State of the United States, the District of Columbia, and any commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States.