UPDATE Act

Bill: 117-hr-1662
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Van Drew, Jefferson [R-NJ-2]
Introduced: 2021-03-08
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Computers and information technology

Elections, voting, political campaign regulation

Government information and archives

Intergovernmental relations

Postal service

State and local government operations

U.S. territories and protectorates
Latest action: action_date: 2021-03-08
text: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-03-08
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Updating Postal Data on Addresses for Trustworthy Elections Act or the UPDATE Act</strong></p> <p>This bill requires the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to regularly provide chief state election officials with change-of-address information. Specifically, the USPS must provide this information within 90 days and every 90 days thereafter. Additionally, the Election Assistance Commission must make payments to states to maintain their computerized voter registration lists.</p>

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1662 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 8, 2021 Mr. Van Drew (for himself and Mr. Weber of Texas ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on House Administration A BILL To amend the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to require the Postmaster General to provide State election officials with change of address information before a general election for Federal office, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Updating Postal Data on Addresses for Trustworthy Elections Act or the UPDATE Act . 2. Change of address information provided to State election officials (a) In general Section 9 of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 ( 52 U.S.C. 20508 ) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (c) United States Postal Service change of address information Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this subsection, and every 90 days thereafter, the Postmaster General of the United States Postal Service shall provide to the chief State election official of each State the change of address records available in the National Change of Address product maintained by the United States Postal Service. . (b) Effective date The amendment made by this section shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act. (c) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to the Postmaster General of the United States Postal Service $600,000 to carry out the amendment made by this section. 3. Payments to States for the maintenance of voter registration lists (a) In general The Election Assistance Commission shall make a payment to each eligible State for carrying out maintenance of each such State’s computerized voter registration list under section 303 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 ( 52 U.S.C. 21083 ) and for carrying out programs under section 8 of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 ( 52 U.S.C. 20507 ) to ensure the accuracy of voter registration lists in the State. (b) Eligibility A State is eligible to receive a payment under this section if the State submits to the Commission an application at such time, in such form, and containing such information and assurances as the Commission may require. (c) Amount of payment (1) In general Subject to paragraph (2) , the amount of a payment made to a State under this section shall be equal to the product of— (A) the total amount appropriated for such payments pursuant to the authorization under subsection (f) ; and (B) the State allocation percentage for the State. (2) Minimum amount of payment The amount of a payment made to a State under this section may not be less than— (A) in the case of any of the several States or the District of Columbia, one-half of 1 percent of the total amount appropriated for such payments; or (B) in the case of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, one-tenth of 1 percent of such total amount. (3) Pro rata reductions The Commission shall make such pro rata reductions to the allocations determined under paragraph (1) as are necessary to comply with the requirements of paragraph (2) . (d) Continuing availability of funds after appropriation A payment made to a State under this section shall be available to the State without fiscal year limitation. (e) Definitions In this section: (1) State The term State means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the United States Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. (2) State allocation percentage The term State allocation percentage means, with respect to a State, the amount (expressed as a percentage) equal to the quotient of— (A) the voting age population of the State (as reported in the most recent decennial census); and (B) the total voting age population of all States (as reported in the most recent decennial census). (f) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated $25,000,000 for payments under this section.