H.R. 2847 — Vote at Home Act of 2025

This section states 15 congressional findings supporting expanded vote-by-mail access, citing disparities in state absentee voting laws; barriers for voters with work, family, or disabilities (including 20% of voters with disabilities facing in-person difficulties in 2022); record 2020 turnout amid expanded mail voting during the pandemic; use by 36 states and D.C. for no-excuse absentee voting and all-mail elections in 7 states and D.C.; cost savings (e.g., 30% in Oregon post-1996, 40% average in Colorado post-2013); reduced poll wait times and worker shortages; rising mail ballot usage (nearly 30% in 2024 from 10% in 2000); low fraud risk; privacy concerns with excuse requirements and notary rules; increased turnout (especially in primaries and specials); and benefits of automatic voter registration in 24 states and D.C.

This section amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA) to establish new requirements, effective for federal elections in years beginning with 2026, that states (1) mail ballots to all registered voters no later than two weeks before the election; (2) prohibit additional eligibility conditions for mail voting beyond deadlines for requesting and returning ballots; and (3) ensure ballots are accessible to individuals with disabilities (without affecting the use of polling places). It further amends title 39, U.S. Code, to provide free postage for such ballots mailed by states or localities to voters and by voters to election officials. Conforming amendments add the new HAVA requirements to the Attorney General's enforcement authority, update tables of contents, and extend related Postal Service appropriations authorizations.

This section revises section 5 of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA), which requires states to offer voter registration with motor vehicle driver's license applications, to streamline the application process and establish automatic voter registration through state motor vehicle authorities. Specifically, it (1) requires inclusion of a voter registration form as part of each driver's license application for applicable individuals, using only minimal non-duplicative information necessary to prevent duplicate registrations and assess eligibility, including a citizenship attestation under penalty of perjury treated as presumptively sufficient unless contradicted by reliable state information; (2) mandates confidentiality for declinations or registration locations; and (3) requires transmission of applications or information to election officials within 10 days (or 5 days if near an election deadline). It further directs motor vehicle authorities to automatically transmit minimal voter registration information for applicable individuals who provide citizenship documentation (or are already registered), enabling election officials to assess eligibility—including via Help America Vote Act confirmation procedures—update addresses, and register eligible unregistered individuals, with the same 10- or 5-day transmission deadlines. (Thus, eligible U.S. citizens applying for driver's licenses are automatically registered to vote through data sharing between motor vehicle and election officials, subject to eligibility verification.)