H.R. 7300 — Make Elections Great Again Act

This section requires individuals to present a valid photo identification to cast a ballot in federal elections beginning in 2027, with provisional ballot options and specified exceptions. For in-person voting, voters must present a valid physical photo identification (e.g., state driver's license or identification card with photo and expiration date, U.S. passport, military identification, tribal identification with photo and expiration date, or other state-specified government-issued identification excluding educational institution cards); absent such identification, voters may cast a provisional ballot under Help America Vote Act section 302(a) that is counted only if the voter presents the required identification or a state-provided religious objection affidavit within three days. For voting other than in person, voters must submit a copy of a valid photo identification or the last four digits of their Social Security number with a state-provided affidavit attesting to reasonable but unsuccessful efforts to obtain a copy, except for absent uniformed services voters absent from the United States due to active duty and voters assigned alternative means of voting under the Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act (52 U.S.C. 20102(b)(2)(B)(ii)) (i.e., handicapped or elderly voters without accessible polling places). The section further (1) directs states, to the extent practicable, to provide free public access to digital imaging devices (e.g., scanners, copiers) at government buildings such as libraries and police stations for copying identifications; (2) requires notification of the identification requirement to voter registration applicants, including via online systems; and (3) inserts the new requirements as section 303A in Title III of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.) with a conforming clerical amendment to the Act's table of contents and a conforming change to Election Assistance Commission guidance authority under section 311(b).

This section (1) repeals Section 8 of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA, 52 U.S.C. 20507), which requires states to establish programs to ensure the accuracy of voter registration rolls by sending address verification notices and canceling registrations for ineligible voters; and (2) repeals Section 303 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA, 52 U.S.C. 21083), which mandates statewide computerized voter registration lists with requirements for data sharing, error correction, and voter list maintenance (except for 303(a)(5)(C), which preserves a specific process for handling duplicate registrations). The section also makes conforming amendments to the NVRA by (1) updating a cross-reference in Section 5(c)(2)(D)(i) from NVRA Section 8(a)(5) to Section 112(a)(6) of this Act; (2) in Section 6(d) (52 U.S.C. 20505(d)), replacing cross-references to NVRA Section 8(a)(2) and 8(d) with Section 112(a)(2) and Section 113(c), respectively, of this Act; and (3) replacing Section 9 with new requirements for the Election Assistance Commission to develop a national mail voter registration form for federal elections, prescribe related regulations in consultation with states, submit biennial reports to Congress on the Act's impact on election administration during the prior two years with improvement recommendations, and provide states with information on their responsibilities under the Act.

This section revises state requirements under the Income and Eligibility Verification System (IEVS)—which requires states to verify income and eligibility for federal benefits programs (e.g., TANF, SNAP, SSI) using Social Security numbers (SSNs), wage data from employers and agencies, and information from the Social Security Administration (SSA) and Internal Revenue Service (IRS)—to establish uniform procedures for administering voter registration for federal elections. It requires states to (1) register eligible applicants who submit valid voter registration forms under the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA) (52 U.S.C. 20503 et seq.) along with documentary proof of U.S. citizenship if received by the lesser of 30 days or the state-law deadline before the election; (2) notify applicants of application status; (3) limit voter list removals to specified reasons and take steps to remove ineligible voters; (4) reject applications lacking documentary proof of citizenship, the last four digits of the applicant's SSN (or a state-assigned number if none), and a valid driver's license or other residence proof; and (5) inform NVRA applicants of eligibility rules and penalties for false applications while protecting voter registration agency disclosures. It further mandates (1) uniform, nondiscriminatory voter roll maintenance compliant with the Voting Rights Act that does not remove voters solely for nonvoting and (2) data-sharing agreements among state election officials, motor vehicle authorities, SSA, and others to verify applicant information and eligibility. (Thus, states must authenticate citizenship and other details before processing registrations, potentially reducing noncitizen voting but increasing administrative burdens and documentation requirements for applicants.)

This section requires each state to verify registrant eligibility for federal elections on official voter lists at least every 30 days using available resources, including the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system from the Department of Homeland Security, and to remove ineligible registrants due to (1) registrant request, (2) criminal conviction or mental incapacity under state law, (3) death, (4) residence change, (5) noncitizen status, or (6) duplicate registration. It mandates completion of such removals no later than 15 days before the general federal election date under 2 U.S.C. 7, with exceptions allowing removals at any time for registrant request, criminal conviction or mental incapacity, or noncitizen status, and permitting corrections anytime. The section further establishes procedures for using Postal Service change-of-address information, including notices to confirm residence changes; removal after failed response or undeliverable notice, with forwardable notification of removal; and permission for a registrant who moved within the same polling area to vote upon providing documentary proof of the new address.

This section requires each state, acting through its chief election official, to implement by January 1, 2027 (with a possible one-year waiver to January 1, 2028, for good cause certified to the Election Assistance Commission), a single, uniform, official, centralized, interactive computerized statewide voter registration list (i.e., the "computerized list") that (1) serves as the official list of all legally registered voters with a unique identifier for each; (2) coordinates with other state agency databases; (3) provides immediate electronic access to all state election officials; (4) incorporates new registration information electronically on an expedited basis, with support for local officials; and (5) serves as the official list for all federal elections. The section further requires regular computerized list maintenance to remove ineligible voters (per statutory notice, felony, and death provisions), eliminate duplicates, and ensure only ineligible voters are removed; adequate technological security measures to prevent unauthorized access; and minimum accuracy standards, including affirmative efforts to remove ineligible registrants who fail to respond to notice and do not vote in two consecutive federal general elections (but not solely for failure to vote) and safeguards against erroneous removals of eligible voters.

This section amends section 6 of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20505), which requires states to accept a uniform federal mail voter registration form for federal elections, to (1) revise the form's contents by limiting required information to eligibility essentials (including prior registration data), adding an attestation of eligibility (specifying citizenship proof requirements) under penalty of perjury, prohibiting notarization, providing space for election officials to record citizenship proof document details, and mandating questions on U.S. citizenship, age on election day (18 years or older), possession of documentary proof, and related confidentiality statements; (2) require officials to notify applicants failing to answer the citizenship question and afford a timely opportunity to complete the form before the next federal election; and (3) prohibit registration without documentary proof of U.S. citizenship (per section 112(c)(1)), which must accompany the federal form, be presented in person by the state registration deadline, or (if allowed) at the polling place on election day, with mandatory notifications for missing proof and accessibility accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

This section authorizes the Attorney General to bring civil actions in U.S. district court against any state or jurisdiction for declaratory and injunctive relief (including temporary restraining orders or injunctions) to enforce the uniform and nondiscriminatory election technology and administration requirements under this subtitle. This section establishes a private right of action for any aggrieved person (e.g., due to an election official registering a federal election voter applicant without documentary proof of U.S. citizenship), requiring written notice to the chief state election official and allowing suit for declaratory or injunctive relief if uncorrected within 90 days (or 20 days if the violation occurred within 120 days before a federal election), with notice waived if within 30 days before such an election; prevailing parties may recover reasonable attorney fees, litigation expenses, and costs.

This section directs the Election Assistance Commission to adopt and transmit to each state's chief election official guidance on implementing the requirements of this subtitle, no later than 30 days after enactment.

This section makes subchapter I of chapter 35 of title 44—commonly known as the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)—inapplicable to the development or modification of voter registration materials under the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA), as amended by this subtitle, including voter registration application forms. (Thus, federal agencies are not required to obtain Office of Management and Budget clearance for the paperwork burden associated with these materials.)

This section requires the Secretary of Homeland Security, upon receiving information that an individual has become a naturalized U.S. citizen, to promptly notify the chief election official of the state in which the individual is domiciled.

This section provides a rule of construction stating that nothing in this subtitle or its amendments may be construed to supersede, restrict, or otherwise affect an individual's ability to cast a provisional ballot in an election for federal office or to have that ballot counted upon verification of U.S. citizenship.

This section provides a rule of construction clarifying that nothing in this subtitle or its amendments affects any state's exemption from requirements of federal laws other than the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20501 et seq.).

This section amends sec. 5(d) of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA) to require each individual applying for a motor vehicle driver’s license in a state to indicate (1) whether the individual resides in another state or resided in another state prior to applying and, if so, to identify the state; and (2) whether the individual intends for the state to serve as the individual’s residence for registering to vote in federal elections. If an individual indicates yes under clause (2), the state motor vehicle authority must notify the motor vehicle authority of the identified prior state, which must notify that state’s chief election official that the individual no longer intends that state to serve as the residence for such voter registration purposes. The amendments take effect with respect to elections occurring in 2027 or any succeeding year.

This section defines terms used in this subtitle, including (1) chief State election official as the state official designated under the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA) to coordinate state NVRA responsibilities; (2) documentary proof of United States citizenship as specified documents (e.g., REAL ID-compliant identification indicating U.S. citizenship, valid U.S. passport, military ID with U.S. birth record, government-issued photo ID showing U.S. birthplace, or other photo ID with supporting documents such as a certified birth certificate); (3) election and (4) Federal office as defined in the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971; (5) registrar’s jurisdiction as a municipality, county-equivalent, or consolidated registration area; (6) State to encompass the 50 states, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and Northern Mariana Islands; and (7) voter registration agency as an office designated under NVRA section 7(a)(1) (52 U.S.C. 20506(a)(1)) (i.e., public assistance offices, disability services offices, and other designated state and local offices required to offer voter registration services).

This section requires each state and the Attorney General to enter into an agreement to share information on evidence of potential fraud in administering federal elections, including voting or attempted voting by ineligible individuals. It prohibits federal funds from being used to administer federal elections in a state for a fiscal year unless the Attorney General certifies to the Election Assistance Commission that such an agreement is in effect, beginning in FY2026.

This section amends sec. 202(b) of the Real ID Act of 2005 (49 U.S.C. 30301 note)—which establishes minimum data elements on federally acceptable state-issued driver's licenses and identification cards—to require a clear and easily distinguishable indication of U.S. citizenship if the holder is a citizen. The requirement applies to any such driver's license or identification card issued by a state on or after the date of enactment.

This section requires a U.S. district court that recuses an individual from jury service on grounds of non-citizenship to notify (1) the chief state election official of the individual's state of residence and (2) the Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Upon receipt of such notice, the chief state election official must, in consultation with the USCIS Director, (1) verify the individual's U.S. citizenship and (2) if the individual is not a citizen, remove the individual from the official list of eligible voters.

This section requires the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Director of National Intelligence, in coordination with heads of appropriate federal entities (i.e., specified components of the Departments of Commerce, Defense, Homeland Security, and Justice; the Office of the Director of National Intelligence; and the National Security Agency), to submit a joint report to the appropriate congressional committees (i.e., specified House and Senate committees on administration, homeland security, intelligence, and foreign relations) and the chief state election official of each state on foreign and domestic threats to U.S. elections, including physical and cybersecurity threats. The report for each general federal election must be submitted not earlier than 60 days and not later than 30 days before the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November in even-numbered years (per 2 U.S.C. 7).

This section expands the records and papers relating to voting in federal elections (i.e., general, special, or primary elections for President, Vice President, presidential elector, Senator, Representative, or Puerto Rico Resident Commissioner) that election officers must retain and preserve for 22 months to include audit records, ballot cast images, canvassing reports, cast vote records, certification records, chain of custody records, incident reports, post-election records, reconciliation records, return envelopes, tabulation reports, technology records, and vote by mail records.

This section defines, for purposes of this subtitle, (1) chief State election official as the individual designated by a state under §10 of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20509)—which requires each state to designate such an official to coordinate the state's responsibilities under that Act—to coordinate the state's responsibilities under that Act; and (2) State as having the meaning given that term in §901 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21141).

This section prohibits Federal agencies from registering individuals to vote in Federal elections (except as authorized by law) or using agency funds to enter agreements with nongovernmental organizations for voter registration, mobilization, or related activities (e.g., providing registration forms, absentee ballot applications, or candidate information) on agency property or websites. It excepts such activities for absent uniformed services voters (as defined in 52 U.S.C. 20310(1), i.e., certain members of the uniformed services, merchant marine, and their spouses or dependents absent from their voting residence due to active duty or service). The section also amends sec. 7 of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20506)—which designates certain agencies as mandatory voter registration agencies—by (1) striking "Federal and" from subsection (a)(3)(B)(ii), thereby removing Federal agencies from that designation, and (2) replacing subsection (b) to encourage all nongovernmental entities, to the greatest extent practicable, to cooperate with states in offering voter registration opportunities.

This section authorizes states to use Help America Vote Act (HAVA) requirements payments to conduct post-election audits of federal election results if the audit results are released prior to the deadline for challenging the results. The provision applies to payments for FY2026 and subsequent fiscal years.

This section revises the audit capacity requirement under the Help America Vote Act of 2002 for voting systems used in elections for federal office (previously requiring a permanent paper record with manual audit capacity) to instead mandate voter-verifiable paper ballots as the official record for recounts and audits, effective 30 days after enactment. The revised requirement provides that (1) voting systems must use paper ballots manually marked by the voter or marked via a nontabulating ballot marking device, with voters at every in-person location having the option to manually mark a printed ballot including all contests and candidates; (2) such ballots must be verified by the voter, allow error correction before preservation, be counted manually or by tabulator, and be preserved without linking voters to selections or allowing post-verification modifications; and (3) ballots must be suitable for manual audits. (As background, the Help America Vote Act of 2002 sets minimum standards for voting systems to ensure accessibility and accuracy in federal elections.) This section also makes a conforming amendment to clarify that alternative language accessibility requirements apply to these paper ballots.

This section prohibits individuals from distributing, ordering, requesting, delivering, or possessing more than four mail-in ballots for a federal election at a time, unless the ballots are associated with the individual, an immediate family member (i.e., spouse, parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, or sibling of the individual or spouse), or a person for whom the individual is a caregiver (i.e., provides frequent medical or health care assistance in certain facilities); excepts incidental possession by postal workers or election officials acting in their official capacity. It imposes a penalty of a fine up to $25,000, imprisonment up to five years, or both, on individuals who knowingly receive anything of value in exchange for such prohibited activities. The section further requires individuals returning another person's mail-in ballot to present government-issued photo identification and a completed affidavit—prescribed by the Election Assistance Commission (EAC), signed by the voter and returner (or witnesses if unable to write), and recording the ID form—to an election official; directs preservation of the affidavit for at least two years with notations on receipt time and date, the returner's name and relationship to the voter, and ID form.

This section prohibits states from conducting general elections for federal office using voting systems that (1) permit a voter to vote for more than one candidate for the same office, (2) permit a voter to rank multiple candidates for the same office, or (3) reallocate a voter's vote from one candidate to another for the same office (i.e., ranked-choice voting and similar multi-candidate systems). The prohibition, added as a new section 305 to the Help America Vote Act of 2002, applies to federal elections held on or after the date of enactment.

This section prohibits states from providing mail-in ballots for federal office elections except upon a voter's request submitted electronically or by postal mail using a standardized form approved by the chief state election official, with requests due no later than 30 days before the election. The form must enable confirmation of the voter's identity, valid registration and eligibility in the relevant jurisdiction, and residence at the registered physical address (if different from the requested mailing address). This requirement does not apply to overseas voters or absent uniformed services voters (as defined in 52 U.S.C. 20310).

This section requires ballot envelopes furnished by government entities for mailing in federal elections to include a Postal Service barcode (or equivalent marking) enabling individual ballot tracking, to meet Postal Service standards for design and machineability, and to bear the Official Election Mail Logo (or successor label), effective for elections after enactment. The requirement exempts Federal write-in absentee ballots for absent uniformed services voters and overseas voters (i.e., backup ballots under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act). The Postmaster General must provide annual compliance guidance by June 1, and the provision inserts these requirements as new chapter 31 (§3101) in Title 39, United States Code.

This section amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to establish requirements, effective for federal elections in 2027 and thereafter, for the receipt, processing, and counting of absentee and mail-in ballots. It (1) requires such ballots to be received by the appropriate election official no later than polls close on election day—including, for general elections, the date established under 2 U.S.C. 7 (i.e., the Tuesday after the first Monday in November in even-numbered years)—and prohibits states from tabulating ballots received thereafter, except for ballots of absent uniformed services voters and overseas voters under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act; (2) requires the chief state election official to process mail-in ballots received before election day upon receipt (no earlier than 22 days before the election), including review for curable defects and preparation for counting; (3) prohibits counting mail-in ballots for purposes of reporting election results before polls close on election day; and (4) directs the Attorney General to withhold Help America Vote Act payments under section 251(a) from noncompliant states and require repayment of prior payments. (Thus, states risk losing federal election administration funding for failing to meet these deadlines and procedures.)