S. 4203 — Voter Empowerment Act of 2026

This section establishes requirements under the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA) for states to promote access to voter registration and voting for individuals with disabilities (new section 306, inserted after section 305 with existing sections 306 and 307 redesignated as 307 and 308). Among other provisions, states must (1) ensure electronic absentee registration forms, ballot applications, and ballots are accessible; (2) permit individuals with disabilities to register and vote absentee in federal elections; (3) accept valid applications received by applicable federal deadlines; (4) establish procedures for such individuals to request and receive voter registration and absentee ballot applications by mail or electronically (per individual preference); (5) transmit requested absentee ballots no later than 45 days before the election if requested at least 45 days prior (or per state law if later, with expedited transmission if practicable); (6) provide absentee ballots in runoff elections with sufficient time to vote; (7) designate a single state office to provide related information to individuals with disabilities, including training election officials and poll workers on accessibility, promoting hiring of individuals with disabilities as poll workers, and posting polling place audit results within six months; and (8) designate at least one accessible electronic communication means for requests, transmittals, and voting information. This section also requires the Election Assistance Commission to adopt voluntary guidance on the new requirements by January 1, 2027 (adding new clause (b)(4) to 52 U.S.C. 21101). (As background, HAVA subtitle A sets minimum standards for state election administration, including voting systems, provisional ballots, and voter registration updates; these provisions expand absentee and electronic access specifically for voters with disabilities.)

This section requires each state to establish and maintain a single accessible election website under the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA), providing (1) local election officials, poll workers, and volunteers with guidance on accessible polling places and online training on promoting access and voting rights for individuals with disabilities and older individuals; and (2) voters with information on polling place accessibility and outreach, voter registration, polling locations and hours, voting aid, transportation assistance, voting rights, and complaint contacts for individuals with disabilities, older individuals, Native Americans, Alaska Natives, and limited English proficiency individuals. The chief state election official must partner with an outside technical organization to develop or update the website; form a committee—including chief election officials from the four most- and least-populous jurisdictions, representatives from disability and older individual advocacy groups, website experts, voting rights organizations, and state protection and advocacy systems—to create a state plan for compliance; and partner with at least two organizations from a specified list (e.g., Centers for Independent Living, Statewide Independent Living Councils, State Councils on Developmental Disabilities) to monitor and verify website accessibility, information completeness, and disability-related accuracy. (As background, HAVA sets national standards for election administration, including voter access; this provision enhances online resources to promote equal participation for voters with disabilities and older individuals.)

This section amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA) to add a new section 308 (effective for federal elections on or after January 1, 2029) requiring states to (1) ensure all polling places are accessible, as defined in HAVA section 307; (2) consider procedures addressing long wait times at polling places that provide individuals with disabilities and older individuals alternate in-person voting options (e.g., casting ballots outside the polling place or from a vehicle, or expedited lines); and (3) consider mobile polling sites to assist residents of long-term care facilities who request help casting ballots while maintaining voter privacy and independence. (The provision clarifies that these requirements do not alter existing federal polling place accessibility mandates under the Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act.) This section also revises the Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act (52 U.S.C. 20101 et seq.) to (1) redirect state biennial reports on accessible and inaccessible polling places for federal elections from the Federal Election Commission to the Election Assistance Commission and eliminate the prior sunset provision (i.e., 10 years from September 28, 1984), making reporting permanent; (2) replace outdated terminology ("handicapped and elderly voters" or similar) throughout with "individuals with disabilities and older individuals" and update definitions in section 8 to cross-reference HAVA section 307; and (3) change the short title to "Voting Accessibility for Individuals with Disabilities and Older Individuals Act," deeming all statutory references updated accordingly. (Thus, the Election Assistance Commission assumes ongoing responsibility for compiling and transmitting polling accessibility data to Congress.) These amendments apply to federal elections on or after January 1, 2029.

This section establishes a new section 309 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 prohibiting states from denying an individual the right to vote in a federal election solely on the ground of being subject to guardianship, unless a court of competent jurisdiction finds by clear and convincing evidence that the individual cannot communicate—with or without accommodations—a desire to participate in the voting process; the prohibition applies to elections held on or after January 1, 2027. It further (1) requires the Election Assistance Commission to adopt voluntary guidance for the new requirements by updating the relevant list of sections in 52 U.S.C. 21101(b)(4) to include section 309, (2) redesignates prior sections 309 and 310 as sections 310 and 311, respectively, and (3) makes conforming amendments to the Act's table of contents.

This section revises the allowable uses of payments under the Help America Vote Act of 2002 grant program to assure voting access for individuals with disabilities—previously limited to improving polling place accessibility and providing voter information and training—by adding accessibility for absentee and at-home voting for individuals with the full range of disabilities (including vision, hearing, mobility, or dexterity) via systems compatible with home or facility-based assistive technologies; retaining polling place accessibility requirements; adding universally designed solutions that provide equal opportunities for voters with and without disabilities; and eliminating voter information and training. (The program provides federal payments to states and eligible local governments for these purposes.) It also reauthorizes the program for FY2027 and each succeeding fiscal year with such sums as necessary and establishes a four-year period for states and local governments to obligate or expend FY2027 and later appropriations, after which unused amounts transfer to the Election Assistance Commission for pro rata reallocation to other timely recipients for one year.

This section increases the size of the Board of Advisors to the Election Assistance Commission (EAC)—which advises the EAC on election administration standards under the Help America Vote Act of 2002—to 49 members (from 37) by adding the following appointees: (1) two members appointed by the National Council on Disability; (2) two members appointed by the Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services for Aging; (3) four members from organizations whose executive leadership consists of at least 51% individuals with disabilities, representing voters with disabilities (two appointed by the House Committee on Education and the Workforce and two by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, with one each by the chair and ranking minority member of the respective committees); and (4) four members from organizations representing older voters (two appointed by the House Committee on Education and the Workforce and two by the Senate Special Committee on Aging, with one each by the chair and ranking minority member of the respective committees). The amendments take effect on January 1, 2027.

This section directs the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to make grants, subject to appropriations, to eligible states to conduct pilot programs enabling individuals with disabilities to register to vote and request and receive absentee ballots electronically (including via internet and telephones with assistive devices) privately and independently at their residences. The pilots apply to federal elections held in 2027 or, at state option, other 2027 elections for public office. Grantee states must submit reports to the EAC within 90 days after the last election of the year, and eligibility requires an application with required information and assurances; "state" includes the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

This section directs the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct an analysis after each regularly scheduled general election for federal office on voting access for individuals with disabilities, including (1) accessibility efforts and usage of polling places in houses of worship or other ADA-exempt facilities; (2) federal assistance to state and local officials; (3) issues with accessible voting machines such as location, malfunctions, and privacy; (4) compliance tracking and complaint processes; (5) poll worker training on assisting voters with disabilities; (6) training on accessible voting machines; (7) barriers for individuals with developmental or psychiatric disabilities; and (8) employment of individuals with disabilities at polling sites. The section further requires the Comptroller General to submit a report on the analysis, with recommendations for best practices, to the House and Senate Committees on House Administration/Rules and Administration and Appropriations within nine months of the election.

This section adds a new section 613 to chapter 29 of title 18, United States Code, to prohibit voter caging (i.e., using returned nonforwardable mail or similar documents to question voter eligibility) and other questionable challenges to voter registration or eligibility in federal elections, with associated criminal penalties. Specifically, the section (1) defines "voter caging document," "voter caging list," and "unverified match list" (i.e., lists matching voter data to ineligibility indicators like death or felony conviction without verifying identifiers such as signatures or photos); (2) prohibits state or local election officials from preventing registration or voting, or permitting formal challenges, based on such evidence—including immaterial errors or omissions under 52 U.S.C. 10101(a)(2)(B)—unless corroborated by independent evidence of ineligibility; (3) requires any non-official challenger to provide written documentation of personal knowledge and a good-faith oath or attestation under penalty of perjury (excluding challenges based on race, ethnicity, or national origin), and bars such challenges on Election Day or less than 10 days before the election unless the voter registered less than 20 days prior; and (4) imposes penalties of a fine, imprisonment for up to one year, or both, for each knowing violation intended to disqualify eligible voters. The section makes a conforming amendment to the table of sections for chapter 29 and specifies that it does not affect the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 or the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

This section (1) directs the Election Assistance Commission to develop and publish, not later than 180 days after enactment, recommendations for best practices to deter violations of the federal voter caging prohibition (18 U.S.C. §613)—including posting information at polling places and voter registration agencies, training poll workers and election officials, and educational measures—and (2) amends the Help America Vote Act provisional ballot information requirements (52 U.S.C. §21082(b)(2)) to add a new subparagraph (H) requiring written information provided to provisional voters to include details on the voter caging prohibition and how to report violations. (As background, provisional ballots allow individuals whose eligibility is challenged at the polls to vote subject to later verification under state law, with voters receiving written notice of a free-access system to check ballot status.)

This section amends the Voting Rights Act to prohibit, within 60 days before a federal election (i.e., any general, primary, run-off, or special election held solely or in part for electing federal officeholders), (1) knowingly communicating materially false information about the time, place, or manner of the election or voter qualifications/restrictions if intended to impede voting; (2) knowingly communicating materially false statements about public endorsements of federal candidates if intended to impede voting; and (3) intentionally hindering, interfering with, or preventing voting or voter registration. This section provides a private right of action for preventive relief, including attorney fees at court discretion, against violations of these new prohibitions. This section amends the federal voter intimidation statute to (1) specify that intimidation applies to general, primary, run-off, or special federal elections; (2) establish criminal penalties for knowingly communicating materially false information about election time/place or voter qualifications/restrictions if intended to mislead voters or impede voting, or for intentionally hindering voting/registration, of a fine up to $100,000, imprisonment up to 5 years, or both; and (3) make conforming changes to related provisions.

This section requires the Attorney General, if receiving a credible report of materially false information communicated in violation of new paragraphs (2) and (3) of 52 U.S.C. 10101(b) and determining that state and local election officials have not taken adequate corrective steps, to communicate accurate, objective, and nonpartisan information to correct it, using means designed to reach affected persons and pursuant to written procedures. It directs the Attorney General to publish those procedures and standards, including election-timed deadlines, within 180 days of enactment after consulting the Election Assistance Commission, state and local election officials, civil rights organizations, voting rights groups, voter protection groups, and other community organizations. It authorizes appropriations for implementation.

This section requires the Attorney General to submit to Congress, not later than 180 days after each general election for federal office, a report compiling all allegations received by the Department of Justice of deceptive practices under 52 U.S.C. 10101(b)(2)-(4)—as added by section 402(a)—relating to that general election and any federal primary, run-off, or special election held in the two preceding years. The report must include (1) a description of each allegation, including the geographic location, racial and ethnic composition, and language minority-group membership of targeted persons; (2) the status of each investigation; (3) any corrective actions taken under section 403(a); (4) any referrals to other federal, state, or local agencies; (5) to the extent available, any civil actions under 52 U.S.C. 10101(c)(2)—as added by section 402(b); and (6) any criminal prosecutions under 18 U.S.C. 594—as amended by section 402(c). The Attorney General must make the report publicly available via the internet and other means on the submission date and may exclude information protected by Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 6(e), privileged information, details of ongoing investigations, sealed proceedings, or other nonpublic information whose disclosure could infringe individual rights or harm investigations.

This section states congressional findings on voter disenfranchisement of individuals with criminal convictions in federal elections, including (1) Congress's constitutional authority over federal elections; (2) disparities and lack of uniformity in state disenfranchisement laws, with variations by state (e.g., no disenfranchisement in Maine and Vermont; lifetime bans in 11 states); (3) an estimated 5.2 million U.S. citizens (1 in 44 adults) disenfranchised in 2020 due to felony convictions, 75% of whom were not incarcerated; and (4) disproportionate impacts on racial and ethnic minorities (e.g., 6% of voting-age African Americans or 1.8 million; 2% of voting-age Latinos or 560,000).

This section prohibits denial or abridgment of a U.S. citizen's right to vote in any federal election due to a criminal conviction, unless the individual is serving a felony sentence in a correctional institution or facility at the time of the election. (Thus, it restores voting rights in federal elections for individuals who have completed felony sentences or are on probation, parole, or other supervised release.)

This section authorizes the Attorney General to bring a civil action for declaratory or injunctive relief to remedy violations of this title. It establishes a private right of action for aggrieved persons, requiring written notice to the state chief election official and permitting suit for declaratory or injunctive relief if the violation is not corrected within 90 days (or 20 days if the violation occurred within 120 days before a federal election), except that no notice is required if the violation occurred within 30 days before such an election.

This section requires each state to notify in writing any individual convicted of a state criminal offense of such individual's right to vote in federal elections pursuant to the Democracy Restoration Act of 2026 and to provide voter registration materials—(1) for felony convictions, on the date of sentencing to probation only or release from state custody (other than to another state's or federal custody for a felony); and (2) for misdemeanor convictions, on the sentencing date. This section further requires federal notification for individuals convicted of federal criminal offenses, with the same content—(1) for felony convictions, by the Assistant Director for the Office of Probation and Pretrial Services on the date of probation-only sentencing or by the Director of the Bureau of Prisons during the six months before release through the release date from Bureau custody; and (2) for misdemeanor convictions, on the sentencing date by the federal court.

This section defines four terms for purposes of this title: (1) correctional institution or facility as any prison, penitentiary, jail, or other confinement facility for individuals convicted of criminal offenses (publicly or privately operated), excluding residential community treatment centers or similar facilities; (2) election as a general, special, primary, or runoff election; a political party convention or caucus to nominate a candidate; a primary for selecting delegates to a national party nominating convention; or a primary expressing a preference for President; (3) Federal office as the office of President or Vice President, Senator, Representative, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner in Congress; and (4) probation as court-imposed probation (Federal, state, or local) with or without conditions on an individual's freedom of movement, payment of damages, periodic court reporting, or court officer supervision.

This section provides that (1) nothing in this title prohibits states from enacting laws affording the right to vote in federal elections on terms less restrictive than those established by this title, and (2) the rights and remedies established by this title are in addition to all other rights and remedies provided by law and do not supersede, restrict, or limit the Voting Rights Act of 1965 or the National Voter Registration Act of 1993.

This section prohibits states, units of local government, or other persons from receiving or using federal funds to construct or improve a prison, jail, or other place of incarceration unless they have a program notifying each U.S. citizen incarcerated in their jurisdiction, upon release, of their rights under section 503.

This section revises the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA) to replace the requirement for voting systems in federal elections to produce a permanent paper record with manual audit capacity (52 U.S.C. 21081(a)(2)) with a mandate for the use of an individual, durable, voter-verified paper ballot (VVPB) as the official ballot. The VVPB must be marked by hand or a nontabulating ballot marking device (with voter option to mark by hand), verified and correctable by the voter before casting, counted by hand or optical scanner, preserved without voter-ballot association (absent voter consent), and protected from post-verification modification; it applies to all ballots, including absentee, uniformed services, and overseas ballots under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, and serves as the official record for recounts and audits with mandatory hand counting. (Thus, in inconsistencies between electronic tallies and hand counts of VVPBs, the VVPBs prevail as the true record unless compromised by clear and convincing evidence, in which case state law governs the remedy without exclusive reliance on electronic tallies.) The section makes conforming amendments to clarify that HAVA's voter verification, correction, overvote notification, and alternative language accessibility requirements apply to these VVPBs (52 U.S.C. 21081(a)(1), (4)).

This section revises accessibility requirements for voting systems under the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA) by requiring states to (1) ensure individuals with disabilities have an equivalent opportunity to vote privately and independently using a voter-verified paper ballot, (2) provide at each polling place at least one voting system with nonvisual, enhanced visual, nonmanual, and enhanced manual accessibility, and (3) allow voters to verify and cast permanent paper ballots without manual handling of the ballot. This section also directs the Election Assistance Commission (EAC), in coordination with the Access Board and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, to award grants to at least three eligible entities to study, test, and develop accessible and secure remote voting systems and devices for individuals with disabilities, with technology to be made publicly available non-proprietarily by January 1, 2029, and authorizes $10 million for the grants, to remain available until expended. (Thus, activities coordinate with EAC's existing research grant program under HAVA §271.) It makes conforming redesignations and clerical amendments to HAVA Subtitle C and its table of contents. This section further requires the EAC to apply the same accessibility standards for paper ballot verification in its voluntary voting system guidance as those for accessible voting systems generally. Finally, this section permits protection and advocacy systems to use payments authorized under HAVA §292(a) ($10 million for FY2003-FY2006 and such sums as necessary thereafter, to remain available until expended) for any purpose related to disability access in voting, including litigation. (Previously, such funds were prohibited from use in election-related disability access litigation.)

This section establishes durability and readability requirements for voter-verified paper ballots used in federal elections under the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA). It requires all such ballots to be marked or printed on durable paper—defined as capable of withstanding multiple hand counts and recounts without compromising ballot integrity and retaining markings for the full 22-month ballot retention period—and ballots completed via ballot marking device to be clearly readable by the voter without assistance (other than eyeglasses or other personal vision aids) and by optical character recognition devices or those equipped for voters with disabilities.

This section directs the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to conduct a study on optimal ballot designs for elections for public office—including paper ballots and electronic or digital ballots—to minimize voter confusion and errors and to submit a report to Congress by January 1, 2027.

This section establishes printing requirements for paper ballots used in elections for federal office, mandating that they be printed in the United States on paper manufactured in the United States. (These requirements apply to the paper ballots produced under voting systems certified pursuant to standards established by the Help America Vote Act of 2002.)

This section revises the effective date under the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA) for voting system requirements in federal elections (52 U.S.C. 21081(d)). (As background, HAVA requires such systems to permit voter verification of selections before casting, provide error correction opportunities, produce a permanent paper record with manual audit capacity, and meet other standards to ensure accuracy, auditability, and accessibility.) It retains the January 1, 2006, compliance date for original HAVA requirements while establishing that requirements first imposed by amendments in the Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2026 generally apply to federal elections held in 2028 or any succeeding year. It further delays compliance to 2030 for specified jurisdictions and requirements as follows: (1) For jurisdictions that used voter-verifiable paper record printers attached to direct recording electronic (DRE) voting machines—or other systems producing voter-verifiable paper records not fully compliant with HAVA subsection (a) paragraphs (2)(A)(i)(I) (voter-verified paper ballots), (3)(B)(iii)(I) and (II) (access to verification from and casting of durable paper ballot), or (7) (ballot durability and readability)—in the November 2026 federal general election and that continue using such printers or systems before 2030, compliance with those three requirements is delayed to 2030; during the delay, polling places must offer eligible voters hand-marked pre-printed paper ballots (with marking supplies), ensure wait times do not exceed 30 minutes or the average for non-paper voters (whichever is less), treat such ballots as regular (not provisional) ballots unless otherwise required, post prominent notices of the option, and train officials on these obligations (with violations deemed HAVA noncompliance). (2) For jurisdictions using nontabulating ballot marking devices that automatically deposit ballots into a privacy sleeve, compliance with subsection (a)(3)(B)(iii)(II) (nonmanual casting of durable paper ballot) is delayed to federal elections in 2030 or succeeding years.

This section amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA) to require, for elections on or after January 1, 2027, statewide counting of provisional ballots—regardless of the precinct or polling place where cast—by the election official of the voter's registration jurisdiction if the voter is eligible (new subsection (d)). It further requires states to establish uniform and nondiscriminatory standards for the issuance, handling, and counting of provisional ballots, consistent with HAVA requirements (new subsection (e)). (Thus, provisional ballots cast out-of-precinct but within the state must be counted if the voter is registered and eligible in that state.) It makes conforming changes to existing state flexibility provisions.

This section requires each state to provide an early voting period of at least 15 consecutive days (including weekends) prior to the date of any federal election, beginning with the November 2028 general election, permitting individuals to vote in the same manner as on election day. Such polling places must be open no less than 10 hours each day with uniform hours (including some period before 9:00 a.m. and after 5:00 p.m. local time), located within walking distance of public transportation where practicable, and available in rural areas to maximize access; states must begin processing and scanning early ballots at least 14 days before the election but may not tabulate them until polls close on election day. Directs the Election Assistance Commission to issue standards for early voting administration, including nondiscriminatory polling place placement, permitting deviations for unforeseen circumstances (e.g., natural disasters) with public notice. Amends deadlines for Election Assistance Commission voluntary guidance under HAVA section 321(b) (52 U.S.C. 21101(b)) by adding a new paragraph (5) requiring adoption of recommendations on sections added by the Voter Empowerment Act of 2026 by June 30, 2026. Makes conforming amendments to redesignate sections 310 and 311 as 311 and 312, respectively, and updates the table of contents.

This section amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA) by inserting new section 311, which (1) requires states to make absentee ballots uniformly available by mail to all individuals eligible to vote in federal elections without additional eligibility conditions; (2) prohibits states from requiring identification (except a signature or similar affirmation) to obtain an absentee ballot or requiring notarization, witness signatures, or other formal authentication (beyond voter attestation) to obtain or cast such a ballot; and (3) permits states to impose reasonable deadlines for requesting and returning absentee ballots (with no effect on identification requirements for first-time voters registering by mail). The section further requires states imposing signature verification on absentee ballots to provide due process by (1) notifying voters of signature discrepancies, missing signatures, or other curable defects via mail, telephone, text message, and email; (2) allowing voters 10 days from notification to cure such issues in person, by telephone, or electronically; and (3) basing discrepancy determinations on review by at least two election officials. (Thus, these provisions expand mail voting access while standardizing cure procedures to prevent ballot rejection without voter notice or opportunity to remedy.)

This section requires each state to implement an absentee ballot tracking program for elections for federal office beginning with the regularly scheduled general election in November 2028, under which state or local officials must track and confirm receipt of absentee ballots and provide the voter—via website or toll-free telephone number—with information on receipt and whether the ballot was accepted (including rejection reasons if applicable). It further authorizes the Election Assistance Commission to make a one-time reimbursement payment to each state for costs incurred in establishing the program (including pre-enactment costs), not to exceed $3,000 multiplied by the number of jurisdictions in the state responsible for operating it. The section authorizes appropriations for such payments for FY2027 and succeeding fiscal years, with funds remaining available until expended.

This section establishes requirements for the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) and state and local election officials to improve tracking and handling of absentee ballots in federal elections occurring on or after January 1, 2027. Specifically, it (1) requires USPS to indicate on absentee ballot envelopes—via postmark or otherwise—that the ballot was carried by USPS and the mailing date (excluding ballots under 39 U.S.C. §3406); and (2) requires election officials to affix Tag 191 (or successor) to trays or sacks of ballot mail, use the Official Election Mail logo on mail pieces, and ensure visibility of any intelligent mail barcode's ballot service type identifier for domestic or international addresses.

This section establishes a new requirement under the Help America Vote Act of 2002 for state or local election officials to provide prepaid, self-sealing return envelopes with any voter registration application, absentee ballot application, or blank absentee ballot transmitted by mail (with states deemed compliant if making reasonable efforts), effective 90 days after enactment. It further directs the U.S. Postal Service to carry such voting materials for federal elections using first-class mail service standards regardless of the prepaid postage class. Both provisions exclude balloting materials for absent military and overseas voters under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.

This section revises state reporting requirements under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) by requiring, for regularly scheduled general elections for federal office, (1) a pre-election report on absentee ballot availability, due not later than 55 days before the election to the Attorney General, Election Assistance Commission, and Presidential designee (and made public), certifying ballots are or will be available for transmission to absent uniformed services voters and overseas voters by 45 days before the election and including local government data; (2) a pre-election report on ballot transmission, due not later than 43 days before the election (and made public), certifying whether ballots were transmitted by 45 days before the election to voters with requests received at least 45 days prior and including local data on requests and transmissions; and (3) a post-election report, due not later than 90 days after the election (and made public), on the number of ballots transmitted to and received from such voters. (Thus, the reports—prescribed jointly by the Attorney General and Election Assistance Commission—enhance transparency and accountability for states and local governments in facilitating UOCAVA absentee voting.)

This section revises the enforcement provisions of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA)—which facilitates absentee voting for members of the uniformed services, their family members, and U.S. citizens residing overseas—by (1) authorizing the Attorney General to seek civil penalties against a violating state of up to $110,000 per violation for a first offense and up to $220,000 per violation for subsequent offenses, in addition to previously available declaratory and injunctive relief; (2) establishing a private right of action allowing any aggrieved person to seek declaratory or injunctive relief against a violating state; and (3) providing that, in any such action, the state is the only necessary defendant, regardless of whether duties were delegated to local officials or jurisdictions. It retains the existing annual reporting requirement on Attorney General enforcement actions. The amendments apply to violations alleged on or after the date of enactment.

This section revises the absentee ballot transmission requirements under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) for absent uniformed services voters and overseas voters in federal elections as follows: (1) repeals states' authority to obtain a waiver from the requirement to transmit validly requested absentee ballots not later than 45 days before the election (if requested at least 45 days before); (2) requires a state that fails to meet the 45-day deadline to transmit the ballot by express delivery (or electronically, if designated by the voter under UOCAVA transmission procedures), and if transmitted fewer than 40 days before the election, to enable express return delivery (except that for an absent uniformed services voter's ballot in a regularly scheduled general federal election, the state may instead notify the voter of collection and delivery procedures under UOCAVA section 103A), with the state responsible for express delivery costs; and (3) clarifies that if the 45th day before the election is a weekend or legal public holiday, the state must transmit by the preceding weekday (but only if the request is received by that weekday). (Thus, these changes eliminate flexibility for states to miss deadlines, impose financial and operational penalties for noncompliance, and adjust for non-business days to facilitate timely voting by approximately 2 million overseas and military voters.)

This section revises Section 104 of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA)—which facilitates absentee voting by absent uniformed services members and overseas voters—to require states to treat an accepted official postcard form (under UOCAVA section 101) for simultaneous voter registration and absentee ballot application as a standing request for absentee ballots for each subsequent federal election through the next regularly scheduled general election (including runoffs). It provides exceptions if the voter notifies the state of canceled registration or the state determines ineligibility (e.g., registration elsewhere). The section also prohibits states from refusing otherwise valid applications from these voters due to early submission (previously limited to uniformed services voters). The amendments apply to applications submitted on or after enactment.

This section establishes a guarantee of residency, for voting purposes in any federal, state, or local election, for spouses and dependents of absent uniformed services voters (i.e., members of the uniformed services absent from their voting residence due to active duty). (Thus, such spouses and dependents are not deemed—solely by reason of the service member's absence, regardless of accompaniment or intent to return—to have lost residency in that state, acquired residency elsewhere, or become a resident of another state.)

This section amends the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) to require states to transmit blank absentee ballots electronically to qualified individuals—excluding absent uniformed services voters and overseas voters—who are otherwise eligible to vote in federal elections and meet specified criteria (e.g., prior absentee ballot request not received at least two days before the election; residence in an area with a state-declared emergency or public health emergency due to natural disaster, severe weather, or infectious disease declared within five days of the election; expected absence for professional or volunteer disaster response; hospitalization or expected hospitalization on election day; or disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act in a state lacking secure accessible remote ballot marking, with self-certification permitted). Such ballots must comply with Voting Rights Act language minority requirements (52 U.S.C. 10503) and Rehabilitation Act electronic accessibility standards (29 U.S.C. 794d); recipients must submit an electronic affirmation attesting to eligibility, no duplicate voting, and perjury penalties; free postage applies; and states may not reject otherwise valid returned ballots for lack of notarization, witness signatures, or specified paper or envelope standards (with marked ballots prohibited from electronic return). The requirements apply to the regularly scheduled general election for federal office in November 2028 and each succeeding federal election, with conforming amendments to state responsibilities under UOCAVA section 102(a) (52 U.S.C. 20302(a)) and clerical updates to the table of contents.

This section directs the Election Assistance Commission to make grants to eligible states, subject to appropriations, for recruiting and training poll workers for elections for public office. Grant recipients must use the Commission's manual on poll worker recruiting, training, and retention as an interactive training tool; develop programs with input from adult learning experts; and ensure training covers culturally competent service delivery to voters with limited English proficiency, diverse backgrounds, disabilities, or varying gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Eligibility requires a state application describing proposed activities, assurances against supplanting other funds, commitments to report poll worker numbers trained, and other Commission-specified information; grants are allocated pro rata based on each state's voting age population share per Census data. Grantees must report to the Commission within six months after the final grant, and the Commission must report to Congress within one year thereafter with recommendations. Appropriations remain available until expended, with no more than 3% for Commission administrative expenses.

This section defines the term "State" for purposes of this title to include 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.

This section amends Section 401 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA) to (1) authorize any aggrieved person to file a written, signed, notarized complaint with the Attorney General (AG) regarding a violation of HAVA title III (i.e., uniform and nondiscriminatory election technology and administration standards, such as voter-verified paper ballots), requiring the AG to respond within the same or shorter deadlines as state procedures under HAVA Section 402 and to share the complaint and response with the relevant state entity; (2) permit such persons to file a private right of action under 42 U.S.C. 1983 to enforce subtitle A of title III; and (3) specify that these changes do not affect state-based complaint procedures. (As background, HAVA title III requires states to meet minimum standards for voting systems and accessibility in federal elections.) The amendments apply to violations occurring in federal elections held in 2027 or any succeeding year.

This section establishes a prohibition, effective with respect to elections for Federal office held after December 2026, on a chief State election administration official (i.e., the highest State official responsible for administering Federal elections under State law) from taking an active part in political management or a political campaign for any such election under the official's supervisory authority. Active part is defined to include (1) holding any position (paid or unpaid) with or participating in decision-making for a candidate's authorized committee; (2) using official authority or influence to interfere with or affect the election result; (3) soliciting, accepting, or receiving contributions on behalf of a Federal candidate; or (4) any other act prohibited for certain Federal employees under specified Hatch Act provisions (excluding running for office). The prohibition does not apply if the official or an immediate family member (i.e., parent, child, sibling, spouse, father-in-law, or mother-in-law) is a candidate in the election, provided the official fully recuses from administering it and the acting supervisor does not report to the official.

This section establishes a severability clause, providing that if any provision of the Act or its amendments, or its application to any person or circumstance, is held unconstitutional, the remainder of the Act and its amendments, and their application to other persons or circumstances, shall not be affected.