[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 160 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 160
To ensure election integrity and security and enhance Americans' access
to the ballot box by establishing consistent standards and procedures
for voter registration and voting in elections for Federal office, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 3, 2025
Mr. Fitzpatrick introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee
on Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To ensure election integrity and security and enhance Americans' access
to the ballot box by establishing consistent standards and procedures
for voter registration and voting in elections for Federal office, and
for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Restoring Faith in
Elections Act''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
TITLE I--FEDERAL STANDARDS FOR MAIL-IN BALLOTS
Sec. 101. Short title.
Sec. 102. Federal standards for mail-in ballots.
Sec. 103. Federal standards for reporting election results.
TITLE II--AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION
Sec. 201. Short title; findings and purpose.
Sec. 202. Automatic registration of eligible individuals.
Sec. 203. Contributing agency assistance in registration.
Sec. 204. One-time contributing agency assistance in registration of
eligible voters in existing records.
Sec. 205. Voter protection and security in automatic registration.
Sec. 206. Registration portability and correction.
Sec. 207. Payments and grants.
Sec. 208. Treatment of exempt States.
Sec. 209. Miscellaneous provisions.
Sec. 210. Definitions.
Sec. 211. Effective date.
TITLE III--PROMOTING STANDARDIZED ADMINISTRATION OF ELECTIONS
Sec. 301. Requiring parity in treatment of methods of voting.
Sec. 302. Requiring standard election administration procedures in all
jurisdictions in State.
TITLE IV--PROMOTING ACCURACY OF VOTER REGISTRATION LISTS
Sec. 401. Establishment of National Deconfliction Voting Database and
Clearinghouse.
Sec. 402. Pre-election maintenance and certification of official voter
registration list.
Sec. 403. Requiring applicants for motor vehicle driver's licenses in
new State to indicate whether State serves
as residence for voter registration
purposes.
TITLE I--FEDERAL STANDARDS FOR MAIL-IN BALLOTS
SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ``Verifiable, Orderly, and Timely
Election Results Act''.
SEC. 102. FEDERAL STANDARDS FOR MAIL-IN BALLOTS.
(a) In General.--Title III of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52
U.S.C. 20901 et seq.), as amended by section 2(a) of the COCOA Act of
2024, is amended--
(1) by redesignating sections 305 and 306 as sections 306
and 307, respectively; and
(2) by inserting after section 304 the following new
section:
``SEC. 305. FEDERAL STANDARDS FOR MAIL-IN BALLOTS.
``(a) In General.--When otherwise permitted by State law, any vote-
by-mail system used in an election for Federal office must be designed
and implemented to ensure a secure, uniform, and timely system to cast
a mail-in ballot in accordance with this section.
``(b) Requests.--
``(1) In general.--Requests for a mail-in ballot under such
system may be submitted electronically or by postal mail using
a standardized form approved for such requests by the chief
State election official.
``(2) Request.--The form for such requests must enable an
election official who receives the request to confirm--
``(A) the identity of the individual submitting the
request;
``(B) that the individual is validly registered to
vote in the jurisdiction where the request is
submitted; and
``(C) that the individual continues to reside at
the physical address where the individual is registered
to vote (if different than the mailing address where
the ballot is requested to be sent).
``(3) Deadline for submission.--Such request must be
submitted by an individual and received by the office of the
State or local election supervisor not later than 21 days
before the date of the election for Federal office.
``(4) Mailing of ballots.--Upon receipt of such a request,
the State or local election supervisor shall fulfill the
request by mailing a mail-in ballot to the individual within 3
days.
``(c) Requirements for State or Local Election Officials.--The
office of the State or local election supervisor shall--
``(1) record the total number of mail-in ballots sent to
voters pursuant to this section; and
``(2) include a notation on the voter rolls maintained by
the office and provided to the individual polling locations,
which identifies that a voter has received a mail-in ballot and
the date that mail-in ballot was sent to the voter.
``(d) Ballot Requirements.--
``(1) In general.--To be considered validly cast and
eligible to be counted in an election for Federal office, a
mail-in ballot must--
``(A) be marked using blue or black ink, and
properly designate the individual's vote for each
candidate;
``(B) be signed by the individual using the same
signature the individual used to register to vote;
``(C) be dated;
``(D) be received by the appropriate election
official no later than the time polls close on the date
of the election; and
``(E) include an attestation, signed by the
individual, that the individual submitting the mail-in
ballot is--
``(i) the individual to whom the ballot was
mailed;
``(ii) registered to vote in the
jurisdiction where the ballot is being
submitted; and
``(iii) submitting the mail-in ballot in
lieu of casting a ballot in-person, and will
not attempt to cast a ballot in-person after
submitting the mail-in ballot.
``(2) Return of ballots in-person.--An individual may
choose to return a mail-in ballot in-person to the polling
place where the individual is registered to vote in lieu of
returning the ballot by mail.
``(e) Option To Vote In-Person.--
``(1) In general.--An individual who receives a mail-in
ballot with respect to an election for Federal office may
instead vote in-person in such election if the individual turns
in the blank or incomplete mail-in ballot received by the
individual to the polling location where the individual plans
to vote in-person.
``(2) Provisional ballot.--If the individual attempts to
vote in-person but does not bring their blank or incomplete
mail-in ballot to the polling location, the individual shall be
directed to complete a provisional ballot.
``(f) Persons Permitted To Possess Mail-In Ballots.--
``(1) In general.--It shall be unlawful for any person to
possess or return a mail-in ballot completed by another person,
except as provided in this subsection.
``(2) Immediate family member.--
``(A) In general.--A person may possess or return a
mail-in ballot completed by an immediate family member,
provided that the person does not possess more than two
such completed mail-in ballots other than his or her
own.
``(B) Definition of immediate family member.--In
this paragraph, the term `immediate family member'
means the spouse, child, parent, grandparent, or
sibling of the person.
``(3) Caregiver.--
``(A) In general.--A caregiver may possess or
return a mail-in ballot completed by a person under the
supervision or care of the caregiver, provided that the
caregiver does not possess more than two such completed
mail-in ballots other than his or her own.
``(B) Definition of caregiver.--In this paragraph,
the term `caregiver' means an individual who has the
responsibility for the care of an older individual,
either voluntarily, by contract, by receipt of payment
for care, or as a result of the operation of law and
means an individual who provides (on behalf of such
individual or of a public or private agency,
organization, or institution) compensated or
uncompensated care to an older individual.
``(4) Incidental possession excepted.--The prohibition
under paragraph (1) shall not apply to the incidental
possession of mail-in ballots by a postal worker or election
official acting within the scope of his or her official
capacity.
``(5) Penalty.--Any person who violates this subsection
shall be fined under title 18, United States Code, or
imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both.
``(g) Effective Date.--This section shall apply with respect to
elections for Federal office held after the date of the enactment of
this section.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment Relating to Enforcement.--Section 401 of
such Act (52 U.S.C. 21111), as amended by section 2(b) of the COCOA Act
of 2024, is amended by striking ``and 304'' and inserting ``304, and
305''.
(c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents of such Act, as
amended by section 2(c) of the COCOA Act of 2024, is amended--
(1) by redesignating the items relating to sections 305 and
306 as relating to sections 306 and 307; and
(2) by inserting after the item relating to section 304 the
following new item:
``Sec. 305. Federal standards for mail-in ballots.''.
SEC. 103. FEDERAL STANDARDS FOR REPORTING ELECTION RESULTS.
(a) In General.--Title III of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52
U.S.C. 20901 et seq.), as amended by section 102(a), is amended--
(1) by redesignating sections 306 and 307 as sections 307
and 308, respectively; and
(2) by inserting after section 305 the following new
section:
``SEC. 306. FEDERAL STANDARDS FOR REPORTING ELECTION RESULTS.
``(a) In General.--The chief State election official shall ensure
that ballots validly cast in an election for Federal office are able to
be counted and reported in a timely manner as follows:
``(1) Mail-in ballots received prior to the date of the
election shall be counted beginning at least one week prior to
the date of the election.
``(2) One hour after polls close on the date of the
election, each voting precinct shall report to the chief State
election official the following:
``(A) The total number of mail-in ballots received
by the voting precinct.
``(B) The total number of ballots cast in-person in
the voting precinct.
``(C) Of the ballots reported under subparagraphs
(A) and (B), the number of such ballots that have been
counted and the number of such ballots that remain to
be counted.
``(3) All ballots validly cast in an election for Federal
office shall be counted and reported within 24 hours after the
conclusion of voting on the date of the election.
``(b) Effective Date.--This section shall apply with respect to
elections for Federal office held after the date of the enactment of
this section.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment Relating to Enforcement.--Section 401 of
such Act (52 U.S.C. 21111), as amended by section 102(b), is amended by
striking ``and 305'' and inserting ``305, and 306''.
(c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents of such Act, as
amended by section 102(c), is amended--
(1) by redesignating the items relating to sections 306 and
307 as relating to sections 307 and 308; and
(2) by inserting after the item relating to section 305 the
following new item:
``Sec. 306. Federal standards for reporting election results.''.
TITLE II--AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION
SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE; FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.
(a) Short Title.--This title may be cited as the ``Automatic Voter
Registration Act of 2025''.
(b) Findings and Purpose.--
(1) Findings.--Congress finds that--
(A) the right to vote is a fundamental right of
citizens of the United States;
(B) it is the responsibility of the State and
Federal Governments to ensure that every eligible
citizen is registered to vote;
(C) existing voter registration systems can be
inaccurate, costly, inaccessible and confusing, with
damaging effects on voter participation in elections
and disproportionate impacts on young people, persons
with disabilities, and racial and ethnic minorities;
and
(D) voter registration systems must be updated with
21st-century technologies and procedures to maintain
their security.
(2) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this title--
(A) to establish that it is the responsibility of
government at every level to ensure that all eligible
citizens are registered to vote;
(B) to enable the State and Federal Governments to
register all eligible citizens to vote with accurate,
cost-efficient, and up-to-date procedures;
(C) to modernize voter registration and list
maintenance procedures with electronic and internet
capabilities; and
(D) to protect and enhance the integrity, accuracy,
efficiency, and accessibility of the electoral process
for all eligible citizens.
SEC. 202. AUTOMATIC REGISTRATION OF ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS.
(a) Requiring States To Establish and Operate Automatic
Registration System.--
(1) In general.--The chief State election official of each
State shall establish and operate a system of automatic
registration for the registration of eligible individuals to
vote for elections for Federal office in the State, in
accordance with the provisions of this title.
(2) Definition.--The term ``automatic registration'' means
a system that registers an individual to vote in elections for
Federal office in a State, if eligible, by electronically
transferring the information necessary for registration from
government agencies to election officials of the State so that,
unless the individual affirmatively declines to be registered,
the individual will be registered to vote in such elections.
(b) Registration of Voters Based on New Agency Records.--The chief
State election official shall--
(1) not later than 15 days after a contributing agency has
transmitted information with respect to an individual pursuant
to section 203, ensure that the individual is registered to
vote in elections for Federal office in the State if the
individual is eligible to be registered to vote in such
elections; and
(2) send written notice to the individual, in addition to
other means of notice established by this part, of the
individual's voter registration status.
(c) One-Time Registration of Voters Based on Existing Contributing
Agency Records.--The chief State election official shall--
(1) identify all individuals whose information is
transmitted by a contributing agency pursuant to section 204
and who are eligible to be, but are not currently, registered
to vote in that State;
(2) promptly send each such individual written notice, in
addition to other means of notice established by this title,
which shall not identify the contributing agency that
transmitted the information but shall include--
(A) an explanation that voter registration is
voluntary, but if the individual does not decline
registration, the individual will be registered to
vote;
(B) a statement offering the opportunity to decline
voter registration through means consistent with the
requirements of this title;
(C) in the case of a State in which affiliation or
enrollment with a political party is required in order
to participate in an election to select the party's
candidate in an election for Federal office, a
statement offering the individual the opportunity to
affiliate or enroll with a political party or to
decline to affiliate or enroll with a political party,
through means consistent with the requirements of this
title;
(D) the substantive qualifications of an elector in
the State as listed in the mail voter registration
application form for elections for Federal office
prescribed pursuant to section 9 of the National Voter
Registration Act of 1993, the consequences of false
registration, and a statement that the individual
should decline to register if the individual does not
meet all those qualifications;
(E) instructions for correcting any erroneous
information; and
(F) instructions for providing any additional
information which is listed in the mail voter
registration application form for elections for Federal
office prescribed pursuant to section 9 of the National
Voter Registration Act of 1993;
(3) ensure that each such individual who is eligible to
register to vote in elections for Federal office in the State
is promptly registered to vote not later than 45 days after the
official sends the individual the written notice under
paragraph (2), unless, during the 30-day period which begins on
the date the election official sends the individual such
written notice, the individual declines registration in
writing, through a communication made over the internet, or by
an officially logged telephone communication; and
(4) send written notice to each such individual, in
addition to other means of notice established by this title, of
the individual's voter registration status.
(d) Treatment of Individuals Under 18 Years of Age.--A State may
not refuse to treat an individual as an eligible individual for
purposes of this title on the grounds that the individual is less than
18 years of age at the time a contributing agency receives information
with respect to the individual, so long as the individual is at least
16 years of age at such time.
(e) Contributing Agency Defined.--In this part, the term
``contributing agency'' means, with respect to a State, an agency
listed in section 203(e).
SEC. 203. CONTRIBUTING AGENCY ASSISTANCE IN REGISTRATION.
(a) In General.--In accordance with this title, each contributing
agency in a State shall assist the State's chief election official in
registering to vote all eligible individuals served by that agency.
(b) Requirements for Contributing Agencies.--
(1) Instructions on automatic registration.--With each
application for service or assistance, and with each related
recertification, renewal, or change of address, or, in the case
of an institution of higher education, with each registration
of a student for enrollment in a course of study, each
contributing agency that (in the normal course of its
operations) requests individuals to affirm United States
citizenship (either directly or as part of the overall
application for service or assistance) shall inform each such
individual who is a citizen of the United States of the
following:
(A) Unless that individual declines to register to
vote, or is found ineligible to vote, the individual
will be registered to vote or, if applicable, the
individual's registration will be updated.
(B) The substantive qualifications of an elector in
the State as listed in the mail voter registration
application form for elections for Federal office
prescribed pursuant to section 9 of the National Voter
Registration Act of 1993, the consequences of false
registration, and the individual should decline to
register if the individual does not meet all those
qualifications.
(C) In the case of a State in which affiliation or
enrollment with a political party is required in order
to participate in an election to select the party's
candidate in an election for Federal office, the
requirement that the individual must affiliate or
enroll with a political party in order to participate
in such an election.
(D) Voter registration is voluntary, and neither
registering nor declining to register to vote will in
any way affect the availability of services or
benefits, nor be used for other purposes.
(2) Opportunity to decline registration required.--Each
contributing agency shall ensure that each application for
service or assistance, and each related recertification,
renewal, or change of address, or, in the case of an
institution of higher education, each registration of a student
for enrollment in a course of study, cannot be completed until
the individual is given the opportunity to decline to be
registered to vote.
(3) Information transmittal.--Upon the expiration of the
30-day period which begins on the date the contributing agency
informs the individual of the information described in
paragraph (1), each contributing agency shall electronically
transmit to the appropriate State election official, in a
format compatible with the statewide voter database maintained
under section 303 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52
U.S.C. 21083), the following information, unless during such
30-day period the individual declined to be registered to vote:
(A) The individual's given name(s) and surname(s).
(B) The individual's date of birth.
(C) The individual's residential address.
(D) Information showing that the individual is a
citizen of the United States.
(E) The date on which information pertaining to
that individual was collected or last updated.
(F) If available, the individual's signature in
electronic form.
(G) Information regarding the individual's
affiliation or enrollment with a political party, if
the individual provides such information.
(H) Any additional information listed in the mail
voter registration application form for elections for
Federal office prescribed pursuant to section 9 of the
National Voter Registration Act of 1993, including any
valid driver's license number or the last 4 digits of
the individual's social security number, if the
individual provided such information.
(c) Alternate Procedure for Certain Contributing Agencies.--With
each application for service or assistance, and with each related
recertification, renewal, or change of address, or in the case of an
institution of higher education, with each registration of a student
for enrollment in a course of study, any contributing agency that in
the normal course of its operations does not request individuals
applying for service or assistance to affirm United States citizenship
(either directly or as part of the overall application for service or
assistance) shall--
(1) complete the requirements of section 7(a)(6) of the
National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C.
20506(a)(6));
(2) ensure that each applicant's transaction with the
agency cannot be completed until the applicant has indicated
whether the applicant wishes to register to vote or declines to
register to vote in elections for Federal office held in the
State; and
(3) for each individual who wishes to register to vote,
transmit that individual's information in accordance with
subsection (b)(3).
(d) Required Availability of Automatic Registration Opportunity
With Each Application for Service or Assistance.--Each contributing
agency shall offer each individual, with each application for service
or assistance, and with each related recertification, renewal, or
change of address, or in the case of an institution of higher
education, with each registration of a student for enrollment in a
course of study, the opportunity to register to vote as prescribed by
this section without regard to whether the individual previously
declined a registration opportunity.
(e) Contributing Agencies.--
(1) State agencies.--In each State, each of the following
agencies shall be treated as a contributing agency:
(A) Each agency in a State that is required by
Federal law to provide voter registration services,
including the State motor vehicle authority and other
voter registration agencies under the National Voter
Registration Act of 1993.
(B) Each agency in a State that administers a
program pursuant to title III of the Social Security
Act (42 U.S.C. 501 et seq.), title XIX of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.), or the Patient
Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-
148).
(C) Each State agency primarily responsible for
regulating the private possession of firearms.
(D) Each State agency primarily responsible for
maintaining identifying information for students
enrolled at public secondary schools, including, where
applicable, the State agency responsible for
maintaining the education data system described in
section 6201(e)(2) of the America COMPETES Act (20
U.S.C. 9871(e)(2)).
(E) In the case of a State in which an individual
disenfranchised by a criminal conviction may become
eligible to vote upon completion of a criminal sentence
or any part thereof, or upon formal restoration of
rights, the State agency responsible for administering
that sentence, or part thereof, or that restoration of
rights.
(F) Any other agency of the State which is
designated by the State as a contributing agency.
(2) Federal agencies.--In each State, each of the following
agencies of the Federal Government shall be treated as a
contributing agency with respect to individuals who are
residents of that State (except as provided in subparagraph
(C)):
(A) The Social Security Administration, the
Department of Veterans Affairs, the Defense Manpower
Data Center of the Department of Defense, the Employee
and Training Administration of the Department of Labor,
and the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services of the
Department of Health and Human Services.
(B) The Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration
Services, but only with respect to individuals who have
completed the naturalization process.
(C) In the case of an individual who is a resident
of a State in which an individual disenfranchised by a
criminal conviction under Federal law may become
eligible to vote upon completion of a criminal sentence
or any part thereof, or upon formal restoration of
rights, the Federal agency responsible for
administering that sentence or part thereof (without
regard to whether the agency is located in the same
State in which the individual is a resident), but only
with respect to individuals who have completed the
criminal sentence or any part thereof.
(D) Any other agency of the Federal Government
which the State designates as a contributing agency,
but only if the State and the head of the agency
determine that the agency collects information
sufficient to carry out the responsibilities of a
contributing agency under this section.
(3) Institutions of higher education.--Each institution of
higher education that receives Federal funds shall be treated
as a contributing agency in the State in which it is located,
but only with respect to students of the institution (including
students who attend classes online) who reside in the State. An
institution of higher education described in the previous
sentence shall be exempt from the voter registration
requirements of section 487(a)(23) of the Higher Education Act
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1094(a)(23)) if the institution is in
compliance with the applicable requirements of this part.
(4) Publication.--Not later than 180 days prior to the date
of each election for Federal office held in the State, the
chief State election official shall publish on the public
website of the official an updated list of all contributing
agencies in that State.
(5) Public education.--The chief State election official of
each State, in collaboration with each contributing agency,
shall take appropriate measures to educate the public about
voter registration under this section.
SEC. 204. ONE-TIME CONTRIBUTING AGENCY ASSISTANCE IN REGISTRATION OF
ELIGIBLE VOTERS IN EXISTING RECORDS.
(a) Initial Transmittal of Information.--For each individual
already listed in a contributing agency's records as of the date of
enactment of this Act, and for whom the agency has the information
listed in section 203(b)(3), the agency shall promptly transmit that
information to the appropriate State election official in accordance
with section 203(b)(3) not later than the effective date described in
section 211(a).
(b) Transition.--For each individual listed in a contributing
agency's records as of the effective date described in section 211(a)
(but who was not listed in a contributing agency's records as of the
date of enactment of this Act), and for whom the agency has the
information listed in section 203(b)(3), the Agency shall promptly
transmit that information to the appropriate State election official in
accordance with section 203(b)(3) not later than 6 months after the
effective date described in section 211(a).
SEC. 205. VOTER PROTECTION AND SECURITY IN AUTOMATIC REGISTRATION.
(a) Protections for Errors in Registration.--An individual shall
not be prosecuted under any Federal law, adversely affected in any
civil adjudication concerning immigration status or naturalization, or
subject to an allegation in any legal proceeding that the individual is
not a citizen of the United States on any of the following grounds:
(1) The individual notified an election office of the
individual's automatic registration to vote under this title.
(2) The individual is not eligible to vote in elections for
Federal office but was automatically registered to vote under
this title.
(3) The individual was automatically registered to vote
under this title at an incorrect address.
(4) The individual declined the opportunity to register to
vote or did not make an affirmation of citizenship, including
through automatic registration, under this title.
(b) Limits on Use of Automatic Registration.--The automatic
registration of any individual or the fact that an individual declined
the opportunity to register to vote or did not make an affirmation of
citizenship (including through automatic registration) under this title
may not be used as evidence against that individual in any State or
Federal law enforcement proceeding, and an individual's lack of
knowledge or willfulness of such registration may be demonstrated by
the individual's testimony alone.
(c) Protection of Election Integrity.--Nothing in subsection (a) or
(b) may be construed to prohibit or restrict any action under color of
law against an individual who--
(1) knowingly and willfully makes a false statement to
effectuate or perpetuate automatic voter registration by any
individual; or
(2) casts a ballot knowingly and willfully in violation of
State law or the laws of the United States.
(d) Contributing Agencies' Protection of Information.--Nothing in
this title authorizes a contributing agency to collect, retain,
transmit, or publicly disclose any of the following:
(1) An individual's decision to decline to register to vote
or not to register to vote.
(2) An individual's decision not to affirm his or her
citizenship.
(3) Any information that a contributing agency transmits
pursuant to section 203(b)(3), except in pursuing the agency's
ordinary course of business.
(e) Election Officials' Protection of Information.--
(1) Public disclosure prohibited.--
(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), with
respect to any individual for whom any State election
official receives information from a contributing
agency, the State election officials shall not publicly
disclose any of the following:
(i) The identity of the contributing
agency.
(ii) Any information not necessary to voter
registration.
(iii) Any voter information otherwise
shielded from disclosure under State law or
section 8(a) of the National Voter Registration
Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20507(a)).
(iv) Any portion of the individual's social
security number.
(v) Any portion of the individual's motor
vehicle driver's license number.
(vi) The individual's signature.
(vii) The individual's telephone number.
(viii) The individual's email address.
(B) Special rule for individuals registered to
vote.--With respect to any individual for whom any
State election official receives information from a
contributing agency and who, on the basis of such
information, is registered to vote in the State under
this part, the State election officials shall not
publicly disclose any of the following:
(i) The identity of the contributing
agency.
(ii) Any information not necessary to voter
registration.
(iii) Any voter information otherwise
shielded from disclosure under State law or
section 8(a) of the National Voter Registration
Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20507(a)).
(iv) Any portion of the individual's social
security number.
(v) Any portion of the individual's motor
vehicle driver's license number.
(vi) The individual's signature.
(2) Voter record changes.--Each State shall maintain for at
least 2 years and shall make available for public inspection
and, where available, photocopying at a reasonable cost, all
records of changes to voter records, including removals and
updates.
(3) Database management standards.--The Director of the
National Institute of Standards and Technology shall, after
providing the public with notice and the opportunity to
comment--
(A) establish standards governing the comparison of
data for voter registration list maintenance purposes,
identifying as part of such standards the specific data
elements, the matching rules used, and how a State may
use the data to determine and deem that an individual
is ineligible under State law to vote in an election,
or to deem a record to be a duplicate or outdated;
(B) ensure that the standards developed pursuant to
this paragraph are uniform and nondiscriminatory and
are applied in a uniform and nondiscriminatory manner;
and
(C) publish the standards developed pursuant to
this paragraph on the Director's website and make those
standards available in written form upon request.
(4) Security policy.--The Director of the National
Institute of Standards and Technology shall, after providing
the public with notice and the opportunity to comment, publish
privacy and security standards for voter registration
information. The standards shall require the chief State
election official of each State to adopt a policy that shall
specify--
(A) each class of users who shall have authorized
access to the computerized statewide voter registration
list, specifying for each class the permission and
levels of access to be granted, and setting forth other
safeguards to protect the privacy, security, and
accuracy of the information on the list; and
(B) security safeguards to protect personal
information transmitted through the information
transmittal processes of section 203 or section 204,
the online system used pursuant to section 207, any
telephone interface, the maintenance of the voter
registration database, and any audit procedure to track
access to the system.
(5) State compliance with national standards.--
(A) Certification.--The chief executive officer of
the State shall annually file with the Election
Assistance Commission a statement certifying to the
Director of the National Institute of Standards and
Technology that the State is in compliance with the
standards referred to in paragraphs (3) and (4). A
State may meet the requirement of the previous sentence
by filing with the Commission a statement which reads
as follows: ``_____ hereby certifies that it is in
compliance with the standards referred to in paragraphs
(3) and (4) of section 205 of the Automatic Voter
Registration Act of 2025.'' (with the blank to be
filled in with the name of the State involved).
(B) Publication of policies and procedures.--The
chief State election official of a State shall publish
on the official's website the policies and procedures
established under this section, and shall make those
policies and procedures available in written form upon
public request.
(C) Funding dependent on certification.--If a State
does not timely file the certification required under
this paragraph, it shall not receive any payment under
this title for the upcoming fiscal year.
(D) Compliance of states that require changes to
state law.--In the case of a State that requires State
legislation to carry out an activity covered by any
certification submitted under this paragraph, for a
period of not more than 2 years the State shall be
permitted to make the certification notwithstanding
that the legislation has not been enacted at the time
the certification is submitted, and such State shall
submit an additional certification once such
legislation is enacted.
(f) Restrictions on Use of Information.--No person acting under
color of law may discriminate against any individual based on, or use
for any purpose other than voter registration, election administration,
or enforcement relating to election crimes, any of the following:
(1) Voter registration records.
(2) An individual's declination to register to vote or
complete an affirmation of citizenship under section 203(b).
(3) An individual's voter registration status.
(g) Prohibition on the Use of Voter Registration Information for
Commercial Purposes.--Information collected under this title shall not
be used for commercial purposes. Nothing in this subsection may be
construed to prohibit the transmission, exchange, or dissemination of
information for political purposes, including the support of campaigns
for election for Federal, State, or local public office or the
activities of political committees (including committees of political
parties) under the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971.
SEC. 206. REGISTRATION PORTABILITY AND CORRECTION.
(a) Correcting Registration Information at Polling Place.--
Notwithstanding section 302(a) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52
U.S.C. 21082(a)), if an individual is registered to vote in elections
for Federal office held in a State, the appropriate election official
at the polling place for any such election (including a location used
as a polling place on a date other than the date of the election) shall
permit the individual to--
(1) update the individual's address for purposes of the
records of the election official;
(2) correct any incorrect information relating to the
individual, including the individual's name and political party
affiliation, in the records of the election official; and
(3) cast a ballot in the election on the basis of the
updated address or corrected information, and to have the
ballot treated as a regular ballot and not as a provisional
ballot under section 302(a) of such Act.
(b) Updates to Computerized Statewide Voter Registration Lists.--If
an election official at the polling place receives an updated address
or corrected information from an individual under subsection (a), the
official shall ensure that the address or information is promptly
entered into the computerized statewide voter registration list in
accordance with section 303(a)(1)(A)(vi) of the Help America Vote Act
of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21083(a)(1)(A)(vi)).
SEC. 207. PAYMENTS AND GRANTS.
(a) In General.--The Election Assistance Commission shall make
grants to each eligible State to assist the State in implementing the
requirements of this title (or, in the case of an exempt State, in
implementing its existing automatic voter registration program).
(b) Eligibility; Application.--A State is eligible to receive a
grant under this section if the State submits to the Commission, at
such time and in such form as the Commission may require, an
application containing--
(1) a description of the activities the State will carry
out with the grant;
(2) an assurance that the State shall carry out such
activities without partisan bias and without promoting any
particular point of view regarding any issue; and
(3) such other information and assurances as the Commission
may require.
(c) Amount of Grant; Priorities.--The Commission shall determine
the amount of a grant made to an eligible State under this section. In
determining the amounts of the grants, the Commission shall give
priority to providing funds for those activities which are most likely
to accelerate compliance with the requirements of this title (or, in
the case of an exempt State, which are most likely to enhance the
ability of the State to automatically register individuals to vote
through its existing automatic voter registration program), including--
(1) investments supporting electronic information transfer,
including electronic collection and transfer of signatures,
between contributing agencies and the appropriate State
election officials;
(2) updates to online or electronic voter registration
systems already operating as of the date of the enactment of
this Act;
(3) introduction of online voter registration systems in
jurisdictions in which those systems did not previously exist;
and
(4) public education on the availability of new methods of
registering to vote, updating registration, and correcting
registration.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--
(1) Authorization.--There are authorized to be appropriated
to carry out this section--
(A) $500,000,000 for fiscal year 2025; and
(B) such sums as may be necessary for each
succeeding fiscal year.
(2) Continuing availability of funds.--Any amounts
appropriated pursuant to the authority of this subsection shall
remain available without fiscal year limitation until expended.
SEC. 208. TREATMENT OF EXEMPT STATES.
(a) Waiver of Requirements.--Except as provided in subsection (b),
this title does not apply with respect to an exempt State.
(b) Exceptions.--The following provisions of this title apply with
respect to an exempt State:
(1) Section 206 (relating to registration portability and
correction).
(2) Section 207 (relating to payments and grants).
(3) Section 209(e) (relating to enforcement).
(4) Section 209(f) (relating to relation to other laws).
SEC. 209. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.
(a) Accessibility of Registration Services.--Each contributing
agency shall ensure that the services it provides under this title are
made available to individuals with disabilities to the same extent as
services are made available to all other individuals.
(b) Transmission Through Secure Third Party Permitted.--Nothing in
this title shall be construed to prevent a contributing agency from
contracting with a third party to assist the agency in meeting the
information transmittal requirements of this title, so long as the data
transmittal complies with the applicable requirements of this title,
including the privacy and security provisions of section 205.
(c) Nonpartisan, Nondiscriminatory Provision of Services.--The
services made available by contributing agencies under this title and
by the State under sections 205 and 206 shall be made in a manner
consistent with paragraphs (4), (5), and (6)(C) of section 7(a) of the
National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20506(a)).
(d) Notices.--Each State may send notices under this title via
electronic mail if the individual has provided an electronic mail
address and consented to electronic mail communications for election-
related materials. All notices sent pursuant to this title that require
a response must offer the individual notified the opportunity to
respond at no cost to the individual.
(e) Enforcement.--Section 11 of the National Voter Registration Act
of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20510), relating to civil enforcement and the
availability of private rights of action, shall apply with respect to
this title in the same manner as such section applies to such Act.
(f) Relation to Other Laws.--Except as provided, nothing in this
title may be construed to authorize or require conduct prohibited
under, or to supersede, restrict, or limit the application of any of
the following:
(1) The Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 10301 et
seq.).
(2) The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act
(52 U.S.C. 20301 et seq.).
(3) The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C.
20501 et seq.).
(4) The Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 20901 et
seq.).
SEC. 210. DEFINITIONS.
In this title, the following definitions apply:
(1) The term ``chief State election official'' means, with
respect to a State, the individual designated by the State
under section 10 of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993
(52 U.S.C. 20509) to be responsible for coordination of the
State's responsibilities under such Act.
(2) The term ``Commission'' means the Election Assistance
Commission.
(3) The term ``exempt State'' means a State which, under
law which is in effect continuously on and after the date of
the enactment of this Act, operates an automatic voter
registration program under which an individual is automatically
registered to vote in elections for Federal office in the State
if the individual provides the motor vehicle authority of the
State with such identifying information as the State may
require.
(4) The term ``State'' means each of the several States and
the District of Columbia.
SEC. 211. EFFECTIVE DATE.
(a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), this title
and the amendments made by this title shall apply with respect to a
State beginning January 1, 2027.
(b) Waiver.--Subject to the approval of the Commission, if a State
certifies to the Commission that the State will not meet the deadline
referred to in subsection (a) because of extraordinary circumstances
and includes in the certification the reasons for the failure to meet
the deadline, subsection (a) shall apply to the State as if the
reference in such subsection to ``January 1, 2027'' were a reference to
``January 1, 2029''.
TITLE III--PROMOTING STANDARDIZED ADMINISTRATION OF ELECTIONS
SEC. 301. REQUIRING PARITY IN TREATMENT OF METHODS OF VOTING.
(a) Requirement.--Section 302 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002
(52 U.S.C. 21082) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following new
subsection:
``(d) Requiring Parity in Treatment of Methods of Voting.--
``(1) Requirement.--Each State and jurisdiction shall
administer an election for Federal office under standards which
apply equally to all methods of voting used in the election,
including standards relating to signature verification, and
shall not prepay or otherwise subsidize the costs associated
with one method of voting in an election unless the State or
jurisdiction prepays or otherwise subsidizes the costs
associated with other methods of voting in the election in an
equivalent amount.
``(2) Exception for certain costs.--Paragraph (1) does not
apply with respect to costs prepaid or otherwise subsidized by
a State or jurisdiction in providing accommodations for
disabled voters or in meeting the requirements of the Uniformed
and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.''.
(b) Effective Date.--Section 302(e) of such Act, as redesignated by
subsection (a), is amended by striking the period at the end and
inserting the following: ``, except that the requirements of subsection
(d) shall apply with respect to the regularly scheduled general
election for Federal office held in November 2026 and each succeeding
election for Federal office.''.
SEC. 302. REQUIRING STANDARD ELECTION ADMINISTRATION PROCEDURES IN ALL
JURISDICTIONS IN STATE.
(a) Requirement.--Section 302 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002
(52 U.S.C. 21082), as amended by section 301(a), is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (f); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (d) the following new
subsection:
``(e) Requiring Standard Election Administration Procedures in All
Jurisdictions.--Each State shall ensure that the procedures used for
the administration of elections for Federal office in the State,
including the procedures used to determine the conditions under which
individuals may cast provisional ballots and the criteria for the
acceptance and rejection of provisional ballots, are standardized and
uniform for all jurisdictions in the State which administer such
elections.''.
(b) Effective Date.--Section 302(f) of such Act, as redesignated by
subsection (a) and as amended by section 301(b), is amended by striking
``subsection (d)'' and inserting ``subsections (d) and (e)''.
TITLE IV--PROMOTING ACCURACY OF VOTER REGISTRATION LISTS
SEC. 401. ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL DECONFLICTION VOTING DATABASE AND
CLEARINGHOUSE.
(a) Establishment.--There is established within the Cybersecurity
and Infrastructure Security Agency the National Deconfliction Voting
Database and Clearinghouse.
(b) Purpose.--The National Deconfliction Voting Database and
Clearinghouse shall assist States in ensuring the integrity of
elections for Federal office by serving as a database and clearinghouse
of voter registration records and lists of eligible voters in elections
for Federal office, so that States may ensure that individual voters
are registered only in the one State in which they are domiciled,
deceased voters are purged from voting rolls, and only citizens of the
United States vote in such elections.
(c) Definition.--In this section, the term ``State'' has the
meaning given such term in the National Voter Registration Act of 1993
(52 U.S.C. 20501 et seq.).
SEC. 402. PRE-ELECTION MAINTENANCE AND CERTIFICATION OF OFFICIAL VOTER
REGISTRATION LIST.
(a) Requiring State To Certify Completion of Program To Remove
Ineligible Voters Prior to Date of Election and Transfer Certified List
of Eligible Voters to Clearinghouse.--Section 8(c)(2)(A) of the
National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20507(c)(2)(A)) is
amended by striking ``A State shall complete'' and all that follows
through ``eligible voters'' and inserting the following: ``Not later
than 90 days prior to the date of an election for Federal office, each
State and the chief State election official of each State shall certify
to the Election Assistance Commission and the Cybersecurity and
Infrastructure Security Agency that the State has completed a program
to remove the names of ineligible voters from the official list of
eligible voters with respect to the election, and shall transfer to the
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (for inclusion in the
National Deconfliction Voting Database and Clearinghouse) the certified
list of eligible voters in the election.''.
(b) Provision of Information to State and CISA by United States
Postal Service and Social Security Administration.--Section 8(c)(2) of
such Act (52 U.S.C. 20507(c)(2)) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (C);
and
(2) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following new
subparagraph:
``(B) Not later than 180 days before the date of each regularly
scheduled general election for Federal office--
``(i) the Postmaster General shall transmit to the chief
State election official of a State and the Cybersecurity and
Infrastructure Security Agency change-of-address information on
individuals who, since the previous regularly scheduled general
election for Federal office, are no longer residents of the
State; and
``(ii) the Director of the Social Security Administration
shall transmit to the chief State election official and the
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency information on
individuals from the State who have died since the previous
regularly scheduled general election for Federal office.''.
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply with respect to the regularly scheduled general election for
Federal office held in November 2026 and each succeeding election for
Federal office.
SEC. 403. REQUIRING APPLICANTS FOR MOTOR VEHICLE DRIVER'S LICENSES IN
NEW STATE TO INDICATE WHETHER STATE SERVES AS RESIDENCE
FOR VOTER REGISTRATION PURPOSES.
(a) Requirements for Applicants for Licenses.--Section 5(d) of the
National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20504(d)) is
amended--
(1) by striking ``Any change'' and inserting ``(1) Any
change''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(2)(A) A State motor vehicle authority shall require each
individual applying for a motor vehicle driver's license in the State--
``(i) to attest, under penalty of perjury, whether the
individual resides in another State or resided in another State
prior to applying for the license, and, if so, to identify the
State involved; and
``(ii) to attest, under penalty of perjury, whether the
individual intends for the State to serve as the individual's
residence for purposes of registering to vote in elections for
Federal office.
``(B) If pursuant to subparagraph (A)(ii) an individual indicates
to the State motor vehicle authority that the individual intends for
the State to serve as the individual's residence for purposes of
registering to vote in elections for Federal office, the authority
shall notify the motor vehicle authority of the State identified by the
individual pursuant to subparagraph (A)(i), who shall notify the chief
State election official of such State that the individual no longer
intends for that State to serve as the individual's residence for
purposes of registering to vote in elections for Federal office.''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall
take effect with respect to elections occurring in 2025 or any
succeeding year.
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