,i  #aaf? ,,congress  #b;d ,session  ,h4
 ,r4 #hfjg  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(          
,,repres5tatives  ,octob] #af1 #bjbj,mr4
 ,l>son ( ,connecticut 7= himself & ,mr4
 ,c\rtney7 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 
0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,ov]sight & 
,re=m1 & 9 addition to ! ,committees on 
,h\se ,adm9i/ration1 & ,arm$ ,s]vices1 =
 a p]iod to be subsequ5tly det]m9$ by ! 
,speak]1 9 ea* case = consid]ation ( su*
 provisions z fall )9 ! jurisdiction ( !
 committee conc]n$  ,a ,,bill  ,to      
protect & promote ! ability ( memb]s ( !
 ,arm$ ,=ces & citiz5s to vote by mail1 
& = o!r purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is 
,act may be cit$ z ! ,u4,s4 ,po/al      
,s]vice ,acc\ntability & ,vot+ ,rights  
,act4  #b4 ,po/al s]vice op]ation &     
level ( s]vice *anges tempor>ily        
prohibit$  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,dur+ ! p]iod   
beg9n+ on ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act
 & end+ on ,janu>y #ca1 #bjba1 ! ,unit$ 
,/ates ,po/al ,s]vice may n implem5t or 
approve any *ange to ! op]ations or !   
level ( s]vice provid$ by ! ,po/al      

,s]vice f ^? 9 effect on ,janu>y #a1    
#bjbj1 t w\ld r$uce s]vice p]=mance or  
imp$e prompt1 reliable1 & effici5t      
s]vices1 includ+ any ( ! foll[+ actions3
 7#a7 ,any *ange 9 ! nature ( po/al     
s]vices :i* w g5]ally affect s]vice on a
 nationwide or sub/antially nationwide  
basis4  7#b7 ,any revision ( s]vice     
/&>ds4  7#c7 ,any closure or            
consolidation ( any po/ (fice or po/al  
facility1 or any r$uction ( su* (fice or
 facility h\rs4  7#d7 ,any prohibition  
or re/riction on ! use ( ov]time or     
ov]time pay to ,po/al ,s]vice (fic]s or 
employees4  7#e7 ,any *ange t w\ld      
prev5t ! ,po/al ,s]vice f meet+ its     
s]vice /&>ds or cause a decl9e 9        
measurem5ts ( p]=mance relative to ^?   
s]vice /&>ds4  7#f7 ,any *ange t w\ld h 
! effect ( delay+ def]r+1 or curtail+   
mail1 all[+ = ! non-deliv]y ( mail to a 
deliv]y r\te1 or increas+ ! volume (    
undeliv]$ mail4  7#g7 ,treat+ election  
mail z any class ( mail o!r ?an         
fir/-class mail1 reg>dless ( :e!r su*   

treatm5t requires paym5t ( ov]time pay  
to (fic]s or employees ( ! ,po/al       
,s]vice4  7#h7 ,remov+1 decommission+1  
or any o!r /oppage ( mail sort+ ma*9es1 
o!r ?an = r\t9e ma9t5ance4  7#i7 ,remov+
 or elim9at+ any mail collection box t  
is available to ! public4  7#aj7 ,enact+
 any rule1 policy1 or /&>d ! purpose or 
effect ( :i* w\ld delay ! deliv]y ( mail
 to or f a gov]nm5t entity4  7#aa7      
,in/itut+ any hir+ freeze4  7b7 ,rev]sal
 ( policies h9d]+ deliv]y ( mail ,n lat]
 ?an #cj days aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t (
 ?is ,act1 ! ,po/al ,s]vice %all rev]se 
any initiative or action t 0 implem5t$  
dur+ ! p]iod beg9n+ on ,janu>y #a1      
#bjbj1 & end+ on ! date ( ! enactm5t (  
?is ,act & is caus+ delay 9 process+ or 
deliv]y or non-deliv]y ( ! mail4  7c7   
,def9itions ,9 ?is section3 7#a7        
,election mail ,! t]m election mail     
means mail consi/+ (-- 7,a7 vot]        
regi/ration application =ms1 complet$   
vot] regi/ration application =ms1 & vot]
 regi/ration c>ds or simil> mat]ials2   

7,b7 abs5tee & o!r mail-9 ballot        
application =ms1 blank abs5tee & o!r    
mail-9 ballots1 & complet$ abs5tee & o!r
 mail-9 ballots2 &  7,c7 o!r mat]ials   
relat+ to an election :i* are mail$ by a
 ,/ate or local election (ficial to     
individuals :o are regi/]$ to vote 9 !  
election4  7#b7 ,gov]nm5t entity ,! t]m 
gov]nm5t entity means ! ,f$]al ,gov]nm5t
 or any ,/ate 7z t t]m is def9$ 9       
section #caa ( title #e1 ,unit$ ,/ates  
,code7 or local gov]nm5t & any          
subdivision !re(4  7d7 ,au?orization (  
appropriations ,!re is au?oriz$ to be   
appropriat$ to ! ,po/al ,s]vice ,fund   
7e/abli%$ "u section #bjjc ( title #ci1 
,unit$ ,/ates ,code7 #a1jjj1jjj1jjj =   
fiscal ye>s #bjbj & #bjba to c>ry out   
?is section4  #c4 ,prohibit+ c]ta9      
op]ational & level ( s]vice *anges  7a7 
,9 g5]al ,dur+ any cal5d> ye> beg9n+    
aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act 9   
:i* a ,f$]al election is held1 ! ,po/al 
,s]vice may n implem5t or approve any   
*ange to ! op]ations or ! level ( s]vice

 provid$ by ! ,po/al ,s]vice f ^? 9     
effect on ,janu>y #a ( ! cal5d> ye>1 t  
w\ld r$uce s]vice p]=mance or imp$e     
prompt1 reliable1 & effici5t s]vices1   
includ+ ! actions describ$ 9 p>agraphs  
7#a7 ?r\gh 7#aa7 ( section #b7;a74  7b7 
,s]vice to milit>y & families ( milit>y 
,! ,po/al ,s]vice may n implem5t or     
approve any *ange t r$uces ! level (    
s]vice ) respect to abs5t uni=m$ s]vice 
vot]s or ov]seas vot]s bel[ ! level (   
s]vice 9 effect on ,janu>y #a1 #bjbj4   
#d4 ,track+ program = abs5tee ballots & 
vot] regi/ration application =ms2       
availability ( ,f$]al write-9 abs5tee   
ballot = all vot]s  7a7 ,requirem5ts    
,title ,,iii ( ! ,help ,am]ica ,vote    
,act ( #bjjb 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #bajha et   
seq47 is am5d$-- 7#a7 by r$esignat+     
section #cjd z section #cje2 &  7#b7 by 
ins]t+ aft] section #cjc ! foll[+ new   
sections3  #cjd4 ,abs5tee ballot & vot] 
regi/ration application =m track+       
program  7a7 ,abs5tee ballot track+     
7#a7 ,requirem5t ,ea* ,/ate %all c>ry   

out a program to track & confirm !      
receipt ( abs5tee ballots 9 an election 
= ,f$]al (fice "u :i* ! ,/ate or local  
election (ficial responsible = ! receipt
 ( vot$ abs5tee ballots 9 ! election    
c>ries out proc$ures to track & confirm 
! receipt ( su* ballots1 & makes        
in=mation on ! receipt ( su* ballots    
available to ! individual :o ca/ !      
ballot by means ( onl9e access us+ !    
,int]net site ( ! (ficial's (fice4  7#b7
 ,in=mation on :e!r vote 0 c\nt$ ,!     
in=mation ref]r$ to "u p>agraph 7#a7 )  
respect to ! receipt ( an abs5tee ballot
 %all include in=mation reg>d+ :e!r !   
vote ca/ on ! ballot 0 c\nt$1 &1 9 !    
case ( a vote :i* 0 n c\nt$1 ! reasons  
!re=4  7b7 ,vot] regi/ration application
 =m track+  7#a7 ,requirem5t ,ea* ,/ate 
%all c>ry out a program to track &      
confirm ! receipt ( vot] regi/ration    
application =ms 9 an election = ,f$]al  
(fice "u :i* ! ,/ate or local election  
(ficial responsible = process+ su* =ms  
c>ries out proc$ures to track & confirm 

! receipt ( su* =ms1 & makes in=mation  
on ! receipt ( su* =ms available to !   
individual applicant by means ( onl9e   
access us+ ! ,int]net site ( ! (ficial's
 (fice4  7#b7 ,in=mation on :e!r =m 0   
accept$ ,! in=mation ref]r$ to "u       
p>agraph 7#a7 ) respect to ! receipt ( a
 vot] regi/ration application =m %all   
include in=mation reg>d+ :e!r ! =m 0    
accept$ & ! applicant is regi/]$ to vote
 9 ! election = ,f$]al (fice1 &1 9 !    
case ( a =m :i* 0 n accept$1 ! reasons  
!re=4  7c7 ,use ( ,toll-,free ,telephone
 ,numb] by ,(ficials ,)\t ,int]net ,site
 ,a program e/abli%$ by a ,/ate or local
 election (ficial ^: (fice does n h an  
,int]net site may meet ! requirem5ts (  
subsections 7a7 & 7b7 if ! (ficial has  
e/abli%$ a toll-free telephone numb] t  
may be us$-- 7#a7 by an individual :o   
ca/ an abs5tee ballot to obta9 !        
in=mation on ! receipt ( ! vot$ abs5tee 
ballot z provid$ "u subsection 7a72 &   
7#b7 by an individual applicant = vot]  
regi/ration to obta9 ! in=mation on !   

receipt ( ! vot] regi/ration application
 =m z provid$ "u subsection 7b74  7d7   
,effective date ,?is section %all apply 
) respect to ! regul>ly s*$ul$ g5]al    
election = ,f$]al (fice held 9 ,novemb] 
#bjbb & ea* succe$+ election = ,f$]al   
(fice4  7e7 ,au?orization (             
appropriations ,!re is au?oriz$ to be   
appropriat$ #a1jjj1jjj1jjj = ea* (      
fiscal ye>s #bjba ?r\gh #bjbc to c>ry   
out ?is section4  4  7b7 ,con=m+ am5dm5t
 relat+ to en=cem5t ,section #dja ( su* 
,act 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #baaaa7 is am5d$ by 
/rik+ sections #cja1 #cjb1 & #cjc &     
ins]t+ subtitle ,a ( title ,,iii4  7c7  
,cl]ical am5dm5t ,! table ( cont5ts (   
su* ,act is am5d$-- 7#a7 by r$esignat+ !
 item relat+ to sections #cjd z relat+  
to section #cje2 &  7#b7 by ins]t+ aft] 
! item relat+ to section #cjc ! foll[+  
new item3  ,sec4 #cjd4 ,abs5tee ballot &
 vot] regi/ration application =m track+ 
program4  4  #e4 ,promot+ use ( ,f$]al  
write-9 abs5tee ballot "u ,uni=m$ &     
,ov]seas ,citiz5s ,abs5tee ,vot+ ,act   

7a7 ,elim9at+ exemptions = ,/ates us+   
alt]native ballots & ,/ates mak+ ballots
 available #ij days be=e election       
,section #ajc ( ! ,uni=m$ & ,ov]seas    
,citiz5s ,abs5tee ,vot+ ,act 7#eb       
,u4,s4,c4 #bjcjc7 is am5d$-- 7#a7 by    
/rik+ subsections 7e7 & 7g72 &  7#b7 by 
r$esignat+ subsection 7f7 z subsection  
7e74  7b7 ,effective date ,! am5dm5ts   
made by ?is section %all apply ) respect
 to ! regul>ly s*$ul$ g5]al election =  
,f$]al (fice held 9 ,novemb] #bjbj & ea*
 succe$+ election = ,f$]al (fice4  #f4  
,reports to ,congress  7a7 ,initial     
report ,n lat] ?an #cj days aft] ! date 
( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,po/ma/]     
,g5]al %all submit to ,congress a report
 on any *ange to ! op]ations or ! level 
( s]vice provid$ by ! ,po/al ,s]vice f  
^? 9 effect on ,janu>y #a1 #bjbj1 t--   
7#a7 r$uc$ s]vice p]=mance or imp$$     
prompt1 reliable1 & effici5t s]vices1   
includ+ any actions describ$ 9 p>agraphs
 7#a7 ?r\gh 7#aa7 ( section #b7;a72 &   
7#b7 0 implem5t$ or approv$ dur+ ! p]iod

 beg9n+ on ,june #ae1 #bjbj1 & end+ on !
 date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act4  7b7     
,bi5nial report ,n lat] ?an ,janu>y #a (
 any odd-numb]$ cal5d> ye> beg9n+ aft] !
 date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 !        
,po/ma/] ,g5]al %all submit to ,congress
 a report on any *anges describ$ 9      
section #b7;a7 t 7 implem5t$ or approv$ 
dur+ ! previ\s cal5d> ye>4  7c7 ,milit>y
 & ov]seas abs5tee vot+ ,n lat] #cj days
 aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 & 
annually !reaft]1 ! ,secret>y ( ,def5se1
 act+ ?r\gh ! ,presid5tial designee "u !
 ,uni=m$ & ,ov]seas ,citiz5s ,abs5tee   
,vot+ ,act1 %all submit to ,congress a  
report on h[ *anges to ! op]ations or   
level ( s]vice provid$ by ! ,po/al      
,s]vice affect abs5tee vot+ by abs5t    
uni=m$ s]vice vot]s & ov]seas vot]s "u  
su* ,act4  7d7 ,implem5tation ( ,milit>y
 & ,ov]seas ,vot] ,emp[]m5t ,act ,n lat]
 ?an #cj days aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t (
 ?is ,act & annually !reaft]1 !         
,inspector ,g5]al ( ! ,dep>tm5t (       
,def5se %all submit to ,congress a      

report on ! effectiv5ess ( !            
implem5tation ( ! ,milit>y & ,ov]seas   
,vot] ,emp[]m5t ,act 7subtitle ,h (     
title ,v ( ! ,national ,def5se          
,au?orization ,act = ,fiscal ,ye> #bjaj2
 ,public ,law #aaa-hd7 & ! am5dm5ts made
 by su* ,act1 includ+ ! effectiv5ess (  
su* ,act & su* am5dm5ts 9 promot+       
regi/ration & vot+ by abs5t uni=m$      
s]vice vot]s & ov]seas vot]s & 9        
increas+ ! availability & effectiv5ess (
 vot] regi/ration & vot+ assi/ance      
s]vices = su* vot]s1 & %all include 9 ! 
report su* recomm5dations z ! ,inspector
 ,g5]al consid]s appropriate = improv+ !
 availability & effectiv5ess ( su*      
s]vices = su* vot]s4  #g4 ,cyb]space    
in=mation ?reat tra9+  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,9  
addition to any curr5tly m&at$ tra9+1 ! 
,secret>y ( ,def5se %all annually furni%
 to all memb]s ( ! ,arm$ ,=ces & all    
civilian employees ( ! ,dep>tm5t (      
,def5se tra9+ reg>d+ cyb]space in=mation
 ?reats4  7b7 ,def9itions ,9 ?is        
section-- 7#a7 ,cov]$ entity ,! t]m     

cov]$ entity means-- 7,a7 a gov]nm5t ( a
 =eign c\ntry or an ag5cy or            
in/rum5tality ( a =eign c\ntry2  7,b7 a 
=eign p]son t is aid$1 abett$1 or       
direct$ by a gov]nm5t ( a =eign c\ntry  
or an ag5cy or in/rum5tality ( a =eign  
c\ntry2  7,c7 a t]rori/ organization2 or
  7,d7 any o!r =eign adv]s>y ( ! ,unit$ 
,/ates4  7#b7 ,cyb]space in=mation ?reat
 ,! t]m cyb]space in=mation ?reat means 
any true1 false1 or mislead+ in=mation f
 a cov]$ entity t is-- 7,a7 communicat$ 
?r\gh cyb]space2 &  7,b7 mislead+ or    
influ5tial 9 a mann] t con/itutes a     
?reat to national security or to !      
democratic processes ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 
or t op]ates to ! advantage ( a cov]$   
entity4  #h4 ,def9itions ,9 ?is ,act3   
7#a7 ,abs5t uni=m$ s]vice vot]2 ov]seas 
vot] ,! t]ms abs5t uni=m$ s]vice vot] & 
ov]seas vot] h ! mean+s giv5 su* t]ms 9 
section #ajg ( ! ,uni=m$ & ,ov]seas     
,citiz5s ,abs5tee ,vot+ ,act 7#eb       
,u4,s4,c4 #bjcaj74  7#b7 ,f$]al         
elections ,! t]m ,f$]al election means a

 regul>ly s*$ul$ g5]al election = ,f$]al
 (fice4  7#c7 ,po/al ,s]vice ,! t]m     
,po/al ,s]vice has ! mean+ giv5 su* t]m 
9 section #ajb ( title #ci1 ,unit$      
,/ates ,code4