,i #aaf? ,,congress #a/ ,session ,h4 ,r4 #ib ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,( ,,repres5tatives ,janu>y #c1 #bjai,mr4 ,blum5au] 7= himself1 ,mr4 ,cicill9e1 ,mr4 ,de,fazio1 ,ms4 ,bonamici1 ,mr4 ,s*rad]1 ,ms4 ,s*ak[sky1 ,ms4 ,kaptur1 ,mr4 ,deut*1 ,ms4 ,jayapal1 ,ms4 ,sewell ( ,alabama1 ,mr4 ,coop]1 ,mr4 ,smi? ( ,wa%+ton1 ,ms4 ,br[nley ( ,cali=nia1 ,mr4 ,c>bajal1 ,mr4 ,swalwell ( ,cali=nia1 & ,ms4 ,norton7 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,h\se ,adm9i/ration1 & 9 addition to ! ,committee on ,ov]sight & ,re=m1 = 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 am5d ! ,help ,am]ica ,vote ,act ( #bjjb to all[ all eligible vot]s to vote by mail 9 ,f$]al elections1 to am5d ! ,national ,vot] ,regi/ration ,act ( #aiic to provide = automatic vot] regi/ration4 #a4 ,%ort ,title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! ,vote ,by ,mail ,act ( #bjai4 #b4 ,f9d+s ,congress f9ds ! foll[+3 7#a7 ,an inequity ( vot+ rights exi/s 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates because vot]s 9 "s ,/ates h ! univ]sal "r to vote by mail :ile vot]s 9 o!r ,/ates d n4 7#b7 ,_m vot]s (t5 h "w1 family1 or o!r commitm5ts t make gett+ to polls & wait+ 9 l9e on ! date ( an election difficult or impossible4 ,_m citiz5s ) disabilities are physically unable to vote due to long l9es1 inadequate p>k+1 no curb cuts1 /eep ramps1 & l>ge cr[ds4 ,9 #bjab1 #cj p]c5t ( vot]s ) disabilities _h difficulty vot+1 & m ?an #e1jjj1jjj vot]s wait$ m ?an an h\r to vote4 ,"u curr5t ,/ate laws1 _m ( ^! vot]s are n p]mitt$ to vote by mail4 7#c7 ,tw5ty-eight ,/ates curr5tly all[ univ]sal abs5tee vot+ 7also kn[n z no-excuse abs5tee vot+71 :i* p]mits any vot] to reque/ a mail-9 ballot )\t provid+ a reason = ! reque/4 ,no ,/ate :i* has implem5t$ no-excuse abs5tee vot+ has repeal$ x4 7#d7 ,?ree ,/ates curr5tly hold elections entirely by mail4 ,tw5ty-two ,/ates curr5tly all[ "s elections to be conduct$ by mail1 especially 9 l>ge & rural jurisdictions :]e vot+ by mail is especially conv5i5t4 ,poll+ /ations 9 rural jurisdictions t5d to h high] co/s p] vot]1 small] /affs1 & limit$ res\rces4 ,transportation is (t5 a crucial b>ri] = rural vot]s4 7#e7 ,vot+ by mail gives vot]s m "t to consid] _! *oices1 :i* is especially important z _m ballots conta9 great] numb]s ( que/ions ab\t complex issues ?an 9 ! pa/ due to ! exp&$ use ( ! initiative & ref]5dum process 9 _m ,/ates4 7#f7 ,vot+ by mail is co/ effective4 ,aft] ! ,/ate ( ,oregon adopt$ vote by mail = all vot]s 9 #aiif1 ! co/ to adm9i/] an election 9 ! ,/ate dropp$ by ne>ly #cj p]c5t ov] ! next few elections1 f #c4jg p] vot] to #b4ba p] vot]4 ,aft] ,colorado implem5t$ all-mail ballot+ 9 #bjac1 vot+ adm9i/ration co/s decreas$ by an av]age ( #dj p]c5t4 ,! co/ ( conduct+ vote-by-mail elections is g5]ally "o-?ird to "o-half less ?an conduct+ poll+ place elections4 ,vot+ by mail also saves a sub/antial am\nt by gett+ rid ( ! tempor>y labor co/s ( hir+ poll work]s4 ,9 addition to t co/1 _m jurisdictions h be5 fac+ difficulty 9 obta9+ suffici5t numb]s ( poll work]s4 7#g7 ,all[+ all vot]s ! option to vote by mail c r$uce wait+ times = ^? vot]s :o *oose to vote at ! polls4 ,9 #bjaf1 vot]s 9 ,arizona report$ wait+ 9 l9e f #a to #e h\rs to vote2 9 ,new ,york1 vot]s report$ t /ations ran out ( ballots & did n h /aff dur+ all ( ! h\rs s*$ul$ = vot+4 7#h7 ,vot+ by mail is pref]able to _m vot]s z an alt]native to go+ to ! polls4 ,9 #bjaf1 #bd p]c5t ( ballots 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates 7 ca/ by mail1 up f #aj p]c5t 9 #bjjj4 ,vot+ by mail has become increas+ly popul> ) vot]s :o want to be c]ta9 t !y are able to vote no matt] :at comes up on election day1 z x r$uces ! physical ob/acles & eases ! "t con/ra9ts connect$ ) ! act ( vot+4 7#i7 ,! signature v]ification process1 ! track+ sy/em = ea* ballot1 & po/al s]vice coop]ation 9 prev5t+ ballots f be+ deliv]$ to names n recogniz$ z receiv+ mail at an address ne>ly elim9ate ! pot5tial = fraud 9 vote-by-mail elections4 ,evid5ce ( undue influ5ce or vot] co]cion aft] vote-by-mail implem5tation 9 ,oregon has be5 nonexi/5t to m9imal4 7#aj7 ,_m ( ! reasons :i* vot]s 9 _m ,/ates are requir$ to provide 9 ord] to vote by mail require ! revelation ( p]sonal in=mation ab\t heal?1 travel plans1 or religi\s activities1 :i* violate vot]s' privacy :ile do+ no?+ to prev5t vot] fraud4 7#aa7 ,/ate laws :i* require vot]s to obta9 a not>y signature to vote by mail only add co/ & inconv5i5ce to vot]s )\t increas+ security4 7#ab7 ,_m vot]s *oose to ca/ ballots e>ly :5 !y h ! option 7ov] #ej p]c5t 9 ,arizona1 ,arkansas1 ,cali=nia1 ,colorado1 ,florida1 ,georgia1 ,hawaii1 ,montana1 ,nevada1 ,new ,mexico1 ,nor? ,c>ol9a1 ,oregon1 ,t5nessee1 ,texas1 ,utah1 & ,wa%+ton74 ,m ?an #dj p]c5t ( vot]s 9 ! #bjaf election ca/ _! ballot be=e election day4 ,9 ,oregon1 #g ye>s aft] vote-by-mail election implem5tation1 ov] #hj p]c5t ( vot]s favor$ ! vote-by-mail sy/em4 7#ac7 ,vote by mail typically increases turn\t 9 all elections1 b c be p>ticul>ly effective 9 increas+ vot] p>ticipation 9 special elections & prim>y elections4 ,oregon & ,wa%+ton1 ! #b ,/ates ) ! longe/ /&+ vote-by-mail sy/ems1 cont9ue to h consi/5tly high vot] turn\t rates4 7#ad7 ,a crucial compon5t ( a mod]n vot+ sy/em is mak+ x easy1 af=dable1 & accessible to regi/] to vote4 ,eighte5 ,/ates & ! ,di/rict ( ,columbia introduc$ automatic vot] regi/ration legislation 9 #bjae1 & ,oregon & ,cali=nia n[ automatically regi/] _! citiz5s to vote :5 !y apply = a driv]'s lic5se4 ,automatic1 p]man5t vot] regi/ration has ! pot5tial to increase p>ticipation1 protect election integrity1 & r$uce regi/ration co/s4 #c4 ,promot+ ability ( vot]s to vote by mail 9 ,f$]al elections 7a7 ,vot+ by mail 9 ,f$]al elections 7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,subtitle ,a ( title ,,iii ( ! ,help ,am]ica ,vote ,act ( #bjjb 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #bajha et seq47 is am5d$ by ins]t+ aft] section #cjc ! foll[+ new section3 #cjc;,a4 ,promot+ ability ( vot]s to vote by mail 7a7 ,9 g5]al ,if an individual 9 a ,/ate is eligible to ca/ a vote 9 an election = ,f$]al (fice1 ! ,/ate may n impose any additional conditions or requirem5ts on ! eligibility ( ! individual to ca/ ! vote 9 su* election by mail1 except to ! ext5t t ! ,/ate imposes a deadl9e = return+ ! ballot to ! appropriate ,/ate or local election (ficial4 7b7 ,provision ( ballot mat]ials ,n lat] ?an #b weeks be=e ! date ( any election = ,f$]al (fice1 ea* ,/ate %all mail ballots to individuals :o are regi/]$ to vote 9 su* election4 7c7 ,accessibility = individuals ) disabilities ,all ballots provid$ "u ?is section %all be accessible to individuals ) disabilities 9 a mann] t provides ! same opportunity = access & p>ticipation 7includ+ = privacy & indep5d5ce7 z = o!r vot]s4 7d7 ,rule ( ,con/ruction ,no?+ 9 ?is section %all be con/ru$ to affect ! au?ority ( ,/ates to conduct elections = ,f$]al (fice ?r\gh ! use ( poll+ places at :i* individuals ca/ ballots4 7e7 ,effective ,date ,a ,/ate %all be requir$ to comply ) ! requirem5ts ( subsection 7a7 ) respect to elections = ,f$]al (fice held 9 ye>s beg9n+ ) #bjbb4 4 7#b7 ,con=m+ ,am5dm5t ,relat+ to ,en=cem5t ,section #dja ( su* ,act 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #baaaa7 is am5d$ by /rik+ & #cjc & ins]t+ #cjc1 & #cjc;,a4 7#c7 ,cl]ical ,am5dm5t ,! table ( cont5ts = su* ,act is am5d$ by ins]t+ aft] ! item relat+ to section #cjc ! foll[+ new item3 ,sec4 #cjc;,a4 ,promot+ ability ( vot]s to vote by mail4 4 7b7 ,free po/age = vot+ by mail 7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,*apt] #cd ( title #ci1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$ by add+ at ! end ! foll[+3 #cdjg4 ,ballots provid$ = vot+ 9 ,f$]al elections ,ballots mail$ pursuant to section #cjc;,a7b7 ( ! ,help ,am]ica ,vote ,act ( #bjjb 7individually or 9 bulk7 %all be c>ri$ exp$iti\sly & free ( po/age4 4 7#b7 ,te*nical & con=m+ am5dm5ts 7,a7 ,table ( sections ,! table ( sections = *apt] #cd ( title #ci1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$ by add+ at ! end ! foll[+3 #cdjg4 ,ballots provid$ = vot+ 9 ,f$]al elections4 4 7,b7 ,au?orization ( appropriations ,section #bdja7;c7 ( title #ci1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$ by /rik+ #cdjc ?r\gh #cdjf & ins]t+ #cdjc ?r\gh #cdjg4 #d4 ,automatic vot] regi/ration ?r\gh ,/ate motor vehicle au?orities 7a7 ,automatic ,vot] ,regi/ration ,section #e ( ! ,national ,vot] ,regi/ration ,act ( #aiic 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #bjejd7 is am5d$ to read z foll[s3 #e4 ,vot] regi/ration ?r\gh motor vehicle au?ority 7a7 ,simultane\s application = vot] regi/ration & application = motor vehicle driv]'s lic5se 7#a7 ,transmission ( in=mation to election (ficials ,ea* ,/ate's motor vehicle au?ority1 ^u receiv+ any ( ! id5tify+ in=mation describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#b7 ) respect to any applicable individual1 %all securely transmit ! id5tify+ in=mation to ! appropriate ,/ate election (ficial4 7#b7 ,id5tify+ in=mation describ$ ,! id5tify+ in=mation describ$ 9 ?is p>agraph ) respect to any individual is z foll[s3 7,a7 ,! individual's legal "n4 7,b7 ,! individual's age4 7,c7 ,! individual's resid5ce4 7,d7 ,! individual's citiz5%ip /atus4 7,e7 ,! individual's electronic signature4 7b7 ,duties ( (ficials receiv+ in=mation 7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,^u receiv+ ! id5tify+ in=mation ) respect to an applicable individual "u subsection 7a71 ! appropriate ,/ate election (ficial %all det]m9e-- 7,a7 :e!r su* individual is eligible to vote 9 an election = ,f$]al (fice2 & 7,b7 :e!r su* individual is curr5tly regi/]$ to vote 9 elections = ,f$]al (fice at ! address provid$ 9 su* id5tify+ in=mation4 7#b7 ,notification to ,individuals 7,a7 ,eligible unregi/]$ individuals ,9 ! case ( an applicable individual :o is eligible to vote 9 an election = ,f$]al (fice & :o is n curr5tly regi/]$ to vote1 ! appropriate ,/ate election (ficial %all issue a notification to ! individual conta9+-- 7i7 a /atem5t t1 unless ! individual notifies ! election (ficial prior to ! expiration ( ! #ba-;cal5d>-day p]iod :i* beg9s on ! date ! (ficial issu$ ! notification t ! individual decl9es to be regi/]$ to vote 9 elections = ,f$]al (fice held 9 ! ,/ate1 ! individual's records & signature w con/itute a complet$ regi/ration = ! individual2 & 7ii7 a description ( ! process by :i* ! individual may decl9e to be regi/]$ to vote 9 elections = ,f$]al (fice 9 ! ,/ate4 7,b7 ,eligible individuals regi/]$ at a diff]5t address ,9 ! case ( an applicable individual :o is eligible to vote 9 an election = ,f$]al (fice & :o is regi/]$ to vote 9 su* election at a diff]5t address ?an ! address provid$ 9 ! id5tify+ in=mation1 ! appropriate ,/ate election (ficial %all issue a notification to ! individual conta9+-- 7i7 a /atem5t t1 unless ! individual notifies ! election (ficial prior to ! expiration ( ! #ba-;cal5d>-day p]iod :i* beg9s on ! date ! (ficial issu$ ! notification t ! address provid$ 9 ! id5tify+ in=mation %\ld n be us$ = vot] regi/ration purposes1 ! address provid$ 9 ! id5tify+ in=mation %all be us$ z ! individual's address = vot] regi/ration purposes2 & 7ii7 a description ( ! process by :i* ! individual may decl9e a *ange ( address = vot] regi/ration purposes4 7c7 ,automatic ,regi/ration ( ,eligible ,individuals2 automatic *ange ( address 7#a7 ,regi/ration ,^u ! expiration ( ! #ba-;cal5d>-day p]iod :i* beg9s on ! date ! appropriate ,/ate election (ficial issues a notification to an individual "u subsection 7b77#b77;,a71 ! (ficial %all ensure t ! individual is regi/]$ to vote 9 elections = ,f$]al (fice held 9 ! ,/ate unless-- 7,a7 ! (ficial lat] det]m9es t ! individual does n meet ! eligibility requirem5ts = regi/]+ to vote 9 su* elections2 or 7,b7 prior to ! expiration ( su* #ba-;cal5d>-day p]iod1 ! individual notifies ! (ficial t ! individual decl9es to be regi/]$ to vote 9 su* elections4 7#b7 ,*ange ( address ,^u ! expiration ( ! #ba-;cal5d>-day p]iod :i* beg9s on ! date ! appropriate ,/ate election (ficial issues a notification to an individual "u subsection 7b77#b77;,b71 ! (ficial %all ensure t ! individual is regi/]$ to vote 9 elections = ,f$]al (fice at ! address provid$ 9 ! id5tify+ in=mation unless-- 7,a7 ! (ficial lat] det]m9es t ! individual does n meet ! eligibility requirem5ts = regi/]+ to vote 9 su* elections2 or 7,b7 prior to ! expiration ( su* #ba-;cal5d>-day p]iod1 ! individual notifies ! (ficial t ! individual decl9es a *ange ( address = vot] regi/ration purposes4 7d7 ,applicable individual ,= purposes ( ?is section1 ! t]m applicable individual means any individual :o seeks assi/ance f1 receives b5efits f1 or receives s]vice or assi/ance f a ,/ate motor vehicle au?ority t issues motor vehicle driv]'s lic5ses4 4 7b7 ,con=m+ ,am5dm5t ,relat+ to ,tim+ ( ,regi/ration ,prior to ,elections ,section #h7;a77#a77;,a7 ( su* ,act 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #bjejg7;a77#a77;,a77 is am5d$ to read z foll[s3 7,a7 9 ! case ( regi/ration ?r\gh a motor vehicle au?ority "u section #e1 if ! id5tify+ in=mation ) respect to ! individual is transmitt$ by ! au?ority to ! appropriate ,/ate election (ficial "u section #e7;a77#a7 n lat] ?an ! less] ( #cj days1 or ! p]iod provid$ by ,/ate law1 be=e ! date ( ! election2 4 7c7 ,o!r ,con=m+ ,am5dm5t ,section #d7;a77#a7 ( su* ,act 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #bjejc7;a77#a77 is am5d$ to read z foll[s3 7#a7 ?r\gh ! ,/ate motor vehicle au?ority pursuant to section #e2 4 7d7 ,effective date ,! am5dm5ts made by ?is section %all take effect ^u ! expiration ( ! #ahj-;day p]iod :i* beg9s on ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act4