,,ii  #aaf? ,,congress  #b;d ,session   
,s4 #cddj  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,m>* #aa1 #bjbj,mr4    
,wyd5 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0    
read twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on  
,rules & ,adm9i/ration  ,a ,,bill  ,to  
require ,/ates to adopt cont+5cy plans  
to prev5t ! disruption ( ,f$]al         
elections f ! ,,covid-#ai virus1 & = o!r
 purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act   
may be cit$ z ! ,resili5t ,elections    
,dur+ ,qu>ant9es & ,natural ,disa/]s    
,act ( #bjbj4  #b4 ,requirem5ts = ,f$]al
 election cont+5cy plans 9 response to  
,,covid-#ai  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,n lat] ?an   
#cj days aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is 
,act1 ea* ,/ate & jurisdiction %all     
e/abli% & make publicly available a     
cont+5cy plan to enable individuals to  
vote 9 elections = ,f$]al (fice 9 any   
case 9 :i* a significant numb] (        
individuals 9 su* ,/ate or jurisdiction 
are unable to vote because-- 7#a7 !y are
 "u a qu>ant9e t is-- 7,a7 impos$ by a  
gov]nm5t ord] 9 response to !           

coronavirus disease #bjai 7ref]r$ to 9  
?is section z ,,covid-#ai72 or  7,b7    
recomm5d$ by a gov]nm5t (ficial or      
public heal? exp]t 9 response to        
,,covid-#ai2 or  7#b7 _! poll+ place is 
clos$ because poll work]s or election   
(ficials are "u a qu>ant9e t is-- 7,a7  
impos$ by a gov]nm5t ord] 9 response to 
,,covid-#ai2 or  7,b7 recomm5d$ by a    
gov]nm5t (ficial or public heal? exp]t 9
 response to ,,covid-#ai4  7b7          
,requirem5t ,to plan = vot]s ,to be able
 ,to reque/ abs5tee ballots onl9e & vote
 by mail ,! cont+5cy plan e/abli%$ "u   
subsection 7a7 %all-- 7#a7 p]mit all    
individuals :o are regi/]$ to vote to-- 
7,a7 submit an onl9e reque/ = an abs5tee
 ballot2 &  7,b7 ca/ a vote 9 ,f$]al    
elections by mail2 &  7#b7 provide = !  
ext5sion ( vote-by-mail deadl9es if     
po/al s]vice is disrupt$ z a result (   
,,covid-#ai4  7c7 ,/ate ,= purposes (   
?is section1 ! t]m ,/ate includes !     
,di/rict ( ,columbia1 ! ,commonweal? (  
,pu]to ,rico1 ,guam1 ,am]ican ,samoa1 ! 

,unit$ ,/ates ,virg9 ,isl&s1 & !        
,commonweal? ( ! ,nor!rn ,m>iana ,isl&s4
  7d7 ,en=cem5t ,! ,attorney ,g5]al may 
br+ a civil action aga9/ any ,/ate or   
jurisdiction 9 an appropriate ,unit$    
,/ates ,di/rict ,c\rt = su* decl>atory &
 injunctive relief 7includ+ a tempor>y  
re/ra9+ ord]1 a p]man5t or tempor>y     
injunction1 or o!r ord]7 z may be       
necess>y to c>ry out ! requirem5ts ( ?is
 section4  #c4 ,requirem5t to all[      
no-excuse abs5tee vot+ dur+ c]ta9 p]iods
  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,title ,,iii ( ! ,help   
,am]ica ,vote ,act ( #bjjb 7#eb         
,u4,s4,c4 #bajha et seq47 is am5d$ by   
add+ at ! end ! foll[+ new subtitle3  ,c
 ,o!r ,requirem5ts  #cba4 ,no-excuse    
abs5tee vot+ dur+ national em]g5cies    
7a7 ,9 g5]al ,not)/&+ section #f7;c7 ( !
 ,national ,vot] ,regi/ration ,act (    
#aiic 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #bjeje7;c771 9 !   
case ( any election = ,f$]al (fice      
occurr+ dur+ any p]iod describ$ 9       
subsection 7b71 ea* ,/ate & jurisdiction
 %all-- 7#a7 p]mit any eligible vot] to 

use abs5tee regi/ration proc$ures & to  
vote by abs5tee ballot2 &  7#b7 comply )
 ! requirem5ts ( subsection 7d74  ,=    
purposes ( ?is subsection1 an election  
%all be consid]$ to occur dur+ a p]iod  
describ$ 9 subsection 7b7 if votes may  
be ca/ 9 su* election 7?r\gh abs5tee    
ballot+1 e>ly vot+1 or o!rwise7 on any  
day dur+ su* p]iod4  7b7 ,p]iod describ$
  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,a p]iod describ$ 9 ?is 
subsection is a p]iod-- 7,a7 subject to 
p>agraph 7#b71 t beg9s ) ! date t is #cj
 days aft] ! date on :i* at lea/ #be    
p]c5t ( ,/ates h decl>$ an em]g5cy 7"u !
 laws ( ! ,/ate7 ) respect to any s+le  
natural disa/] or infecti\s disease     
7includ+ ! coronavirus disease #bjai    
7ref]r$ to 9 ?is section z              
,,covid-#ai772 &  7,b7 t ends )-- 7i7 9 
! case ( a ,/ate t did n decl>e an      
em]g5cy ) respect to ! s+le natural     
disa/] or infecti\s disease describ$ 9  
subp>agraph 7,a71 #ahj days aft] ! fir/ 
date on :i* less ?an #be p]c5t ( ,/ates 
h an em]g5cy decl>ation 9 effect )      

respect to su* natural disa/] or        
disease2 &  7ii7 9 ! case ( a ,/ate t   
did decl>e an em]g5cy ) respect to su*  
natural disa/] or infecti\s disease1 !  
lat] (-- 7,i7 #ahj days aft] ! date on  
:i* ! ,/ate decl>es t ! em]g5cy is no   
long] 9 effect2 &  7,,ii7 ! date        
describ$ 9 clause 7i74  7#b7 ,special   
p]iod ,if1 z ( ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is  
section1 at lea/ #be p]c5t ( ,/ates h   
decl>$ an em]g5cy 7"u ! laws ( ! ,/ate7 
) respect to any s+le natural disa/] or 
infecti\s disease 7includ+ ,,covid-#ai71
 !n a p]iod describ$ 9 ?is subsection   
%all beg9 on ! date t is #cj days aft] !
 date ( enactm5t ( ?is section4  7#c7   
,treatm5t ( em]g5cy decl>ations by c]ta9
 c\nties & cities ,= purposes ( ?is     
subsection1 a ,/ate %all be deem$ to h  
decl>$ an em]g5cy "u ! laws ( ! ,/ate ) 
respect to a natural disa/] or infecti\s
 disease 7includ+ ,,covid-#ai7 if an    
em]g5cy is decl>$ ) respect to su*      
disa/] or infecti\s disease by a city1  
c\nty1 p>i%1 or o!r political           

subdivision ( ! ,/ate t has a population
 t is great] ?an #a1jjj1jjj4  7c7 ,/ate 
option ,to decl>e em]g5cy vot+ p]iod    
7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,not)/&+ section #f7;c7 ( 
! ,national ,vot] ,regi/ration ,act (   
#aiic 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #bjeje7;c771 if !  
,gov]nor ( a ,/ate has decl>$ an em]g5cy
 vot+ p]iod ) respect to ! ,/ate 9      
accordance ) p>agraph 7#b71 ! ,/ate &   
any jurisdiction 9 ! ,/ate1 ) respect to
 any election = ,f$]al (fice occurr+    
dur+ su* p]iod1 %all-- 7,a7 p]mit any   
eligible vot] to use abs5tee regi/ration
 proc$ures & to vote by abs5tee ballot2 
&  7,b7 comply ) ! requirem5ts (        
subsection 7d74  ,= purposes ( ?is      
p>agraph1 an election %all be consid]$  
to occur dur+ an em]g5cy vot+ p]iod if  
votes may be ca/ 9 su* election 7?r\gh  
abs5tee ballot+1 e>ly vot+1 or o!rwise7 
on any day dur+ su* p]iod4  7#b7        
,em]g5cy vot+ p]iod  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,!   
,gov]nor ( a ,/ate may decl>e an em]g5cy
 vot+ p]iod 9 ! ,/ate by-- 7i7 /at+ t a 
natural disa/] or infecti\s disease     

7includ+ ,,covid-#ai7 has result$ 9     
em]g5cy conditions 9 ! ,/ate2 &  7ii7   
invok+ ! au?ority provid$ "u ?is        
subsection to apply ! abs5tee           
regi/ration proc$ures & abs5tee vot+    
requirem5ts describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#a7 to 
! ,/ate4  7,b7 ,duration ( em]g5cy vot+ 
p]iod ,an em]g5cy vot+ p]iod decl>$ by a
 ,gov]nor ( a ,/ate "u subp>agraph      
7,a7-- 7i7 %all beg9 on ! date t is #cj 
days aft] ! ,gov]nor decl>es ! em]g5cy  
vot+ p]iod 9 accordance ) subp>agraph   
7,a72 &  7ii7 %all end on ! lat] (--    
7,i7 #ahj days aft] ! date on :i* !     
,gov]nor decl>es t em]g5cy conditions no
 long] exi/ 9 ! ,/ate2 &  7,,ii7 if     
applicable1 ! date on :i* ! p]iod       
describ$ 9 subsection 7b7 ends4  7d7    
,abs5tee regi/ration & vot+ requirem5ts 
,! requirem5ts describ$ 9 ?is subsection
 are ! foll[+3 7#a7 ,deadl9e = abs5tee  
ballots ,if a ballot submitt$ by an     
individual by mail ) respect to an      
election = ,f$]al (fice 9 ! ,/ate is    
po/m>k$ on or be=e ! date ( ! election1 

! ,/ate may n refuse to accept or       
process ! ballot on ! gr\nds t !        
individual did n meet a deadl9e =       
return+ ! ballot to ! appropriate ,/ate 
or local election (ficial4  7#b7        
,abs5tee ballot reque/s ,! ,/ate %all-- 
7,a7 p]mit any eligible vot] to submit  
an onl9e reque/ = an abs5tee ballot to  
vote 9 an election = ,f$]al (fice 9 !   
,/ate2  7,b7 s5d an abs5tee ballot to   
vote 9 an election = ,f$]al (fice 9 !   
,/ate by mail to any eligible vot] t    
submits a reque/ = su* a ballot on or   
be=e ! date t is #e days be=e ! date (  
su* election2 &  7,c7 on or be=e ! date 
t is #a day be=e ! date ( an election = 
,f$]al (fice 9 ! ,/ate1 p]mit any       
eligible vot] t submits a reque/ = an   
abs5tee ballot to vote 9 su* election to
 d[nload or receive via electronic mail 
a v]sion ( su* ballot t ! vot] may pr9t 
out & mail 94  7#c7 ,no excuse requir$  
,! ,/ate %all n require t an eligible   
vot] provide a reason 9 ord] to vote by 
abs5tee ballot or reque/ to receive an  

abs5tee ballot4  7#d7 ,no write-9       
ballots ,any abs5tee ballot = an        
election = ,f$]al (fice 9 ! ,/ate t is  
provid$ to an eligible vot] pursuant to 
p>agraph 7#b7 %all include ! "n ( ea*   
c&idate = su* (fice4  7e7 ,/ate ,=      
purposes ( ?is section1 ! t]m ,/ate     
includes ! ,di/rict ( ,columbia1 !      
,commonweal? ( ,pu]to ,rico1 ,guam1     
,am]ican ,samoa1 ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,virg9 
,isl&s1 & ! ,commonweal? ( ! ,nor!rn    
,m>iana ,isl&s4  7f7 ,private "r (      
action  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,9 ! case ( a     
violation ( ?is section1 section #djb   
%all n apply & any p]son :o is aggriev$ 
by su* violation may provide writt5     
notice ( ! violation to ! *ief election 
(ficial ( ! ,/ate involv$4  7#b7 ,relief
 ,if ! violation is n correct$ )9 #bj   
days aft] receipt ( a notice "u p>agraph
 7#a71 or )9 #e days aft] receipt ( !   
notice if ! violation occurr$ )9 #abj   
days be=e ! date ( an election = ,f$]al 
(fice1 ! aggriev$ p]son may1 9 a civil  
action1 obta9 decl>atory or injunctive  

relief ) respect to ! violation4  4  7b7
 ,en=cem5t by ,attorney ,g5]al ,section 
#dja ( ! ,help ,am]ica ,vote ,act (     
#bjjb 7 #eb ,u4,s4,c4 #baaaa7 is am5d$  
by /rik+ & #cjc & ins]t+ #cjc1 & #cba4  
7c7 ,cl]ical am5dm5t ,! table ( cont5ts 
( ! ,help ,am]ica ,vote ,act ( #bjjb is 
am5d$ by ins]t+ aft] ! item relat+ to   
section #cab ! foll[+3  ,subtitle       
,c--,o!r ,requirem5ts ,sec4 #cba4       
,no-excuse abs5tee vot+ dur+ national   
em]g5cies4  4  #d4 ,requirem5t = prepaid
 return envelopes = abs5tee ballots  7a7
 ,9 g5]al ,subtitle ,a ( title ,,iii ( !
 ,help ,am]ica ,vote ,act ( #bjjb 7#eb  
,u4,s4,c4 #bajha et seq47 is am5d$--    
7#a7 by r$esignat+ sections #cjd & #cje 
z sections #cje & #cjf1 respectively2 & 
7#b7 by ins]t+ aft] section #cjc !      
foll[+ new section3  #cjd4 ,use (       
prepaid self-seal+ return envelopes  7a7
 ,9 g5]al ,ea* ,/ate & local            
jurisdiction %all provide ) any vot]    
regi/ration application1 abs5tee ballot 
application1 or blank abs5tee ballot s5t

 by mail a self-seal+ return envelope ) 
prepaid po/age or subject to an         
arrangem5t :]eby ! ,/ate w reimburse !  
,unit$ ,/ates ,po/al ,s]vice = ! po/age 
( any su* return envelope t is s5t by   
mail4  7b7 ,/ate ,= purposes ( ?is      
section1 ! t]m ,/ate includes ! ,di/rict
 ( ,columbia1 ! ,commonweal? ( ,pu]to   
,rico1 ,guam1 ,am]ican ,samoa1 ! ,unit$ 
,/ates ,virg9 ,isl&s1 & ! ,commonweal? (
 ! ,nor!rn ,m>iana ,isl&s4  7c7         
,effective date ,! requirem5ts ( ?is    
section %all apply to mat]ials s5t by   
,/ates & local jurisdictions aft] ! date
 t is #fj days aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t 
( ?is ,act4  4  7b7 ,con=m+ am5dm5t     
relat+ to en=cem5t ,section #dja ( su*  
,act 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #baaaa71 z am5d$ by 
section #c7;b71 is am5d$ by ins]t+ #cjd1
 aft] #cjc14  7c7 ,cl]ical am5dm5ts ,!  
table ( cont5ts ( su* ,act is am5d$--   
7#a7 by r$esignat+ ! items relat+ to    
sections #cjd & #cje z relat+ to        
sections #cje & #cjf1 respectively2 &   
7#b7 by ins]t+ aft] ! item relat+ to    

section #cjc ! foll[+ new item3  ,sec4  
#cjd4 ,use ( prepaid self-seal+ return  
envelopes4  4  #e4 ,reimbursem5ts to    
,/ates  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,subtitle ,d (     
title ,,ii ( ! ,help ,am]ica ,vote ,act 
( #bjjb 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #bajja et seq47  
is am5d$ by add+ at ! end ! foll[+3  #g 
,reimbursem5ts = ,c]ta9 ,f$]al ,election
 ,exp5ditures  #big4 ,reimbursem5ts  7a7
 ,9 g5]al ,! ,commission %all make      
paym5ts to ea* ,/ate equal to ! foll[+  
co/s incurr$ by ! ,/ate 7& local        
jurisdictions )9 ! ,/ate73 7#a7 ,co/s ( 
pr9t+ & mail+ ballots & ballot+ mat]ial 
to abs5tee vot]s4  7#b7 ,co/s = provid+ 
return envelopes & ! po/age associat$ ) 
su* envelopes pursuant to section #cjd4 
7#c7 ,co/s ( pur*as+ high spe$ scann]s &
 o!r equipm5t = process+ abs5tee        
ballots4  7#d7 ,co/s ( pur*as+ & deploy+
 abs5tee ballot drop boxes4  7#e7 ,co/s 
paid or incurr$ 9 comply+ ) section #b (
 ! ,resili5t ,elections ,dur+ ,qu>ant9es
 & ,natural ,disa/]s ,act ( #bjbj4  7#f7
 ,any co/s n describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#a7 t 

are paid or incurr$ 9 comply+ ) section 
#cba4  7b7 ,limitation ,no funds may be 
provid$ to a ,/ate "u ?is section = co/s
 attributable to ! electronic return (  
m>k$ ballots by any vot]4  7c7          
,pass-,?r\gh ( funds to local           
jurisdictions  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,subject to
 p>agraph 7#b71 if a ,/ate receives a   
paym5t "u ?is section = co/s t include  
co/s incurr$ by a local jurisdiction )9 
! ,/ate1 ! ,/ate %all pass ?r\gh to su* 
local jurisdiction a portion ( su*      
paym5t t is equal to ! am\nt ( ! co/s   
incurr$ by su* local jurisdiction4  7#b7
 ,insuffici5t funds ,if a ,/ate receives
 a paym5t = a p]iod "u ?is section t1 z 
a result ( ! application ( subsection   
7d71 is less ?an ! aggregate am\nt (    
co/s describ$ 9 subsection 7a7 = su*    
,/ate = su* p]iod1 ?an ! portion ( su*  
paym5t t ! ,/ate is requir$ to pass     
?r\gh to a local jurisdiction "u        
p>agraph 7#a7 %all n exce$ ! am\nt :i*  
be>s ! same ratio to ! total am\nt (    
co/s incurr$ by su* local jurisdiction =

 su* p]iod z-- 7,a7 ! am\nt ( ! paym5t  
receiv$ by ! ,/ate "u ?is section = !   
p]iod2 be>s to  7,b7 ! aggregate am\nt (
 co/s describ$ 9 subsection 7a7 = su*   
,/ate = su* p]iod4  7d7 ,insuffici5t    
funds ,if ! am\nt appropriat$ "u section
 #bih exce$s ! aggregate co/s incurr$ by
 all ,/ates = ! am\nts describ$ 9       
subsection 7a7 = any p]iod1 ! am\nt (   
paym5t made "u su* subsection to ea*    
,/ate %all n exce$ ! am\nt :i* be>s !   
same ratio to ! aggregate am\nt ( co/s  
describ$ 9 subsection 7a7 = su* ,/ate = 
su* p]iod z-- 7#a7 ! vot+ age population
 ( ! ,/ate 7z report$ 9 ! mo/ rec5t     
dec5nial c5sus72 be>s to  7#b7 ! total  
vot+ age population ( all ,/ates 7z     
report$ 9 ! mo/ rec5t dec5nial c5sus74  
7e7 ,/ate ,= purposes ( ?is section1 !  
t]m ,/ate includes ! ,di/rict (         
,columbia1 ! ,commonweal? ( ,pu]to      
,rico1 ,guam1 ,am]ican ,samoa1 ! ,unit$ 
,/ates ,virg9 ,isl&s1 & ! ,commonweal? (
 ! ,nor!rn ,m>iana ,isl&s4  #bih4       
,au?orization ( appropriations  7a7 ,9  

g5]al ,!re are au?oriz$ to be           
appropriat$ = paym5ts "u ?is "p         
#ejj1jjj1jjj = fiscal ye> #bjbj4  7b7   
,availability ( funds ,am\nts           
appropriat$ pursuant to ! au?orization  
"u ?is section %all rema9 available1 )\t
 fiscal ye> limitation1 until fiscal ye>
 #bjcj4  4  7b7 ,cl]ical am5dm5t ,!     
table ( cont5ts ( ! ,help ,am]ica ,vote 
,act ( #bjjb is am5d$ by ins]t+ aft] !  
item relat+ to section #bif ! foll[+3   
,"p #g--;,ballot ,track+ ,reimbursem5ts 
,sec4 #big4 ,reimbursem5ts4 ,sec4 #bih4 
,au?orization ( appropriations4  4