,i #aag? ,,congress #a/ ,session ,h4 ,r4 #chfg ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,( ,,repres5tatives ,june #ad1 #bjba ,mrs4 ,dem+s 7= h]self & ,mr4 ,s>banes7 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,h\se ,adm9i/ration1 & 9 addition to ! ,committee on ,sci5ce1 ,space1 & ,te*nology1 = 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 prohibit a ,/ate f e/abli%+ c]ta9 re/rictions on vot+ by mail 9 an election = ,f$]al (fice1 & = o!r purposes4 #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! ,e ,vote ,c\nts ,act4 #b4 ,f9d+s ,congress f9ds ! foll[+3 7#a7 ,congress has ! au?ority "u article #a1 section #d ( ! ,con/itution ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates to enact laws gov]n+ ! "t1 place1 & mann] ( ,f$]al elections4 7#b7 ,congress has ! au?ority "u section #b ( ! #ae? ,am5dm5t to en=ce ! "r ( citiz5s ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates to vote1 :i* %all n be d5i$ or abridg$ by ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 by legislation4 7#c7 ,section #a ( ! #ad? ,am5dm5t gu>antees due process ( law & equal protection ( ! laws4 7#d7 ,! "r to vote is ! f\ndation ( ,am]ican democracy4 ,vot+ provides ! citiz5ry ) a vital *eck on _! elect$ (ficials & grants p ! political p[] necess>y to ex]cise & def5d ! rights gu>ante$ by ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,con/itution4 7#e7 ,z ,dr4 ,m>t9 ,lu!r ,k+ ,jr4 expla9$ 9 a spee* deliv]$ on ,may #ag1 #aieg1 ,s long z ,i d n firmly & irrevocably possess ! "r to vote ,i d n possess myself4 ,i _c make up my m9d--x is made up = me4 ,i _c live z a democratic citiz51 obs]v+ ! laws ,i h help$ to enact--,i c only submit to ! edict ( o!rs4 7#f7 ,! "r to vote = all ,am]icans is fundam5tal & rules = vot+ & election adm9i/ration %\ld protect ! "r to vote & promote vot] p>ticipation4 7#g7 ,wait+ 9 long l9es disc\rages p f vot+1 und]m9es confid5ce 9 ! electoral sy/em1 & imposes economic co/s on vot]s4 7#h7 ,multiple /udies h %[n t vot]s ( all races are m likely to wait 9 l9e to vote long] 9 c\nties ) high] population d5sity1 & ,lat9o & ,black vot]s disproportionately live 9 ^! areas4 7#i7 ,"o way vot+ 9 communities ( color has be5 suppress$ is ?r\gh long waits at poll+ locations4 ,/udies h %[n a numb] ( contribut+ factors1 includ+ ! dra/ic r$uction ( e>ly vot+ days1 poor allocation ( res\rces to c]ta9 communities1 cuts to election fund+1 & a r$uction ( poll+ locations4 7#aj7 ,^! problems l$ to ! creation ( ! bip>tisan ,presid5tial ,commission on ,election ,adm9i/ration1 :i* issu$ a #bjad report t set =? a /&>d3 ,no citiz5 %\ld h to wait m ?an #cj m9utes to vote4 7#aa7 ,basic con/itutional pr9ciples ( fairness & equal protection require an equal opportunity = citiz5s ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates to vote 9 ,f$]al elections4 ,! "r to vote may n be abridg$ or d5i$ by ! ,unit$ ,/ates or by any ,/ate on acc\nt ( race1 color1 g5d]1 or previ\s condition ( s]vitude4 ,! #ac?1 #ad?1 #ae?1 #ai?1 #bd?1 & #bf? ,am5dm5ts to ! ,con/itution emp[] ,congress to enact measures to protect ! "r to vote 9 ,f$]al elections4 ,! #h? ,am5dm5t to ! ,con/itution provides = no excessive bail to be requir$1 nor excessive f9es impos$1 nor cruel & unusual puni%m5ts inflict$4 7#ab7 ,am]ican ,indian & ,alaska ,native vot]s face unique ob/acles 9 a vote-by-mail sy/em4 ,tribal communities 9 rural areas (t5 d n h traditional resid5tial mail+ addresses & h limit$ access to transportation4 ,tribal memb]s h di/ant rural po/ (fices1 sl[ mail r\tes1 limit$ numb]s ( po/ (fice op]ation1 & too few po/ (fice boxes4 ,z a result1 rural ,tribal communities require di/9ct vot+ accommodations to ensure p>ticipation 9 a vote-by-mail sy/em4 7#ac7 ,! ,cyb]security & ,infra/ructure ,security ,ag5cy ,elections ,infra/ructure ,gov]nm5t ,coord9at+ ,c\ncil & ,sector ,coord9at+ ,c\ncils ,jo9t ,,covid ,work+ ,gr\p designat$ ballot drop boxes are a secure & conv5i5t means = votes to return _! mail ballot4 7#ad7 ,! ,cyb]security & ,infra/ructure ,security ,ag5cy ,elections ,infra/ructure ,gov]nm5t ,coord9at+ ,c\ncil & ,sector ,coord9at+ ,c\ncils ,jo9t ,,covid ,work+ ,gr\p says be/ practices require "o drop box = e #ae1jjj vot]s & no m ?an #ej miles 9 betwe5 drop boxes 9 rural areas4 #c4 ,abs5tee ballot track+ program 7a7 ,requirem5ts ,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 ,abs5tee ballot track+ program 7a7 ,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$ures to track & confirm ! receipt ( su* ballots1 & makes in=mation on ! receipt ( su* ballots available to ! individual :o ca/ ! ballot1 by means ( onl9e access us+ ! ,int]net site ( ! (ficial's (fice4 7b7 ,in=mation on :e!r vote 0 c\nt$ ,! in=mation ref]r$ to "u subsection 7a7 ) 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$1 ! reasons !re=4 7c7 ,use ( ,toll-,free ,telephone ,numb] by ,(ficials ,)\t ,int]net ,site ,a program e/abli%$ by a ,/ate or local election (ficial ^: (fice does n h an ,int]net site may meet ! requirem5ts ( subsection 7a7 if ! (ficial has e/abli%$ a toll-free telephone numb] t may be us$ by an individual :o ca/ an abs5tee ballot to obta9 ! in=mation on ! receipt ( ! vot$ abs5tee ballot z provid$ "u su* subsection4 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$]al (fice4 4 7b7 ,reimbursem5t = co/s incurr$ by ,/ates 9 e/abli%+ program ,subtitle ,d ( title ,,ii ( ! ,help ,am]ica ,vote ,act ( #bjjb 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aedja et seq47 is am5d$ by add+ at ! end ! foll[+ new "p3 #g ,paym5ts to ,reimburse ,/ates = ,co/s ,incurr$ 9 ,e/abli%+ ,program to ,track & ,confirm ,receipt ( ,abs5tee ,ballots #big4 ,paym5ts to ,/ates 7a7 ,paym5ts ,= ,co/s ( ,program ,9 accordance ) ?is section1 ! ,commission %all make a paym5t to a ,/ate to reimburse ! ,/ate = ! co/s incurr$ 9 e/abli%+ ! abs5tee ballot track+ program "u section #cje 7includ+ co/s incurr$ prior to ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is "p74 7b7 ,c]tification ( ,compliance & ,co/s 7#a7 ,c]tification requir$ ,9 ord] to receive a paym5t "u ?is section1 a ,/ate %all submit to ! ,commission a /atem5t conta9+-- 7,a7 a c]tification t ! ,/ate has e/abli%$ an abs5tee ballot track+ program ) respect to elections = ,f$]al (fice held 9 ! ,/ate2 & 7,b7 a /atem5t ( ! co/s incurr$ by ! ,/ate 9 e/abli%+ ! program4 7#b7 ,am\nt ( paym5t ,! am\nt ( a paym5t made to a ,/ate "u ?is section %all be equal to ! co/s incurr$ by ! ,/ate 9 e/abli%+ ! abs5tee ballot track+ program1 z set =? 9 ! /atem5t submitt$ "u p>agraph 7#a71 except t su* am\nt may n exce$ ! product (-- 7,a7 ! numb] ( jurisdictions 9 ! ,/ate :i* are responsible = op]at+ ! program2 & 7,b7 #c1jjj4 7#c7 ,limit on numb] ( paym5ts receiv$ ,a ,/ate may n receive m ?an "o paym5t "u ?is "p4 #big;,a4 ,au?orization ( ,appropriations 7a7 ,au?orization ,!re are au?oriz$ to be appropriat$ to ! ,commission = fiscal ye> #bjbb & ea* succe$+ fiscal ye> su* sums z may be necess>y = paym5ts "u ?is "p4 7b7 ,cont9u+ ,availability ( ,funds ,any am\nts appropriat$ pursuant to ! au?orization "u ?is section %all rema9 available until exp5d$4 4 7c7 ,con=m+ am5dm5t relat+ to en=cem5t ,section #dja ( su* ,act 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #baaaa7 is am5d$ by /rik+ sections #cja1 #cjb1 & #cjc & ins]t+ subtitle ,a ( title ,,iii4 7d7 ,cl]ical am5dm5ts ,! table ( cont5ts ( su* ,act is am5d$-- 7#a7 by add+ at ! end ( ! items relat+ to subtitle ,d ( title ,,ii ! foll[+3 ,"p #g--,paym5ts ,to ,reimburse ,/ates = ,co/s ,incurr$ 9 ,e/abli%+ ,program ,to ,track & ,confirm ,receipt ( ,abs5tee ,ballots ,sec4 #big4 ,paym5ts to ,/ates4 ,sec4 #big;,a4 ,au?orization ( appropriations4 2 7#b7 by r$esignat+ ! items relat+ to sections #cjd & #cje z relat+ to sections #cje & #cjf1 respectively2 & 7#c7 by ins]t+ aft] ! item relat+ to section #cjc ! foll[+ new item3 ,sec4 #cjd4 ,abs5tee ballot track+ program4 4 #d4 ,requir+ ,/ates to provide secur$ drop boxes = vot$ abs5tee ballots 9 elections = ,f$]al (fice 7a7 ,requirem5t ,subtitle ,a ( title ,,iii ( ! ,help ,am]ica ,vote ,act ( #bjjb 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #bajha et seq471 z am5d$ by section #c7;a71 is am5d$-- 7#a7 by r$esignat+ sections #cje & #cjf z sections #cjf & #cjg1 respectively2 & 7#b7 by ins]t+ aft] section #cjd ! foll[+ new section3 #cje4 ,use ( secur$ drop boxes = vot$ abs5tee ballots 7a7 ,requir+ use ( drop boxes ,9 ea* c\nty 9 ! ,/ate1 ea* ,/ate %all provide 9-p]son1 secur$1 & cle>ly label$ drop boxes at :i* individuals may1 at any "t dur+ ! p]iod describ$ 9 subsection 7b71 drop (f vot$ abs5tee ballots 9 an election = ,f$]al (fice4 7b7 ,m9imum p]iod = availability ( drop boxes ,! p]iod describ$ 9 ?is subsection is1 ) respect to an election1 ! p]iod :i* beg9s #de days be=e ! date ( ! election & :i* ends at ! "t ! polls close = ! election 9 ! c\nty involv$4 7c7 ,accessibility 7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,ea* ,/ate %all ensure t ! drop boxes provid$ "u ?is section are accessible = use-- 7,a7 by individuals ) disabilities1 z det]m9$ 9 consultation ) ! protection & advocacy sy/ems 7z def9$ 9 section #ajb ( ! ,developm5tal ,disabilities ,assi/ance & ,bill ( ,rights ,act ( #bjjj 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aejjb77 ( ! ,/ate2 & 7,b7 by individuals ) limit$ pr(ici5cy 9 ! ,engli% language4 7#b7 ,det]m9ation ( accessibility = individuals ) disabilities ,= purposes ( ?is subsection1 drop boxes %all be consid]$ to be accessible = use by individuals ) disabilities if ! drop boxes meet su* crit]ia z ! ,attorney ,g5]al may e/abli% = su* purposes4 7#c7 ,rule ( con/ruction ,if a ,/ate provides a drop box "u ?is section on ! gr\nds ( or inside a build+ or facility :i* s]ves z a poll+ place = an election dur+ ! p]iod describ$ 9 subsection 7b71 no?+ 9 ?is subsection may be con/ru$ to waive any requirem5ts reg>d+ ! accessibility ( su* poll+ place = ! use ( individuals ) disabilities or individuals ) limit$ pr(ici5cy 9 ! ,engli% language4 7d7 ,numb] ( drop boxes 7#a7 ,=mula = det]m9ation ( numb] ,! numb] ( drop boxes provid$ "u ?is section 9 a c\nty ) respect to an election %all be det]m9$ z foll[s3 7,a7 ,9 ! case ( a c\nty 9 :i* ! numb] ( individuals :o are resid5ts ( ! c\nty & :o are regi/]$ to vote 9 ! election is equal to or great] ?an #bj1jjj1 ! numb] ( drop boxes %all be a numb] equal to or great] ?an ! numb] ( su* individuals divid$ by #bj1jjj 7r\nd$ to ! ne>e/ :ole numb]74 7,b7 ,9 ! case ( any o!r c\nty1 ! numb] ( drop boxes %all be equal to or great] ?an "o4 7#b7 ,tim+ ,= purposes ( ?is subsection1 ! numb] ( individuals :o reside 9 a c\nty & :o are regi/]$ to vote 9 ! election %all be det]m9$ z ( ! #ij? day be=e ! date ( ! election4 7e7 ,location ( drop boxes ,! ,/ate %all det]m9e ! location ( drop boxes provid$ "u ?is section 9 a c\nty on ! basis ( crit]ia :i* ensure t ! drop boxes are-- 7#a7 available to all vot]s on a non-discrim9atory basis2 7#b7 accessible to vot]s ) disabilities 79 accordance ) subsection 7c772 7#c7 accessible by public transportation to ! greate/ ext5t possible2 7#d7 available dur+ all h\rs ( ! day2 & 7#e7 suffici5tly available 9 all communities 9 ! c\nty1 includ+ rural communities & on ,tribal l&s )9 ! c\nty 7subject to subsection 7f774 7f7 ,rules = drop boxes on ,tribal l&s ,9 mak+ a det]m9ation ( ! numb] & location ( drop boxes provid$ "u ?is section on ,tribal l&s 9 a c\nty1 ! appropriate ,/ate & local election (ficials %all-- 7#a7 consult ) ,tribal lead]s prior to mak+ ! det]m9ation2 & 7#b7 take into acc\nt crit]ia su* z ! availability ( direct-to-door resid5tial mail deliv]y1 ! di/ance & "t necess>y to travel to ! drop box locations 7includ+ 9 inclem5t wea!r71 modes ( transportation available1 conditions ( roads1 & ! availability 7if any7 ( public transportation4 7g7 ,po/+ ( in=mation ,on or adjac5t to ea* drop box provid$ "u ?is section1 ! ,/ate %all po/ in=mation on ! requirem5ts t vot$ abs5tee ballots mu/ meet 9 ord] to be c\nt$ & tabulat$ 9 ! election4 7h7 ,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$]al (fice4 4 7b7 ,cl]ical am5dm5t ,! table ( cont5ts ( su* ,act1 z am5d$ by section #c7;d71 is am5d$-- 7#a7 by r$esignat+ ! items relat+ to sections #cje & #cjf z relat+ to sections #cjf & #cjg1 respectively2 & 7#b7 by ins]t+ aft] ! item relat+ to section #cjd ! foll[+ new item3 ,sec4 #cje4 ,use ( secur$ drop boxes = vot$ abs5tee ballots4 4 #e4 ,developm5t ( alt]native v]ification me?ods 7a7 ,developm5t ( /&>ds ,! ,national ,in/itute ( ,/&>ds1 9 consultation ) ! ,election ,assi/ance ,commission1 %all develop /&>ds = ! use ( alt]native me?ods :i* c\ld be us$ 9 place ( signature v]ification requirem5ts = purposes ( v]ify+ ! id5tification ( an individual vot+ by abs5tee ballot 9 elections = ,f$]al (fice4 7b7 ,public notice & comm5t ,! ,national ,in/itute ( ,/&>ds %all solicit comm5ts f ! public 9 ! developm5t ( /&>ds "u p>agraph 7#a74 7c7 ,deadl9e ,n lat] ?an "o ye> aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,national ,in/itute ( ,/&>ds %all publi% ! /&>ds develop$ "u p>agraph 7#a74