,,ii #aahth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #biga ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,september #bh 7legislative day1 ,september #bb71 #bjbc,mr4 ,booker 7for himself1 ,ms4 ,warren1 ,mr4 ,padilla1 and ,ms4 ,hirono7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,rules and ,administration ,a ,,bill ,to remove barriers to the ability of unhoused individuals to register to vote and vote in elections for ,federal office1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title2 table of contents 7a7 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,unhoused ,voter ,opportunity ,through ,elections ,act or the ,unhoused ,,vote ,act4 7b7 ,table of contents ,the table of contents of this ,act is as follows3 ,sec4 #a4 ,short title2 table of contents4,title ,i--,voting ,rights of ,unhoused ,citizens,sec4 #aja4 ,voting rights of unhoused citizens4,sec4 #ajb4 ,enforcement4,sec4 #ajc4 ,relationship to ,voting ,rights ,act of #aife4,sec4 #ajd4 ,definitions4,title ,,ii--,protections and ,best ,practices for ,protecting ,access to ,voting and ,voter ,registration for ,unhoused ,individuals,sec4 #bja4 ,description of protections4,sec4 #bjb4 ,special requirements for voter registration4,sec4 #bjc4 ,inclusion of information on voter registration and voting in surveys conducted by recipients of ,,hud homeless assistance4,title ,,iii--,grants to ,support ,access to ,voting for ,unhoused ,individuals,sec4 #cja4 ,grant program described4,sec4 #cjb4 ,eligibility4,sec4 #cjc4 ,definition4,sec4 #cjd4 ,authorization of appropriations4,title ,,iv--,general ,provisions,sec4 #dja4 ,state defined4,sec4 #djb4 ,effective date4 ,i ,voting ,rights of ,unhoused ,citizens #aja4 ,voting rights of unhoused citizens ,no voting qualification or prerequisite to voting1 or standard1 practice1 or procedure shall be imposed or applied by any ,state or political subdivision to deny or abridge the right of any citizen of the ,united ,states to vote because that citizen resides at or in a nontraditional abode4 #ajb4 ,enforcement 7a7 ,action by ,attorney ,general ,the ,attorney ,general may commence in the name of the ,united ,states a civil action 7including an action against a ,state or political subdivision7 for declaratory or injunctive relief against a violation of this title4 7b7 ,private right of action ,a person who is aggrieved by an alleged violation of this title may bring a civil action in an appropriate district court for declaratory or injunctive relief with respect to the violation4 #ajc4 ,relationship to ,voting ,rights ,act of #aife ,nothing in this title may be construed to impair any right guaranteed by the ,voting ,rights ,act of #aife 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #ajaja et seq474 #ajd4 ,definitions ,as used in this title1 the term nontraditional abode includes-- 7#a7 a supervised publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide temporary living accommodations 7including welfare hotels1 congregate shelters1 transitional housing1 substance abuse treatment facilities72 7#b7 a public or private place not designated for1 or ordinarily used as1 regular sleeping accommodation for human beings2 7#c7 any location in which1 because an individual resides in the location1 the individual is considered to be a homeless individual for purposes of section #ajc of the ,mc,kinney-,vento ,homeless ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aacjb72 and 7#d7 in the case of a ,state in which an individual incarcerated in a prison is eligible to register to vote and vote in elections for public office1 a prison4 ,,ii ,protections and ,best ,practices for ,protecting ,access to ,voting and ,voter ,registration for ,unhoused ,individuals #bja4 ,description of protections 7a7 ,description ,title ,,iii of the ,help ,america ,vote ,act of #bjjb 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #bajha et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following new subtitle3 ,c ,access to ,voting for ,unhoused ,individuals #cba4 ,promoting use of drop boxes by unhoused individuals 7a7 ,drop box accessibility ,if a jurisdiction responsible for the administration of an election for ,federal office in a ,state permits individuals to drop off voted ballots in the election in drop boxes1 the jurisdiction shall ensure that the drop boxes are available for in-person use and are accessible and clearly labeled4 7b7 ,applying criteria based on greatest access by unhoused individuals ,in establishing the location1 number1 and time of operation of the drop boxes described in subsection 7a71 the appropriate election official of a jurisdiction which is subject to such subsection shall take into account the need to provide access to such drop boxes by unhoused individuals1 based on consultation with persons who provide services for unhoused individuals and other relevant stakeholders4 #cbb4 ,acceptance of certain documentation of residence and identification 7a7 ,residence 7#a7 ,attestation ,if a ,state imposes a requirement that an individual who desires to vote in an election for ,federal office in the ,state provide the appropriate election official with documentation of the individual's residence1 the ,state shall consider the individual to meet that requirement if the individual provides the official with a written attestation of the individual's residence1 signed under penalty of perjury4 7#b7 ,use of shelter as residence for voting purposes ,a ,state may not prohibit an individual who is residing in a homeless shelter from using the shelter as the individual's residence for purposes of voting in an election for ,federal office which is held in the jurisdiction in which the shelter is located4 7b7 ,identification issued by entities of criminal justice system ,if a ,state imposes a requirement that an individual who desires to vote in an election for ,federal office in the ,state provide the appropriate election official with documentation of the individual's identification1 the ,state shall consider the individual to meet the requirement if the individual provides the official with a document containing the individual's name which is issued by an entity of the criminal justice system1 including a correctional facility1 court1 probation officer1 or parole officer4 #cbc4 ,outreach to unhoused individuals 7a7 ,information on websites of election officials 7#a7 ,information required ,the chief ,state election official shall ensure that the official public website of each election official of the ,state includes an accessible1 clear1 and separate hyperlink to simple information on how unhoused individuals may register to vote and vote in elections for ,federal office held in the ,state4 7#b7 ,availability in language other than ,english ,if a ,state or political subdivision is required under section #bjc of the ,voting ,rights ,act of #aife 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #ajejc7 to provide voting materials in a language other than ,english1 the appropriate election official shall ensure that the information provided under paragraph 7#a7 is provided in that language as well as ,english4 7b7 ,notification 7#a7 ,voter registration deadlines ,not later than #fj days prior to the deadline for registering to vote in an election for ,federal office held in a ,state1 the chief ,state election official shall send a notification of the deadline to each homeless shelter in a jurisdiction of the ,state in which the election will be held1 local social services agencies which commonly serve unhoused individuals1 and other entities which provide services to a significant population of unhoused individuals in the jurisdiction4 7#b7 ,dates of elections ,not later than #cj days prior to the date of an election for ,federal office1 the chief ,state election official shall send a notification of the election to each homeless shelter in a jurisdiction of the ,state in which the election will be held1 along with the other agencies and entities to whom the chief ,state election official sent notice of the registration deadline under paragraph 7#a74 #cbd4 ,development of best practices 7a7 ,development and publication ,in consultation with the ,united ,states ,interagency ,council on ,homelessness1 the ,commission shall develop and regularly update recommendations for the best practices for ,state and local election officials to follow to protect and promote the access of unhoused individuals to voter registration and voting in elections for ,federal office4 7b7 ,specific elements ,the ,commission shall include in the best practices developed and updated under this section-- 7#a7 methods to ensure that unhoused individuals are aware of the procedures and locations for registering to vote and voting2 7#b7 methods to help election officials comply with requirements for providing access to voter registration and voting for people with disabilities1 including requirements established and enforced by the ,department of ,justice2 7#c7 methods to train election officials1 including poll workers1 in recognizing and responding to the challenges faced by unhoused individuals in registering to vote and voting2 7#d7 methods to ensure that individuals who are not eligible to register to vote1 including individuals who are not citizens of the ,united ,states1 and individuals who are eligible but who do not wish to register to vote are not denied access to services provided by homeless shelters and local social services agencies which commonly serve unhoused individuals2 and 7#e7 such other practices as the ,commission considers appropriate4 7c7 ,consultation ,in developing and updating the best practices under this section1 the ,commission shall consult with individuals who have experience in being unhoused and with homeless shelters and local social services agencies which commonly serve unhoused individuals1 including shelters and agencies with experience in serving unhoused individuals who are not citizens of the ,united ,states4 7d7 ,deadline ,the ,commission shall develop the first set of best practices under this section not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of the ,unhoused ,,vote ,act4 #cbe4 ,definitions ,in this subtitle-- 7#a7 the term homeless shelter means an emergency shelter under section #cba of the ,mc,kinney-,vento ,homeless ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aacea72 and 7#b7 the term unhoused individual means a homeless individual1 as defined in section #ajc of such ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aacjb74 4 7b7 ,conforming amendment relating to enforcement ,section #dja of such ,act 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #baaaa7 is amended by striking the period at the end and inserting 1 and subtitle ,c of title ,,iii44 7c7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of contents of such ,act is amended by adding at the end of the items relating to title ,,iii the following3 ,subtitle ,c--,access to ,voting for ,unhoused ,individuals,sec4 #cba4 ,promoting use of drop boxes by unhoused individuals4,sec4 #cbb4 ,acceptance of certain documentation of residence and identification4,sec4 #cbc4 ,outreach to unhoused individuals4,sec4 #cbd4 ,development of best practices4,sec4 #cbe4 ,definitions4 4 #bjb4 ,special requirements for voter registration 7a7 ,treatment of shelters as voter registration agencies ,section #g7;a77#b7 of the ,national ,voter ,registration ,act of #aiic 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #bjejf7;a77#b77 is amended-- 7#a7 by striking and at the end of subparagraph 7,a72 7#b7 by striking the period at the end of subparagraph 7,b7 and inserting 2 and2 and 7#c7 by adding at the end the following new subparagraph3 7,c7 all emergency shelters in the ,state under section #cba of the ,mc,kinney-,vento ,homeless ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aacea74 4 7b7 ,permitting applicants ,to mark location of residence on ,federal voter registration application forms and alternative forms used by ,states ,section #i7;b7 of the ,national ,voter ,registration ,act of #aiic 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #bjejh7;b77 is amended-- 7#a7 by striking and at the end of paragraph 7#c72 7#b7 by striking the period at the end of paragraph 7#d7 and inserting 2 and2 and 7#c7 by adding at the end the following new paragraph3 7#e7 include a drawing of an intersection on which the applicant may mark by hand the location of the applicant's residence1 including by writing in the names of the crossroads on the drawing and indicating any nearby landmarks4 4 7c7 ,permitting unhoused applicants ,to use unsheltered street location as address ,section #h7;a7 of such ,act 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #bjejg7;a77 is amended-- 7#a7 by striking and at the end of paragraph 7#e72 7#b7 by striking the period at the end of paragraph 7#f7 and inserting 2 and2 and 7#c7 by adding at the end the following new paragraph3 7#g7 permit an applicant who is an unhoused individual 7defined for purposes of this paragraph as a homeless individual under section #ajc of the ,mc,kinney-,vento ,homeless ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aacjb77 to use an unsheltered street location as the individual's place of residence for purposes of the application4 4 #bjc4 ,inclusion of information on voter registration and voting in surveys conducted by recipients of ,,hud homeless assistance ,section #djb7;f77#c7 of the ,mc,kinney-,vento ,homeless ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aacfj;a7f77#c77 is amended-- 7#a7 by striking and at the end of subparagraph 7,c72 7#b7 by redesignating subparagraph 7,d7 as subparagraph 7,e72 and 7#c7 by inserting after subparagraph 7,c7 the following new subparagraph3 7,d7 collects information on the extent to which individuals experiencing homelessness are able to register to vote and vote in elections for ,federal office2 and 4 ,,iii ,grants to ,support ,access to ,voting for ,unhoused ,individuals #cja4 ,grant program described 7a7 ,in general ,the ,election ,assistance ,commission shall make grants to eligible ,states and units of local government for programs and activities1 such as operating mobile voting centers and providing direct outreach to unhoused individuals1 to support the access of unhoused individuals to registering to vote and voting in elections for ,federal office4 7b7 ,use of funds for grants to private entities ,a ,state or unit of local government which receives a grant under this title may use the funds provided by the grant to enter into contracts with private entities with experience in providing assistance to unhoused individuals to provide services to such individuals which will assist them in registering to vote and voting in elections for ,federal office4 #cjb4 ,eligibility 7a7 ,in general ,a ,state or unit of local government is eligible to receive a grant under this title if the ,state or unit submits to the ,election ,assistance ,commission1 at such time and in such form as the ,commission may require1 such information and assurances as the ,commission may require1 including assurances that the ,state or political subdivision has a plan to engage stakeholders with a demonstrated experience of serving unhoused individuals4 7b7 ,special condition regarding protection of documents ,in order to be eligible to receive a grant under this title1 a ,state or unit of local government shall include with the information and assurances required under subsection 7a7 specific information and assurances that if funds provided by the grant are used to produce documents for the use of unhoused individuals1 including under a contract with a private entity as described in section #cja7;b71 the documents will be produced in a manner which ensures that they will remain readable and usable even if they are subject to extended exposure to the elements4 #cjc4 ,definition ,in this title1 the term unhoused individual means a homeless individual1 as defined in section #ajc of the ,mc,kinney-,vento ,homeless ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aacjb74 #cjd4 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this title such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year #bjbd and each succeeding fiscal year4 ,,iv ,general ,provisions #dja4 ,state defined ,in this ,act1 the term ,state means each of the several ,states1 the ,district of ,columbia1 the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico1 ,guam1 ,american ,samoa1 the ,united ,states ,virgin ,islands1 and the ,commonwealth of the ,northern ,mariana ,islands4 #djb4 ,effective date ,except as otherwise provided1 this ,act and the amendments made by this ,act shall apply with respect to elections for ,federal office beginning #f months after the date of the enactment of this ,act4