[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7427 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 7427

   To amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to establish election 
   contingency plans to enable individuals to vote in elections for 
  Federal office during an emergency, to require States to make early 
  voting and absentee voting available to all individuals eligible to 
vote in such elections, to encourage voter registration, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 30, 2020

 Ms. Lofgren introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on 
      Oversight and Reform, and the Judiciary, for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 
  of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
                               concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to establish election 
   contingency plans to enable individuals to vote in elections for 
  Federal office during an emergency, to require States to make early 
  voting and absentee voting available to all individuals eligible to 
vote in such elections, to encourage voter registration, and for other 
                               purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``American 
Coronavirus/COVID-19 Election Safety and Security Act'' or the ``ACCESS 
Act''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Requirements for Federal election contingency plans in response 
                            to natural disasters and emergencies.
Sec. 3. Early voting and voting by mail.
Sec. 4. Permitting use of sworn written statement to meet 
                            identification requirements for voting.
Sec. 5. Voting materials postage.
Sec. 6. Requiring transmission of blank absentee ballots under UOCAVA 
                            to certain voters.
Sec. 7. Voter registration.
Sec. 8. Accommodations for voters residing in Indian lands.
Sec. 9. Payments by Election Assistance Commission to States to assist 
                            with costs of compliance.
Sec. 10. Grants to States for conducting risk-limiting audits of 
                            results of elections.
Sec. 11. Additional appropriations for the Election Assistance 
                            Commission.
Sec. 12. Definition.

SEC. 2. REQUIREMENTS FOR FEDERAL ELECTION CONTINGENCY PLANS IN RESPONSE 
              TO NATURAL DISASTERS AND EMERGENCIES.

    (a) In General.--
            (1) Establishment.--Not later than 30 days after the date 
        of the enactment of this Act, each State and each jurisdiction 
        in a State which is responsible for administering elections for 
        Federal office shall establish and make publicly available a 
        contingency plan to enable individuals to vote in elections for 
        Federal office during a state of emergency, public health 
        emergency, or national emergency which has been declared for 
        reasons including--
                    (A) a natural disaster; or
                    (B) an infectious disease.
            (2) Updating.--Each State and jurisdiction shall update the 
        contingency plan established under this subsection not less 
        frequently than every 5 years.
    (b) Requirements Relating to Safety.--The contingency plan 
established under subsection (a) shall include initiatives to provide 
equipment and resources needed to protect the health and safety of poll 
workers and voters when voting in person.
    (c) Requirements Relating to Recruitment of Poll Workers.--The 
contingency plan established under subsection (a) shall include 
initiatives by the chief State election official and local election 
officials to recruit poll workers from resilient or unaffected 
populations, which may include--
            (1) employees of other State and local government offices; 
        and
            (2) in the case in which an infectious disease poses 
        significant increased health risks to elderly individuals, 
        students of secondary schools and institutions of higher 
        education in the State.
    (d) Enforcement.--
            (1) Attorney general.--The Attorney General may bring a 
        civil action against any State or jurisdiction in an 
        appropriate United States District Court for such declaratory 
        and injunctive relief (including a temporary restraining order, 
        a permanent or temporary injunction, or other order) as may be 
        necessary to carry out the requirements of this section.
            (2) Private right of action.--
                    (A) In general.--In the case of a violation of this 
                section, any person who is aggrieved by such violation 
                may provide written notice of the violation to the 
                chief election official of the State involved.
                    (B) Relief.--If the violation is not corrected 
                within 20 days after receipt of a notice under 
                subparagraph (A), or within 5 days after receipt of the 
                notice if the violation occurred within 120 days before 
                the date of an election for Federal office, the 
                aggrieved person may, in a civil action, obtain 
                declaratory or injunctive relief with respect to the 
                violation.
                    (C) Special rule.--If the violation occurred within 
                5 days before the date of an election for Federal 
                office, the aggrieved person need not provide notice to 
                the chief election official of the State involved under 
                subparagraph (A) before bringing a civil action under 
                subparagraph (B).
    (e) Definitions.--
            (1) Election for federal office.--For purposes of this 
        section, the term ``election for Federal office'' means a 
        general, special, primary, or runoff election for the office of 
        President or Vice President, or of Senator or Representative 
        in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress.
            (2) State.--For purposes of this section, the term 
        ``State'' includes the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth 
        of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin 
        Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
    (f) Effective Date.--This section shall apply with respect to the 
regularly scheduled general election for Federal office held in 
November 2020 and each succeeding election for Federal office.

SEC. 3. EARLY VOTING AND VOTING BY MAIL.

    (a) Requirements.--Title III of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 
(52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following 
new subtitle:

                    ``Subtitle C--Other Requirements

``SEC. 321. EARLY VOTING.

    ``(a) Requiring Allowing Voting Prior to Date of Election.--
            ``(1) In general.--Each State shall allow individuals to 
        vote in an election for Federal office during an early voting 
        period which occurs prior to the date of the election, in the 
        same manner as voting is allowed on such date.
            ``(2) Length of period.--The early voting period required 
        under this subsection with respect to an election shall consist 
        of a period of consecutive days (including weekends) which 
        begins on the 15th day before the date of the election (or, at 
        the option of the State, on a day prior to the 15th day before 
        the date of the election) and ends on the date of the election.
    ``(b) Minimum Early Voting Requirements.--Each polling place which 
allows voting during an early voting period under subsection (a) 
shall--
            ``(1) allow such voting for no less than 10 hours on each 
        day;
            ``(2) have uniform hours each day for which such voting 
        occurs; and
            ``(3) allow such voting to be held for some period of time 
        prior to 9:00 a.m (local time) and some period of time after 
        5:00 p.m. (local time).
    ``(c) Location of Polling Places.--
            ``(1) Proximity to public transportation.--To the greatest 
        extent practicable, a State shall ensure that each polling 
        place which allows voting during an early voting period under 
        subsection (a) is located within walking distance of a stop on 
        a public transportation route.
            ``(2) Availability in rural areas.--The State shall ensure 
        that polling places which allow voting during an early voting 
        period under subsection (a) will be located in rural areas of 
        the State, and shall ensure that such polling places are 
        located in communities which will provide the greatest 
        opportunity for residents of rural areas to vote during the 
        early voting period.
    ``(d) Standards.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Commission shall issue standards for 
        the administration of voting prior to the day scheduled for a 
        Federal election. Such standards shall include the 
        nondiscriminatory geographic placement of polling places at 
        which such voting occurs.
            ``(2) Deviation.--The standards described in paragraph (1) 
        shall permit States, upon providing adequate public notice, to 
        deviate from any requirement in the case of unforeseen 
        circumstances such as a natural disaster, terrorist attack, or 
        a change in voter turnout.
    ``(e) Ballot Processing and Scanning Requirements.--
            ``(1) In general.--The State shall begin processing and 
        scanning ballots cast during early voting for tabulation at 
        least 14 days prior to the date of the election involved.
            ``(2) Limitation.--Nothing in this subsection shall be 
        construed to permit a State to tabulate ballots in an election 
        before the closing of the polls on the date of the election.
    ``(f) Effective Date.--This section shall apply with respect to the 
regularly scheduled general election for Federal office held in 
November 2020 and each succeeding election for Federal office.

``SEC. 322. PROMOTING ABILITY OF VOTERS TO VOTE BY MAIL.

    ``(a) Uniform Availability of Absentee Voting to All Voters.--
            ``(1) In general.--If an individual in a State is eligible 
        to cast a vote in an election for Federal office, the State may 
        not impose any additional conditions or requirements on the 
        eligibility of the individual to cast the vote in such election 
        by absentee ballot by mail.
            ``(2) Administration of voting by mail.--
                    ``(A) Prohibiting identification requirement as 
                condition of obtaining ballot.--A State may not require 
                an individual to provide any form of identification as 
                a condition of obtaining an absentee ballot, except 
                that nothing in this paragraph may be construed to 
                prevent a State from requiring a signature of the 
                individual or similar affirmation as a condition of 
                obtaining an absentee ballot.
                    ``(B) Prohibiting requirement to provide 
                notarization or witness signature as condition of 
                obtaining or casting ballot.--A State may not require 
                notarization or witness signature or other formal 
                authentication (other than voter attestation) as a 
                condition of obtaining or casting an absentee ballot.
                    ``(C) Deadline for returning ballot.--A State may 
                impose a deadline for requesting the absentee ballot 
                and related voting materials from the appropriate State 
                or local election official and for returning the ballot 
                to the appropriate State or local election official.
            ``(3) Application for all future elections.--At the option 
        of an individual, a State shall treat the individual's 
        application to vote by absentee ballot by mail in an election 
        for Federal office as an application to vote by absentee ballot 
        by mail in all subsequent Federal elections held in the State.
    ``(b) Due Process Requirements for States Requiring Signature 
Verification.--
            ``(1) Requirement.--
                    ``(A) In general.--A State may not impose a 
                signature verification requirement as a condition of 
                accepting and counting an absentee ballot submitted by 
                any individual with respect to an election for Federal 
                office unless the State meets the due process 
                requirements described in paragraph (2).
                    ``(B) Signature verification requirement 
                described.--In this subsection, a `signature 
                verification requirement' is a requirement that an 
                election official verify the identification of an 
                individual by comparing the individual's signature on 
                the absentee ballot with the individual's signature on 
                the official list of registered voters in the State or 
                another official record or other document used by the 
                State to verify the signatures of voters.
            ``(2) Due process requirements.--
                    ``(A) Notice and opportunity to cure discrepancy.--
                If an individual submits an absentee ballot and the 
                appropriate State or local election official determines 
                that a discrepancy exists between the signature on such 
                ballot and the signature of such individual on the 
                official list of registered voters in the State or 
                other official record or document used by the State to 
                verify the signatures of voters, such election 
                official, prior to making a final determination as to 
                the validity of such ballot, shall--
                            ``(i) make a good faith effort to 
                        immediately notify the individual by mail, 
                        telephone, and (if available) electronic mail 
                        that--
                                    ``(I) a discrepancy exists between 
                                the signature on such ballot and the 
                                signature of the individual on the 
                                official list of registered voters in 
                                the State; and
                                    ``(II) if such discrepancy is not 
                                cured prior to the expiration of the 
                                10-day period which begins on the date 
                                the official notifies the individual of 
                                the discrepancy, such ballot will not 
                                be counted; and
                            ``(ii) cure such discrepancy and count the 
                        ballot if, prior to the expiration of the 10-
                        day period described in clause (i)(II), the 
                        individual provides the official with 
                        information to cure such discrepancy, either in 
                        person, by telephone, or by electronic methods.
                    ``(B) Notice and opportunity to provide missing 
                signature.--If an individual submits an absentee ballot 
                without a signature, the appropriate State or local 
                election official, prior to making a final 
                determination as to the validity of the ballot, shall--
                            ``(i) make a good faith effort to 
                        immediately notify the individual by mail, 
                        telephone, and (if available) electronic mail 
                        that--
                                    ``(I) the ballot did not include a 
                                signature; and
                                    ``(II) if the individual does not 
                                provide the missing signature prior to 
                                the expiration of the 10-day period 
                                which begins on the date the official 
                                notifies the individual that the ballot 
                                did not include a signature, such 
                                ballot will not be counted; and
                            ``(ii) count the ballot if, prior to the 
                        expiration of the 10-day period described in 
                        clause (i)(II), the individual provides the 
                        official with the missing signature on a form 
                        proscribed by the State.
                    ``(C) Other requirements.--An election official may 
                not make a determination that a discrepancy exists 
                between the signature on an absentee ballot and the 
                signature of the individual who submits the ballot on 
                the official list of registered voters in the State or 
                other official record or other document used by the 
                State to verify the signatures of voters unless--
                            ``(i) at least 2 election officials make 
                        the determination; and
                            ``(ii) each official who makes the 
                        determination has received training in 
                        procedures used to verify signatures.
            ``(3) Report.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Not later than 120 days after 
                the end of a Federal election cycle, each chief State 
                election official shall submit to Congress a report 
                containing the following information for the applicable 
                Federal election cycle in the State:
                            ``(i) The number of ballots invalidated due 
                        to a discrepancy under this subsection.
                            ``(ii) Description of attempts to contact 
                        voters to provide notice as required by this 
                        subsection.
                            ``(iii) Description of the cure process 
                        developed by such State pursuant to this 
                        subsection, including the number of ballots 
                        determined valid as a result of such process.
                    ``(B) Federal election cycle defined.--For purposes 
                of this subsection, the term `Federal election cycle' 
                means the period beginning on January 1 of any odd 
                numbered year and ending on December 31 of the 
                following year.
    ``(c) Methods and Timing for Transmission of Ballots and Balloting 
Materials to Voters.--
            ``(1) Method for requesting ballot.--In addition to such 
        other methods as the State may establish for an individual to 
        request an absentee ballot, the State shall permit an 
        individual to submit a request for an absentee ballot online. 
        The State shall be considered to meet the requirements of this 
        paragraph if the website of the appropriate State or local 
        election official allows an absentee ballot request application 
        to be completed and submitted online and if the website permits 
        the individual--
                    ``(A) to print the application so that the 
                individual may complete the application and return it 
                to the official; or
                    ``(B) request that a paper copy of the application 
                be transmitted to the individual by mail or electronic 
                mail so that the individual may complete the 
                application and return it to the official.
            ``(2) Ensuring delivery prior to election.--If an 
        individual requests to vote by absentee ballot in an election 
        for Federal office, the appropriate State or local election 
        official shall ensure that the ballot and relating voting 
        materials are received by the individual prior to the date of 
        the election so long as the individual's request is received by 
        the official not later than 5 days (excluding Saturdays, 
        Sundays, and legal public holidays) before the date of the 
        election, except that nothing in this paragraph shall preclude 
        a State or local jurisdiction from allowing for the acceptance 
        and processing of ballot requests submitted or received after 
        such required period.
            ``(3) Special rules in case of emergency periods.--
                    ``(A) Automatic mailing of absentee ballots to all 
                voters.--If the area in which an election is held is in 
                an area in which an emergency or disaster which is 
                described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of section 
                1135(g)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320b-
                5(g)(1)) is declared during the period described in 
                subparagraph (C)--
                            ``(i) paragraphs (1) and (2) shall not 
                        apply with respect to the election; and
                            ``(ii) not later than 2 weeks before the 
                        date of the election, the appropriate State or 
                        local election official shall transmit by mail 
                        absentee ballots and balloting materials for 
                        the election to all individuals who are 
                        registered to vote in such election or, in the 
                        case of any State that does not register 
                        voters, all individuals who are in the State's 
                        central voter file (or if the State does not 
                        keep a central voter file, to all individuals 
                        who are eligible to vote in such election).
                    ``(B) Affirmation.--If an individual receives an 
                absentee ballot from a State or local election official 
                pursuant to subparagraph (A) and returns the voted 
                ballot to the official, the ballot shall not be counted 
                in the election unless the individual includes with the 
                ballot a signed affirmation that--
                            ``(i) the individual has not and will not 
                        cast another ballot with respect to the 
                        election; and
                            ``(ii) acknowledges that a material 
                        misstatement of fact in completing the ballot 
                        may constitute grounds for conviction of 
                        perjury.
                    ``(C) Period described.--The period described in 
                this subparagraph with respect to an election is the 
                period which begins 120 days before the date of the 
                election and ends 30 days before the date of the 
                election.
                    ``(D) Application to november 2020 general 
                election.--Because of the public health emergency 
                declared pursuant to section 319 of the Public Health 
                Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d) resulting from the COVID-
                19 pandemic, the special rules set forth in this 
                paragraph shall apply with respect to the regularly 
                scheduled general election for Federal office held in 
                November 2020 in each State.
    ``(d) Accessibility for Individuals With Disabilities.--The State 
shall ensure that all absentee ballots and related voting materials in 
elections for Federal office are accessible to individuals with 
disabilities in a manner that provides the same opportunity for access 
and participation (including with privacy and independence) as for 
other voters.
    ``(e) Uniform Deadline for Acceptance of Mailed Ballots.--A State 
may not refuse to accept or process a ballot submitted by an individual 
by mail with respect to an election for Federal office in the State on 
the grounds that the individual did not meet a deadline for returning 
the ballot to the appropriate State or local election official if--
            ``(1) the ballot is postmarked, signed, or otherwise 
        indicated by the United States Postal Service to have been 
        mailed on or before the date of the election; and
            ``(2) the ballot is received by the appropriate election 
        official prior to the expiration of the 10-day period which 
        begins on the date of the election.
    ``(f) Alternative Methods of Returning Ballots.--
            ``(1) In general.--In addition to permitting an individual 
        to whom a ballot in an election was provided under this section 
        to return the ballot to an election official by mail, the State 
        shall permit the individual to cast the ballot by delivering 
        the ballot at such times and to such locations as the State may 
        establish, including--
                    ``(A) permitting the individual to deliver the 
                ballot to a polling place on any date on which voting 
                in the election is held at the polling place; and
                    ``(B) permitting the individual to deliver the 
                ballot to a designated ballot drop-off location.
            ``(2) Permitting voters to designate other person to return 
        ballot.--The State--
                    ``(A) shall permit a voter to designate any person 
                to return a voted and sealed absentee ballot to the 
                post office, a ballot drop-off location, tribally 
                designated building, or election office so long as the 
                person designated to return the ballot does not receive 
                any form of compensation based on the number of ballots 
                that the person has returned and no individual, group, 
                or organization provides compensation on this basis; 
                and
                    ``(B) may not put any limit on how many voted and 
                sealed absentee ballots any designated person can 
                return to the post office, a ballot drop off location, 
                tribally designated building, or election office.
    ``(g) Ballot Processing and Scanning Requirements.--
            ``(1) In general.--The State shall begin processing and 
        scanning ballots cast by mail for tabulation at least 14 days 
        prior to the date of the election involved.
            ``(2) Limitation.--Nothing in this subsection shall be 
        construed to permit a State to tabulate ballots in an election 
        before the closing of the polls on the date of the election.
    ``(h) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be 
construed to affect the authority of States to conduct elections for 
Federal office through the use of polling places at which individuals 
cast ballots.
    ``(i) No Effect on Ballots Submitted by Absent Military and 
Overseas Voters.--Nothing in this section may be construed to affect 
the treatment of any ballot submitted by an individual who is entitled 
to vote by absentee ballot under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens 
Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20301 et seq.).
    ``(j) Effective Date.--This section shall apply with respect to the 
regularly scheduled general election for Federal office held in 
November 2020 and each succeeding election for Federal office.

``SEC. 323. ABSENTEE BALLOT TRACKING PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Requirement.--Each State shall carry out a program to track 
and confirm the receipt of absentee ballots in an election for Federal 
office under which the State or local election official responsible for 
the receipt of voted absentee ballots in the election carries out 
procedures to track and confirm the receipt of such ballots, and makes 
information on the receipt of such ballots available to the individual 
who cast the ballot, by means of online access using the Internet site 
of the official's office.
    ``(b) Information on Whether Vote Was Counted.--The information 
referred to under subsection (a) with respect to the receipt of an 
absentee ballot shall include information regarding whether the vote 
cast on the ballot was counted, and, in the case of a vote which was 
not counted, the reasons therefor.
    ``(c) Use of Toll-Free Telephone Number by Officials Without 
Internet Site.--A program established by a State or local election 
official whose office does not have an Internet site may meet the 
requirements of subsection (a) if the official has established a toll-
free telephone number that may be used by an individual who cast an 
absentee ballot to obtain the information on the receipt of the voted 
absentee ballot as provided under such subsection.
    ``(d) Effective Date.--This section shall apply with respect to the 
regularly scheduled general election for Federal office held in 
November 2020 and each succeeding election for Federal office.

``SEC. 324. RULES FOR COUNTING PROVISIONAL BALLOTS.

    ``(a) Statewide Counting of Provisional Ballots.--
            ``(1) In general.--For purposes of section 302(a)(4), 
        notwithstanding the precinct or polling place at which a 
        provisional ballot is cast within the State, the appropriate 
        election official shall count each vote on such ballot for each 
        election in which the individual who cast such ballot is 
        eligible to vote.
            ``(2) Effective date.--This subsection shall apply with 
        respect to the regularly scheduled general election for Federal 
        office held in November 2020 and each succeeding election for 
        Federal office.
    ``(b) Uniform and Nondiscriminatory Standards.--
            ``(1) In general.--Consistent with the requirements of 
        section 302, each State shall establish uniform and 
        nondiscriminatory standards for the issuance, handling, and 
        counting of provisional ballots.
            ``(2) Effective date.--This subsection shall apply with 
        respect to the regularly scheduled general election for Federal 
        office held in November 2020 and each succeeding election for 
        Federal office.

``SEC. 325. COVERAGE OF COMMONWEALTH OF NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS.

    ``In this subtitle, the term `State' includes the Commonwealth of 
the Northern Mariana Islands.

``SEC. 326. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR EXPANDING ABILITY OF INDIVIDUALS 
              TO VOTE.

    ``The requirements of this subtitle are minimum requirements, and 
nothing in this subtitle may be construed to prevent a State from 
establishing standards which promote the ability of individuals to vote 
in elections for Federal office, so long as such standards are not 
inconsistent with the requirements of this subtitle or other Federal 
laws.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment Relating to Issuance of Voluntary Guidance 
by Election Assistance Commission.--Section 311(b) of such Act (52 
U.S.C. 21101(b)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (2);
            (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (3) and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(4) in the case of the recommendations with respect to 
        subtitle C, June 30, 2020.''.
    (c) Enforcement.--
            (1) Coverage under existing enforcement provisions.--
        Section 401 of such Act (52 U.S.C. 21111) is amended by 
        striking ``and 303'' and inserting ``303, and subtitle C of 
        title III''.
            (2) Availability of private right of action.--Title IV of 
        such (52 U.S.C. 21111 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
        the following new section:

``SEC. 403. PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION FOR VIOLATIONS OF CERTAIN 
              REQUIREMENTS.

    ``(a) In General.--In the case of a violation of subtitle C of 
title III, section 402 shall not apply and any person who is aggrieved 
by such violation may provide written notice of the violation to the 
chief election official of the State involved.
    ``(b) Relief.--If the violation is not corrected within 20 days 
after receipt of a notice under subsection (a), or within 5 days after 
receipt of the notice if the violation occurred within 120 days before 
the date of an election for Federal office, the aggrieved person may, 
in a civil action, obtain declaratory or injunctive relief with respect 
to the violation.
    ``(c) Special Rule.--If the violation occurred within 5 days before 
the date of an election for Federal office, the aggrieved person need 
not provide notice to the chief election official of the State involved 
under subsection (a) before bringing a civil action under subsection 
(b).''.
    (d) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents of such Act is 
amended--
            (1) by adding at the end of the items relating to title III 
        the following:

                    ``Subtitle C--Other Requirements

``Sec. 321. Early voting.
``Sec. 322. Promoting ability of voters to vote by mail.
``Sec. 323. Absentee ballot tracking program.
``Sec. 324. Rules for counting provisional ballots.
``Sec. 325. Coverage of Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands.
``Sec. 326. Minimum requirements for expanding ability of individuals 
                            to vote.'';
        and
            (2) by adding at the end of the items relating to title IV 
        the following new item:

``Sec. 403. Private right of action for violations of certain 
                            requirements.''.

SEC. 4. PERMITTING USE OF SWORN WRITTEN STATEMENT TO MEET 
              IDENTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR VOTING.

    (a) Permitting Use of Statement.--Subtitle C of title III of the 
Help America Vote Act of 2002, as added by section 3(a), is amended--
            (1) by redesignating sections 325 and 326 as sections 326 
        and 327; and
            (2) by inserting after section 324 the following new 
        section:

``SEC. 325. PERMITTING USE OF SWORN WRITTEN STATEMENT TO MEET 
              IDENTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS.

    ``(a) Use of Statement.--
            ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in subsection (c), if 
        a State has in effect a requirement that an individual present 
        identification as a condition of casting a ballot in an 
        election for Federal office, the State shall permit the 
        individual to meet the requirement--
                    ``(A) in the case of an individual who desires to 
                vote in person, by presenting the appropriate State or 
                local election official with a sworn written statement, 
                signed by the individual under penalty of perjury, 
                attesting to the individual's identity and attesting 
                that the individual is eligible to vote in the 
                election; or
                    ``(B) in the case of an individual who desires to 
                vote by mail, by submitting with the ballot the 
                statement described in subparagraph (A).
            ``(2) Development of pre-printed version of statement by 
        commission.--The Commission shall develop a pre-printed version 
        of the statement described in paragraph (1)(A) which includes a 
        blank space for an individual to provide a name and signature 
        for use by election officials in States which are subject to 
        paragraph (1).
            ``(3) Providing pre-printed copy of statement.--A State 
        which is subject to paragraph (1) shall--
                    ``(A) make copies of the pre-printed version of the 
                statement described in paragraph (1)(A) which is 
                prepared by the Commission available at polling places 
                for election officials to distribute to individuals who 
                desire to vote in person; and
                    ``(B) include a copy of such pre-printed version of 
                the statement with each blank absentee or other ballot 
                transmitted to an individual who desires to vote by 
                mail.
    ``(b) Requiring Use of Ballot in Same Manner as Individuals 
Presenting Identification.--An individual who presents or submits a 
sworn written statement in accordance with subsection (a)(1) shall be 
permitted to cast a ballot in the election in the same manner as an 
individual who presents identification.
    ``(c) Exception for First-Time Voters Registering by Mail.--
Subsections (a) and (b) do not apply with respect to any individual 
described in paragraph (1) of section 303(b) who is required to meet 
the requirements of paragraph (2) of such section.''.
    (b) Requiring States To Include Information on Use of Sworn Written 
Statement in Voting Information Material Posted at Polling Places.--
Section 302(b)(2) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 21082(b)(2)), is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (E);
            (2) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (F) 
        and inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
                    ``(G) in the case of a State that has in effect a 
                requirement that an individual present identification 
                as a condition of casting a ballot in an election for 
                Federal office, information on how an individual may 
                meet such requirement by presenting a sworn written 
                statement in accordance with section 303A.''.
    (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents of such Act, as 
amended by section 3, is amended--
            (1) by redesignating the items relating to sections 325 and 
        326 as relating to sections 326 and 327; and
            (2) by inserting after the item relating to section 324 the 
        following new item:

``Sec. 325. Permitting use of sworn written statement to meet 
                            identification requirements.''.
    (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply with respect to elections occurring on or after the date of the 
enactment of this Act.

SEC. 5. VOTING MATERIALS POSTAGE.

    (a) Prepayment of Postage on Return Envelopes.--
            (1) In general.--Subtitle C of title III of the Help 
        America Vote Act of 2002, as added by section 3(a) and as 
        amended by section 4(a), is further amended--
                    (A) by redesignating sections 326 and 327 as 
                sections 327 and 328; and
                    (B) by inserting after section 325 the following 
                new section:

``SEC. 326. PREPAYMENT OF POSTAGE ON RETURN ENVELOPES FOR VOTING 
              MATERIALS.

    ``(a) Provision of Return Envelopes.--The appropriate State or 
local election official shall provide a self-sealing return envelope 
with--
            ``(1) any voter registration application form transmitted 
        to a registrant by mail;
            ``(2) any application for an absentee ballot transmitted to 
        an applicant by mail; and
            ``(3) any blank absentee ballot transmitted to a voter by 
        mail.
    ``(b) Prepayment of Postage.--Consistent with regulations of the 
United States Postal Service, the State or the unit of local government 
responsible for the administration of the election involved shall 
prepay the postage on any envelope provided under subsection (a).
    ``(c) No Effect on Ballots or Balloting Materials Transmitted to 
Absent Military and Overseas Voters.--Nothing in this section may be 
construed to affect the treatment of any ballot or balloting materials 
transmitted to an individual who is entitled to vote by absentee ballot 
under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (52 
U.S.C. 20301 et seq.).''.
            (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of contents of such Act, 
        as amended by section 4(c), is amended--
                    (A) by redesignating the items relating to sections 
                326 and 327 as relating to sections 327 and 328; and
                    (B) by inserting after the item relating to section 
                325 the following new item:

``Sec. 326. Prepayment of postage on return envelopes for voting 
                            materials.''.
    (b) Role of United States Postal Service.--
            (1) In general.--Chapter 34 of title 39, United States 
        Code, is amended by adding after section 3406 the following:
``Sec. 3407. Voting materials
    ``(a) Any voter registration application, absentee ballot 
application, or absentee ballot with respect to any election for 
Federal office shall be carried expeditiously, with postage on the 
return envelope prepaid by the State or unit of local government 
responsible for the administration of the election.
    ``(b) As used in this section--
            ``(1) the term `absentee ballot' means any ballot 
        transmitted by a voter by mail in an election for Federal 
        office, but does not include any ballot covered by section 
        3406; and
            ``(2) the term `election for Federal office' means a 
        general, special, primary, or runoff election for the office of 
        President or Vice President, or of Senator or Representative 
        in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress.
    ``(c) Nothing in this section may be construed to affect the 
treatment of any ballot or balloting materials transmitted to an 
individual who is entitled to vote by absentee ballot under the 
Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20301 et 
seq.).''.
            (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 
        34 of such title is amended by inserting after the item 
        relating to section 3406 the following:

``3407. Voting materials.''.

SEC. 6. REQUIRING TRANSMISSION OF BLANK ABSENTEE BALLOTS UNDER UOCAVA 
              TO CERTAIN VOTERS.

    (a) In General.--The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee 
Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20301 et seq.) is amended by inserting after 
section 103B the following new section:

``SEC. 103C. TRANSMISSION OF BLANK ABSENTEE BALLOTS TO CERTAIN OTHER 
              VOTERS.

    ``(a) In General.--
            ``(1) State responsibilities.--Subject to the provisions of 
        this section, each State shall transmit blank absentee ballots 
        electronically to qualified individuals who request such 
        ballots in the same manner and under the same terms and 
        conditions under which the State transmits such ballots 
        electronically to absent uniformed services voters and overseas 
        voters under the provisions of section 102(f), except that no 
        such marked ballots shall be returned electronically.
            ``(2) Requirements.--Any blank absentee ballot transmitted 
        to a qualified individual under this section--
                    ``(A) must comply with the language requirements 
                under section 203 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 
                U.S.C. 10503); and
                    ``(B) must comply with the disability requirements 
                under section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 
                U.S.C. 794d).
            ``(3) Affirmation.--The State may not transmit a ballot to 
        a qualified individual under this section unless the individual 
        provides the State with a signed affirmation in electronic form 
        that--
                    ``(A) the individual is a qualified individual (as 
                defined in subsection (b));
                    ``(B) the individual has not and will not cast 
                another ballot with respect to the election; and
                    ``(C) acknowledges that a material misstatement of 
                fact in completing the ballot may constitute grounds 
                for conviction of perjury.
            ``(4) Clarification regarding free postage.--An absentee 
        ballot obtained by a qualified individual under this section 
        shall be considered balloting materials as defined in section 
        107 for purposes of section 3406 of title 39, United States 
        Code.
            ``(5) Prohibiting refusal to accept ballot for failure to 
        meet certain requirements.--A State shall not refuse to accept 
        and process any otherwise valid blank absentee ballot which was 
        transmitted to a qualified individual under this section and 
        used by the individual to vote in the election solely on the 
        basis of the following:
                    ``(A) Notarization or witness signature 
                requirements.
                    ``(B) Restrictions on paper type, including weight 
                and size.
                    ``(C) Restrictions on envelope type, including 
                weight and size.
    ``(b) Qualified Individual.--
            ``(1) In general.--In this section, except as provided in 
        paragraph (2), the term `qualified individual' means any 
        individual who is otherwise qualified to vote in an election 
        for Federal office and who meets any of the following 
        requirements:
                    ``(A) The individual--
                            ``(i) has previously requested an absentee 
                        ballot from the State or jurisdiction in which 
                        such individual is registered to vote; and
                            ``(ii) has not received such absentee 
                        ballot at least 2 days before the date of the 
                        election.
                    ``(B) The individual--
                            ``(i) resides in an area of a State with 
                        respect to which an emergency or public health 
                        emergency has been declared by the chief 
                        executive of the State or of the area involved 
                        within 5 days of the date of the election under 
                        the laws of the State due to reasons including 
                        a natural disaster, including severe weather, 
                        or an infectious disease; and
                            ``(ii) has not previously requested an 
                        absentee ballot.
                    ``(C) The individual expects to be absent from such 
                individual's jurisdiction on the date of the election 
                due to professional or volunteer service in response to 
                a natural disaster or emergency as described in 
                subparagraph (B).
                    ``(D) The individual is hospitalized or expects to 
                be hospitalized on the date of the election.
                    ``(E) The individual is an individual with a 
                disability (as defined in section 3 of the Americans 
                with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12102)) and 
                resides in a State which does not offer voters the 
                ability to use secure and accessible remote ballot 
                marking. For purposes of this subparagraph, a State 
                shall permit an individual to self-certify that the 
                individual is an individual with a disability.
            ``(2) Exclusion of absent uniformed services and overseas 
        voters.--The term `qualified individual' shall not include an 
        absent uniformed services voter or an overseas voter.
    ``(c) State.--For purposes of this section, the term `State' 
includes the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, 
Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, and the 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
    ``(d) Effective Date.--This section shall apply with respect to the 
regularly scheduled general election for Federal office held in 
November 2020 and each succeeding election for Federal office.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 102(a) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 
20302(a)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (10);
            (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (11) and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(12) meet the requirements of section 103C with respect 
        to the provision of blank absentee ballots for the use of 
        qualified individuals described in such section.''.
    (c) Clerical Amendments.--The table of contents of such Act is 
amended by inserting the following after section 103:

``Sec. 103A. Procedures for collection and delivery of marked absentee 
                            ballots of absent overseas uniformed 
                            services voters.
``Sec. 103B. Federal voting assistance program improvements.
``Sec. 103C. Transmission of blank absentee ballots to certain other 
                            voters.''.

SEC. 7. VOTER REGISTRATION.

    (a) Requiring Availability of Internet for Voter Registration.--
            (1) Requiring availability of internet for registration.--
        The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20501 et 
        seq.) is amended by inserting after section 6 the following new 
        section:

``SEC. 6A. INTERNET REGISTRATION.

    ``(a) Requiring Availability of Internet for Online Registration.--
            ``(1) Availability of online registration and correction of 
        existing registration information.--Each State, acting through 
        the chief State election official, shall ensure that the 
        following services are available to the public at any time on 
        the official public websites of the appropriate State and local 
        election officials in the State, in the same manner and subject 
        to the same terms and conditions as the services provided by 
        voter registration agencies under section 7(a):
                    ``(A) Online application for voter registration.
                    ``(B) Online assistance to applicants in applying 
                to register to vote.
                    ``(C) Online completion and submission by 
                applicants of the mail voter registration application 
                form prescribed by the Election Assistance Commission 
                pursuant to section 9(a)(2), including assistance with 
                providing a signature as required under subsection (c).
                    ``(D) Online receipt of completed voter 
                registration applications.
    ``(b) Acceptance of Completed Applications.--A State shall accept 
an online voter registration application provided by an individual 
under this section, and ensure that the individual is registered to 
vote in the State, if--
            ``(1) the individual meets the same voter registration 
        requirements applicable to individuals who register to vote by 
        mail in accordance with section 6(a)(1) using the mail voter 
        registration application form prescribed by the Election 
        Assistance Commission pursuant to section 9(a)(2); and
            ``(2) the individual meets the requirements of subsection 
        (c) to provide a signature in electronic form (but only in the 
        case of applications submitted during or after the second year 
        in which this section is in effect in the State).
    ``(c) Signature Requirements.--
            ``(1) In general.--For purposes of this section, an 
        individual meets the requirements of this subsection as 
        follows:
                    ``(A) In the case of an individual who has a 
                signature on file with a State agency, including the 
                State motor vehicle authority, that is required to 
                provide voter registration services under this Act or 
                any other law, the individual consents to the transfer 
                of that electronic signature.
                    ``(B) If subparagraph (A) does not apply, the 
                individual submits with the application an electronic 
                copy of the individual's handwritten signature through 
                electronic means.
                    ``(C) If subparagraph (A) and subparagraph (B) do 
                not apply, the individual executes a computerized mark 
                in the signature field on an online voter registration 
                application, in accordance with reasonable security 
                measures established by the State, but only if the 
                State accepts such mark from the individual.
            ``(2) Treatment of individuals unable to meet 
        requirement.--If an individual is unable to meet the 
        requirements of paragraph (1), the State shall--
                    ``(A) permit the individual to complete all other 
                elements of the online voter registration application;
                    ``(B) permit the individual to provide a signature 
                at the time the individual requests a ballot in an 
                election (whether the individual requests the ballot at 
                a polling place or requests the ballot by mail); and
                    ``(C) if the individual carries out the steps 
                described in subparagraph (A) and subparagraph (B), 
                ensure that the individual is registered to vote in the 
                State.
            ``(3) Notice.--The State shall ensure that individuals 
        applying to register to vote online are notified of the 
        requirements of paragraph (1) and of the treatment of 
        individuals unable to meet such requirements, as described in 
        paragraph (2).
    ``(d) Confirmation and Disposition.--
            ``(1) Confirmation of receipt.--Upon the online submission 
        of a completed voter registration application by an individual 
        under this section, the appropriate State or local election 
        official shall send the individual a notice confirming the 
        State's receipt of the application and providing instructions 
        on how the individual may check the status of the application.
            ``(2) Notice of disposition.--Not later than 7 days after 
        the appropriate State or local election official has approved 
        or rejected an application submitted by an individual under 
        this section, the official shall send the individual a notice 
        of the disposition of the application.
            ``(3) Method of notification.--The appropriate State or 
        local election official shall send the notices required under 
        this subsection by regular mail and--
                    ``(A) in the case of an individual who has provided 
                the official with an electronic mail address, by 
                electronic mail; and
                    ``(B) at the option of an individual, by text 
                message.
    ``(e) Provision of Services in Nonpartisan Manner.--The services 
made available under subsection (a) shall be provided in a manner that 
ensures that, consistent with section 7(a)(5)--
            ``(1) the online application does not seek to influence an 
        applicant's political preference or party registration; and
            ``(2) there is no display on the website promoting any 
        political preference or party allegiance, except that nothing 
        in this paragraph may be construed to prohibit an applicant 
        from registering to vote as a member of a political party.
    ``(f) Protection of Security of Information.--In meeting the 
requirements of this section, the State shall establish appropriate 
technological security measures to prevent to the greatest extent 
practicable any unauthorized access to information provided by 
individuals using the services made available under subsection (a).
    ``(g) Accessibility of Services.--A State shall ensure that the 
services made available under this section are made available to 
individuals with disabilities to the same extent as services are made 
available to all other individuals.
    ``(h) Use of Additional Telephone-Based System.--A State shall make 
the services made available online under subsection (a) available 
through the use of an automated telephone-based system, subject to the 
same terms and conditions applicable under this section to the services 
made available online, in addition to making the services available 
online in accordance with the requirements of this section.
    ``(i) Nondiscrimination Among Registered Voters Using Mail and 
Online Registration.--In carrying out this Act, the Help America Vote 
Act of 2002, or any other Federal, State, or local law governing the 
treatment of registered voters in the State or the administration of 
elections for public office in the State, a State shall treat a 
registered voter who registered to vote online in accordance with this 
section in the same manner as the State treats a registered voter who 
registered to vote by mail.''.
            (2) Special requirements for individuals using online 
        registration.--
                    (A) Treatment as individuals registering to vote by 
                mail for purposes of first-time voter identification 
                requirements.--Section 303(b)(1)(A) of the Help America 
                Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21083(b)(1)(A)) is amended 
                by striking ``by mail'' and inserting ``by mail or 
                online under section 6A of the National Voter 
                Registration Act of 1993''.
                    (B) Requiring signature for first-time voters in 
                jurisdiction.--Section 303(b) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 
                21083(b)) is amended--
                            (i) by redesignating paragraph (5) as 
                        paragraph (6); and
                            (ii) by inserting after paragraph (4) the 
                        following new paragraph:
            ``(5) Signature requirements for first-time voters using 
        online registration.--
                    ``(A) In general.--A State shall, in a uniform and 
                nondiscriminatory manner, require an individual to meet 
                the requirements of subparagraph (B) if--
                            ``(i) the individual registered to vote in 
                        the State online under section 6A of the 
                        National Voter Registration Act of 1993; and
                            ``(ii) the individual has not previously 
                        voted in an election for Federal office in the 
                        State.
                    ``(B) Requirements.--An individual meets the 
                requirements of this subparagraph if--
                            ``(i) in the case of an individual who 
                        votes in person, the individual provides the 
                        appropriate State or local election official 
                        with a handwritten signature; or
                            ``(ii) in the case of an individual who 
                        votes by mail, the individual submits with the 
                        ballot a handwritten signature.
                    ``(C) Inapplicability.--Subparagraph (A) does not 
                apply in the case of an individual who is--
                            ``(i) entitled to vote by absentee ballot 
                        under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens 
                        Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20302 et seq.);
                            ``(ii) provided the right to vote otherwise 
                        than in person under section 3(b)(2)(B)(ii) of 
                        the Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and 
                        Handicapped Act (52 U.S.C. 20102(b)(2)(B)(ii)); 
                        or
                            ``(iii) entitled to vote otherwise than in 
                        person under any other Federal law.''.
                    (C) Conforming amendment relating to effective 
                date.--Section 303(d)(2)(A) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 
                21083(d)(2)(A)) is amended by striking ``Each State'' 
                and inserting ``Except as provided in subsection 
                (b)(5), each State''.
            (3) Conforming amendments.--
                    (A) Timing of registration.--Section 8(a)(1) of the 
                National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 
                20507(a)(1)) is amended--
                            (i) by striking ``and'' at the end of 
                        subparagraph (C);
                            (ii) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as 
                        subparagraph (E); and
                            (iii) by inserting after subparagraph (C) 
                        the following new subparagraph:
                    ``(D) in the case of online registration through 
                the official public website of an election official 
                under section 6A, if the valid voter registration 
                application is submitted online not later than the 
                lesser of 28 days, or the period provided by State law, 
                before the date of the election (as determined by 
                treating the date on which the application is sent 
                electronically as the date on which it is submitted); 
                and''.
                    (B) Informing applicants of eligibility 
                requirements and penalties.--Section 8(a)(5) of such 
                Act (52 U.S.C. 20507(a)(5)) is amended by striking 
                ``and 7'' and inserting ``6A, and 7''.
    (b) Use of Internet To Update Registration Information.--
            (1) Updates to information contained on computerized 
        statewide voter registration list.--
                    (A) In general.--Section 303(a) of the Help America 
                Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21083(a)) is amended by 
                adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(6) Use of internet by registered voters to update 
        information.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The appropriate State or local 
                election official shall ensure that any registered 
                voter on the computerized list may at any time update 
                the voter's registration information, including the 
                voter's address and electronic mail address, online 
                through the official public website of the election 
                official responsible for the maintenance of the list, 
                so long as the voter attests to the contents of the 
                update by providing a signature in electronic form in 
                the same manner required under section 6A(c) of the 
                National Voter Registration Act of 1993.
                    ``(B) Processing of updated information by election 
                officials.--If a registered voter updates registration 
                information under subparagraph (A), the appropriate 
                State or local election official shall--
                            ``(i) revise any information on the 
                        computerized list to reflect the update made by 
                        the voter; and
                            ``(ii) if the updated registration 
                        information affects the voter's eligibility to 
                        vote in an election for Federal office, ensure 
                        that the information is processed with respect 
                        to the election if the voter updates the 
                        information not later than the lesser of 7 
                        days, or the period provided by State law, 
                        before the date of the election.
                    ``(C) Confirmation and disposition.--
                            ``(i) Confirmation of receipt.--Upon the 
                        online submission of updated registration 
                        information by an individual under this 
                        paragraph, the appropriate State or local 
                        election official shall send the individual a 
                        notice confirming the State's receipt of the 
                        updated information and providing instructions 
                        on how the individual may check the status of 
                        the update.
                            ``(ii) Notice of disposition.--Not later 
                        than 7 days after the appropriate State or 
                        local election official has accepted or 
                        rejected updated information submitted by an 
                        individual under this paragraph, the official 
                        shall send the individual a notice of the 
                        disposition of the update.
                            ``(iii) Method of notification.--The 
                        appropriate State or local election official 
                        shall send the notices required under this 
                        subparagraph by regular mail and--
                                    ``(I) in the case of an individual 
                                who has requested that the State 
                                provide voter registration and voting 
                                information through electronic mail, by 
                                electronic mail; and
                                    ``(II) at the option of an 
                                individual, by text message.''.
                    (B) Conforming amendment relating to effective 
                date.--Section 303(d)(1)(A) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 
                21083(d)(1)(A)) is amended by striking ``subparagraph 
                (B),'' and inserting ``subparagraph (B) and subsection 
                (a)(6),''.
            (2) Ability of registrant to use online update to provide 
        information on residence.--Section 8(d)(2)(A) of the National 
        Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20507(d)(2)(A)) is 
        amended--
                    (A) in the first sentence, by inserting after 
                ``return the card'' the following: ``or update the 
                registrant's information on the computerized Statewide 
                voter registration list using the online method 
                provided under section 303(a)(6) of the Help America 
                Vote Act of 2002''; and
                    (B) in the second sentence, by striking 
                ``returned,'' and inserting the following: ``returned 
                or if the registrant does not update the registrant's 
                information on the computerized Statewide voter 
                registration list using such online method,''.
    (c) Same Day Registration.--
            (1) In general.--Subtitle C of title III of the Help 
        America Vote Act of 2002, as added by section 3(a) and as 
        amended by sections 4(a) and 5(a), is further amended--
                    (A) by redesignating sections 327 and 328 as 
                sections 328 and 329; and
                    (B) by inserting after section 326 the following 
                new section:

``SEC. 327. SAME DAY REGISTRATION.

    ``(a) In General.--
            ``(1) Registration.--Each State shall permit any eligible 
        individual on the day of a Federal election and on any day when 
        voting, including early voting, is permitted for a Federal 
        election--
                    ``(A) to register to vote in such election at the 
                polling place using a form that meets the requirements 
                under section 9(b) of the National Voter Registration 
                Act of 1993 (or, if the individual is already 
                registered to vote, to revise any of the individual's 
                voter registration information); and
                    ``(B) to cast a vote in such election.
            ``(2) Exception.--The requirements under paragraph (1) 
        shall not apply to a State in which, under a State law in 
        effect continuously on and after the date of the enactment of 
        this section, there is no voter registration requirement for 
        individuals in the State with respect to elections for Federal 
        office.
    ``(b) Eligible Individual.--For purposes of this section, the term 
`eligible individual' means, with respect to any election for Federal 
office, an individual who is otherwise qualified to vote in that 
election.
    ``(c) Effective Date.--Each State shall be required to comply with 
the requirements of subsection (a) for the regularly scheduled general 
election for Federal office occurring in November 2020 and for any 
subsequent election for Federal office.''.
            (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of contents of such Act, 
        as added by section 3 and as amended by sections 4 and 5, is 
        further amended--
                    (A) by redesignating the items relating to sections 
                327 and 328 as relating to sections 328 and 329; and
                    (B) by inserting after the item relating to section 
                326 the following new item:

``Sec. 327. Same day registration.''.
    (d) Prohibiting State From Requiring Applicants To Provide More 
Than Last 4 Digits of Social Security Number.--
            (1) Form included with application for motor vehicle 
        driver's license.--Section 5(c)(2)(B)(ii) of the National Voter 
        Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20504(c)(2)(B)(ii)) is 
        amended by striking the semicolon at the end and inserting the 
        following: ``, and to the extent that the application requires 
        the applicant to provide a Social Security number, may not 
        require the applicant to provide more than the last 4 digits of 
        such number;''.
            (2) National mail voter registration form.--Section 9(b)(1) 
        of such Act (52 U.S.C. 20508(b)(1)) is amended by striking the 
        semicolon at the end and inserting the following: ``, and to 
        the extent that the form requires the applicant to provide a 
        Social Security number, the form may not require the applicant 
        to provide more than the last 4 digits of such number;''.
            (3) Effective date.--The amendments made by this subsection 
        shall apply with respect to the regularly scheduled general 
        election for Federal office held in November 2020 and each 
        succeeding election for Federal office.

SEC. 8. ACCOMMODATIONS FOR VOTERS RESIDING IN INDIAN LANDS.

    (a) Accommodations Described.--
            (1) Designation of ballot pickup and collection 
        locations.--Given the widespread lack of residential mail 
        delivery in Indian Country, an Indian Tribe may designate 
        buildings as ballot pickup and collection locations with 
        respect to an election for Federal office at no cost to the 
        Indian Tribe. An Indian Tribe may designate one building per 
        precinct located within Indian lands. The applicable State or 
        political subdivision shall collect ballots from those 
        locations. The applicable State or political subdivision shall 
        provide the Indian Tribe with accurate precinct maps for all 
        precincts located within Indian lands 60 days before the 
        election.
            (2) Provision of mail-in and absentee ballots.--The State 
        or political subdivision shall provide mail-in and absentee 
        ballots with respect to an election for Federal office to each 
        individual who is registered to vote in the election who 
        resides on Indian lands in the State or political subdivision 
        involved without requiring a residential address or a mail-in 
        or absentee ballot request.
            (3) Use of designated building as residential and mailing 
        address.--The address of a designated building that is a ballot 
        pickup and collection location with respect to an election for 
        Federal office may serve as the residential address and mailing 
        address for voters living on Indian lands if the tribally 
        designated building is in the same precinct as that voter. If 
        there is no tribally designated building within a voter's 
        precinct, the voter may use another tribally designated 
        building within the Indian lands where the voter is located. 
        Voters using a tribally designated building outside of the 
        voter's precinct may use the tribally designated building as a 
        mailing address and may separately designate the voter's 
        appropriate precinct through a description of the voter's 
        address, as specified in section 9428.4(a)(2) of title 11, Code 
        of Federal Regulations.
            (4) Language accessibility.--In the case of a State or 
        political subdivision that is a covered State or political 
        subdivision under section 203 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 
        (52 U.S.C. 10503), that State or political subdivision shall 
        provide absentee or mail-in voting materials with respect to an 
        election for Federal office in the language of the applicable 
        minority group as well as in the English language, bilingual 
        election voting assistance, and written translations of all 
        voting materials in the language of the applicable minority 
        group, as required by section 203 of the Voting Rights Act of 
        1965 (52 U.S.C. 10503), as amended by subsection (b).
            (5) Clarification.--Nothing in this section alters the 
        ability of an individual voter residing on Indian lands to 
        request a ballot in a manner available to all other voters in 
        the State.
            (6) Definitions.--In this section:
                    (A) Election for federal office.--The term 
                ``election for Federal office'' means a general, 
                special, primary or runoff election for the office of 
                President or Vice President, or of Senator or 
                Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner 
                to, the Congress.
                    (B) Indian.--The term ``Indian'' has the meaning 
                given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
                Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 
                5304).
                    (C) Indian lands.--The term ``Indian lands'' 
                includes--
                            (i) any Indian country of an Indian Tribe, 
                        as defined under section 1151 of title 18, 
                        United States Code;
                            (ii) any land in Alaska owned, pursuant to 
                        the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 
                        U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), by an Indian Tribe that 
                        is a Native village (as defined in section 3 of 
                        that Act (43 U.S.C. 1602)) or by a Village 
                        Corporation that is associated with an Indian 
                        Tribe (as defined in section 3 of that Act (43 
                        U.S.C. 1602));
                            (iii) any land on which the seat of the 
                        Tribal Government is located; and
                            (iv) any land that is part or all of a 
                        Tribal designated statistical area associated 
                        with an Indian Tribe, or is part or all of an 
                        Alaska Native village statistical area 
                        associated with an Indian Tribe, as defined by 
                        the Census Bureau for the purposes of the most 
                        recent decennial census.
                    (D) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian Tribe'' has 
                the meaning given the term ``Indian tribe'' in section 
                4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education 
                Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
                    (E) Tribal government.--The term ``Tribal 
                Government'' means the recognized governing body of an 
                Indian Tribe.
            (7) Enforcement.--
                    (A) Attorney general.--The Attorney General may 
                bring a civil action in an appropriate district court 
                for such declaratory or injunctive relief as is 
                necessary to carry out this subsection.
                    (B) Private right of action.--
                            (i) A person or Tribal Government who is 
                        aggrieved by a violation of this subsection may 
                        provide written notice of the violation to the 
                        chief election official of the State involved.
                            (ii) An aggrieved person or Tribal 
                        Government may bring a civil action in an 
                        appropriate district court for declaratory or 
                        injunctive relief with respect to a violation 
                        of this subsection, if--
                                    (I) that person or Tribal 
                                Government provides the notice 
                                described in clause (i); and
                                    (II)(aa) in the case of a violation 
                                that occurs more than 120 days before 
                                the date of an election for Federal 
                                office, the violation remains and 90 
                                days or more have passed since the date 
                                on which the chief election official of 
                                the State receives the notice under 
                                clause (i); or
                                    (bb) in the case of a violation 
                                that occurs 120 days or less before the 
                                date of an election for Federal office, 
                                the violation remains and 20 days or 
                                more have passed since the date on 
                                which the chief election official of 
                                the State receives the notice under 
                                clause (i).
                            (iii) In the case of a violation of this 
                        section that occurs 30 days or less before the 
                        date of an election for Federal office, an 
                        aggrieved person or Tribal Government may bring 
                        a civil action in an appropriate district court 
                        for declaratory or injunctive relief with 
                        respect to the violation without providing 
                        notice to the chief election official of the 
                        State under clause (i).
    (b) Bilingual Election Requirements.--Section 203 of the Voting 
Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 10503) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)(3)(C), by striking ``1990'' and 
        inserting ``2010''; and
            (2) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:
    ``(c) Provision of Voting Materials in the Language of a Minority 
Group.--
            ``(1) In general.--Whenever any State or political 
        subdivision subject to the prohibition of subsection (b) of 
        this section provides any registration or voting notices, 
        forms, instructions, assistance, or other materials or 
        information relating to the electoral process, including 
        ballots, it shall provide them in the language of the 
        applicable minority group as well as in the English language.
            ``(2) Exceptions.--
                    ``(A) In general.--
                            ``(i) In the case of a minority group that 
                        is not American Indian or Alaska Native and the 
                        language of that minority group is oral or 
                        unwritten, the State or political subdivision 
                        shall only be required to furnish, in the 
                        covered language, oral instructions, 
                        assistance, translation of voting materials, or 
                        other information relating to registration and 
                        voting.
                            ``(ii) In the case of a minority group that 
                        is American Indian or Alaska Native, the State 
                        or political subdivision shall only be required 
                        to furnish in the covered language oral 
                        instructions, assistance, or other information 
                        relating to registration and voting, including 
                        all voting materials, if the Tribal Government 
                        of that minority group has certified that the 
                        language of the applicable American Indian or 
                        Alaska Native language is presently unwritten 
                        or the Tribal Government does not want written 
                        translations in the minority language.
            ``(3) Written translations for election workers.--
        Notwithstanding paragraph (2), the State or political division 
        may be required to provide written translations of voting 
        materials, with the consent of any applicable Indian Tribe, to 
        election workers to ensure that the translations from English 
        to the language of a minority group are complete, accurate, and 
        uniform.''.
    (c) Effective Date.--This section and the amendments made by this 
section shall apply with respect to the regularly scheduled general 
election for Federal office held in November 2020 and each succeeding 
election for Federal office.

SEC. 9. PAYMENTS BY ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION TO STATES TO ASSIST 
              WITH COSTS OF COMPLIANCE.

    (a) Availability of Grants.--Subtitle D of title II of the Help 
America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21001 et seq.) is amended by adding 
at the end the following new part:

 ``PART 7--PAYMENTS TO ASSIST WITH COSTS OF COMPLIANCE WITH ACCESS ACT

``SEC. 297. PAYMENTS TO ASSIST WITH COSTS OF COMPLIANCE WITH ACCESS 
              ACT.

    ``(a) Availability and Use of Payments.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Commission shall make a payment to 
        each eligible State to assist the State with the costs of 
        complying with the American Coronavirus/COVID-19 Election 
        Safety and Security Act and the amendments made by such Act, 
        including the provisions of such Act and such amendments which 
        require States to pre-pay the postage on absentee ballots and 
        balloting materials.
            ``(2) Public education campaigns.--For purposes of this 
        part, the costs incurred by a State in carrying out a campaign 
        to educate the public about the requirements of the American 
        Coronavirus/COVID-19 Election Safety and Security Act and the 
        amendments made by such Act shall be included as the costs of 
        complying with such Act and such amendments.
    ``(b) Primary Elections.--
            ``(1) Payments to states.--In addition to any payments 
        under subsection (a), the Commission shall make a payment to 
        each eligible State to assist the State with the costs incurred 
        in voluntarily electing to comply with the American 
        Coronavirus/COVID-19 Election Safety and Security Act and the 
        amendments made by such Act with respect to primary elections 
        for Federal office held in the State in 2020.
            ``(2) State party-run primaries.--In addition to any 
        payments under paragraph (1), the Commission shall make 
        payments to each eligible political party of the State for 
        costs incurred by such parties to send absentee ballots and 
        return envelopes with prepaid postage to eligible voters 
        participating in such primaries during 2020.
    ``(c) Pass-Through of Funds to Local Jurisdictions.--
            ``(1) In general.--If a State receives a payment under this 
        part for costs that include costs incurred by a local 
        jurisdiction or Tribal government within the State, the State 
        shall pass through to such local jurisdiction or Tribal 
        government a portion of such payment that is equal to the 
        amount of the costs incurred by such local jurisdiction or 
        Tribal government.
            ``(2) Tribal government defined.--In this subsection, the 
        term `Tribal Government' means the recognized governing body of 
        an Indian tribe (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-
        Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
    ``(d) Schedule of Payments.--As soon as practicable after the date 
of the enactment of this part and not less frequently than once each 
calendar year thereafter, the Commission shall make payments under this 
part.
    ``(e) Coverage of Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands.--In 
this part, the term `State' includes the Commonwealth of the Northern 
Mariana Islands.
    ``(f) Limitation.--No funds may be provided to a State under this 
part for costs attributable to the electronic return of marked ballots 
by any voter.

``SEC. 297A. AMOUNT OF PAYMENT.

    ``(a) In General.--Except as provided in section 297C, the amount 
of a payment made to an eligible State for a year under this part shall 
be determined by the Commission.
    ``(b) Continuing Availability of Funds After Appropriation.--A 
payment made to an eligible State or eligible unit of local government 
under this part shall be available without fiscal year limitation.

``SEC. 297B. REQUIREMENTS FOR ELIGIBILITY.

    ``(a) Application.--Except as provided in section 297C, each State 
that desires to receive a payment under this part for a fiscal year, 
and each political party of a State that desires to receive a payment 
under section 297(b)(2), shall submit an application for the payment to 
the Commission at such time and in such manner and containing such 
information as the Commission shall require.
    ``(b) Contents of Application.--Each application submitted under 
subsection (a) shall--
            ``(1) describe the activities for which assistance under 
        this part is sought; and
            ``(2) provide such additional information and 
        certifications as the Commission determines to be essential to 
        ensure compliance with the requirements of this part.

``SEC. 297C. SPECIAL RULES FOR PAYMENTS FOR ELECTIONS SUBJECT TO 
              EMERGENCY RULES.

    ``(a) Submission of Estimated Costs.--If the special rules in the 
case of an emergency period under section 322(c)(3) apply to an 
election, not later than the applicable deadline under subsection (c), 
the State shall submit to the Commission a request for a payment under 
this part, and shall include in the request the State's estimate of the 
costs the State expects to incur in the administration of the election 
which are attributable to the application of such special rules to the 
election.
    ``(b) Payment.--Not later than 7 days after receiving a request 
from the State under subsection (a), the Commission shall make a 
payment to the State in an amount equal to the estimate provided by the 
State in the request.
    ``(c) Applicable Deadline.--The applicable deadline under this 
paragraph with respect to an election is--
            ``(1) with respect to the regularly scheduled general 
        election for Federal office held in November 2020, 15 days 
        after the date of the enactment of this part; and
            ``(2) with respect to any other election, 15 days after the 
        emergency or disaster described in section 322(c)(3) is 
        declared.

``SEC. 297D. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``There are authorized to be appropriated for payments under this 
part--
            ``(1) in the case of payments made under section 297C, such 
        sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020 and each 
        succeeding fiscal year; and
            ``(2) in the case of any other payments, such sums as may 
        be necessary for fiscal year 2020.

``SEC. 297E. REPORTS.

    ``(a) Reports by Recipients.--Not later than 6 months after the end 
of each fiscal year for which an eligible State received a payment 
under this part, the State shall submit a report to the Commission on 
the activities conducted with the funds provided during the year.
    ``(b) Reports by Commission to Committees.--With respect to each 
fiscal year for which the Commission makes payments under this part, 
the Commission shall submit a report on the activities carried out 
under this part to the Committee on House Administration of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Rules and Administration of the 
Senate.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents of such Act is 
amended by adding at the end of the items relating to subtitle D of 
title II the following:

 ``Part 7--Payments To Assist With Costs of Compliance With Access Act

``Sec. 297. Payments to assist with costs of compliance with Access 
                            Act.
``Sec. 297A. Amount of payment.
``Sec. 297B. Requirements for eligibility.
``Sec. 297C. Special rules for payments for elections subject to 
                            emergency rules.
``Sec. 297D. Authorization of appropriations.
``Sec. 297E. Reports.''.

SEC. 10. GRANTS TO STATES FOR CONDUCTING RISK-LIMITING AUDITS OF 
              RESULTS OF ELECTIONS.

    (a) Availability of Grants.--Subtitle D of title II of the Help 
America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21001 et seq.), as amended by 
section 9(a), is further amended by adding at the end the following new 
part:

  ``PART 8--GRANTS FOR CONDUCTING RISK-LIMITING AUDITS OF RESULTS OF 
                               ELECTIONS

``SEC. 298. GRANTS FOR CONDUCTING RISK-LIMITING AUDITS OF RESULTS OF 
              ELECTIONS.

    ``(a) Availability of Grants.--The Commission shall make a grant to 
each eligible State to conduct risk-limiting audits as described in 
subsection (b) with respect to the regularly scheduled general 
elections for Federal office held in November 2020 and each succeeding 
election for Federal office.
    ``(b) Risk-Limiting Audits Described.--In this part, a `risk-
limiting audit' is a post-election process--
            ``(1) which is conducted in accordance with rules and 
        procedures established by the chief State election official of 
        the State which meet the requirements of subsection (c); and
            ``(2) under which, if the reported outcome of the election 
        is incorrect, there is at least a predetermined percentage 
        chance that the audit will replace the incorrect outcome with 
        the correct outcome as determined by a full, hand-to-eye 
        tabulation of all votes validly cast in that election that 
        ascertains voter intent manually and directly from voter-
        verifiable paper records.
    ``(c) Requirements for Rules and Procedures.--The rules and 
procedures established for conducting a risk-limiting audit shall 
include the following elements:
            ``(1) Rules for ensuring the security of ballots and 
        documenting that prescribed procedures were followed.
            ``(2) Rules and procedures for ensuring the accuracy of 
        ballot manifests produced by election agencies.
            ``(3) Rules and procedures for governing the format of 
        ballot manifests, cast vote records, and other data involved in 
        the audit.
            ``(4) Methods to ensure that any cast vote records used in 
        the audit are those used by the voting system to tally the 
        election results sent to the chief State election official and 
        made public.
            ``(5) Procedures for the random selection of ballots to be 
        inspected manually during each audit.
            ``(6) Rules for the calculations and other methods to be 
        used in the audit and to determine whether and when the audit 
        of an election is complete.
            ``(7) Procedures and requirements for testing any software 
        used to conduct risk-limiting audits.
    ``(d) Definitions.--In this part, the following definitions apply:
            ``(1) The term `ballot manifest' means a record maintained 
        by each election agency that meets each of the following 
        requirements:
                    ``(A) The record is created without reliance on any 
                part of the voting system used to tabulate votes.
                    ``(B) The record functions as a sampling frame for 
                conducting a risk-limiting audit.
                    ``(C) The record contains the following information 
                with respect to the ballots cast and counted in the 
                election:
                            ``(i) The total number of ballots cast and 
                        counted by the agency (including undervotes, 
                        overvotes, and other invalid votes).
                            ``(ii) The total number of ballots cast in 
                        each election administered by the agency 
                        (including undervotes, overvotes, and other 
                        invalid votes).
                            ``(iii) A precise description of the manner 
                        in which the ballots are physically stored, 
                        including the total number of physical groups 
                        of ballots, the numbering system for each 
                        group, a unique label for each group, and the 
                        number of ballots in each such group.
            ``(2) The term `incorrect outcome' means an outcome that 
        differs from the outcome that would be determined by a full 
        tabulation of all votes validly cast in the election, 
        determining voter intent manually, directly from voter-
        verifiable paper records.
            ``(3) The term `outcome' means the winner of an election, 
        whether a candidate or a position.
            ``(4) The term `reported outcome' means the outcome of an 
        election which is determined according to the canvass and which 
        will become the official, certified outcome unless it is 
        revised by an audit, recount, or other legal process.

``SEC. 298A. ELIGIBILITY OF STATES.

    ``A State is eligible to receive a grant under this part if the 
State submits to the Commission, at such time and in such form as the 
Commission may require, an application containing--
            ``(1) a certification that, not later than 5 years after 
        receiving the grant, the State will conduct risk-limiting 
        audits of the results of elections for Federal office held in 
        the State as described in section 298;
            ``(2) a certification that, not later than one year after 
        the date of the enactment of this section, the chief State 
        election official of the State has established or will 
        establish the rules and procedures for conducting the audits 
        which meet the requirements of section 298(c);
            ``(3) a certification that the audit shall be completed not 
        later than the date on which the State certifies the results of 
        the election;
            ``(4) a certification that, after completing the audit, the 
        State shall publish a report on the results of the audit, 
        together with such information as necessary to confirm that the 
        audit was conducted properly;
            ``(5) a certification that, if a risk-limiting audit 
        conducted under this part leads to a full manual tally of an 
        election, State law requires that the State or election agency 
        shall use the results of the full manual tally as the official 
        results of the election; and
            ``(6) such other information and assurances as the 
        Commission may require.

``SEC. 298B. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``There are authorized to be appropriated for grants under this 
part $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2020, to remain available until 
expended.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents of such Act, as 
amended by section 9(b), is further amended by adding at the end of the 
items relating to subtitle D of title II the following:

  ``Part 8--Grants for Conducting Risk-Limiting Audits of Results of 
                               Elections

        ``Sec. 298. Grants for conducting risk-limiting audits of 
                            results of elections.
        ``Sec. 298A. Eligibility of States.
        ``Sec. 298B. Authorization of appropriations.
    (c) GAO Analysis of Effects of Audits.--
            (1) Analysis.--Not later than 6 months after the first 
        election for Federal office is held after grants are first 
        awarded to States for conducting risk-limiting audits under 
        part 8 of subtitle D of title II of the Help America Vote Act 
        of 2002 (as added by subsection (a)) for conducting risk-
        limiting audits of elections for Federal office, the 
        Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct an 
        analysis of the extent to which such audits have improved the 
        administration of such elections and the security of election 
        infrastructure in the States receiving such grants.
            (2) Report.--The Comptroller General of the United States 
        shall submit a report on the analysis conducted under 
        subsection (a) to the appropriate congressional committees.

SEC. 11. ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE ELECTION ASSISTANCE 
              COMMISSION.

    (a) In General.--In addition to any funds otherwise appropriated to 
the Election Assistance Commission for fiscal year 2020, there is 
authorized to be appropriated $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2020 in order 
for the Commission to provide additional assistance and resources to 
States for improving the administration of elections.
    (b) Availability of Funds.--Amounts appropriated pursuant to the 
authorization under this subsection shall remain available without 
fiscal year limitation.

SEC. 12. DEFINITION.

    (a) Definition of Election for Federal Office.--Title IX of the 
Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21141 et seq.) is amended by 
adding at the end the following new section:

``SEC. 907. ELECTION FOR FEDERAL OFFICE DEFINED.

    ``For purposes of titles I through III, the term `election for 
Federal office' means a general, special, primary, or runoff election 
for the office of President or Vice President, or of Senator or 
Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the 
Congress.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents of such Act is 
amended by adding at the end of the items relating to title IX the 
following new item:

``Sec. 907. Election for Federal office defined.''.
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