[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7182 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7182
To amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to establish minimum
notification requirements for voters affected by polling place changes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 21, 2026
Ms. Johnson of Texas (for herself, Mr. Morelle, Ms. Norton, Mr. Johnson
of Georgia, and Mr. Casten) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on House Administration
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to establish minimum
notification requirements for voters affected by polling place changes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Voter Outreach for Transparent
Elections Act'' or the ``VOTE Act''.
SEC. 2. MINIMUM NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR VOTERS AFFECTED BY
POLLING PLACE CHANGES.
(a) Requirements.--Section 302 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002
(52 U.S.C. 21082) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following new
subsection:
``(d) Minimum Notification Requirements for Voters Affected by
Polling Place Changes.--
``(1) In general.--If a State assigns an individual who is
a registered voter in a State to a polling place with respect
to an election for Federal office which is not the same polling
place to which the individual was previously assigned with
respect to the most recent election for Federal office in the
State in which the individual was eligible to vote--
``(A) the State shall notify the individual of the
location of the polling place not later than 7 days
before the date of the election;
``(B) the appropriate election official of the
State shall post a general notice on the website of the
State or jurisdiction, on social media platforms (if
available), and on signs at the prior polling place;
and
``(C) if the State makes such an assignment fewer
than 7 days before the date of the election and the
individual appears on the date of the election at the
polling place to which the individual was previously
assigned, the State shall make every reasonable effort
to enable the individual to vote on the date of the
election.
``(2) Methods of notification.--The appropriate election
official shall notify an individual under paragraph (1)(A) by
mail, telephone, and (if available) text message and electronic
mail.
``(3) Requirements for vote centers.--In the case of a
jurisdiction in which individuals are not assigned to specific
polling places, not later than 2 days before the beginning of
an early voting period, the appropriate election official shall
notify each individual eligible to vote in such jurisdiction of
the location of all polling places at which the individual may
vote.
``(4) Notice with respect to closed polling places.--
``(A) In general.--If a location which served as a
polling place for an election for Federal office in a
State does not serve as a polling place in the next
election for Federal office held in the State, the
State shall ensure that signs are posted at such
location on the date of the election and during any
early voting period for the election containing the
following information:
``(i) A statement that the location is not
serving as a polling place in the election.
``(ii) The locations serving as polling
places in the election in the jurisdiction
involved.
``(iii) The name and address of any
substitute polling place serving the same
precinct and directions from the former polling
place to the new polling place.
``(iv) Contact information, including a
telephone number and website, for the
appropriate State or local election official
through which an individual may find the
polling place to which the individual is
assigned for the election.
``(B) Internet posting.--Each State which is
required to post signs under subparagraph (A) shall
also provide such information through a website and
through social media (if available).
``(C) Linguistic preference.--The notices required
under this subsection shall comply with the
requirements of section 203 of the Voting Rights Act of
1965 (52 U.S.C. 10503).
``(5) Effective date.--This subsection shall apply with
respect to elections held on or after January 1, 2026.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 302(e) of such Act (52 U.S.C.
21082(f)), as redesignated by subsection (a), is amended by striking
``Each State'' and inserting ``Except as provided in subsection (d)(5),
each State''.
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