[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 119 (Wednesday, July 12, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2396-S2397]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 219. Ms. KLOBUCHAR (for herself and Mrs. Fischer) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill S. 2226, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2024 for military activities 
of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for 
defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military 
personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which 
was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the end of subtitle F of title X, add the following:

     SEC. 1063. GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE REPORT ON 
                   IMPLEMENTATION OF UNIFORMED AND OVERSEAS 
                   CITIZENS ABSENTEE VOTING ACT AND IMPROVING 
                   ACCESS TO VOTER REGISTRATION INFORMATION AND 
                   ASSISTANCE FOR ABSENT UNIFORMED SERVICES 
                   VOTERS.

       (a) In General.--The Comptroller General of the United 
     States shall conduct--
       (1) an analysis of the effectiveness of the Federal 
     Government in carrying out its responsibilities under the 
     Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (52 
     U.S.C. 20301 et seq.) to promote access to voting for absent 
     uniformed services voters; and

[[Page S2397]]

       (2) a study on means for improving access to voter 
     registration information and assistance for members of the 
     Armed Forces and their family members.
       (b) Elements.--
       (1) Analysis.--The analysis required by subsection (a)(1) 
     shall include analysis of the following:
       (A) Data and information pertaining to the transmission of 
     ballots to absent unformed services voters.
       (B) Data and information pertaining to the methods of 
     transmission of voted ballots from absent uniformed services 
     voters, including the efficacy and security of such methods.
       (C) Data and information pertaining to the treatment by 
     election officials of voted ballots transmitted by absent 
     uniformed services voters, including--
       (i) the rate at which such ballots are counted in 
     elections;
       (ii) the rate at which such ballots are rejected in 
     elections; and
       (iii) the reasons for such rejections.
       (D) An analysis of the effectiveness of the assistance 
     provided to absent uniformed services voters by Voting 
     Assistance Officers of the Federal Voting Assistance Program 
     of the Department of Defense.
       (E) A review of the extent of coordination between Voting 
     Assistance Officers and State and local election officials.
       (F) Information regarding such other issues relating to the 
     ability of absent uniformed services voters to register to 
     vote, vote, and have their ballots counted in elections for 
     Federal office.
       (G) Data and information pertaining to--
       (i) the awareness of members of the Armed Forces and their 
     family members of the requirement under section 1566a of 
     title 10, United States Code, that the Secretaries of the 
     military departments provide voter registration information 
     and assistance; and
       (ii) whether members of the Armed Forces and their family 
     members received such information and assistance at the times 
     required by subsection (c) of that section.
       (2) Study.--The study required by subsection (a)(2) shall 
     include the following:
       (A) An assessment of potential actions to be undertaken by 
     the Secretary of each military department to increase access 
     to voter registration information and assistance for members 
     of the Armed Forces and their family members.
       (B) An estimate of the costs and requirements to fully meet 
     the needs of members of the Armed Forces for access to voter 
     registration information and assistance.
       (c) Methods.--In conducting the analysis and study required 
     by subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall, in 
     cooperation and consultation with the Secretaries of the 
     military departments--
       (1) use existing information from available government and 
     other public sources; and
       (2) acquire, through the Comptroller General's own 
     investigations, interviews, and analysis, such other 
     information as the Comptroller General requires to conduct 
     the analysis and study.
       (d) Report Required.--Not later than September 30, 2025, 
     the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee on 
     Rules and Administration of the Senate and the Committee on 
     House Administration of the House of Representatives a report 
     on the analysis and study required by subsection (a).
       (e) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Absent uniformed services voter.--The term ``absent 
     uniformed services voter'' has the meaning given that term in 
     section 107 of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee 
     Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20310).
       (2) Family member.--The term ``family member'', with 
     respect to a member of the Armed Forces, means a spouse and 
     other dependent (as defined in section 1072 of title 10, 
     United States Code) of the member.
                                 ______