[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 114 (Wednesday, July 10, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4424-S4488]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 2192. Ms. KLOBUCHAR submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
by her to the bill S. 4638, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 
2025 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, insert the following:

                      DIVISION _--FREEDOM TO VOTE

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This division may be cited as the ``Freedom to Vote Act''.

     SEC. 2. ORGANIZATION OF DIVISION INTO SUBDIVISIONS; TABLE OF 
                   CONTENTS.

       (a) Subdivisions.--This division is organized into 
     subdivisions as follows:
       (1) Subdivision 1--Voter Access.
       (2) Subdivision 2--Election Integrity.
       (3) Subdivision 3--Civic Participation and Empowerment.
       (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this 
     division is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Organization of division into subdivisions; table of contents.
Sec. 3. Findings of general constitutional authority.
Sec. 4. Standards for judicial review.
Sec. 5. Severability.

                      SUBDIVISION 1--Voter Access

           TITLE I--ELECTION MODERNIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION

Sec. 1000. Short title; statement of policy.

              Subtitle A--Voter Registration Modernization

Sec. 1000A. Short title.

[[Page S4425]]

                  PART 1--Automatic Voter Registration

Sec. 1001. Short title; findings and purpose.
Sec. 1002. Automatic registration of eligible individuals.
Sec. 1003. Voter protection and security in automatic registration.
Sec. 1004. Payments and grants.
Sec. 1005. Miscellaneous provisions.
Sec. 1006. Definitions.
Sec. 1007. Effective date.

              PART 2--Election Day as Legal Public Holiday

Sec. 1011. Election day as legal public holiday.

                PART 3--Promoting Internet Registration

Sec. 1021. Requiring availability of internet for voter registration.
Sec. 1022. Use of internet to update registration information.
Sec. 1023. Provision of election information by electronic mail to 
              individuals registered to vote.
Sec. 1024. Clarification of requirement regarding necessary information 
              to show eligibility to vote.
Sec. 1025. Prohibiting State from requiring applicants to provide more 
              than last 4 digits of social security number.
Sec. 1026. Application of rules to certain exempt States.
Sec. 1027. Report on data collection relating to online voter 
              registration systems.
Sec. 1028. Permitting voter registration application form to serve as 
              application for absentee ballot.
Sec. 1029. Effective date.

                  PART 4--Same Day Voter Registration

Sec. 1031. Same day registration.
Sec. 1032. Ensuring pre-election registration deadlines are consistent 
              with timing of legal public holidays.

 PART 5--Streamline Voter Registration Information, Access, and Privacy

Sec. 1041. Authorizing the dissemination of voter registration 
              information displays following naturalization ceremonies.
Sec. 1042. Inclusion of voter registration information with certain 
              leases and vouchers for federally assisted rental housing 
              and mortgage applications.
Sec. 1043. Acceptance of voter registration applications from 
              individuals under 18 years of age.
Sec. 1044. Requiring States to establish and operate voter privacy 
              programs.

            PART 6--Funding Support to States for Compliance

Sec. 1051. Availability of requirements payments under HAVA to cover 
              costs of compliance with new requirements.

     Subtitle B--Access to Voting for Individuals With Disabilities

Sec. 1101. Requirements for States to promote access to voter 
              registration and voting for individuals with 
              disabilities.
Sec. 1102. Establishment and maintenance of State accessible election 
              websites.
Sec. 1103. Protections for in-person voting for individuals with 
              disabilities and older individuals.
Sec. 1104. Protections for individuals subject to guardianship.
Sec. 1105. Expansion and reauthorization of grant program to assure 
              voting access for individuals with disabilities.
Sec. 1106. Pilot programs for enabling individuals with disabilities to 
              register to vote privately and independently at 
              residences.
Sec. 1107. GAO analysis and report on voting access for individuals 
              with disabilities.

                        Subtitle C--Early Voting

Sec. 1201. Early voting.

                       Subtitle D--Voting by Mail

Sec. 1301. Voting by mail.
Sec. 1302. Balloting materials tracking program.
Sec. 1303. Election mail and delivery improvements.
Sec. 1304. Carriage of election mail.
Sec. 1305. Requiring States to provide secured drop boxes for voted 
              ballots in elections for Federal office.

    Subtitle E--Absent Uniformed Services Voters and Overseas Voters

Sec. 1401. Pre-election reports on availability and transmission of 
              absentee ballots.
Sec. 1402. Enforcement.
Sec. 1403. Transmission requirements; repeal of waiver provision.
Sec. 1404. Use of single absentee ballot application for subsequent 
              elections.
Sec. 1405. Extending guarantee of residency for voting purposes to 
              family members of absent military personnel.
Sec. 1406. Technical clarifications to conform to Military and Overseas 
              Voter Empowerment Act amendments related to the Federal 
              write-in absentee ballot.
Sec. 1407. Treatment of post card registration requests.
Sec. 1408. Presidential designee report on voter disenfranchisement.
Sec. 1409. Effective date.

                 Subtitle F--Enhancement of Enforcement

Sec. 1501. Enhancement of enforcement of Help America Vote Act of 2002.

  Subtitle G--Promoting Voter Access Through Election Administration 
                       Modernization Improvements

                     PART 1--Promoting Voter Access

Sec. 1601. Minimum notification requirements for voters affected by 
              polling place changes.
Sec. 1602. Applicability to Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
              Islands.
Sec. 1603. Elimination of 14-day time period between general election 
              and runoff election for Federal elections in the Virgin 
              Islands and Guam.
Sec. 1604. Application of Federal election administration laws to 
              territories of the United States.
Sec. 1605. Application of Federal voter protection laws to territories 
              of the United States.
Sec. 1606. Ensuring equitable and efficient operation of polling 
              places.
Sec. 1607. Prohibiting States from restricting curbside voting.

  PART 2--Improvements in Operation of Election Assistance Commission

Sec. 1611. Reauthorization of Election Assistance Commission.
Sec. 1612. Recommendations to improve operations of Election Assistance 
              Commission.
Sec. 1613. Repeal of exemption of Election Assistance Commission from 
              certain government contracting requirements.

                    PART 3--Miscellaneous Provisions

Sec. 1621. Definition of election for Federal office.
Sec. 1622. No effect on other laws.
Sec. 1623. Clarification of exemption for States without voter 
              registration.
Sec. 1624. Clarification of exemption for States which do not collect 
              telephone information.

                   Subtitle H--Democracy Restoration

Sec. 1701. Short title.
Sec. 1702. Findings.
Sec. 1703. Rights of citizens.
Sec. 1704. Enforcement.
Sec. 1705. Notification of restoration of voting rights.
Sec. 1706. Definitions.
Sec. 1707. Relation to other laws.
Sec. 1708. Federal prison funds.
Sec. 1709. Effective date.

      Subtitle I--Voter Identification and Allowable Alternatives

Sec. 1801. Requirements for voter identification.

             Subtitle J--Voter List Maintenance Procedures

                    PART 1--Voter Caging Prohibited

Sec. 1901. Voter caging prohibited.

           PART 2--Saving Eligible Voters From Voter Purging

Sec. 1911. Conditions for removal of voters from list of registered 
              voters.

                        Subtitle K--Severability

Sec. 1921. Severability.

                   SUBDIVISION 2--Election Integrity

       TITLE II--PROHIBITING INTERFERENCE WITH VOTER REGISTRATION

Sec. 2001. Prohibiting hindering, interfering with, or preventing voter 
              registration.
Sec. 2002. Establishment of best practices.

               TITLE III--PREVENTING ELECTION SUBVERSION

     Subtitle A--Restrictions on Removal of Election Administrators

Sec. 3001. Restrictions on removal of local election administrators in 
              administration of elections for Federal office.

         Subtitle B--Increased Protections for Election Workers

Sec. 3101. Harassment of election workers prohibited.
Sec. 3102. Protection of election workers.

   Subtitle C--Prohibiting Deceptive Practices and Preventing Voter 
                              Intimidation

Sec. 3201. Short title.
Sec. 3202. Prohibition on deceptive practices in Federal elections.
Sec. 3203. Corrective action.
Sec. 3204. Reports to Congress.
Sec. 3205. Private rights of action by election officials.
Sec. 3206. Making intimidation of tabulation, canvass, and 
              certification efforts a crime.

  Subtitle D--Protection of Election Records & Election Infrastructure

Sec. 3301. Strengthen protections for Federal election records.
Sec. 3302. Penalties; inspection; nondisclosure; jurisdiction.
Sec. 3303. Judicial review to ensure compliance.

 Subtitle E--Judicial Protection of the Right to Vote and Non-partisan 
                            Vote Tabulation

                       PART 1--Right to Vote Act

Sec. 3401. Short title.
Sec. 3402. Undue burdens on the ability to vote in elections for 
              Federal office prohibited.
Sec. 3403. Judicial review.
Sec. 3404. Definitions.

[[Page S4426]]

Sec. 3405. Rules of construction.
Sec. 3406. Severability.
Sec. 3407. Effective date.

         PART 2--Clarifying Jurisdiction Over Election Disputes

Sec. 3411. Findings.
Sec. 3412. Clarifying authority of United States district courts to 
              hear cases.
Sec. 3413. Effective date.

            Subtitle F--Poll Worker Recruitment and Training

Sec. 3501. Grants to States for poll worker recruitment and training.
Sec. 3502. State defined.

           Subtitle G--Preventing Poll Observer Interference

Sec. 3601. Protections for voters on Election Day.

       Subtitle H--Preventing Restrictions on Food and Beverages

Sec. 3701. Short title; findings.
Sec. 3702. Prohibiting restrictions on donations of food and beverages 
              at polling stations.

 Subtitle I--Establishing Duty to Report Foreign Election Interference

Sec. 3801. Findings relating to illicit money undermining our 
              democracy.
Sec. 3802. Federal campaign reporting of foreign contacts.
Sec. 3803. Federal campaign foreign contact reporting compliance 
              system.
Sec. 3804. Criminal penalties.
Sec. 3805. Report to congressional intelligence committees.
Sec. 3806. Rule of construction.

 Subtitle J--Promoting Accuracy, Integrity, and Security Through Voter-
                   Verifiable Permanent Paper Ballot

Sec. 3901. Short title.
Sec. 3902. Paper ballot and manual counting requirements.
Sec. 3903. Accessibility and ballot verification for individuals with 
              disabilities.
Sec. 3904. Durability and readability requirements for ballots.
Sec. 3905. Study and report on optimal ballot design.
Sec. 3906. Ballot marking device cybersecurity requirements.
Sec. 3907. Effective date for new requirements.
Sec. 3908. Grants for obtaining compliant paper ballot voting systems 
              and carrying out voting system security improvements.

                    Subtitle K--Provisional Ballots

Sec. 3911. Requirements for counting provisional ballots; establishment 
              of uniform and nondiscriminatory standards.

                    TITLE IV--VOTING SYSTEM SECURITY

Sec. 4001. Post-election audit requirement.
Sec. 4002. Election infrastructure designation.
Sec. 4003. Guidelines and certification for electronic poll books and 
              remote ballot marking systems.
Sec. 4004. Pre-election reports on voting system usage.
Sec. 4005. Use of voting machines manufactured in the United States.
Sec. 4006. Use of political party headquarters building fund for 
              technology or cybersecurity-related purposes.
Sec. 4007. Severability.

           SUBDIVISION 3--Civic Participation and Empowerment

               TITLE V--NONPARTISAN REDISTRICTING REFORM

Sec. 5001. Finding of constitutional authority.
Sec. 5002. Ban on mid-decade redistricting.
Sec. 5003. Criteria for redistricting.
Sec. 5004. Development of plan.
Sec. 5005. Failure by State to enact plan.
Sec. 5006. Civil enforcement.
Sec. 5007. No effect on elections for State and local office.
Sec. 5008. Effective date.

                TITLE VI--CAMPAIGN FINANCE TRANSPARENCY

                        Subtitle A--DISCLOSE Act

Sec. 6001. Short title.
Sec. 6002. Findings.

  PART 1--Closing Loopholes Allowing Spending by Foreign Nationals in 
                               Elections

Sec. 6003. Clarification of application of foreign money ban to certain 
              disbursements and activities.
Sec. 6004. Study and report on illicit foreign money in Federal 
              elections.
Sec. 6005. Prohibition on contributions and donations by foreign 
              nationals in connection with ballot initiatives and 
              referenda.
Sec. 6006. Disbursements and activities subject to foreign money ban.
Sec. 6007. Prohibiting establishment of corporation to conceal election 
              contributions and donations by foreign nationals.

          PART 2--Reporting of Campaign-Related Disbursements

Sec. 6011. Reporting of campaign-related disbursements.
Sec. 6012. Reporting of Federal judicial nomination disbursements.
Sec. 6013. Coordination with FinCEN.
Sec. 6014. Application of foreign money ban to disbursements for 
              campaign-related disbursements consisting of covered 
              transfers.
Sec. 6015. Sense of Congress regarding implementation.
Sec. 6016. Effective date.

                  PART 3--Other Administrative Reforms

Sec. 6021. Petition for certiorari.
Sec. 6022. Judicial review of actions related to campaign finance laws.
Sec. 6023. Effective date.

                         Subtitle B--Honest Ads

Sec. 6101. Short title.
Sec. 6102. Purpose.
Sec. 6103. Findings.
Sec. 6104. Sense of Congress.
Sec. 6105. Expansion of definition of public communication.
Sec. 6106. Expansion of definition of electioneering communication.
Sec. 6107. Application of disclaimer statements to online 
              communications.
Sec. 6108. Political record requirements for online platforms.
Sec. 6109. Preventing contributions, expenditures, independent 
              expenditures, and disbursements for electioneering 
              communications by foreign nationals in the form of online 
              advertising.
Sec. 6110. Requiring online platforms to display notices identifying 
              sponsors of political advertisements and to ensure 
              notices continue to be present when advertisements are 
              shared.

                       Subtitle C--Spotlight Act

Sec. 6201. Short title.
Sec. 6202. Inclusion of contributor information on annual returns of 
              certain organizations.

                 TITLE VII--CAMPAIGN FINANCE OVERSIGHT

         Subtitle A--Stopping Super PAC-Candidate Coordination

Sec. 7001. Short title.
Sec. 7002. Clarification of treatment of coordinated expenditures as 
              contributions to candidates.

         Subtitle B--Restoring Integrity to America's Elections

Sec. 7101. Short title.
Sec. 7102. Revision to enforcement process.
Sec. 7103. Official exercising the responsibilities of the general 
              counsel.
Sec. 7104. Permitting appearance at hearings on requests for advisory 
              opinions by persons opposing the requests.
Sec. 7105. Permanent extension of administrative penalty authority.
Sec. 7106. Restrictions on ex parte communications.
Sec. 7107. Clarifying authority of FEC attorneys to represent FEC in 
              Supreme Court.
Sec. 7108. Requiring forms to permit use of accent marks.
Sec. 7109. Extension of the statutes of limitations for offenses under 
              the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971.
Sec. 7110. Effective date; transition.

                    TITLE VIII--CITIZEN EMPOWERMENT

                Subtitle A--Funding to Promote Democracy

               PART 1--Payments and Allocations to States

Sec. 8001. Democracy Advancement and Innovation Program.
Sec. 8002. State plan.
Sec. 8003. Prohibiting reduction in access to participation in 
              elections.
Sec. 8004. Amount of State allocation.
Sec. 8005. Procedures for disbursements of payments and allocations.
Sec. 8006. Office of Democracy Advancement and Innovation.

      PART 2--State Election Assistance and Innovation Trust Fund

Sec. 8011. State Election Assistance and Innovation Trust Fund.
Sec. 8012. Uses of Fund.

                       PART 3--General Provisions

Sec. 8021. Definitions.
Sec. 8022. Rule of construction regarding calculation of deadlines.

           Subtitle B--Elections for House of Representatives

Sec. 8101. Short title.

               PART 1--Optional Democracy Credit Program

Sec. 8102. Establishment of program.
Sec. 8103. Credit program described.
Sec. 8104. Reports.
Sec. 8105. Election cycle defined.

   PART 2--Optional Small Dollar Financing of Elections for House of 
                            Representatives

Sec. 8111. Benefits and eligibility requirements for candidates.
Sec. 8112. Contributions and expenditures by multicandidate and 
              political party committees on behalf of participating 
              candidates.
Sec. 8113. Prohibiting use of contributions by participating candidates 
              for purposes other than campaign for election.
Sec. 8114. Deadline for regulations; effective date.

 Subtitle C--Personal Use Services as Authorized Campaign Expenditures

Sec. 8201. Short title; findings; purpose.
Sec. 8202. Treatment of payments for child care and other personal use 
              services as authorized campaign expenditure.

[[Page S4427]]

             Subtitle D--Empowering Small Dollar Donations

Sec. 8301. Permitting political party committees to provide enhanced 
              support for House candidates through use of separate 
              small dollar accounts.

                        Subtitle E--Severability

Sec. 8401. Severability.

     SEC. 3. FINDINGS OF GENERAL CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY.

       Congress finds that the Constitution of the United States 
     grants explicit and broad authority to protect the right to 
     vote, to regulate elections for Federal office, to prevent 
     and remedy discrimination in voting, and to defend the 
     Nation's democratic process. Congress enacts the Freedom to 
     Vote Act pursuant to this broad authority, including but not 
     limited to the following:
       (1) Congress finds that it has broad authority to regulate 
     the time, place, and manner of congressional elections under 
     the Elections Clause of the Constitution, article I, section 
     4, clause 1. The Supreme Court has affirmed that the 
     ``substantive scope'' of the Elections Clause is ``broad''; 
     that ``Times, Places, and Manner'' are ``comprehensive words 
     which embrace authority to provide for a complete code for 
     congressional elections''; and ``[t]he power of Congress over 
     the Times, Places and Manner of congressional elections is 
     paramount, and may be exercised at any time, and to any 
     extent which it deems expedient; and so far as it is 
     exercised, and no farther, the regulations effected supersede 
     those of the State which are inconsistent therewith''. 
     Arizona v. Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, 570 U.S. 1, 8-9 
     (2013) (internal quotation marks and citations omitted). 
     Indeed, ``Congress has plenary and paramount jurisdiction 
     over the whole subject'' of congressional elections, Ex parte 
     Siebold, 100 U.S. (10 Otto) 371, 388 (1879), and this power 
     ``may be exercised as and when Congress sees fit'', and ``so 
     far as it extends and conflicts with the regulations of the 
     State, necessarily supersedes them''. Id. at 384. Among other 
     things, Congress finds that the Elections Clause was intended 
     to ``vindicate the people's right to equality of 
     representation in the House''. Wesberry v. Sanders, 376 U.S. 
     1, 16 (1964), and to address partisan gerrymandering, Rucho 
     v. Common Cause, 139 S. Ct. 2484 (2019).
       (2) Congress also finds that it has both the authority and 
     responsibility, as the legislative body for the United 
     States, to fulfill the promise of article IV, section 4, of 
     the Constitution, which states: ``The United States shall 
     guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of 
     Government[.]''. Congress finds that its authority and 
     responsibility to enforce the Guarantee Clause is clear given 
     that Federal courts have not enforced this clause because 
     they understood that its enforcement is committed to Congress 
     by the Constitution.
       (3)(A) Congress also finds that it has broad authority 
     pursuant to section 5 of the Fourteenth Amendment to 
     legislate to enforce the provisions of the Fourteenth 
     Amendment, including its protections of the right to vote and 
     the democratic process.
       (B) Section 1 of the Fourteenth Amendment protects the 
     fundamental right to vote, which is ``of the most fundamental 
     significance under our constitutional structure''. Ill. Bd. 
     of Election v. Socialist Workers Party, 440 U.S. 173, 184 
     (1979); see United States v.  Classic, 313 U.S. 299 (1941) 
     (``Obviously included within the right to choose, secured by 
     the Constitution, is the right of qualified voters within a 
     State to cast their ballots and have them counted . . .''). 
     As the Supreme Court has repeatedly affirmed, the right to 
     vote is ``preservative of all rights'', Yick Wo v. Hopkins, 
     118 U.S. 356, 370 (1886). Section 2 of the Fourteenth 
     Amendment also protects the right to vote, granting Congress 
     additional authority to reduce a State's representation in 
     Congress when the right to vote is abridged or denied.
       (C) As a result, Congress finds that it has the authority 
     pursuant to section 5 of the Fourteenth Amendment to protect 
     the right to vote. Congress also finds that States and 
     localities have eroded access to the right to vote through 
     restrictions on the right to vote including excessively 
     onerous voter identification requirements, burdensome voter 
     registration procedures, voter purges, limited and unequal 
     access to voting by mail, polling place closures, unequal 
     distribution of election resources, and other impediments.
       (D) Congress also finds that ``the right of suffrage can be 
     denied by a debasement or dilution of the weight of a 
     citizen's vote just as effectively as by wholly prohibiting 
     the free exercise of the franchise''. Reynolds v. Sims, 377 
     U.S. 533, 555 (1964). Congress finds that the right of 
     suffrage has been so diluted and debased by means of 
     gerrymandering of districts. Congress finds that it has 
     authority pursuant to section 5 of the Fourteenth Amendment 
     to remedy this debasement.
       (4)(A) Congress also finds that it has authority to 
     legislate to eliminate racial discrimination in voting and 
     the democratic process pursuant to both section 5 of the 
     Fourteenth Amendment, which grants equal protection of the 
     laws, and section 2 of the Fifteenth Amendment, which 
     explicitly bars denial or abridgment of the right to vote on 
     account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
       (B) Congress finds that racial discrimination in access to 
     voting and the political process persists. Voting 
     restrictions, redistricting, and other electoral practices 
     and processes continue to disproportionately impact 
     communities of color in the United States and do so as a 
     result of both intentional racial discrimination, structural 
     racism, and the ongoing structural socioeconomic effects of 
     historical racial discrimination.
       (C) Recent elections and studies have shown that minority 
     communities wait longer in lines to vote, are more likely to 
     have their mail ballots rejected, continue to face 
     intimidation at the polls, are more likely to be 
     disenfranchised by voter purges, and are disproportionately 
     burdened by excessively onerous voter identification and 
     other voter restrictions. Research shows that communities of 
     color are more likely to face nearly every barrier to voting 
     than their white counterparts.
       (D) Congress finds that racial disparities in 
     disenfranchisement due to past felony convictions is 
     particularly stark. In 2022, according to the Sentencing 
     Project, an estimated 4,600,000 Americans could not vote due 
     to a felony conviction. One in 19 African Americans of voting 
     age is disenfranchised, a rate 3.5 times greater than that of 
     non-African Americans. In eight States--Alabama, Arizona, 
     Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi, South Dakota, Tennessee, and 
     Virginia--more than one in ten African Americans is 
     disenfranchised, nearly twice the national average for 
     African Americans. Congress finds that felony 
     disenfranchisement was one of the tools of intentional racial 
     discrimination during the Jim Crow era. Congress further 
     finds that current racial disparities in felony 
     disenfranchisement are linked to this history of voter 
     suppression, structural racism in the criminal justice 
     system, and ongoing effects of historical discrimination.
       (5)(A) Congress finds that it further has the power to 
     protect the right to vote from denial or abridgment on 
     account of sex, age, or ability to pay a poll tax or other 
     tax pursuant to the Nineteenth, Twenty-Fourth, and Twenty-
     Sixth Amendments.
       (B) Congress finds that electoral practices including 
     voting rights restoration conditions for people with 
     convictions and other restrictions to the franchise burden 
     voters on account of their ability to pay.
       (C) Congress further finds that electoral practices 
     including voting restrictions related to college campuses, 
     age restrictions on mail voting, and similar practices burden 
     the right to vote on account of age.

     SEC. 4. STANDARDS FOR JUDICIAL REVIEW.

       (a) In General.--For any action brought for declaratory or 
     injunctive relief to challenge, whether facially or as-
     applied, the constitutionality or lawfulness of any provision 
     of this division or any amendment made by this division or 
     any rule or regulation promulgated under this division, the 
     following rules shall apply:
       (1) The action shall be filed in the United States District 
     Court for the District of Columbia and an appeal from the 
     decision of the district court may be taken to the Court of 
     Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. These courts, 
     and the Supreme Court of the United States on a writ of 
     certiorari (if such writ is issued), shall have exclusive 
     jurisdiction to hear such actions.
       (2) The party filing the action shall concurrently deliver 
     a copy the complaint to the Clerk of the House of 
     Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate.
       (3) It shall be the duty of the United States District 
     Court for the District of Columbia and the Court of Appeals 
     for the District of Columbia Circuit to advance on the docket 
     and to expedite to the greatest possible extent the 
     disposition of the action and appeal.
       (b) Clarifying Scope of Jurisdiction.--If an action at the 
     time of its commencement is not subject to subsection (a), 
     but an amendment, counterclaim, cross-claim, affirmative 
     defense, or any other pleading or motion is filed 
     challenging, whether facially or as-applied, the 
     constitutionality or lawfulness of this division or any 
     amendment made by this division or any rule or regulation 
     promulgated under this division, the district court shall 
     transfer the action to the District Court for the District of 
     Columbia, and the action shall thereafter be conducted 
     pursuant to subsection (a).
       (c) Intervention by Members of Congress.--In any action 
     described in subsection (a), any Member of the House of 
     Representatives (including a Delegate or Resident 
     Commissioner to the Congress) or Senate shall have the right 
     to intervene either in support of or opposition to the 
     position of a party to the case regarding the 
     constitutionality of the provision. To avoid duplication of 
     efforts and reduce the burdens placed on the parties to the 
     action, the court in any such action may make such orders as 
     it considers necessary, including orders to require 
     interveners taking similar positions to file joint papers or 
     to be represented by a single attorney at oral argument.

     SEC. 5. SEVERABILITY.

       If any provision of this division or any amendment made by 
     this division, or the application of any such provision or 
     amendment to any person or circumstance, is held to be 
     unconstitutional, the remainder of this division, and the 
     application of such provision or amendment to any other 
     person or circumstance, shall not be affected by the holding.

                      SUBDIVISION 1--VOTER ACCESS

           TITLE I--ELECTION MODERNIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION

     SEC. 1000. SHORT TITLE; STATEMENT OF POLICY.

       (a) Short Title.--This title may be cited as the ``Voter 
     Empowerment Act of 2024''.

[[Page S4428]]

       (b) Statement of Policy.--It is the policy of the United 
     States that--
       (1) the ability of all eligible citizens of the United 
     States to access and exercise their constitutional right to 
     vote in a free, fair, and timely manner must be vigilantly 
     enhanced, protected, and maintained; and
       (2) the integrity, security, and accountability of the 
     voting process must be vigilantly protected, maintained, and 
     enhanced in order to protect and preserve electoral and 
     participatory democracy in the United States.

              Subtitle A--Voter Registration Modernization

     SEC. 1000A. SHORT TITLE.

       This subtitle may be cited as the ``Voter Registration 
     Modernization Act of 2024''.

                  PART 1--AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION

     SEC. 1001. SHORT TITLE; FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

       (a) Short Title.--This part may be cited as the ``Automatic 
     Voter Registration Act of 2024''.
       (b) Findings and Purpose.--
       (1) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (A) the right to vote is a fundamental right of citizens of 
     the United States;
       (B) it is the responsibility of the State and Federal 
     governments to ensure that every eligible citizen is 
     registered to vote;
       (C) existing voter registration systems can be inaccurate, 
     costly, inaccessible and confusing, with damaging effects on 
     voter participation in elections for Federal office and 
     disproportionate impacts on young people, persons with 
     disabilities, and racial and ethnic minorities; and
       (D) voter registration systems must be updated with 21st 
     century technologies and procedures to maintain their 
     security.
       (2) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this part--
       (A) to establish that it is the responsibility of 
     government to ensure that all eligible citizens are 
     registered to vote in elections for Federal office;
       (B) to enable the State governments to register all 
     eligible citizens to vote with accurate, cost-efficient, and 
     up-to-date procedures;
       (C) to modernize voter registration and list maintenance 
     procedures with electronic and internet capabilities; and
       (D) to protect and enhance the integrity, accuracy, 
     efficiency, and accessibility of the electoral process for 
     all eligible citizens.

     SEC. 1002. AUTOMATIC REGISTRATION OF ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS.

       (a) In General.--The National Voter Registration Act of 
     1993 (52 U.S.C. 20504) is amended by inserting after section 
     5 the following new section:

     ``SEC. 5A. AUTOMATIC REGISTRATION BY STATE MOTOR VEHICLE 
                   AUTHORITY.

       ``(a) Definitions.--In this section--
       ``(1) Applicable agency.--The term `applicable agency' 
     means, with respect to a State, the State motor vehicle 
     authority responsible for motor vehicle driver's licenses 
     under State law.
       ``(2) Applicable transaction.--The term `applicable 
     transaction' means--
       ``(A) an application to an applicable agency for a motor 
     vehicle driver's license; and
       ``(B) any other service or assistance (including for a 
     change of address) provided by an applicable agency.
       ``(3) Automatic registration.--The term `automatic 
     registration' means a system that registers an individual to 
     vote and updates existing registrations, in elections for 
     Federal office in a State, if eligible, by electronically 
     transferring the information necessary for registration from 
     the applicable agency to election officials of the State so 
     that, unless the individual affirmatively declines to be 
     registered or to update any voter registration, the 
     individual will be registered to vote in such elections.
       ``(4) Eligible individual.--The term `eligible individual' 
     means, with respect to an election for Federal office, an 
     individual who is otherwise qualified to vote in that 
     election.
       ``(5) Register to vote.--The term `register to vote' 
     includes updating an individual's existing voter 
     registration.
       ``(b) Establishment.--
       ``(1) In general.--The chief State election official of 
     each State shall establish and operate a system of automatic 
     registration for the registration of eligible individuals to 
     vote for elections for Federal office in the State, in 
     accordance with the provisions of this section.
       ``(2) Registration of voters based on new agency records.--
       ``(A) In general.--The chief State election official 
     shall--
       ``(i) subject to subparagraph (B), ensure that each 
     eligible individual who completes an applicable transaction 
     and does not decline to register to vote is registered to 
     vote--

       ``(I) in the next upcoming election for Federal office (and 
     subsequent elections for Federal office), if an applicable 
     agency transmits information under subsection (c)(1)(E) with 
     respect to the individual not later than the applicable date; 
     and
       ``(II) in subsequent elections for Federal office, if an 
     applicable agency transmits such information with respect to 
     such individual after the applicable date; and

       ``(ii) not later than 60 days after the receipt of such 
     information with respect to an individual, send written 
     notice to the individual, in addition to other means of 
     notice established by this section, of the individual's voter 
     registration status.
       ``(B) Applicable date.--For purposes of this subsection, 
     the term `applicable date' means, with respect to any 
     election for Federal office, the later of--
       ``(i) the date that is 28 days before the date of the 
     election; or
       ``(ii) the last day of the period provided by State law for 
     registration with respect to such election.
       ``(C) Clarification.--Nothing in this subsection shall 
     prevent the chief State election official from registering an 
     eligible individual to vote for the next upcoming election 
     for Federal office in the State even if an applicable agency 
     transmits information under subsection (c)(1)(E) with respect 
     to the individual after the applicable date.
       ``(3) Treatment of individuals under 18 years of age.--A 
     State may not refuse to treat an individual as an eligible 
     individual for purposes of this section on the grounds that 
     the individual is less than 18 years of age at the time an 
     applicable agency receives information with respect to the 
     individual, so long as the individual is at least 16 years of 
     age at such time. Nothing in the previous sentence may be 
     construed to require a State to permit an individual who is 
     under 18 years of age at the time of an election for Federal 
     office to vote in the election.
       ``(c) Applicable Agency Responsibilities.--
       ``(1) Instructions on automatic registration for agencies 
     collecting citizenship information.--
       ``(A) In general.--Except as otherwise provided in this 
     section, in the case of any applicable transaction for which 
     an applicable agency (in the normal course of its operations) 
     requests individuals to affirm United States citizenship 
     (either directly or as part of the overall application for 
     service or assistance or enrollment), the applicable agency 
     shall inform each such individual who is a citizen of the 
     United States of the following:
       ``(i) Unless that individual declines to register to vote, 
     or is found ineligible to vote, the individual will be 
     registered to vote or, if applicable, the individual's 
     registration will be updated.
       ``(ii) The substantive qualifications of an elector in the 
     State as listed in the mail voter registration application 
     form for elections for Federal office prescribed pursuant to 
     section 9, the consequences of false registration, and how 
     the individual should decline to register if the individual 
     does not meet all those qualifications.
       ``(iii) In the case of a State in which affiliation or 
     enrollment with a political party is required in order to 
     participate in an election to select the party's candidate in 
     an election for Federal office, the requirement that the 
     individual must affiliate or enroll with a political party in 
     order to participate in such an election.
       ``(iv) Voter registration is voluntary, and neither 
     registering nor declining to register to vote will in any way 
     affect the availability of services or benefits, nor be used 
     for other purposes.
       ``(B) Individuals with limited english proficiency.--In the 
     case in which the individual is a member of a group that 
     constitutes 3 percent or more of the overall population 
     within the State served by the applicable agency as measured 
     by the United States Census and are limited English 
     proficient, the information described in clauses (i) through 
     (iv) of subparagraph (A) shall be provided in a language 
     understood by the individual.
       ``(C) Clarification on procedures for ineligible voters.--
     An applicable agency shall not provide an individual who did 
     not affirm United States citizenship, or for whom the agency 
     has conclusive documentary evidence obtained through its 
     normal course of operations that the individual is not a 
     United State citizen, the opportunity to register to vote 
     under subparagraph (A).
       ``(D) Opportunity to decline registration required.--Except 
     as otherwise provided in this section, each applicable agency 
     shall ensure that each applicable transaction described in 
     subparagraph (A) with an eligible individual cannot be 
     completed until the individual is given the opportunity to 
     decline to be registered to vote. In the case where the 
     individual is a member of a group that constitutes 3 percent 
     or more of the overall population within the State served by 
     the applicable agency as measured by the United States Census 
     and are limited English proficient, such opportunity shall be 
     given in a language understood by the individual.
       ``(E) Information transmittal.--Not later than 10 days 
     after an applicable transaction with an eligible individual, 
     if the individual did not decline to be registered to vote, 
     the applicable agency shall electronically transmit to the 
     appropriate State election official the following information 
     with respect to the individual:
       ``(i) The individual's given name(s) and surname(s).
       ``(ii) The individual's date of birth.
       ``(iii) The individual's residential address.
       ``(iv) Information showing that the individual is a citizen 
     of the United States.
       ``(v) The date on which information pertaining to that 
     individual was collected or last updated.
       ``(vi) If available, the individual's signature in 
     electronic form.
       ``(vii) In the case of a State in which affiliation or 
     enrollment with a political party is

[[Page S4429]]

     required in order to participate in an election to select the 
     party's candidate in an election for Federal office, 
     information regarding the individual's affiliation or 
     enrollment with a political party, but only if the individual 
     provides such information.
       ``(viii) Any additional information listed in the mail 
     voter registration application form for elections for Federal 
     office prescribed pursuant to section 9, including any valid 
     driver's license number or the last 4 digits of the 
     individual's social security number, if the individual 
     provided such information.
       ``(F) Provision of information regarding participation in 
     primary elections.--In the case of a State in which 
     affiliation or enrollment with a political party is required 
     in order to participate in an election to select the party's 
     candidate in an election for Federal office, if the 
     information transmitted under subparagraph (E) with respect 
     to an individual does not include information regarding the 
     individual's affiliation or enrollment with a political 
     party, the chief State election official shall--
       ``(i) notify the individual that such affiliation or 
     enrollment is required to participate in primary elections; 
     and
       ``(ii) provide an opportunity for the individual to update 
     their registration with a party affiliation or enrollment.
       ``(G) Clarification.--Nothing in this section shall be read 
     to require an applicable agency to transmit to an election 
     official the information described in subparagraph (E) for an 
     individual who is ineligible to vote in elections for Federal 
     office in the State, except to the extent required to pre-
     register citizens between 16 and 18 years of age.
       ``(2) Alternate procedure for certain other applicable 
     agencies.--With each applicable transaction for which an 
     applicable agency in the normal course of its operations does 
     not request individuals to affirm United States citizenship 
     (either directly or as part of the overall application for 
     service or assistance), the applicable agency shall--
       ``(A) complete the requirements of section 5;
       ``(B) ensure that each applicant's transaction with the 
     applicable agency cannot be completed until the applicant has 
     indicated whether the applicant wishes to register to vote or 
     declines to register to vote in elections for Federal office 
     held in the State; and
       ``(C) for each individual who wishes to register to vote, 
     transmit that individual's information in accordance with 
     subsection (c)(1)(E), unless the applicable agency has 
     conclusive documentary evidence obtained through its normal 
     course of operations that the individual is not a United 
     States citizen.
       ``(3) Required availability of automatic registration 
     opportunity with each application for service or 
     assistance.--Each applicable agency shall offer each eligible 
     individual, with each applicable transaction, the opportunity 
     to register to vote as prescribed by this section without 
     regard to whether the individual previously declined a 
     registration opportunity.
       ``(d) Voter Protection.--
       ``(1) Applicable agencies' protection of information.--
     Nothing in this section authorizes an applicable agency to 
     collect, retain, transmit, or publicly disclose any of the 
     following, except as necessary to comply with title III of 
     the Civil Rights Act of 1960 (52 U.S.C. 20701 et seq.):
       ``(A) An individual's decision to decline to register to 
     vote or not to register to vote.
       ``(B) An individual's decision not to affirm his or her 
     citizenship.
       ``(C) Any information that an applicable agency transmits 
     pursuant to subsection (c)(1)(E), except in pursuing the 
     agency's ordinary course of business.
       ``(2) Election officials' protection of information.--
       ``(A) Public disclosure prohibited.--
       ``(i) In general.--Subject to clause (ii), with respect to 
     any individual for whom any State election official receives 
     information from an applicable agency, the State election 
     official shall not publicly disclose any of the following:

       ``(I) Any information not necessary to voter registration.
       ``(II) Any voter information otherwise shielded from 
     disclosure under State law or section 8(a).
       ``(III) Any portion of the individual's social security 
     number.
       ``(IV) Any portion of the individual's motor vehicle 
     driver's license number.
       ``(V) The individual's signature.
       ``(VI) The individual's telephone number.
       ``(VII) The individual's email address.

       ``(ii) Special rule for individuals registered to vote.--
     The prohibition on public disclosure under clause (i) shall 
     not apply with respect to the telephone number or email 
     address of any individual for whom any State election 
     official receives information from the applicable agency and 
     who, on the basis of such information, is registered to vote 
     in the State under this section.
       ``(e) Miscellaneous Provisions.--
       ``(1) Accessibility of registration services.--Each 
     applicable agency shall ensure that the services it provides 
     under this section are made available to individuals with 
     disabilities to the same extent as services are made 
     available to all other individuals.
       ``(2) Transmission through secure third party permitted.--
     Nothing in this section or in the Automatic Voter 
     Registration Act of 2024 shall be construed to prevent an 
     applicable agency from contracting with a third party to 
     assist the agency in meeting the information transmittal 
     requirements of this section, so long as the data transmittal 
     complies with the applicable requirements of this section and 
     such Act, including provisions relating privacy and security.
       ``(3) Nonpartisan, nondiscriminatory provision of 
     services.--The services made available by applicable agencies 
     under this section shall be made in a manner consistent with 
     paragraphs (4), (5), and (6)(C) of section 7(a).
       ``(4) Notices.--Each State may send notices under this 
     section via electronic mail if the individual has provided an 
     electronic mail address and consented to electronic mail 
     communications for election-related materials. All notices 
     sent pursuant to this section that require a response must 
     offer the individual notified the opportunity to respond at 
     no cost to the individual.
       ``(5) Registration at other state offices permitted.--
     Nothing in this section may be construed to prohibit a State 
     from offering voter registration services described in this 
     section at offices of the State other than the State motor 
     vehicle authority.
       ``(f) Applicability.--
       ``(1) In general.--This section shall not apply to an 
     exempt State.
       ``(2) Exempt state defined.--The term `exempt State' means 
     a State that, under law that is in effect continuously on and 
     after the date of enactment of this section, either--
       ``(A) has no voter registration requirement for any voter 
     in the State with respect to a Federal election; or
       ``(B) operates a system of automatic registration at the 
     motor vehicle authority of the State or a Permanent Dividend 
     Fund of the State under which an individual is provided the 
     opportunity to decline registration during the transaction or 
     by way of a notice sent by mail or electronically after the 
     transaction.''.
       (b) Conforming Amendments.--
       (1) Section 4(a) of the National Voter Registration Act of 
     1993 (52 U.S.C. 20503(a)) is amended by redesignating 
     paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs (3) and (4), 
     respectively, and by inserting after paragraph (1) the 
     following new paragraph:
       ``(2) by application made simultaneously with an 
     application for a motor vehicle driver's license pursuant to 
     section 5A;''.
       (2) Section 4(b) of the National Voter Registration Act of 
     1993 (52 U.S.C. 20503(b)) is amended--
       (A) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as 
     subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively, and indenting 
     appropriately;
       (B) by striking ``States.--This Act'' and inserting 
     ``States.--
       ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), 
     this Act''; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(2) Application of automatic registration requirements.--
     Section 5A shall apply to a State described in paragraph (1), 
     unless the State is an exempt State as defined in subsection 
     (f)(2) of such section.''.
       (3) Section 8(a)(1) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 20507(a)(1)) is 
     amended by redesignating subparagraphs (B), (C), and (D) as 
     subparagraphs (C), (D), and (E), respectively, and by 
     inserting after subparagraph (A) the following new 
     subparagraph:
       ``(B) in the case of registration under section 5A, within 
     the period provided in section 5A(b)(2);''.

     SEC. 1003. VOTER PROTECTION AND SECURITY IN AUTOMATIC 
                   REGISTRATION.

       (a) Protections for Errors in Registration.--An individual 
     shall not be prosecuted under any Federal or State law, 
     adversely affected in any civil adjudication concerning 
     immigration status or naturalization, or subject to an 
     allegation in any legal proceeding that the individual is not 
     a citizen of the United States on any of the following 
     grounds:
       (1) The individual notified an election office of the 
     individual's automatic registration to vote.
       (2) The individual is not eligible to vote in elections for 
     Federal office but was registered to vote due to individual 
     or agency error.
       (3) The individual was automatically registered to vote at 
     an incorrect address.
       (4) The individual declined the opportunity to register to 
     vote or did not make an affirmation of citizenship, including 
     through automatic registration.
       (b) Limits on Use of Automatic Registration.--The automatic 
     registration (within the meaning of section 5A of the 
     National Voter Registration Act of 1993) of any individual or 
     the fact that an individual declined the opportunity to 
     register to vote or did not make an affirmation of 
     citizenship (including through automatic registration) may 
     not be used as evidence against that individual in any State 
     or Federal law enforcement proceeding or any civil 
     adjudication concerning immigration status or naturalization, 
     and an individual's lack of knowledge or willfulness of such 
     registration may be demonstrated by the individual's 
     testimony alone.
       (c) Protection of Election Integrity.--Nothing in 
     subsections (a) or (b) may be construed to prohibit or 
     restrict any action under color of law against an individual 
     who--
       (1) knowingly and willfully makes a false statement to 
     effectuate or perpetuate automatic voter registration (within 
     the meaning of section 5A of the National Voter Registration 
     Act of 1993) by any individual; or
       (2) casts a ballot knowingly and willfully in violation of 
     State law or the laws of the United States.

[[Page S4430]]

       (d) Election Officials' Protection of Information.--
       (1) Voter record changes.--Each State shall maintain for 
     not less than 2 years and shall make available for public 
     inspection (and, where available, photocopying at a 
     reasonable cost), including in electronic form and through 
     electronic methods, all records of changes to voter records, 
     including removals, the reasons for removals, and updates.
       (2) Database management standards.--Not later than 1 year 
     after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the 
     National Institute of Standards and Technology, in 
     consultation with State and local election officials and the 
     Commission, shall, after providing the public with notice and 
     the opportunity to comment--
       (A) establish standards governing the comparison of data 
     for voter registration list maintenance purposes, identifying 
     as part of such standards the specific data elements, the 
     matching rules used, and how a State may use the data to 
     determine and deem that an individual is ineligible under 
     State law to vote in an election, or to deem a record to be a 
     duplicate or outdated;
       (B) ensure that the standards developed pursuant to this 
     paragraph are uniform and nondiscriminatory and are applied 
     in a uniform and nondiscriminatory manner;
       (C) not later than 45 days after the deadline for public 
     notice and comment, publish the standards developed pursuant 
     to this paragraph on the Director's website and make those 
     standards available in written form upon request; and
       (D) ensure that the standards developed pursuant to this 
     paragraph are maintained and updated in a manner that 
     reflects innovations and best practices in the security of 
     database management.
       (3) Security policy.--
       (A) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Director of the National Institute 
     of Standards and Technology shall, after providing the public 
     with notice and the opportunity to comment, publish privacy 
     and security standards for voter registration information not 
     later than 45 days after the deadline for public notice and 
     comment. The standards shall require the chief State election 
     official of each State to adopt a policy that shall specify--
       (i) each class of users who shall have authorized access to 
     the computerized statewide voter registration list, 
     specifying for each class the permission and levels of access 
     to be granted, and setting forth other safeguards to protect 
     the privacy, security, and accuracy of the information on the 
     list; and
       (ii) security safeguards to protect personal information 
     transmitted through the information transmittal processes of 
     section 5A(b) of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, 
     any telephone interface, the maintenance of the voter 
     registration database, and any audit procedure to track 
     access to the system.
       (B) Maintenance and updating.--The Director of the National 
     Institute of Standards and Technology shall ensure that the 
     standards developed pursuant to this paragraph are maintained 
     and updated in a manner that reflects innovations and best 
     practices in the privacy and security of voter registration 
     information.
       (4) State compliance with national standards.--
       (A) Certification.--The chief State election official of 
     the State shall annually file with the Commission a statement 
     certifying to the Director of the National Institute of 
     Standards and Technology that the State is in compliance with 
     the standards referred to in paragraphs (2) and (3). A State 
     may meet the requirement of the previous sentence by filing 
     with the Commission a statement that reads as follows: 
     ``_____ hereby certifies that it is in compliance with the 
     standards referred to in paragraphs (2) and (3) of section 
     1003(d) of the Automatic Voter Registration Act of 2024.'' 
     (with the blank to be filled in with the name of the State 
     involved).
       (B) Publication of policies and procedures.--The chief 
     State election official of a State shall publish on the 
     official's website the policies and procedures established 
     under this section, and shall make those policies and 
     procedures available in written form upon public request.
       (C) Funding dependent on certification.--If a State does 
     not timely file the certification required under this 
     paragraph, it shall not receive any payment under this part 
     for the upcoming fiscal year.
       (D) Compliance of states that require changes to state 
     law.--In the case of a State that requires State legislation 
     to carry out an activity covered by any certification 
     submitted under this paragraph, for a period of not more than 
     2 years, the State shall be permitted to make the 
     certification notwithstanding that the legislation has not 
     been enacted at the time the certification is submitted, and 
     such State shall submit an additional certification once such 
     legislation is enacted.
       (e) Restrictions on Use of Information.--No person acting 
     under color of law may discriminate against any individual 
     based on, or use for any purpose other than voter 
     registration, election administration, juror selection, or 
     enforcement relating to election crimes, any of the 
     following:
       (1) Voter registration records.
       (2) An individual's declination to register to vote or 
     complete an affirmation of citizenship under section 5A of 
     the National Voter Registration Act of 1993.
       (3) An individual's voter registration status.
       (f) Prohibition on the Use of Voter Registration 
     Information for Commercial Purposes.--Information collected 
     under this part or the amendments made by this part shall not 
     be used for commercial purposes. Nothing in this subsection 
     may be construed to prohibit the transmission, exchange, or 
     dissemination of information for political purposes, 
     including the support of campaigns for election for Federal, 
     State, or local public office or the activities of political 
     committees (including committees of political parties) under 
     the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30101 et 
     seq.).

     SEC. 1004. PAYMENTS AND GRANTS.

       (a) In General.--The Commission shall make grants to each 
     eligible State to assist the State in implementing the 
     requirements of this part and the amendments made by this 
     part (or, in the case of an exempt State, in implementing its 
     existing automatic voter registration program or expanding 
     its automatic voter registration program in a manner 
     consistent with the requirements of this part) with respect 
     to the offices of the State motor vehicle authority and any 
     other offices of the State at which the State offers voter 
     registration services as described in this part and the 
     amendments made by this part.
       (b) Eligibility; Application.--A State is eligible to 
     receive a grant under this section if the State submits to 
     the Commission, at such time and in such form as the 
     Commission may require, an application containing--
       (1) a description of the activities the State will carry 
     out with the grant;
       (2) an assurance that the State shall carry out such 
     activities without partisan bias and without promoting any 
     particular point of view regarding any issue; and
       (3) such other information and assurances as the Commission 
     may require.
       (c) Amount of Grant; Priorities.--The Commission shall 
     determine the amount of a grant made to an eligible State 
     under this section. In determining the amounts of the grants, 
     the Commission shall give priority to providing funds for 
     those activities that are most likely to accelerate 
     compliance with the requirements of this part (or, in the 
     case of an exempt State, which are most likely to enhance the 
     ability of the State to automatically register individuals to 
     vote through its existing automatic voter registration 
     program), including--
       (1) investments supporting electronic information transfer, 
     including electronic collection and transfer of signatures, 
     between applicable agencies (as defined in section 5A of the 
     National Voter Registration Act of 1993) and the appropriate 
     State election officials;
       (2) updates to online or electronic voter registration 
     systems already operating as of the date of enactment of this 
     Act;
       (3) introduction of online voter registration systems in 
     jurisdictions in which those systems did not previously 
     exist; and
       (4) public education on the availability of new methods of 
     registering to vote, updating registration, and correcting 
     registration.
       (d) Exempt State.--For purposes of this section, the term 
     ``exempt State'' has the meaning given that term in section 
     5A of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, and also 
     includes a State in which, under law that is in effect 
     continuously on and after the date of enactment of the 
     National Voter Registration Act of 1993, there is no voter 
     registration requirement for any voter in the State with 
     respect to an election for Federal office.
       (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--
       (1) Authorization.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
     to carry out this section--
       (A) $3,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2026; and
       (B) such sums as may be necessary for each succeeding 
     fiscal year.
       (2) Continuing availability of funds.--Any amounts 
     appropriated pursuant to the authority of this subsection 
     shall remain available without fiscal year limitation until 
     expended.

     SEC. 1005. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

       (a) Enforcement.--Section 11 of the National Voter 
     Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20510), relating to civil 
     enforcement and the availability of private rights of action, 
     shall apply with respect to this part in the same manner as 
     such section applies to such Act.
       (b) Relation to Other Laws.--Except as provided, nothing in 
     this part or the amendments made by this part may be 
     construed to authorize or require conduct prohibited under, 
     or to supersede, restrict, or limit the application of any of 
     the following:
       (1) The Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 10301 et 
     seq.).
       (2) The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act 
     (52 U.S.C. 20301 et seq.).
       (3) The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 
     20501 et seq.) (other than section 5A thereof).
       (4) The Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 20901 et 
     seq.).
       (5) The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 
     12101 et seq.).

     SEC. 1006. DEFINITIONS.

       In this part, the following definitions apply:
       (1) The term ``chief State election official'' means, with 
     respect to a State, the individual designated by the State 
     under section 10 of the National Voter Registration Act of 
     1993 (52 U.S.C. 20509) to be responsible for coordination of 
     the State's responsibilities under such Act.

[[Page S4431]]

       (2) The term ``Commission'' means the Election Assistance 
     Commission.
       (3) The term ``State'' means each of the several States, 
     the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, 
     the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and 
     the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

     SEC. 1007. EFFECTIVE DATE.

       (a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), this 
     part and the amendments made by this part shall apply on and 
     after January 1, 2027.
       (b) Waiver.--If a State certifies to the Commission not 
     later than January 1, 2027, that the State will not meet the 
     deadline described in subsection (a) because it would be 
     impracticable to do so and includes in the certification the 
     reasons for the failure to meet such deadline, subsection (a) 
     shall apply to the State as if the reference in such 
     subsection to ``January 1, 2027'' were a reference to 
     ``January 1, 2029''.

              PART 2--ELECTION DAY AS LEGAL PUBLIC HOLIDAY

     SEC. 1011. ELECTION DAY AS LEGAL PUBLIC HOLIDAY.

       (a) In General.--Section 6103(a) of title 5, United States 
     Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to 
     Columbus Day, the following:
       ``Election Day, the Tuesday next after the first Monday in 
     November in each even-numbered year.''.
       (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 241(b) of the Help 
     America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 20981(b)) is amended--
       (1) by striking paragraph (10); and
       (2) by redesignating paragraphs (11) through (19) as 
     paragraphs (10) through (18), respectively.
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall apply with respect to the regularly scheduled general 
     elections for Federal office held in November 2024 or any 
     succeeding year.

                PART 3--PROMOTING INTERNET REGISTRATION

     SEC. 1021. REQUIRING AVAILABILITY OF INTERNET FOR VOTER 
                   REGISTRATION.

       (a) 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.--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):
       ``(1) Online application for voter registration.
       ``(2) Online assistance to applicants in applying to 
     register to vote.
       ``(3) 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).
       ``(4) 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 under 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 
     subparagraphs (A) and (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 under 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.--
       ``(A) In general.--Upon the online submission of a 
     completed voter registration application by an individual 
     under this section, the appropriate State or local election 
     official shall provide 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.
       ``(B) Method of notification.--The appropriate State or 
     local election official shall provide the notice required 
     under subparagraph (A) though the online submission process 
     and--
       ``(i) in the case of an individual who has provided the 
     official with an electronic mail address, by electronic mail; 
     and
       ``(ii) at the option of the individual, by text message.
       ``(2) Notice of disposition.--
       ``(A) In general.--Not later than 7 days after the date on 
     which the appropriate State or local election official 
     approves or rejects an application submitted by an individual 
     under this section, the official shall provide the individual 
     a notice of the disposition of the application.
       ``(B) Method of notification.--The appropriate State or 
     local election official shall provide the notice required 
     under subparagraph (A) by regular mail and--
       ``(i) in the case of an individual who has provided the 
     official with an electronic mail address, by electronic mail; 
     and
       ``(ii) at the option of the 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--
       ``(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) Nondiscrimination Among Registered Voters Using Mail 
     and Online Registration.--In carrying out this Act, the Help 
     America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 20901 et seq.), 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.''.
       (b) Special Requirements for Individuals Using Online 
     Registration.--
       (1) 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''.
       (2) Requiring signature for first-time voters in 
     jurisdiction.--Section 303(b) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 
     21083(b)) is amended--
       (A) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (6); and
       (B) 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.);

[[Page S4432]]

       ``(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.''.
       (3) 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''.
       (c) Conforming Amendments.--
       (1) Timing of registration.--Section 8(a)(1) of the 
     National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 
     20507(a)(1)), as amended by section 1002(b)(3), is amended--
       (A) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (D);
       (B) by redesignating subparagraph (E) as subparagraph (F); 
     and
       (C) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following new 
     subparagraph:
       ``(E) 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''.
       (2) 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''.

     SEC. 1022. USE OF INTERNET TO UPDATE REGISTRATION 
                   INFORMATION.

       (a) In General.--
       (1) Updates to information contained on computerized 
     statewide voter registration list.--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 the individual, by text message.''.

       (2) 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)''.
       (b) 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--
       (1) 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
       (2) 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,''.

     SEC. 1023. PROVISION OF ELECTION INFORMATION BY ELECTRONIC 
                   MAIL TO INDIVIDUALS REGISTERED TO VOTE.

       (a) Including Option on Voter Registration Application to 
     Provide e-mail Address and Receive Information.--
       (1) In general.--Section 9(b) of the National Voter 
     Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20508(b)) is amended--
       (A) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (3);
       (B) in paragraph (4)--
       (i) by redesignating clauses (i), (ii), and (iii) as 
     subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C), respectively; and
       (ii) in subparagraph (C), as so redesignated, by striking 
     the period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(5) shall include a space for the applicant to provide 
     (at the applicant's option) an electronic mail address, 
     together with a statement that, if the applicant so requests, 
     instead of using regular mail the appropriate State and local 
     election officials shall provide to the applicant, through 
     electronic mail sent to that address, the same voting 
     information (as defined in section 302(b)(2) of the Help 
     America Vote Act of 2002) that the officials would provide to 
     the applicant through regular mail.''.
       (2) Prohibiting use for purposes unrelated to official 
     duties of election officials.--Section 9 of such Act (52 
     U.S.C. 20508) is amended by adding at the end the following 
     new subsection:
       ``(c) Prohibiting Use of Electronic Mail Addresses for 
     Other Than Official Purposes.--The chief State election 
     official shall ensure that any electronic mail address 
     provided by an applicant under subsection (b)(5) is used only 
     for purposes of carrying out official duties of election 
     officials and is not transmitted by any State or local 
     election official (or any agent of such an official, 
     including a contractor) to any person who does not require 
     the address to carry out such official duties and who is not 
     under the direct supervision and control of a State or local 
     election official.''.
       (b) Requiring Provision of Information by Election 
     Officials.--Section 302(b) of the Help America Vote Act of 
     2002 (52 U.S.C. 21082(b)) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new paragraph:
       ``(3) Provision of other information by electronic mail.--
     If an individual who is a registered voter has provided the 
     State or local election official with an electronic mail 
     address for the purpose of receiving voting information (as 
     described in section 9(b)(5) of the National Voter 
     Registration Act of 1993), the appropriate State or local 
     election official, through electronic mail transmitted not 
     later than 7 days before the date of the election for Federal 
     office involved, shall provide the individual with 
     information on how to obtain the following information by 
     electronic means:
       ``(A)(i) If the individual is assigned to vote in the 
     election at a specific polling place--
       ``(I) the name and address of the polling place; and
       ``(II) the hours of operation for the polling place.
       ``(ii) If the individual is not assigned to vote in the 
     election at a specific polling place--
       ``(I) the name and address of locations at which the 
     individual is eligible to vote; and
       ``(II) the hours of operation for those locations.
       ``(B) A description of any identification or other 
     information the individual may be required to present at the 
     polling place or a location described in subparagraph 
     (A)(ii)(I) to vote in the election.''.

     SEC. 1024. CLARIFICATION OF REQUIREMENT REGARDING NECESSARY 
                   INFORMATION TO SHOW ELIGIBILITY TO VOTE.

       Section 8 of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 
     (52 U.S.C. 20507) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating subsection (j) as subsection (k); and
       (2) by inserting after subsection (i) the following new 
     subsection:
       ``(j) Requirement for State to Register Applicants 
     Providing Necessary Information to Show Eligibility to 
     Vote.--For purposes meeting the requirement of subsection 
     (a)(1) that an eligible applicant is registered to vote in an 
     election for Federal office within the deadlines required 
     under such subsection, the State shall consider an applicant 
     to have provided a `valid voter registration form' if--
       ``(1) the applicant has substantially completed the 
     application form and attested to the statement required by 
     section 9(b)(2); and
       ``(2) in the case of an applicant who registers to vote 
     online in accordance with section 6A, the applicant provides 
     a signature in accordance with subsection (c) of such 
     section.''.

     SEC. 1025. PROHIBITING STATE FROM REQUIRING APPLICANTS TO 
                   PROVIDE MORE THAN LAST 4 DIGITS OF SOCIAL 
                   SECURITY NUMBER.

       (a) 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;''.
       (b) 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

[[Page S4433]]

     number, the form may not require the applicant to provide 
     more than the last 4 digits of such number;''.

     SEC. 1026. APPLICATION OF RULES TO CERTAIN EXEMPT STATES.

       Section 4 of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 
     (52 U.S.C. 20503) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new subsection:
       ``(c) Application of Internet Voter Registration Rules.--
     Notwithstanding subsection (b), the following provisions 
     shall apply to a State described in paragraph (2) thereof:
       ``(1) Section 6A (as added by section 1021(a) of the Voter 
     Registration Modernization Act of 2024).
       ``(2) Section 8(a)(1)(E) (as added by section 1021(c)(1) of 
     the Voter Registration Modernization Act of 2024).
       ``(3) Section 8(a)(5) (as amended by section 1021(c)(2) of 
     Voter Registration Modernization Act of 2024), but only to 
     the extent such provision relates to section 6A.
       ``(4) Section 8(j) (as added by section 1024 of the Voter 
     Registration Modernization Act of 2024), but only to the 
     extent such provision relates to section 6A.''.

     SEC. 1027. REPORT ON DATA COLLECTION RELATING TO ONLINE VOTER 
                   REGISTRATION SYSTEMS.

       Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this 
     Act, the Attorney General shall submit to Congress a report 
     on local, State, and Federal personally identifiable 
     information data collections efforts related to online voter 
     registration systems, the cyber security resources necessary 
     to defend such efforts from online attacks, and the impact of 
     a potential data breach of local, State, or Federal online 
     voter registration systems.

     SEC. 1028. PERMITTING VOTER REGISTRATION APPLICATION FORM TO 
                   SERVE AS APPLICATION FOR ABSENTEE BALLOT.

       Section 5(c) of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 
     (52 U.S.C. 20504(c)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (2)--
       (A) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (D);
       (B) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (E) 
     and inserting ``; and''; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
       ``(F) at the option of the applicant, shall serve as an 
     application to vote by absentee ballot in the next election 
     for Federal office held in the State and in each subsequent 
     election for Federal office held in the State.''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(3)(A) In the case of an individual who is treated as 
     having applied for an absentee ballot in the next election 
     for Federal office held in the State and in each subsequent 
     election for Federal office held in the State under paragraph 
     (2)(F), such treatment shall remain effective until the 
     earlier of such time as--
       ``(i) the individual is no longer registered to vote in the 
     State; or
       ``(ii) the individual provides an affirmative written 
     notice revoking such treatment.
       ``(B) The treatment of an individual as having applied for 
     an absentee ballot in the next election for Federal office 
     held in the State and in each subsequent election for Federal 
     office held in the State under paragraph (2)(F) shall not be 
     revoked on the basis that the individual has not voted in an 
     election''.

     SEC. 1029. EFFECTIVE DATE.

       (a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), the 
     amendments made by this part (other than the amendments made 
     by section 1024) shall apply with respect to the regularly 
     scheduled general election for Federal office held in 
     November 2026 and each succeeding election for Federal 
     office.
       (b) Waiver.--If a State certifies to the Election 
     Assistance Commission not later than 180 days after the date 
     of enactment of this Act that the State will not meet the 
     deadline described in subsection (a) because it would be 
     impracticable to do so and includes in the certification the 
     reasons for the failure to meet such deadline, subsection (a) 
     shall apply to the State as if the reference in such 
     subsection to ``the regularly scheduled general election for 
     Federal office held in November 2026'' were a reference to 
     ``January 1, 2028''.

                  PART 4--SAME DAY VOTER REGISTRATION

     SEC. 1031. SAME DAY REGISTRATION.

       (a) In General.--Title III of the Help America Vote Act of 
     2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating sections 304 and 305 as sections 305 
     and 306, respectively; and
       (2) by inserting after section 303 the following new 
     section:

     ``SEC. 304. 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 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) Ensuring Availability of Forms.--The State shall 
     ensure that each polling place has copies of any forms an 
     individual may be required to complete in order to register 
     to vote or revise the individual's voter registration 
     information under this section.
       ``(d) Effective Date.--
       ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), each State 
     shall be required to comply with the requirements of this 
     section for the regularly scheduled general election for 
     Federal office occurring in November 2026 and for any 
     subsequent election for Federal office.
       ``(2) Special rules for elections before november 2028.--
       ``(A) Elections prior to november 2028 general election.--A 
     State shall be deemed to be in compliance with the 
     requirements of this section for the regularly scheduled 
     general election for Federal office occurring in November 
     2026 and subsequent elections for Federal office occurring 
     before the regularly scheduled general election for Federal 
     office in November 2028 if at least 1 location for each 
     15,000 registered voters in each jurisdiction in the State 
     meets such requirements, and such location is reasonably 
     located to serve voting populations equitably across the 
     jurisdiction.
       ``(B) November 2028 general election.--If a State certifies 
     to the Election Assistance Commission not later than November 
     7, 2028, that the State will not be in compliance with the 
     requirements of this section for the regularly scheduled 
     general election for Federal office occurring in November 
     2028 because it would be impracticable to do so and includes 
     in the certification the reasons for the failure to meet such 
     requirements, the State shall be deemed to be in compliance 
     with the requirements of this section for such election if at 
     least one location for each 15,000 registered voters in each 
     jurisdiction in the State meets such requirements, and such 
     location is reasonably located to serve voting populations 
     equitably across the jurisdiction.''.
       (b) Conforming Amendment Relating to Enforcement.--Section 
     401 of such Act (52 U.S.C. 21111) is amended by striking 
     ``sections 301, 302, and 303'' and inserting ``subtitle A of 
     title III''.
       (c) Clerical Amendments.--The table of contents of such Act 
     is amended--
       (1) by redesignating the items relating to sections 304 and 
     305 as relating to sections 305 and 306, respectively; and
       (2) by inserting after the item relating to section 303 the 
     following new item:

``Sec. 304. Same day registration.''.

     SEC. 1032. ENSURING PRE-ELECTION REGISTRATION DEADLINES ARE 
                   CONSISTENT WITH TIMING OF LEGAL PUBLIC 
                   HOLIDAYS.

       (a) In General.--Section 8(a)(1) of the National Voter 
     Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20507(a)(1)) is amended 
     by striking ``30 days'' each place it appears and inserting 
     ``28 days''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall apply with respect to elections held in 2026 or any 
     succeeding year.

 PART 5--STREAMLINE VOTER REGISTRATION INFORMATION, ACCESS, AND PRIVACY

     SEC. 1041. AUTHORIZING THE DISSEMINATION OF VOTER 
                   REGISTRATION INFORMATION DISPLAYS FOLLOWING 
                   NATURALIZATION CEREMONIES.

       (a) Authorization.--The Secretary of Homeland Security 
     shall establish a process for authorizing the chief State 
     election official of a State to disseminate voter 
     registration information at the conclusion of any 
     naturalization ceremony conducted by the Department of 
     Homeland Security, its constituent agencies, or the Federal 
     judiciary.
       (b) No Effect on Other Authority.--Nothing in this section 
     shall be construed to imply that a Federal agency cannot 
     provide voter registration services beyond those minimally 
     required herein, or to imply that agencies not named may not 
     distribute voter registration information or provide voter 
     registration services up to the limits of their statutory and 
     funding authority.
       (c) Designated Voter Registration Agencies.--In any State 
     or other location in which a Federal agency is designated as 
     a voter registration agency under section 7(a)(3)(B)(ii) of 
     the National Voter Registration Act, the voter registration 
     responsibilities incurred through such designation shall 
     supersede the requirements described in this section.

     SEC. 1042. INCLUSION OF VOTER REGISTRATION INFORMATION WITH 
                   CERTAIN LEASES AND VOUCHERS FOR FEDERALLY 
                   ASSISTED RENTAL HOUSING AND MORTGAGE 
                   APPLICATIONS.

       (a) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Bureau.--The term ``Bureau'' means the Bureau of 
     Consumer Financial Protection.
       (2) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
     the Bureau.
       (3) Federal rental assistance.--The term ``Federal rental 
     assistance'' means rental assistance provided under--
       (A) any covered housing program, as defined in section 
     41411(a) of the Violence

[[Page S4434]]

     Against Women Act of 1994 (34 U.S.C. 12491(a));
       (B) title V of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1471 et 
     seq.), including voucher assistance under section 542 of such 
     title (42 U.S.C. 1490r);
       (C) the Housing Trust Fund program under section 1338 of 
     the Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and 
     Soundness Act of 1992 (12 U.S.C. 4588); or
       (D) subtitle C of title IV of the McKinney-Vento Homeless 
     Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11381 et seq.).
       (4) Federally backed multifamily mortgage loan.--The term 
     ``federally backed multifamily mortgage loan'' includes any 
     loan (other than temporary financing such as a construction 
     loan) that--
       (A) is secured by a first or subordinate lien on 
     residential multifamily real property designed principally 
     for the occupancy of 5 or more families, including any such 
     secured loan, the proceeds of which are used to prepay or pay 
     off an existing loan secured by the same property; and
       (B) is made in whole or in part, or insured, guaranteed, 
     supplemented, or assisted in any way, by any officer or 
     agency of the Federal Government or under or in connection 
     with a housing or urban development program administered by 
     the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development or a housing 
     or related program administered by any other such officer or 
     agency, or is purchased or securitized by the Federal Home 
     Loan Mortgage Corporation or the Federal National Mortgage 
     Association.
       (5) Owner.--The term ``owner'' has the meaning given the 
     term in section 8(f) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 
     (42 U.S.C. 1437f(f)).
       (6) Public housing; public housing agency.--The terms 
     ``public housing'' and ``public housing agency'' have the 
     meanings given those terms in section 3(b) of the United 
     States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)).
       (7) Residential mortgage loan.--The term ``residential 
     mortgage loan'' includes any loan that is secured by a first 
     or subordinate lien on residential real property, including 
     individual units of condominiums and cooperatives, designed 
     principally for the occupancy of from 1- to 4- families.
       (b) Uniform Statement.--
       (1) Development.--The Director, after consultation with the 
     Election Assistance Commission, shall develop a uniform 
     statement designed to provide recipients of the statement 
     pursuant to this section with information on how the 
     recipient can register to vote and the voting rights of the 
     recipient under law.
       (2) Responsibilities.--In developing the uniform statement, 
     the Director shall be responsible for--
       (A) establishing the format of the statement;
       (B) consumer research and testing of the statement; and
       (C) consulting with and obtaining from the Election 
     Assistance Commission the content regarding voter rights and 
     registration issues needed to ensure the statement complies 
     with the requirements of paragraph (1).
       (3) Languages.--
       (A) In general.--The uniform statement required under 
     paragraph (1) shall be developed and made available in 
     English and in each of the 10 languages most commonly spoken 
     by individuals with limited English proficiency, as 
     determined by the Director using information published by the 
     Director of the Bureau of the Census.
       (B) Publication.--The Director shall make all translated 
     versions of the uniform statement required under paragraph 
     (1) publicly available in a centralized location on the 
     website of the Bureau.
       (c) Leases and Vouchers for Federally Assisted Rental 
     Housing.--Each Federal agency administering a Federal rental 
     assistance program shall require--
       (1) each public housing agency to provide a copy of the 
     uniform statement developed pursuant to subsection (b) to 
     each lessee of a dwelling unit in public housing administered 
     by the agency--
       (A) together with the lease for the dwelling unit, at the 
     same time the lease is signed by the lessee; and
       (B) together with any income verification form, at the same 
     time the form is provided to the lessee;
       (2) each public housing agency that administers rental 
     assistance under the Housing Choice Voucher program under 
     section 8(o) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 
     U.S.C. 1437f(o)), including the program under paragraph (13) 
     of such section 8(o), to provide a copy of the uniform 
     statement developed pursuant to subsection (b) to each 
     assisted family or individual--
       (A) together with the voucher for the assistance, at the 
     time the voucher is issued for the family or individual; and
       (B) together with any income verification form, at the time 
     the voucher is provided to the applicant or assisted family 
     or individual; and
       (3) each owner of a dwelling unit assisted with Federal 
     rental assistance to provide a copy of the uniform statement 
     developed pursuant to subsection (b) to the lessee of the 
     dwelling unit--
       (A) together with the lease for such dwelling unit, at the 
     same time the lease is signed by the lessee; and
       (B) together with any income verification form, at the same 
     time the form is provided to the applicant or tenant.
       (d) Applications for Residential Mortgage Loans.--The 
     Director shall require each creditor (within the meaning of 
     such term as used in section 1026.2(a)(17) of title 12, Code 
     of Federal Regulations) that receives an application (within 
     the meaning of such term as used in section 1026.2(a)(3)(ii) 
     of title 12, Code of Federal Regulations) to provide a copy 
     of the uniform statement developed pursuant to subsection (b) 
     in written form to the applicant for the residential mortgage 
     loan not later than 5 business days after the date of the 
     application.
       (e) Federally Backed Multifamily Mortgage Loans.--The head 
     of the Federal agency insuring, guaranteeing, supplementing, 
     or assisting a federally backed multifamily mortgage loan, or 
     the Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency in the 
     case of a federally backed multifamily mortgage loan that is 
     purchased or securitized by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage 
     Corporation or the Federal National Mortgage Association, 
     shall require the owner of the property secured by the 
     federally backed multifamily mortgage loan to provide a copy 
     of the uniform statement developed pursuant to subsection (b) 
     in written form to each lessee of a dwelling unit assisted by 
     that loan at the time the lease is signed by the lessee.
       (f) Optional Completion of Voter Registration.--Nothing in 
     this section may be construed to require any individual to 
     complete a voter registration form.
       (g) Regulations.--The head of a Federal agency 
     administering a Federal rental assistance program, the head 
     of the Federal agency insuring, guaranteeing, supplementing, 
     or assisting a federally backed multifamily mortgage loan, 
     the Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and the 
     Director may issue such regulations as may be necessary to 
     carry out this section.
       (h) No Effect on Other Authority.--Nothing in this section 
     shall be construed to imply that a Federal agency cannot 
     provide voter registration services beyond those minimally 
     required herein, or to imply that agencies not named may not 
     distribute voter registration information or provide voter 
     registration services up to the limits of their statutory and 
     funding authority.
       (i) Designated Voter Registration Agencies.--In any State 
     or other location in which a Federal agency is designated as 
     a voter registration agency under section 7(a)(3)(B)(ii) of 
     the National Voter Registration Act, the voter registration 
     responsibilities incurred through such designation shall 
     supersede the requirements described in this section.

     SEC. 1043. ACCEPTANCE OF VOTER REGISTRATION APPLICATIONS FROM 
                   INDIVIDUALS UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE.

       (a) Acceptance of Applications.--Section 8 of the National 
     Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20507), as amended 
     by section 1024, is amended--
       (1) by redesignating subsection (k) as subsection (l); and
       (2) by inserting after subsection (j) the following new 
     subsection:
       ``(k) Acceptance of Applications From Individuals Under 18 
     Years of Age.--
       ``(1) In general.--A State may not refuse to accept or 
     process an individual's application to register to vote in 
     elections for Federal office on the grounds that the 
     individual is under 18 years of age at the time the 
     individual submits the application, so long as the individual 
     is at least 16 years of age at such time.
       ``(2) No effect on state voting age requirements.--Nothing 
     in paragraph (1) may be construed to require a State to 
     permit an individual who is under 18 years of age at the time 
     of an election for Federal office to vote in the election.''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall apply with respect to elections occurring on or after 
     January 1, 2026.

     SEC. 1044. REQUIRING STATES TO ESTABLISH AND OPERATE VOTER 
                   PRIVACY PROGRAMS.

       (a) In General.--Title III of the Help America Vote Act of 
     2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.), as amended by section 
     1031(a), is amended--
       (1) by redesignating sections 305 and 306 as sections 306 
     and 307, respectively; and
       (2) by inserting after section 304 the following new 
     section:

     ``SEC. 305. VOTER PRIVACY PROGRAMS.

       ``(a) In General.--Each State shall establish and operate a 
     privacy program to enable victims of domestic violence, 
     dating violence, stalking, sexual assault, and trafficking to 
     have personally identifiable information that State or local 
     election officials maintain with respect to an individual 
     voter registration status for purposes of elections for 
     Federal office in the State, including addresses, be kept 
     confidential.
       ``(b) Notice.--Each State shall notify residents of that 
     State of the information that State and local election 
     officials maintain with respect to an individual voter 
     registration status for purposes of elections for Federal 
     office in the State, how that information is shared or sold 
     and with whom, what information is automatically kept 
     confidential, what information is needed to access voter 
     information online, and the privacy programs that are 
     available.
       ``(c) Public Availability.--Each State shall make 
     information about the program established under subsection 
     (a) available on a publicly accessible website.
       ``(d) Definitions.--In this section:

[[Page S4435]]

       ``(1) The terms `dating violence', `domestic violence', 
     `sexual assault', and `stalking' have the meanings given 
     those terms in section 40002 of the Violence Against Women 
     Act of 1994 (34 U.S.C. 12291).
       ``(2) The term `trafficking' means an act or practice 
     described in paragraph (11) or (12) of section 103 of the 
     Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7102).
       ``(e) Effective Date.--Each State and jurisdiction shall be 
     required to comply with the requirements of this section on 
     and after January 1, 2027.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendments.--The table of contents of such 
     Act, as amended by section 1031(c), is amended--
       (1) by redesignating the items relating to sections 305 and 
     306 as relating to sections 306 and 307, respectively; and
       (2) by inserting after the item relating to section 304 the 
     following new item:

``Sec. 305. Voter privacy programs.''.

            PART 6--FUNDING SUPPORT TO STATES FOR COMPLIANCE

     SEC. 1051. AVAILABILITY OF REQUIREMENTS PAYMENTS UNDER HAVA 
                   TO COVER COSTS OF COMPLIANCE WITH NEW 
                   REQUIREMENTS.

       (a) In General.--Section 251(b) of the Help America Vote 
     Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21001(b)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``as provided in 
     paragraphs (2) and (3)'' and inserting ``as otherwise 
     provided in this subsection''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(4) Certain voter registration activities.--
     Notwithstanding paragraph (3), a State may use a requirements 
     payment to carry out any of the requirements of the Voter 
     Registration Modernization Act of 2024, including the 
     requirements of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 
     that are imposed pursuant to the amendments made to such Act 
     by the Voter Registration Modernization Act of 2024.''.
       (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 254(a)(1) of such Act 
     (52 U.S.C. 21004(a)(1)) is amended by striking ``section 
     251(a)(2)'' and inserting ``section 251(b)(2)''.
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall apply with respect to fiscal year 2026 and each 
     succeeding fiscal year.

     Subtitle B--Access to Voting for Individuals With Disabilities

     SEC. 1101. REQUIREMENTS FOR STATES TO PROMOTE ACCESS TO VOTER 
                   REGISTRATION AND VOTING FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH 
                   DISABILITIES.

       (a) Requirements.--Subtitle A of title III of the Help 
     America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.), as 
     amended by section 1031(a) and section 1044(a), is amended--
       (1) by redesignating sections 306 and 307 as sections 307 
     and 308, respectively; and
       (2) by inserting after section 305 the following new 
     section:

     ``SEC. 306. ACCESS TO VOTER REGISTRATION AND VOTING FOR 
                   INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.

       ``(a) Treatment of Applications and Ballots.--Each State 
     shall--
       ``(1) ensure that absentee registration forms, absentee 
     ballot applications, and absentee ballots that are available 
     electronically are accessible (as defined in section 307);
       ``(2) permit individuals with disabilities to use absentee 
     registration procedures and to vote by absentee ballot in 
     elections for Federal office;
       ``(3) accept and process, with respect to any election for 
     Federal office, any otherwise valid voter registration 
     application and absentee ballot application from an 
     individual with a disability if the application is received 
     by the appropriate State election official within the 
     deadline for the election which is applicable under Federal 
     law;
       ``(4) in addition to any other method of registering to 
     vote or applying for an absentee ballot in the State, 
     establish procedures--
       ``(A) for individuals with disabilities to request by mail 
     and electronically voter registration applications and 
     absentee ballot applications with respect to elections for 
     Federal office in accordance with subsection (c);
       ``(B) for States to send by mail and electronically (in 
     accordance with the preferred method of transmission 
     designated by the individual under subparagraph (C)) voter 
     registration applications and absentee ballot applications 
     requested under subparagraph (A) in accordance with 
     subsection (c)); and
       ``(C) by which such an individual can designate whether the 
     individual prefers that such voter registration application 
     or absentee ballot application be transmitted by mail or 
     electronically;
       ``(5) in addition to any other method of transmitting blank 
     absentee ballots in the State, establish procedures for 
     transmitting by mail and electronically blank absentee 
     ballots to individuals with disabilities with respect to 
     elections for Federal office in accordance with subsection 
     (d); and
       ``(6) if the State declares or otherwise holds a runoff 
     election for Federal office, establish a written plan that 
     provides absentee ballots are made available to individuals 
     with disabilities in a manner that gives them sufficient time 
     to vote in the runoff election.
       ``(b) Designation of Single State Office to Provide 
     Information on Registration and Absentee Ballot Procedures 
     for Voters With Disabilities in State.--
       ``(1) In general.--Each State shall designate a single 
     office that shall be responsible for providing information 
     regarding voter registration procedures, absentee ballot 
     procedures, and in-person voting procedures to be used by 
     individuals with disabilities with respect to elections for 
     Federal office to all individuals with disabilities who wish 
     to register to vote or vote in any jurisdiction in the State.
       ``(2) Responsibilities.--Each State shall, through the 
     office designated under paragraph (1)--
       ``(A) provide information to election officials--
       ``(i) on how to set up and operate accessible voting 
     systems; and
       ``(ii) regarding the accessibility of voting procedures, 
     including guidance on compatibility with assistive 
     technologies such as screen readers and ballot marking 
     devices;
       ``(B) integrate information on accessibility, 
     accommodations, disability, and older individuals into 
     regular training materials for poll workers and election 
     administration officials;
       ``(C) train poll workers on how to make polling places 
     accessible for individuals with disabilities and older 
     individuals;
       ``(D) promote the hiring of individuals with disabilities 
     and older individuals as poll workers and election staff; and
       ``(E) publicly post the results of any audits to determine 
     the accessibility of polling places not later than 6 months 
     after the completion of the audit.
       ``(c) Designation of Means of Electronic Communication for 
     Individuals With Disabilities to Request and for States to 
     Send Voter Registration Applications and Absentee Ballot 
     Applications, and for Other Purposes Related to Voting 
     Information.--
       ``(1) In general.--Each State shall, in addition to the 
     designation of a single State office under subsection (b), 
     designate not less than 1 means of accessible electronic 
     communication--
       ``(A) for use by individuals with disabilities who wish to 
     register to vote or vote in any jurisdiction in the State to 
     request voter registration applications and absentee ballot 
     applications under subsection (a)(4);
       ``(B) for use by States to send voter registration 
     applications and absentee ballot applications requested under 
     such subsection; and
       ``(C) for the purpose of providing related voting, 
     balloting, and election information to individuals with 
     disabilities.
       ``(2) Clarification regarding provision of multiple means 
     of electronic communication.--A State may, in addition to the 
     means of electronic communication so designated, provide 
     multiple means of electronic communication to individuals 
     with disabilities, including a means of electronic 
     communication for the appropriate jurisdiction of the State.
       ``(3) Inclusion of designated means of electronic 
     communication with informational and instructional materials 
     that accompany balloting materials.--Each State shall include 
     a means of electronic communication so designated with all 
     informational and instructional materials that accompany 
     balloting materials sent by the State to individuals with 
     disabilities.
       ``(4) Transmission if no preference indicated.--In the case 
     in which an individual with a disability does not designate a 
     preference under subsection (a)(4)(C), the State shall 
     transmit the voter registration application or absentee 
     ballot application by any delivery method allowable in 
     accordance with applicable State law, or if there is no 
     applicable State law, by mail.
       ``(d) Transmission of Blank Absentee Ballots by Mail and 
     Electronically.--
       ``(1) In general.--Each State shall establish procedures--
       ``(A) to securely transmit blank absentee ballots by mail 
     and electronically (in accordance with the preferred method 
     of transmission designated by the individual with a 
     disability under subparagraph (B)) to individuals with 
     disabilities for an election for Federal office; and
       ``(B) by which the individual with a disability can 
     designate whether the individual prefers that such blank 
     absentee ballot be transmitted by mail or electronically.
       ``(2) Transmission if no preference indicated.--In the case 
     where an individual with a disability does not designate a 
     preference under paragraph (1)(B), the State shall transmit 
     the ballot by any delivery method allowable in accordance 
     with applicable State law, or if there is no applicable State 
     law, by mail.
       ``(3) Application of methods to track delivery to and 
     return of ballot by individual requesting ballot.--Under the 
     procedures established under paragraph (1), the State shall 
     apply such methods as the State considers appropriate, such 
     as assigning a unique identifier to the ballot envelope, to 
     ensure that if an individual with a disability requests the 
     State to transmit a blank absentee ballot to the individual 
     in accordance with this subsection, the voted absentee ballot 
     that is returned by the individual is the same blank absentee 
     ballot that the State transmitted to the individual.
       ``(e) Individual With a Disability Defined.--In this 
     section, an `individual with a disability' means an 
     individual with an impairment that substantially limits any 
     major life activities and who is otherwise qualified to vote 
     in elections for Federal office.

[[Page S4436]]

       ``(f) Effective Date.--This section shall apply with 
     respect to elections for Federal office held on or after 
     January 1, 2026.''.
       (b) Conforming Amendment Relating to Issuance of Voluntary 
     Guidance by Election Assistance Commission.--
       (1) Timing of issuance.--Section 311(b) of such Act (52 
     U.S.C. 21101(b)) is amended--
       (A) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (2);
       (B) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (3) and 
     inserting ``; and''; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(4) in the case of the recommendations with respect to 
     section 306, January 1, 2026.''.
       (2) Redesignation.--
       (A) In general.--Title III of such Act (52 U.S.C. 21081 et 
     seq.) is amended by redesignating sections 311 and 312 as 
     sections 321 and 322, respectively.
       (B) Conforming amendment.--Section 321(a) of such Act, as 
     redesignated by subparagraph (A), is amended by striking 
     ``section 312'' and inserting ``section 322''.
       (c) Clerical Amendments.--The table of contents of such 
     Act, as amended by section 1031(c) and section 1044(b), is 
     amended--
       (1) by redesignating the items relating to sections 306 and 
     307 as relating to sections 307 and 308, respectively; and
       (2) by inserting after the item relating to section 305 the 
     following new item:

``Sec. 306. Access to voter registration and voting for individuals 
              with disabilities.''.

     SEC. 1102. ESTABLISHMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF STATE ACCESSIBLE 
                   ELECTION WEBSITES.

       (a) In General.--Subtitle A of title III of the Help 
     America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.), as 
     amended by section 1031(a), section 1044(a), and section 
     1101(a), is amended--
       (1) by redesignating sections 307 and 308 as sections 308 
     and 309, respectively; and
       (2) by inserting after section 306 the following:

     ``SEC. 307. ESTABLISHMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF ACCESSIBLE 
                   ELECTION WEBSITES.

       ``(a) In General.--Not later than January 1, 2027, each 
     State shall establish a single election website that is 
     accessible and meets the following requirements:
       ``(1) Local election officials.--The website shall provide 
     local election officials, poll workers, and volunteers with--
       ``(A) guidance to ensure that polling places are accessible 
     for individuals with disabilities and older individuals in a 
     manner that provides the same opportunity for access and 
     participation (including privacy and independence) as for 
     other voters; and
       ``(B) online training and resources on--
       ``(i) how best to promote the access and participation of 
     individuals with disabilities and older individuals in 
     elections for public office; and
       ``(ii) the voting rights and protections for individuals 
     with disabilities and older individuals under State and 
     Federal law.
       ``(2) Voters.--The website shall provide information about 
     voting, including--
       ``(A) the accessibility of all polling places within the 
     State, including outreach programs to inform individuals 
     about the availability of accessible polling places;
       ``(B) how to register to vote and confirm voter 
     registration in the State;
       ``(C) the location and operating hours of all polling 
     places in the State;
       ``(D) the availability of aid or assistance for individuals 
     with disabilities and older individuals to cast their vote in 
     a manner that provides the same opportunity for access and 
     participation (including privacy and independence) as for 
     other voters at polling places;
       ``(E) the availability of transportation aid or assistance 
     to the polling place for individuals with disabilities or 
     older individuals;
       ``(F) the rights and protections under State and Federal 
     law for individuals with disabilities and older individuals 
     to participate in elections; and
       ``(G) how to contact State, local, and Federal officials 
     with complaints or grievances if individuals with 
     disabilities, older individuals, Native Americans, Alaska 
     Natives, and individuals with limited proficiency in the 
     English language feel their ability to register to vote or 
     vote has been blocked or delayed.
       ``(b) Partnership With Outside Technical Organization.--The 
     chief State election official of each State, through the 
     committee of appropriate individuals under subsection (c)(2), 
     shall partner with an outside technical organization with 
     demonstrated experience in establishing accessible and easy 
     to use accessible election websites to--
       ``(1) update an existing election website of the State to 
     make the website fully accessible in accordance with this 
     section; or
       ``(2) develop an election website of the State that is 
     fully accessible in accordance with this section.
       ``(c) State Plan.--
       ``(1) Development.--The chief State election official of 
     each State shall, through a committee of appropriate 
     individuals as described in paragraph (2), develop a State 
     plan that describes how the State and local governments will 
     meet the requirements under this section.
       ``(2) Committee membership.--The committee shall comprise 
     at least the following individuals:
       ``(A) The chief election officials of the 4 most populous 
     jurisdictions within the State.
       ``(B) The chief election officials of the 4 least populous 
     jurisdictions within the State.
       ``(C) Representatives from 2 disability advocacy groups, 
     including not fewer than 1 such representative who is an 
     individual with a disability.
       ``(D) Representatives from 2 older individual advocacy 
     groups, including not fewer than 1 such representative who is 
     an older individual.
       ``(E) Representatives from 2 independent non-governmental 
     organizations with expertise in establishing and maintaining 
     accessible websites.
       ``(F) Representatives from 2 independent non-governmental 
     voting rights organizations.
       ``(G) Representatives from State protection and advocacy 
     systems, as defined in section 102 of the Developmental 
     Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (42 
     U.S.C. 15002).
       ``(d) Partnership to Monitor and Verify Accessibility.--The 
     chief State election official of each eligible State, through 
     the committee of appropriate individuals established under 
     subsection (c)(2), shall partner with not fewer than 2 of the 
     following organizations to monitor and verify the 
     accessibility of the election website of the State and the 
     completeness of the election information and the accuracy of 
     the disability information provided on such website:
       ``(1) University Centers for Excellence in Developmental 
     Disabilities Education, Research, and Services established 
     under subtitle D of title I of the Developmental Disabilities 
     Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 15061 et 
     seq.).
       ``(2) Centers for independent living, as described in part 
     C of title VII of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 
     796f et seq.).
       ``(3) The State Council on Developmental Disabilities 
     established under section 125 of the Developmental 
     Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (42 
     U.S.C. 15025).
       ``(4) State protection and advocacy systems, as defined in 
     section 102 of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and 
     Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 15002).
       ``(5) Statewide Independent Living Councils established 
     under section 705 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 
     U.S.C. 796d).
       ``(6) State programs established under the Assistive 
     Technology Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.).
       ``(7) A visual access advocacy organization.
       ``(8) An organization for the deaf.
       ``(9) A mental health organization.
       ``(e) Definitions.--For purposes of this section, section 
     305, and section 307:
       ``(1) Accessible.--The term `accessible' means--
       ``(A) in the case of the election website under subsection 
     (a) or an electronic communication under section 305--
       ``(i) that the functions and content of the website or 
     electronic communication, including all text, visual, and 
     aural content, are as accessible to people with disabilities 
     as to those without disabilities;
       ``(ii) that the functions and content of the website or 
     electronic communication are accessible to individuals with 
     limited proficiency in the English language; and
       ``(iii) that the website or electronic communication meets, 
     at a minimum, conformance to Level AA of the Web Content 
     Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 of the Web Accessibility 
     Initiative (or any successor guidelines); and
       ``(B) in the case of a facility (including a polling 
     place), that the facility is readily accessible to and usable 
     by individuals with disabilities and older individuals, as 
     determined under the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design 
     of the Department of Justice, published on September 15, 2010 
     (or any successor standards).
       ``(2) Individual with a disability.--The term `individual 
     with a disability' means an individual with a disability, as 
     defined in section 3 of the Americans with Disabilities Act 
     of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12102), and who is otherwise qualified to 
     vote in elections for Federal office.
       ``(3) Older individual.--The term `older individual' means 
     an individual who is 60 years of age or older and who is 
     otherwise qualified to vote in elections for Federal 
     office.''.
       (b) Voluntary Guidance.--Section 321(b)(4) of such Act (52 
     U.S.C. 21101(b)), as added and redesignated by section 
     1101(b), is amended by striking ``section 306'' and inserting 
     ``sections 306 and 307''.
       (c) Clerical Amendments.--The table of contents of such 
     Act, as amended by section 1031(c), section 1044(b), and 
     section 1101(c), is amended--
       (1) by redesignating the items relating to sections 307 and 
     308 as relating to sections 308 and 309, respectively; and
       (2) by inserting after the item relating to section 306 the 
     following new item:

``Sec. 307. Establishment and maintenance of accessible election 
              websites.''.

     SEC. 1103. PROTECTIONS FOR IN-PERSON VOTING FOR INDIVIDUALS 
                   WITH DISABILITIES AND OLDER INDIVIDUALS.

       (a) Requirement.--
       (1) In general.--Subtitle A of title III of the Help 
     America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.), as 
     amended by section 1031(a), section 1044(a), section 1101(a), 
     and section 1102(a), is amended--
       (A) by redesignating sections 308 and 309 as sections 309 
     and 310, respectively; and

[[Page S4437]]

       (B) by inserting after section 307 the following:

     ``SEC. 308. ACCESS TO VOTING FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH 
                   DISABILITIES AND OLDER INDIVIDUALS.

       ``(a) In General.--Each State shall--
       ``(1) ensure all polling places within the State are 
     accessible, as defined in section 306;
       ``(2) consider procedures to address long wait times at 
     polling places that allow individuals with disabilities and 
     older individuals alternate options to cast a ballot in 
     person in an election for Federal office, such as the option 
     to cast a ballot outside of the polling place or from a 
     vehicle, or providing an expedited voting line; and
       ``(3) consider options to establish mobile polling sites to 
     allow election officials or volunteers to travel to long-term 
     care facilities and assist residents who request assistance 
     in casting a ballot in order to maintain the privacy and 
     independence of voters in those facilities.
       ``(b) Clarification.--Nothing in this section shall be 
     construed to alter the requirements under Federal law that 
     all polling places for Federal elections are accessible to 
     individuals with disabilities and older individuals.
       ``(c) Effective Date.--This section shall apply with 
     respect to elections for Federal office held on or after 
     January 1, 2028.''.
       (2) Voluntary guidance.--Section 321(b)(4) of such Act (52 
     U.S.C. 21101(b)), as added and redesignated by section 
     1101(b) and as amended by section 1102(b), is amended by 
     striking ``and 307'' and inserting ``, 307, and 308''.
       (3) Clerical amendments.--The table of contents of such 
     Act, as amended by section 1031(c), section 1044(b), section 
     1101(c), and section 1102(c), is amended--
       (A) by redesignating the items relating to sections 308 and 
     309 as relating to sections 309 and 310, respectively; and
       (B) by inserting after the item relating to section 307 the 
     following new item:

``Sec. 308. Access to voting for individuals with disabilities and 
              older individuals.''.
       (b) Revisions to Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and 
     Handicapped Act.--
       (1) Reports to election assistance commission.--Section 
     3(c) of the Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and 
     Handicapped Act (52 U.S.C. 20102(c)) is amended--
       (A) in the subsection heading, by striking ``Federal 
     Election Commission'' and inserting ``Election Assistance 
     Commission'';
       (B) in each of paragraphs (1) and (2), by striking 
     ``Federal Election Commission'' and inserting ``Election 
     Assistance Commission''; and
       (C) by striking paragraph (3).
       (2) Conforming amendments relating to references.--The 
     Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act (52 
     U.S.C. 20101 et seq.), as amended by paragraph (1), is 
     amended--
       (A) by striking ``handicapped and elderly individuals'' 
     each place it appears and inserting ``individuals with 
     disabilities and older individuals'';
       (B) by striking ``handicapped and elderly voters'' each 
     place it appears and inserting ``individuals with 
     disabilities and older individuals'';
       (C) in section 3(b)(2)(B), by striking ``handicapped or 
     elderly voter'' and inserting ``individual with a disability 
     or older individual'';
       (D) in section 5(b), by striking ``handicapped voter'' and 
     inserting ``individual with a disability''; and
       (E) in section 8--
       (i) by striking paragraphs (1) and (2) and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(1) `accessible' has the meaning given that term in 
     section 307 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002, as added by 
     section 1102(a) of the Freedom to Vote Act;
       ``(2) `older individual' has the meaning given that term in 
     such section 307;''; and
       (ii) by striking paragraph (4), and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(4) `individual with a disability' has the meaning given 
     that term in such section 306; and''.
       (3) Short title amendment.--
       (A) In general.--Section 1 of the Voting Accessibility for 
     the Elderly and Handicapped Act (Public Law 98-435; 42 U.S.C. 
     1973ee note) is amended by striking ``for the Elderly and 
     Handicapped'' and inserting ``for Individuals with 
     Disabilities and Older Individuals''.
       (B) References.--Any reference in any other provision of 
     law, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the 
     United States to the ``Voting Accessibility for the Elderly 
     and Handicapped Act'' shall be deemed to be a reference to 
     the ``Voting Accessibility for Individuals with Disabilities 
     and Older Individuals Act''.
       (4) Effective date.--The amendments made by this subsection 
     shall take effect on January 1, 2028, and shall apply with 
     respect to elections for Federal office held on or after that 
     date.

     SEC. 1104. PROTECTIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS SUBJECT TO 
                   GUARDIANSHIP.

       (a) In General.--Subtitle A of title III of the Help 
     America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.), as 
     amended by section 1031(a), section 1044(a), section 1101(a), 
     section 1102(a), and section 1103(a)(1), is amended--
       (1) by redesignating sections 309 and 310 as sections 310 
     and 311, respectively; and
       (2) by inserting after section 308 the following:

     ``SEC. 309. PROTECTIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS SUBJECT TO 
                   GUARDIANSHIP.

       ``(a) In General.--A State shall not determine that an 
     individual lacks the capacity to vote in an election for 
     Federal office on the ground that the individual is subject 
     to guardianship, unless a court of competent jurisdiction 
     issues a court order finding by clear and convincing evidence 
     that the individual cannot communicate, with or without 
     accommodations, a desire to participate in the voting 
     process.
       ``(b) Effective Date.--This section shall apply with 
     respect to elections for Federal office held on or after 
     January 1, 2026.''.
       (b) Voluntary Guidance.--Section 321(b)(4) of such Act (52 
     U.S.C. 21101(b)), as added and redesignated by section 
     1101(b) and as amended by sections 1102 and 1103, is amended 
     by striking ``and 308'' and inserting ``308, and 309''.
       (c) Clerical Amendments.--The table of contents of such 
     Act, as amended by section 1031(c), section 1044(b), section 
     1101(c), section 1102(c), and section 1103(a)(3), is 
     amended--
       (1) by redesignating the items relating to sections 309 and 
     310 as relating to sections 310 and 311, respectively; and
       (2) by inserting after the item relating to section 308 the 
     following new item:

``Sec. 309. Protections for individuals subject to guardianship.''.

     SEC. 1105. EXPANSION AND REAUTHORIZATION OF GRANT PROGRAM TO 
                   ASSURE VOTING ACCESS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH 
                   DISABILITIES.

       (a) Purposes of Payments.--Section 261(b) of the Help 
     America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21021(b)) is amended by 
     striking paragraphs (1) and (2) and inserting the following:
       ``(1) making absentee voting and voting at home accessible 
     to individuals with the full range of disabilities (including 
     impairments involving vision, hearing, mobility, or 
     dexterity) through the implementation of accessible absentee 
     voting systems that work in conjunction with assistive 
     technologies for which individuals have access at their 
     homes, independent living centers, or other facilities;
       ``(2) making polling places, including the path of travel, 
     entrances, exits, and voting areas of each polling facility, 
     accessible to individuals with disabilities, including the 
     blind and visually impaired, in a manner that provides the 
     same opportunity for access and participation (including 
     privacy and independence) as for other voters; and
       ``(3) providing solutions to problems of access to voting 
     and elections for individuals with disabilities that are 
     universally designed and provide the same opportunities for 
     individuals with and without disabilities.''.
       (b) Reauthorization.--Section 264(a) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 
     21024(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
     paragraph:
       ``(4) For fiscal year 2026 and each succeeding fiscal year, 
     such sums as may be necessary to carry out this part.''.
       (c) Period of Availability of Funds.--Section 264 of such 
     Act (52 U.S.C. 21024) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (b), by striking ``Any amounts'' and 
     inserting ``Except as provided in subsection (c), any 
     amounts''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(c) Return and Transfer of Certain Funds.--
       ``(1) Deadline for obligation and expenditure.--In the case 
     of any amounts appropriated pursuant to the authority of 
     subsection (a) for a payment to a State or unit of local 
     government for fiscal year 2026 or any succeeding fiscal 
     year, any portion of such amounts which have not been 
     obligated or expended by the State or unit of local 
     government prior to the expiration of the 4-year period that 
     begins on the date the State or unit of local government 
     first received the amounts shall be transferred to the 
     Commission.
       ``(2) Reallocation of transferred amounts.--
       ``(A) In general.--The Commission shall use the amounts 
     transferred under paragraph (1) to make payments on a pro 
     rata basis to each covered payment recipient described in 
     subparagraph (B), which may obligate and expend such payment 
     for the purposes described in section 261(b) during the 1-
     year period which begins on the date of receipt.
       ``(B) Covered payment recipients described.--In 
     subparagraph (A), a `covered payment recipient' is a State or 
     unit of local government with respect to which--
       ``(i) amounts were appropriated pursuant to the authority 
     of subsection (a); and
       ``(ii) no amounts were transferred to the Commission under 
     paragraph (1).''.

     SEC. 1106. PILOT PROGRAMS FOR ENABLING INDIVIDUALS WITH 
                   DISABILITIES TO REGISTER TO VOTE PRIVATELY AND 
                   INDEPENDENTLY AT RESIDENCES.

       (a) Establishment of Pilot Programs.--The Election 
     Assistance Commission (hereafter referred to as the 
     ``Commission'') shall, subject to the availability of 
     appropriations to carry out this section, make grants to 
     eligible States to conduct pilot programs under which 
     individuals with disabilities may use electronic means 
     (including the internet and telephones utilizing assistive 
     devices) to register to vote and to request and receive 
     absentee ballots in a manner which permits such individuals 
     to do so privately and independently at their own residences.
       (b) Reports.--
       (1) In general.--A State receiving a grant for a year under 
     this section shall submit a

[[Page S4438]]

     report to the Commission on the pilot programs the State 
     carried out with the grant with respect to elections for 
     public office held in the State during the year.
       (2) Deadline.--A State shall submit a report under 
     paragraph (1) not later than 90 days after the last election 
     for public office held in the State during the year.
       (c) Eligibility.--A State is eligible to receive a grant 
     under this section if the State submits to the Commission, at 
     such time and in such form as the Commission may require, an 
     application containing such information and assurances as the 
     Commission may require.
       (d) Timing.--The Commission shall make the first grants 
     under this section for pilot programs which will be in effect 
     with respect to elections for Federal office held in 2026, 
     or, at the option of a State, with respect to other elections 
     for public office held in the State in 2026.
       (e) State Defined.--In 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.

     SEC. 1107. GAO ANALYSIS AND REPORT ON VOTING ACCESS FOR 
                   INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.

       (a) Analysis.--The Comptroller General of the United States 
     shall conduct an analysis after each regularly scheduled 
     general election for Federal office with respect to the 
     following:
       (1) In relation to polling places located in houses of 
     worship or other facilities that may be exempt from 
     accessibility requirements under the Americans with 
     Disabilities Act--
       (A) efforts to overcome accessibility challenges posed by 
     such facilities; and
       (B) the extent to which such facilities are used as polling 
     places in elections for Federal office.
       (2) Assistance provided by the Election Assistance 
     Commission, Department of Justice, or other Federal agencies 
     to help State and local officials improve voting access for 
     individuals with disabilities during elections for Federal 
     office.
       (3) When accessible voting machines are available at a 
     polling place, the extent to which such machines--
       (A) are located in places that are difficult to access;
       (B) malfunction; or
       (C) fail to provide sufficient privacy to ensure that the 
     ballot of the individual cannot be seen by another 
     individual.
       (4) The process by which Federal, State, and local 
     governments track compliance with accessibility requirements 
     related to voting access, including methods to receive and 
     address complaints.
       (5) The extent to which poll workers receive training on 
     how to assist individuals with disabilities, including the 
     receipt by such poll workers of information on legal 
     requirements related to voting rights for individuals with 
     disabilities.
       (6) The extent and effectiveness of training provided to 
     poll workers on the operation of accessible voting machines.
       (7) The extent to which individuals with a developmental or 
     psychiatric disability experience greater barriers to voting, 
     and whether poll worker training adequately addresses the 
     needs of such individuals.
       (8) The extent to which State or local governments employ, 
     or attempt to employ, individuals with disabilities to work 
     at polling sites.
       (b) Report.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 9 months after the date of 
     a regularly scheduled general election for Federal office, 
     the Comptroller General shall submit to the appropriate 
     congressional committees a report with respect to the most 
     recent regularly scheduled general election for Federal 
     office that contains the following:
       (A) The analysis required by subsection (a).
       (B) Recommendations, as appropriate, to promote the use of 
     best practices used by State and local officials to address 
     barriers to accessibility and privacy concerns for 
     individuals with disabilities in elections for Federal 
     office.
       (2) Appropriate congressional committees.--For purposes of 
     this subsection, the term ``appropriate congressional 
     committees'' means--
       (A) the Committee on House Administration of the House of 
     Representatives;
       (B) the Committee on Rules and Administration of the 
     Senate;
       (C) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
     Representatives; and
       (D) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.

                        Subtitle C--Early Voting

     SEC. 1201. EARLY VOTING.

       (a) Requirements.--Subtitle A of title III of the Help 
     America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.), as 
     amended by section 1031(a), section 1044(a), section 1101(a), 
     section 1102(a), section 1103(a), and section 1104(a), is 
     amended--
       (1) by redesignating sections 310 and 311 as sections 311 
     and 312, respectively; and
       (2) by inserting after section 309 the following new 
     section:

     ``SEC. 310. EARLY VOTING.

       ``(a) Requiring Voting Prior to Date of Election.--Each 
     election jurisdiction 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 a manner 
     that allows the individual to receive, complete, and cast 
     their ballot in-person.
       ``(b) Minimum Early Voting Requirements.--
       ``(1) In general.--
       ``(A) 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 no earlier than 
     the second day before the date of the election.
       ``(B) Hours for early voting.--Each polling place which 
     allows voting during an early voting period under 
     subparagraph (A) shall--
       ``(i) allow such voting for no less than 10 hours on each 
     day during the period;
       ``(ii) have uniform hours each day for which such voting 
     occurs; and
       ``(iii) 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).
       ``(2) Requirements for vote-by-mail jurisdictions.--In the 
     case of a jurisdiction that sends every registered voter a 
     ballot by mail--
       ``(A) paragraph (1) shall not apply;
       ``(B) such jurisdiction shall allow eligible individuals to 
     vote during an early voting period that ensures voters are 
     provided the greatest opportunity to cast ballots ahead of 
     Election Day and which includes at least one consecutive 
     Saturday and Sunday; and
       ``(C) each polling place which allows voting during an 
     early voting period under subparagraph (B) shall allow such 
     voting--
       ``(i) during the election office's regular business hours; 
     and
       ``(ii) for a period of not less than 8 hours on Saturdays 
     and Sundays included in the early voting period.
       ``(3) Requirements for small jurisdictions.--
       ``(A) In general.--In the case of a jurisdiction described 
     in subparagraph (B), paragraph (1)(B) shall not apply so long 
     as all eligible individuals in the jurisdiction have the 
     opportunity to vote--
       ``(i) at each polling place which allows voting during the 
     early voting period described in paragraph (1)(A)--

       ``(I) during the election office's regular business hours; 
     and
       ``(II) for a period of not less than 8 hours on at least 
     one Saturday and at least one Sunday included in the early 
     voting period; or

       ``(ii) at 1 or more polling places in the county in which 
     such jurisdiction is located that allows voting during the 
     early voting period described in paragraph (1)(A) in 
     accordance with the requirements under paragraph (1)(B).
       ``(B) Jurisdiction described.--A jurisdiction is described 
     in this subparagraph if such jurisdiction--
       ``(i) had less than 3,000 registered voters at the time of 
     the most recent prior election for Federal office; and
       ``(ii) consists of a geographic area that is smaller than 
     the jurisdiction of the county in which such jurisdiction is 
     located.
       ``(4) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this subsection 
     shall be construed--
       ``(A) to limit the availability of additional temporary 
     voting sites which provide voters more opportunities to cast 
     their ballots but which do not meet the requirements of this 
     subsection;
       ``(B) to limit a polling place from being open for 
     additional hours outside of the uniform hours set for the 
     polling location on any day of the early voting period; or
       ``(C) to limit a State or jurisdiction from offering early 
     voting on the Monday before Election Day.
       ``(c) Availability of Polling Places.--To the greatest 
     extent practicable, each State and jurisdiction shall--
       ``(1) ensure that there are an appropriate number of 
     polling places which allow voting during an early voting 
     period; and
       ``(2) ensure that such polling places provide the greatest 
     opportunity for residents of the jurisdiction to vote.
       ``(d) Location of Polling Places.--
       ``(1) Proximity to public transportation.--To the greatest 
     extent practicable, each State and jurisdiction shall ensure 
     that each polling place which allows voting during an early 
     voting period under subsection (b) is located within walking 
     distance of a stop on a public transportation route.
       ``(2) Availability in rural areas.--In the case of a 
     jurisdiction that includes a rural area, the State or 
     jurisdiction shall--
       ``(A) ensure that an appropriate number of polling places, 
     but not less than 1, that allow voting during an early voting 
     period under subsection (b) will be located in such rural 
     areas; and
       ``(B) 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.
       ``(3) Campuses of institutions of higher education.--In the 
     case of a jurisdiction that is not considered a vote by mail 
     jurisdiction described in subsection (b)(2) or a small 
     jurisdiction described in subsection (b)(3) and that includes 
     an institution of higher education (as defined under section 
     102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002)), 
     including a branch campus of such an institution, the State 
     or jurisdiction shall--
       ``(A) ensure that an appropriate number of polling places, 
     but not less than 1, that allow

[[Page S4439]]

     voting during the early voting period under subsection (b) 
     will be located on the physical campus of each such 
     institution, including each such branch campus; and
       ``(B) ensure that such polling places provide the greatest 
     opportunity for residents of the jurisdiction to vote.
       ``(e) Standards.--Not later than June 30, 2026, the 
     Commission shall issue voluntary standards for the 
     administration of voting during voting periods which occur 
     prior to the date of a Federal election. Subject to 
     subsection (d), such voluntary standards shall include the 
     nondiscriminatory geographic placement of polling places at 
     which such voting occurs.
       ``(f) Ballot Processing and Scanning Requirements.--
       ``(1) In general.--Each State or jurisdiction shall begin 
     processing and scanning ballots cast during in-person early 
     voting for tabulation not later than the date that is 14 days 
     prior to the date of the election involved, except that a 
     State or jurisdiction may begin processing and scanning 
     ballots cast during in-person early voting for tabulation 
     after such date if the date on which the State or 
     jurisdiction begins such processing and scanning ensures, to 
     the greatest extent practical, that ballots cast before the 
     date of the election are processed and scanned before the 
     date of the election.
       ``(2) Limitation.--Nothing in this subsection shall be 
     construed--
       ``(A) to permit a State or jurisdiction to tabulate ballots 
     in an election before the closing of the polls on the date of 
     the election unless such tabulation is a necessary component 
     of preprocessing in the State or jurisdiction and is 
     performed in accordance with existing State law; or
       ``(B) to permit an official to make public any results of 
     tabulation and processing before the closing of the polls on 
     the date of the election.
       ``(g) Effective Date.--This section shall apply with 
     respect to the regularly scheduled general election for 
     Federal office held in November 2026 and each succeeding 
     election for Federal office.''.
       (b) Conforming Amendments Relating to Issuance of Voluntary 
     Guidance by Election Assistance Commission.--Section 321(b) 
     of such Act (52 U.S.C. 21101(b)), as redesignated and amended 
     by section 1101(b), is amended--
       (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (3);
       (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (4) and 
     inserting ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(5) except as provided in paragraph (4), in the case of 
     the recommendations with respect to any section added by the 
     Freedom to Vote Act, June 30, 2026.''.
       (c) Clerical Amendments.--The table of contents of such 
     Act, as amended by section 1031(c), section 1044(b), section 
     1101(c), section 1102(c), section 1103(a), and section 
     1104(c), is amended--
       (1) by redesignating the items relating to sections 310 and 
     311 as relating to sections 311 and 312, respectively; and
       (2) by inserting after the item relating to section 309 the 
     following new item:

``Sec. 310. Early voting.''.

                       Subtitle D--Voting by Mail

     SEC. 1301. VOTING BY MAIL.

       (a) In General.--
       (1) Requirements.--Subtitle A of title III of the Help 
     America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.), as 
     amended by section 1031(a), section 1044(a), section 1101(a), 
     section 1102(a), section 1103(a), section 1104(a), and 
     section 1201(a), is amended--
       (A) by redesignating sections 311 and 312 as sections 312 
     and 313, respectively; and
       (B) by inserting after section 310 the following new 
     section:

     ``SEC. 311. 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 or casting ballot.--A State may not require an 
     individual to submit any form of identifying document as a 
     condition of obtaining or casting an absentee ballot, except 
     that nothing in this subparagraph may be construed to prevent 
     a State from requiring--
       ``(i) the information required to complete an application 
     for voter registration for an election for Federal office 
     under section 303(a)(5)(A), provided that a State may not 
     deny a voter a ballot or the opportunity to cast it on the 
     grounds that the voter does not possess a current and valid 
     driver's license number or a social security number; or
       ``(ii) a signature of the individual or similar affirmation 
     as a condition of obtaining or casting an absentee ballot.
       ``(B) Prohibiting faulty matching requirements for 
     identifying information.--A State may not deny a voter an 
     absentee ballot or reject an absentee ballot cast by a 
     voter--
       ``(i) on the grounds that the voter provided a different 
     form of identifying information under subparagraph (A) than 
     the voter originally provided when registering to vote or 
     when requesting an absentee ballot; or
       ``(ii) due to an error in, or omission of, identifying 
     information required by a State under subparagraph (A), if 
     such error or omission is not material to an individual's 
     eligibility to vote under section 2004(a)(2)(B) of the 
     Revised Statutes (52 U.S.C. 10101(a)(2)(B)).
       ``(C) 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, except that nothing in this subparagraph may 
     be construed to prohibit a State from enforcing a law which 
     has a witness signature requirement for a ballot where a 
     voter oath is attested to with a mark rather than a voter's 
     signature.
       ``(3) No effect on identification requirements for first-
     time voters registering by mail.--Nothing in this subsection 
     may be construed to exempt any individual described in 
     paragraph (1) of section 303(b) from meeting the requirements 
     of paragraph (2) of such section or to exempt an individual 
     described in paragraph (5)(A) of section 303(b) from meeting 
     the requirements of paragraph (5)(B).
       ``(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 a mail-in ballot or 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 signature of 
     the individual on the mail-in ballot or 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 in 
     signatures.--If an individual submits a mail-in ballot or 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) as soon as practical, but not later than the next 
     business day after such determination is made, make a good 
     faith effort to notify the individual by mail, telephone, and 
     (if available) text message and 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 or other official 
     record or document used by the State to verify the signatures 
     of voters; and
       ``(II) if such discrepancy is not cured prior to the 
     expiration of the third day following the State's deadline 
     for receiving mail-in ballots or absentee ballots, such 
     ballot will not be counted; and

       ``(ii) cure such discrepancy and count the ballot if, prior 
     to the expiration of the third day following the State's 
     deadline for receiving mail-in ballots or absentee ballots, 
     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 cure missing signature or 
     other defect.--If an individual submits a mail-in ballot or 
     an absentee ballot without a signature or submits a mail-in 
     ballot or an absentee ballot with another defect which, if 
     left uncured, would cause the ballot to not be counted, the 
     appropriate State or local election official, prior to making 
     a final determination as to the validity of the ballot, 
     shall--
       ``(i) as soon as practical, but not later than the next 
     business day after such determination is made, make a good 
     faith effort to notify the individual by mail, telephone, and 
     (if available) text message and electronic mail that--

       ``(I) the ballot did not include a signature or has some 
     other defect; and
       ``(II) if the individual does not provide the missing 
     signature or cure the other defect prior to the expiration of 
     the third day following the State's deadline for receiving 
     mail-in ballots or absentee ballots, such ballot will not be 
     counted; and

       ``(ii) count the ballot if, prior to the expiration of the 
     third day following the State's deadline for receiving mail-
     in ballots or absentee ballots, the individual provides the 
     official with the missing signature on a form proscribed by 
     the State or cures the other defect.
     This subparagraph does not apply with respect to a defect 
     consisting of the failure of a ballot to meet the applicable 
     deadline for the acceptance of the ballot, as described in 
     subsection (e).
       ``(C) Other requirements.--
       ``(i) In general.--An election official may not make a 
     determination that a discrepancy exists between the signature 
     on a mail-in ballot or an absentee ballot and the signature 
     of the individual on the official list of

[[Page S4440]]

     registered voters in the State or other official record or 
     other document used by the State to verify the signatures of 
     voters unless--

       ``(I) not fewer than 2 election officials make the 
     determination;
       ``(II) each official who makes the determination has 
     received training in procedures used to verify signatures; 
     and
       ``(III) of the officials who make the determination, not 
     fewer than 1 is affiliated with the political party whose 
     candidate received the most votes in the most recent 
     statewide election for Federal office held in the State and 
     not fewer than 1 is affiliated with the political party whose 
     candidate received the second most votes in the most recent 
     statewide election for Federal office held in the State.

       ``(ii) Exception.--Clause (i)(III) shall not apply to any 
     State in which, under a law that is in effect continuously on 
     and after the date of enactment of this section, 
     determinations regarding signature discrepancies are made by 
     election officials who are not affiliated with a political 
     party.
       ``(3) Report.--
       ``(A) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the end of 
     a Federal election cycle, each chief State election official 
     shall submit to the Commission 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) Submission to congress.--Not later than 10 days after 
     receiving a report under subparagraph (A), the Commission 
     shall transmit such report to Congress.
       ``(C) Federal election cycle defined.--For purposes of this 
     subsection, the term `Federal election cycle' means, with 
     respect to any regularly scheduled election for Federal 
     office, the period beginning on the day after the date of the 
     preceding regularly scheduled general election for Federal 
     office and ending on the date of such regularly scheduled 
     general election.
       ``(4) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this subsection 
     shall be construed--
       ``(A) to prohibit a State from rejecting a ballot attempted 
     to be cast in an election for Federal office by an individual 
     who is not eligible to vote in the election; or
       ``(B) to prohibit a State from providing an individual with 
     more time and more methods for curing a discrepancy in the 
     individual's signature, providing a missing signature, or 
     curing any other defect than the State is required to provide 
     under this subsection.
       ``(c) Applications for Absentee Ballots.--
       ``(1) In general.--In addition to such other methods as the 
     State may establish for an individual to apply for an 
     absentee ballot, each State shall permit an individual to 
     submit an application for an absentee ballot online.
       ``(2) Treatment of websites.--A State shall be considered 
     to meet the requirements of paragraph (1) if the website of 
     the appropriate State or local election official allows an 
     application for an absentee ballot 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) to 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.
       ``(3) Ensuring delivery prior to election.--
       ``(A) In general.--If an individual who is eligible to vote 
     in an election for Federal office submits an application for 
     an absentee ballot in the election and such application is 
     received by the appropriate State or local election official 
     not later than 13 days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and 
     legal public holidays) before the date of the election, the 
     election official shall ensure that the ballot and related 
     voting materials are promptly mailed to the individual.
       ``(B) Applications received close to election day.--If an 
     individual who is eligible to vote in an election for Federal 
     office submits an application for an absentee ballot in the 
     election and such application is received by the appropriate 
     State or local election official after the date described in 
     subparagraph (A) but not later than 7 days (excluding 
     Saturdays, Sundays, and legal public holidays) before the 
     date of the election, the election official shall, to the 
     greatest extent practical, ensure that the ballot and related 
     voting materials are mailed to the individual within 1 
     business day of the receipt of the application.
       ``(C) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this paragraph 
     shall preclude a State or local jurisdiction from allowing 
     for the acceptance and processing of absentee ballot 
     applications submitted or received after the date described 
     in subparagraph (B).
       ``(4) Application for all future elections.--
       ``(A) In general.--At the option of an individual, the 
     individual's application to vote by absentee ballot by mail 
     in an election for Federal office shall be treated as an 
     application for an absentee ballot by mail in all subsequent 
     elections for Federal office held in the State.
       ``(B) Duration of treatment.--
       ``(i) In general.--In the case of an individual who is 
     treated as having applied for an absentee ballot for all 
     subsequent elections for Federal office held in the State 
     under subparagraph (A), such treatment shall remain effective 
     until the earlier of such time as--

       ``(I) the individual is no longer registered to vote in the 
     State; or
       ``(II) the individual provides an affirmative written 
     notice revoking such treatment.

       ``(ii) Prohibition on revocation based on failure to 
     vote.--The treatment of an individual as having applied for 
     an absentee ballot for all subsequent elections held in the 
     State under subparagraph (A) shall not be revoked on the 
     basis that the individual has not voted in an election.
       ``(d) Accessibility for Individuals With Disabilities.--
     Each State shall ensure that all absentee ballot 
     applications, 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.--
       ``(1) In general.--A State or local election official 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--
       ``(A) the ballot is postmarked or otherwise indicated by 
     the United States Postal Service to have been mailed on or 
     before the date of the election; and
       ``(B) the ballot is received by the appropriate election 
     official prior to the expiration of the 7-day period which 
     begins on the date of the election.
       ``(2) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this subsection 
     shall be construed to prohibit a State from having a law that 
     allows for counting of ballots in an election for Federal 
     office that are received through the mail after the date that 
     is 7 days after the date of the election.
       ``(f) Alternative Methods of Returning Ballots.--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, each 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--
       ``(1) permitting the individual to deliver the ballot to a 
     polling place within the jurisdiction in which the individual 
     is registered or otherwise eligible to vote on any date on 
     which voting in the election is held at the polling place; 
     and
       ``(2) permitting the individual to deliver the ballot to a 
     designated ballot drop-off location, a tribally designated 
     building, or the office of a State or local election 
     official.
       ``(g) Ballot Processing and Scanning Requirements.--
       ``(1) In general.--Each State or jurisdiction shall begin 
     processing and scanning ballots cast by mail for tabulation 
     not later than the date that is 14 days prior to the date of 
     the election involved, except that a State may begin 
     processing and scanning ballots cast by mail for tabulation 
     after such date if the date on which the State begins such 
     processing and scanning ensures, to the greatest extent 
     practical, that ballots cast before the date of the election 
     are processed and scanned before the date of the election.
       ``(2) Limitation.--Nothing in this subsection shall be 
     construed--
       ``(A) to permit a State to tabulate ballots in an election 
     before the closing of the polls on the date of the election 
     unless such tabulation is a necessary component of 
     preprocessing in the State and is performed in accordance 
     with existing State law; or
       ``(B) to permit an official to make public any results of 
     tabulation and processing before the closing of the polls on 
     the date of the election.
       ``(h) Prohibiting Restrictions on Distribution of Absentee 
     Ballot Applications by Third Parties.--A State may not 
     prohibit any person from providing an application for an 
     absentee ballot in the election to any individual who is 
     eligible to vote in the election.
       ``(i) 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.
       ``(j) 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.).
       ``(k) Effective Date.--This section shall apply with 
     respect to the regularly scheduled general election for 
     Federal office held in November 2026 and each succeeding 
     election for Federal office.''.
       (2) Clerical amendments.--The table of contents of such 
     Act, as amended by section 1031(c), section 1044(b), section 
     1101(c), section 1102(c), section 1103(a), section 1104(c), 
     and section 1201(c), is amended--
       (A) by redesignating the items relating to sections 311 and 
     312 as relating to sections 312 and 313, respectively; and

[[Page S4441]]

       (B) by inserting after the item relating to section 310 the 
     following new item:

``Sec. 311. Promoting ability of voters to vote by mail.''.
       (b) Same-day Processing of Absentee Ballots.--
       (1) In general.--Chapter 34 of title 39, United States 
     Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

     ``Sec. 3407. Same-day processing of ballots

       ``(a) In General.--The Postal Service shall ensure, to the 
     maximum extent practicable, that any ballot carried by the 
     Postal Service is processed by and cleared from any postal 
     facility or post office on the same day that the ballot is 
     received by that facility or post office.
       ``(b) Definitions.--As used in this section--
       ``(1) the term `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.''.
       (2) Technical and conforming amendment.--The table of 
     sections for chapter 34 of title 39, United States Code, is 
     amended by adding at the end the following:

``3407. Same-day processing of ballots.''.
       (3) Effective date.--The amendments made by this subsection 
     shall apply to absentee ballots relating to an election for 
     Federal office occurring on or after January 1, 2026.
       (c) Development of Alternative Verification Methods.--
       (1) Development of standards.--The Director of the National 
     Institute of Standards, in consultation with the Election 
     Assistance Commission, shall develop standards for the use of 
     alternative methods which could be used in place of signature 
     verification requirements for purposes of verifying the 
     identification of an individual voting by mail-in or absentee 
     ballot in elections for Federal office.
       (2) Public notice and comment.--The Director of the 
     National Institute of Standards shall solicit comments from 
     the public in the development of standards under paragraph 
     (1).
       (3) Deadline.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Director of the National Institute 
     of Standards shall publish the standards developed under 
     paragraph (1).

     SEC. 1302. BALLOTING MATERIALS TRACKING PROGRAM.

       (a) In General.--
       (1) Requirements.--Subtitle A of title III of the Help 
     America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.), as 
     amended by section 1031(a), section 1044(a), section 1101(a), 
     section 1102(a), section 1103(a), section 1104(a), section 
     1201(a), and section 1301(a), is amended--
       (A) by redesignating sections 312 and 313 as sections 313 
     and 314, respectively; and
       (B) by inserting after section 311 the following new 
     section:

     ``SEC. 312. BALLOT MATERIALS TRACKING PROGRAM.

       ``(a) Requirement.--Each State shall carry out a program to 
     track and confirm the receipt of mail-in ballots and absentee 
     ballots in an election for Federal office under which the 
     State or local election official responsible for the receipt 
     of such voted 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.
       ``(b) Means of Carrying Out Program.--A State may meet the 
     requirements of subsection (a)--
       ``(1) through a program--
       ``(A) which is established by the State;
       ``(B) under which the State or local election official 
     responsible for the receipt of voted mail-in ballots and 
     voted absentee ballots in the election--
       ``(i) carries out procedures to track and confirm the 
     receipt of such ballots; and
       ``(ii) makes information on the receipt of such ballots 
     available to the individual who cast the ballot; and
       ``(C) which meets the requirements of subsection (c); or
       ``(2) through the ballot materials tracking service 
     established under section 1302(b) of the Freedom to Vote Act.
       ``(c) State Program Requirements.--The requirements of this 
     subsection are as follows:
       ``(1) Information on whether vote was accepted.--The 
     information referred to under subsection (b)(1)(B)(ii) with 
     respect to the receipt of mail-in ballot or an absentee 
     ballot shall include information regarding whether the vote 
     cast on the ballot was accepted, and, in the case of a vote 
     which was rejected, the reasons therefor.
       ``(2) Availability of information.--Information on whether 
     a ballot was accepted or rejected shall be available within 1 
     business day of the State accepting or rejecting the ballot.
       ``(3) Accessibility of information.--
       ``(A) In general.--Except as provided under subparagraph 
     (B), the information provided under the program shall be 
     available by means of online access using the internet site 
     of the State or local election office.
       ``(B) Use of toll-free telephone number by officials 
     without internet site.--In the case of a State or local 
     election official whose office does not have an internet 
     site, the program shall require the official to establish a 
     toll-free telephone number that may be used by an individual 
     who cast an absentee ballot to obtain the information 
     required under subsection (b)(1)(B).
       ``(d) Effective Date.--This section shall apply with 
     respect to the regularly scheduled general election for 
     Federal office held in November 2028 and each succeeding 
     election for Federal office.''.
       (2) Conforming amendments.--Section 102 of the Uniformed 
     and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20302) 
     is amended by striking subsection (h) and redesignating 
     subsection (i) as subsection (h).
       (b) Balloting Materials Tracking Service.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than January 1, 2028, the 
     Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the 
     Chair of the Election Assistance Commission, the Postmaster 
     General, the Director of the General Services Administration, 
     the Presidential designee, and State election officials, 
     shall establish a balloting materials tracking service to be 
     used by State and local jurisdictions to inform voters on the 
     status of voter registration applications, absentee ballot 
     applications, absentee ballots, and mail-in ballots.
       (2) Information tracked.--The balloting materials tracking 
     service established under paragraph (1) shall provide to a 
     voter the following information with respect to that voter:
       (A) In the case of balloting materials sent by mail, 
     tracking information from the United States Postal Service 
     and the Presidential designee on balloting materials sent to 
     the voter and, to the extent feasible, returned by the voter.
       (B) The date on which any request by the voter for an 
     application for voter registration or an absentee ballot was 
     received.
       (C) The date on which any such requested application was 
     sent to the voter.
       (D) The date on which any such completed application was 
     received from the voter and the status of such application.
       (E) The date on which any mail-in ballot or absentee ballot 
     was sent to the voter.
       (F) The date on which any mail-in ballot or absentee ballot 
     was out for delivery to the voter.
       (G) The date on which the post office processes the ballot.
       (H) The date on which the returned ballot was out for 
     delivery to the election office.
       (I) Whether such ballot was accepted and counted, and in 
     the case of any ballot not counted, the reason why the ballot 
     was not counted.
     The information described in subparagraph (I) shall be 
     available not later than 1 day after a determination is made 
     on whether or not to accept and count the ballot.
       (3) Method of providing information.--The balloting 
     materials tracking service established under paragraph (1) 
     shall allow voters the option to receive the information 
     described in paragraph (2) through email (or other electronic 
     means) or through the mail.
       (4) Public availability of limited information.--
     Information described in subparagraphs (E), (G), and (I) of 
     paragraph (2) shall be made available to political parties 
     and voter registration organizations, at cost to cover the 
     expense of providing such information, for use, in accordance 
     with State guidelines and procedures, in helping to return or 
     cure mail-in ballots during any period in which mail-in 
     ballots may be returned.
       (5) Prohibition on fees.--The Director may not charge any 
     fee to a State or jurisdiction for use of the balloting 
     materials tracking service in connection with any Federal, 
     State, or local election.
       (6) Presidential designee.--For purposes of this 
     subsection, the term ``Presidential designee'' means the 
     Presidential designee under section 101(a) of the Uniformed 
     and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 
     20301(a)).
       (7) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated to the Director such sums as are necessary 
     for purposes of carrying out this subsection.
       (c) Reimbursement for Costs Incurred by States in 
     Establishing Program.--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 REIMBURSE STATES FOR COSTS INCURRED IN 
 ESTABLISHING PROGRAM TO TRACK AND CONFIRM RECEIPT OF ABSENTEE BALLOTS

     ``SEC. 297. PAYMENTS TO STATES.

       ``(a) Payments for Costs of Program.--In accordance with 
     this section, the Commission shall make a payment to a State 
     to reimburse the State for the costs incurred in establishing 
     the absentee ballot tracking program under section 322(b)(1) 
     (including costs incurred prior to the date of enactment of 
     this part).
       ``(b) Certification of Compliance and Costs.--
       ``(1) Certification required.--In order to receive a 
     payment under this section, a State shall submit to the 
     Commission a statement containing--
       ``(A) a certification that the State has established an 
     absentee ballot tracking program with respect to elections 
     for Federal office held in the State; and
       ``(B) a statement of the costs incurred by the State in 
     establishing the program.
       ``(2) Amount of payment.--The amount of a payment made to a 
     State under this section shall be equal to the costs incurred 
     by

[[Page S4442]]

     the State in establishing the absentee ballot tracking 
     program, as set forth in the statement submitted under 
     paragraph (1), except that such amount may not exceed the 
     product of--
       ``(A) the number of jurisdictions in the State which are 
     responsible for operating the program; and
       ``(B) $3,000.
       ``(3) Limit on number of payments received.--A State may 
     not receive more than one payment under this part.

     ``SEC. 297A. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       ``(a) Authorization.--There are authorized to be 
     appropriated to the Commission for fiscal year 2026 and each 
     succeeding fiscal year such sums as may be necessary for 
     payments under this part.
       ``(b) Continuing Availability of Funds.--Any amounts 
     appropriated pursuant to the authorization under this section 
     shall remain available until expended.''.
       (d) Clerical Amendments.--The table of contents of such 
     Act, as amended by section 1031(c), 1044(b), section 1101(c), 
     section 1102(c), section 1103(a), section 1104(c), section 
     1201(c), and section 1301(a), is amended--
       (1) by adding at the end of the items relating to subtitle 
     D of title II the following:

     ``PART 7--Payments to Reimburse States for Costs Incurred in 
 Establishing Program to Track and Confirm Receipt of Absentee Ballots

``Sec. 297. Payments to states.
``Sec. 297A. Authorization of appropriations.'';
       (2) by redesignating the items relating to sections 312 and 
     313 as relating to sections 313 and 314, respectively; and
       (3) by inserting after the item relating to section 311 the 
     following new item:

``Sec. 312. Absentee ballot tracking program.''.

     SEC. 1303. ELECTION MAIL AND DELIVERY IMPROVEMENTS.

       (a) Postmark Required for Ballots.--
       (1) In general.--Chapter 34 of title 39, United States 
     Code, as amended by section 1301(b), is amended by adding at 
     the end the following:

     ``Sec. 3408. Postmark required for ballots

       ``(a) In General.--In the case of any absentee ballot 
     carried by the Postal Service, the Postal Service shall 
     indicate on the ballot envelope, using a postmark or 
     otherwise--
       ``(1) the fact that the ballot was carried by the Postal 
     Service; and
       ``(2) the date on which the ballot was mailed.
       ``(b) Definitions.--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.''.
       (2) Technical and conforming amendment.--The table of 
     sections for chapter 34 of title 39, United States Code, as 
     amended by section 1301(b), is amended by adding at the end 
     the following:

``3408. Postmark required for ballots.''.
       (3) Effective date.--The amendments made by this subsection 
     shall apply to absentee ballots relating to an election for 
     Federal office occurring on or after January 1, 2026.
       (b) Greater Visibility for Ballots.--
       (1) In general.--Subtitle A of title III of the Help 
     America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.), as 
     amended by section 1031(a), section 1044(a), section 1101(a), 
     section 1102(a), section 1103(a), section 1104(a), section 
     1201(a), section 1301(a), and section 1302(a), is amended--
       (A) by redesignating sections 313 and 314 as sections 314 
     and 315, respectively; and
       (B) by inserting after section 312 the following new 
     section:

     ``SEC. 313. BALLOT VISIBILITY.

       ``(a) In General.--Each State or local election official 
     shall--
       ``(1) affix Tag 191, Domestic and International Mail-In 
     Ballots (or any successor tag designated by the United States 
     Postal Service), to any tray or sack of official ballots 
     relating to an election for Federal office that is destined 
     for a domestic or international address;
       ``(2) use the Official Election Mail logo to designate 
     official ballots relating to an election for Federal office 
     that is destined for a domestic or international address; and
       ``(3) if an intelligent mail barcode is utilized for any 
     official ballot relating to an election for Federal office 
     that is destined for a domestic or international address, 
     ensure the specific ballot service type identifier for such 
     mail is visible.
       ``(b) Effective Date.--The requirements of this section 
     shall apply to elections for Federal office occurring on and 
     after January 1, 2026.''.
       (2) Voluntary guidance.--Section 321(b)(4) of such Act (52 
     U.S.C. 21101(b)), as added and redesignated by section 
     1101(b) and as amended by sections 1102, 1103 and 1104, is 
     amended by striking ``and 309'' and inserting ``309, and 
     313''.
       (3) Clerical amendments.--The table of contents of such 
     Act, as amended by section 1031(c), section 1044(b), section 
     1101(c), section 1102(c), section 1103(a), section 1104(c), 
     section 1201(c), section 1301(a), and section 1302(a), is 
     amended--
       (A) by redesignating the items relating to sections 313 and 
     314 as relating to sections 314 and 315; and
       (B) by inserting after the item relating to section 312 the 
     following new item:

``Sec. 313. Ballot visibility.''.

     SEC. 1304. CARRIAGE OF ELECTION MAIL.

       (a) Treatment of Election Mail.--
       (1) Treatment as first-class mail; free postage.--Chapter 
     34 of title 39, United States Code, as amended by section 
     1301(b) and section 1303(a), is amended by adding at the end 
     the following:

     ``Sec. 3409. Domestic election mail; restriction of 
       operational changes prior to elections

       ``(a) Definition.--In this section, the term `election 
     mail' means--
       ``(1) a blank or completed voter registration application 
     form, voter registration card, or similar materials, relating 
     to an election for Federal office;
       ``(2) a blank or completed absentee and other mail-in 
     ballot application form, and a blank or completed absentee or 
     other mail-in ballot, relating to an election for Federal 
     office, and
       ``(3) other materials relating to an election for Federal 
     office that are mailed by a State or local election official 
     to an individual who is registered to vote.
       ``(b) Carriage of Election Mail.--Election mail (other than 
     balloting materials covered under section 3406 (relating to 
     the Uniformed and Overseas Absentee Voting Act)), 
     individually or in bulk, shall be carried in accordance with 
     the service standards established for first-class mail under 
     section 3691.
       ``(c) No Postage Required for Completed Ballots.--Completed 
     absentee or other mail-in ballots (other than balloting 
     materials covered under section 3406 (relating to the 
     Uniformed and Overseas Absentee Voting Act)) shall be carried 
     free of postage.
       ``(d) Restriction of Operational Changes.--During the 120-
     day period that ends on the date of an election for Federal 
     office, the Postal Service may not carry out any new 
     operational change that would restrict the prompt and 
     reliable delivery of election mail. This subsection applies 
     to operational changes which include--
       ``(1) removing or eliminating any mail collection box 
     without immediately replacing it; and
       ``(2) removing, decommissioning, or any other form of 
     stopping the operation of mail sorting machines, other than 
     for routine maintenance.
       ``(e) Election Mail Coordinator.--The Postal Service shall 
     appoint an Election Mail Coordinator at each area office and 
     district office to facilitate relevant information sharing 
     with State, territorial, local, and Tribal election officials 
     in regards to the mailing of election mail.''.
       (2) Reimbursement of postal service for revenue forgone.--
     Section 2401(c) of title 39, United States Code, is amended 
     by striking ``sections 3217 and 3403 through 3406'' and 
     inserting ``sections 3217, 3403 through 3406, and 3409''.
       (b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The table of 
     sections for chapter 34 of title 39, United States Code, as 
     amended by section 1301(b) and section 1303(a), is amended by 
     adding at the end the following:

``3409. Domestic election mail; restriction of operational changes 
              prior to elections.''.
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall take effect upon the expiration of the 180-day period 
     that begins on the date of enactment of this section.

     SEC. 1305. REQUIRING STATES TO PROVIDE SECURED DROP BOXES FOR 
                   VOTED BALLOTS IN ELECTIONS FOR FEDERAL OFFICE.

       (a) Requirement.--Subtitle A of title III of the Help 
     America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.), as 
     amended by section 1031(a), section 1044(a), section 1101(a), 
     section 1102(a), section 1103(a), section 1104(a), section 
     1201(a), section 1301(a), section 1302(a), and section 
     1303(b) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating sections 314 and 315 as sections 315 
     and 316, respectively; and
       (2) by inserting after section 313 the following new 
     section:

     ``SEC. 314. USE OF SECURED DROP BOXES FOR VOTED BALLOTS.

       ``(a) Requiring Use of Drop Boxes.--Each jurisdiction shall 
     provide in-person, secured, and clearly labeled drop boxes at 
     which individuals may, at any time during the period 
     described in subsection (b), drop off voted ballots in an 
     election for Federal office.
       ``(b) Minimum Period for Availability of Drop Boxes.--The 
     period described in this subsection is, with respect to an 
     election, the period that begins on the first day on which 
     the jurisdiction sends mail-in ballots or absentee ballots 
     (other than ballots for absent uniformed overseas voters (as 
     defined in section 107(1) of the Uniformed and Overseas 
     Citizens Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20310(1))) or 
     overseas voters (as defined in section 107(5) of such Act (52 
     U.S.C. 20310(5)))) to voters for such election and which ends 
     at the time the polls close for the election in the 
     jurisdiction involved.
       ``(c) Accessibility.--
       ``(1) Hours of access.--
       ``(A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph (B), 
     each drop box provided under this section shall be accessible 
     to voters for a reasonable number of hours each day.
       ``(B) 24-hour drop boxes.--

[[Page S4443]]

       ``(i) In general.--Of the number of drop boxes provided in 
     any jurisdiction, not less than the required number shall be 
     accessible for 24-hours per day during the period described 
     in subsection (b).
       ``(ii) Required number.--The required number is the greater 
     of--

       ``(I) 25 percent of the drop boxes required under 
     subsection (d); or
       ``(II) 1 drop box.

       ``(2) Population.--
       ``(A) In general.--Drop boxes provided under this section 
     shall be accessible for use--
       ``(i) by individuals with disabilities, as determined in 
     consultation with the protection and advocacy systems (as 
     defined in section 102 of the Developmental Disabilities 
     Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 15002)) 
     of the State;
       ``(ii) by individuals with limited proficiency in the 
     English language; and
       ``(iii) by homeless individuals (as defined in section 103 
     of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
     11302)) within the State.
       ``(B) Determination of accessibility for individuals with 
     disabilities.--For purposes of this paragraph, drop boxes 
     shall be considered to be accessible for use by individuals 
     with disabilities if the drop boxes meet such criteria as the 
     Attorney General may establish for such purposes.
       ``(C) Rule of construction.--If a drop box provided under 
     this section is on the grounds of or inside a building or 
     facility which serves as a polling place for an election 
     during the period described in subsection (b), nothing in 
     this subsection may be construed to waive any requirements 
     regarding the accessibility of such polling place for the use 
     of individuals with disabilities, individuals with limited 
     proficiency in the English language, or homeless individuals.
       ``(d) Number of Drop Boxes.--Each jurisdiction shall have--
       ``(1) in the case of any election for Federal office prior 
     to the regularly scheduled general election for Federal 
     office held in November 2028, not less than 1 drop box for 
     every 45,000 registered voters located in the jurisdiction; 
     and
       ``(2) in the case of the regularly scheduled general 
     election for Federal office held in November 2028 and each 
     election for Federal office occurring thereafter, not less 
     than the greater of--
       ``(A) 1 drop box for every 45,000 registered voters located 
     in the jurisdiction; or
       ``(B) 1 drop box for every 15,000 votes that were cast by 
     mail in the jurisdiction in the most recent general election 
     that includes an election for the office of President.
     In no case shall a jurisdiction have fewer than 1 drop box 
     for any election for Federal office.
       ``(e) Location of Drop Boxes.--The State shall determine 
     the location of drop boxes provided under this section in a 
     jurisdiction on the basis of criteria which ensure that the 
     drop boxes are--
       ``(1) available to all voters on a non-discriminatory 
     basis;
       ``(2) accessible to voters with disabilities (in accordance 
     with subsection (c));
       ``(3) accessible by public transportation to the greatest 
     extent possible;
       ``(4) available during all hours of the day;
       ``(5) sufficiently available in all communities in the 
     jurisdiction, including rural communities and on Tribal lands 
     within the jurisdiction (subject to subsection (f)); and
       ``(6) geographically distributed to provide a reasonable 
     opportunity for voters to submit their voted ballot in a 
     timely manner.
       ``(f) Timing of Scanning and Processing of Ballots.--For 
     purposes of section 311(g) (relating to the timing of the 
     processing and scanning of ballots for tabulation), a vote 
     cast using a drop box provided under this section shall be 
     treated in the same manner as a ballot cast by mail.
       ``(g) Posting of Information.--On or adjacent to each drop 
     box provided under this section, the State shall post 
     information on the requirements that voted absentee ballots 
     must meet in order to be counted and tabulated in the 
     election.
       ``(h) Remote Surveillance.--Nothing in this section shall 
     prohibit a State from providing for the security of drop 
     boxes through remote or electronic surveillance.
       ``(i) Effective Date.--This section shall apply with 
     respect to the regularly scheduled general election for 
     Federal office held in November 2026 and each succeeding 
     election for Federal office.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendments.--The table of contents of such 
     Act, as amended by section 1031(c), section 1044(b), section 
     1101(c), section 1102(c), section 1103(a), section 1104(c), 
     section 1201(c), section 1301(c), section 1302(a), and 
     section 1303(b), is amended--
       (1) by redesignating the items relating to sections 314 and 
     315 as relating to sections 315 and 316, respectively; and
       (2) by inserting after the item relating to section 313 the 
     following new item:

``Sec. 314. Use of secured drop boxes for voted absentee ballots.''.

    Subtitle E--Absent Uniformed Services Voters and Overseas Voters

     SEC. 1401. PRE-ELECTION REPORTS ON AVAILABILITY AND 
                   TRANSMISSION OF ABSENTEE BALLOTS.

       Section 102(c) of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens 
     Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20302(c)) is amended to read 
     as follows:
       ``(c) Reports on Availability, Transmission, and Receipt of 
     Absentee Ballots.--
       ``(1) Pre-election report on absentee ballot 
     availability.--Not later than 55 days before any regularly 
     scheduled general election for Federal office, each State 
     shall submit a report to the Attorney General certifying that 
     absentee ballots for the election are or will be available 
     for transmission to absent uniformed services voters and 
     overseas voters by not later than 46 days before the 
     election. The report shall be in a form prescribed by the 
     Attorney General and shall require the State to certify 
     specific information about ballot availability from each unit 
     of local government which will administer the election.
       ``(2) Pre-election report on absentee ballots 
     transmitted.--
       ``(A) In general.--Not later than 43 days before any 
     election for Federal office held in a State, the chief State 
     election official of such State shall submit a report 
     containing the information in subparagraph (B) to the 
     Attorney General.
       ``(B) Information reported.--The report under subparagraph 
     (A) shall consist of the following:
       ``(i) The total number of absentee ballots validly 
     requested by absent uniformed services voters and overseas 
     voters whose requests were received by the 47th day before 
     the election by each unit of local government within the 
     State that will transmit absentee ballots.
       ``(ii) The total number of ballots transmitted to such 
     voters by the 46th day before the election by each unit of 
     local government within the State that will administer the 
     election.
       ``(iii) Specific information about any late transmitted 
     ballots.
       ``(C) Requirement to supplement incomplete information.--If 
     the report under subparagraph (A) has incomplete information 
     on any items required to be included in the report, the chief 
     State election official shall make all reasonable efforts to 
     expeditiously supplement the report with complete 
     information.
       ``(D) Format.--The report under subparagraph (A) shall be 
     in a format prescribed by the Attorney General in 
     consultation with the chief State election officials of each 
     State.
       ``(3) Post-election report on number of absentee ballots 
     transmitted and received.--Not later than 90 days after the 
     date of each regularly scheduled general election for Federal 
     office, each State and unit of local government which 
     administered the election shall (through the State, in the 
     case of a unit of local government) submit a report to the 
     Election Assistance Commission on the combined number of 
     absentee ballots transmitted to absent uniformed services 
     voters and overseas voters for the election and the combined 
     number of such ballots which were returned by such voters and 
     cast in the election, and shall make such report available to 
     the general public that same day.''.

     SEC. 1402. ENFORCEMENT.

       (a) Availability of Civil Penalties and Private Rights of 
     Action.--Section 105 of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens 
     Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20307) is amended to read as 
     follows:

     ``SEC. 105. ENFORCEMENT.

       ``(a) Action by Attorney General.--The Attorney General may 
     bring civil action in an appropriate district court for such 
     declaratory or injunctive relief as may be necessary to carry 
     out this title.
       ``(b) Private Right of Action.--A person who is aggrieved 
     by a violation of this title may bring a civil action in an 
     appropriate district court for such declaratory or injunctive 
     relief as may be necessary to carry out this title.
       ``(c) State as Only Necessary Defendant.--In any action 
     brought under this section, the only necessary party 
     defendant is the State, and it shall not be a defense to any 
     such action that a local election official or a unit of local 
     government is not named as a defendant, notwithstanding that 
     a State has exercised the authority described in section 576 
     of the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act to 
     delegate to another jurisdiction in the State any duty or 
     responsibility which is the subject of an action brought 
     under this section.''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall apply with respect to violations alleged to have 
     occurred on or after the date of enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 1403. TRANSMISSION REQUIREMENTS; REPEAL OF WAIVER 
                   PROVISION.

       (a) In General.--Paragraph (8) of section 102(a) of the 
     Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (52 
     U.S.C. 20302(a)) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(8) transmit a validly requested absentee ballot to an 
     absent uniformed services voter or overseas voter by the date 
     and in the manner determined under subsection (g);''.
       (b) Ballot Transmission Requirements and Repeal of Waiver 
     Provision.--Subsection (g) of section 102 of such Act (52 
     U.S.C. 20302(g)) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(g) Ballot Transmission Requirements.--
       ``(1) In general.--For purposes of subsection (a)(8), in 
     the case in which a valid request for an absentee ballot is 
     received at least 47 days before an election for Federal 
     office, the following rules shall apply:
       ``(A) Transmission deadline.--The State shall transmit the 
     absentee ballot not later than 46 days before the election.
       ``(B) Special rules in case of failure to transmit on 
     time.--

[[Page S4444]]

       ``(i) In general.--If the State fails to transmit any 
     absentee ballot by the 46th day before the election as 
     required by subparagraph (A) and the absent uniformed 
     services voter or overseas voter did not request electronic 
     ballot transmission pursuant to subsection (f), the State 
     shall transmit such ballot by express delivery.
       ``(ii) Extended failure.--If the State fails to transmit 
     any absentee ballot by the 41st day before the election, in 
     addition to transmitting the ballot as provided in clause 
     (i), the State shall--

       ``(I) in the case of absentee ballots requested by absent 
     uniformed services voters with respect to regularly scheduled 
     general elections, notify such voters of the procedures 
     established under section 103A for the collection and 
     delivery of marked absentee ballots; and
       ``(II) in any other case, provide for the return of such 
     ballot by express delivery.

       ``(iii) Cost of express delivery.--In any case in which 
     express delivery is required under this subparagraph, the 
     cost of such express delivery--

       ``(I) shall not be paid by the voter; and
       ``(II) if determined appropriate by the chief State 
     election official, may be required by the State to be paid by 
     a local jurisdiction.

       ``(iv) Exception.--Clause (ii)(II) shall not apply when an 
     absent uniformed services voter or overseas voter indicates 
     the preference to return the late sent absentee ballot by 
     electronic transmission in a State that permits return of an 
     absentee ballot by electronic transmission.
       ``(v) Enforcement.--A State's compliance with this 
     subparagraph does not bar the Attorney General from seeking 
     additional remedies necessary to fully resolve or prevent 
     ongoing, future, or systematic violations of this provision 
     or to effectuate the purposes of this Act.
       ``(C) Special procedure in event of disaster.--If a 
     disaster (hurricane, tornado, earthquake, storm, volcanic 
     eruption, landslide, fire, flood, or explosion), or an act of 
     terrorism prevents the State from transmitting any absentee 
     ballot by the 46th day before the election as required by 
     subparagraph (A), the chief State election official shall 
     notify the Attorney General as soon as practicable and take 
     all actions necessary, including seeking any necessary 
     judicial relief, to ensure that affected absent uniformed 
     services voters and overseas voters are provided a reasonable 
     opportunity to receive and return their absentee ballots in 
     time to be counted.
       ``(2) Requests received after 47th day before election.--
     For purposes of subsection (a)(8), in the case in which a 
     valid request for an absentee ballot is received less than 47 
     days but not less than 30 days before an election for Federal 
     office, the State shall transmit the absentee ballot within 
     one business day of receipt of the request.''.

     SEC. 1404. USE OF SINGLE ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICATION FOR 
                   SUBSEQUENT ELECTIONS.

       (a) In General.--Section 104 of the Uniformed and Overseas 
     Citizens Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20306) is amended to 
     read as follows:

     ``SEC. 104. TREATMENT OF BALLOT REQUESTS.

       ``(a) In General.--If a State accepts and processes an 
     official post card form (prescribed under section 101) 
     submitted by an absent uniformed services voter or overseas 
     voter for simultaneous voter registration and absentee ballot 
     application (in accordance with section 102(a)(4)) and the 
     voter requests that the application be considered an 
     application for an absentee ballot for each subsequent 
     election for Federal office held in the State through the end 
     of the calendar year following the next regularly scheduled 
     general election for Federal office, the State shall provide 
     an absentee ballot to the voter for each such subsequent 
     election.
       ``(b) Exception for Voters Changing Registration.--
     Subsection (a) shall not apply with respect to a voter 
     registered to vote in a State for any election held after the 
     voter notifies the State that the voter no longer wishes to 
     be registered to vote in the State or after the State 
     determines that the voter has registered to vote in another 
     State or is otherwise no longer eligible to vote in the 
     State.
       ``(c) Prohibition of Refusal of Application on Grounds of 
     Early Submission.--A State may not refuse to accept or to 
     process, with respect to any election for Federal office, any 
     otherwise valid voter registration application or absentee 
     ballot application (including the postcard form prescribed 
     under section 101) submitted by an absent uniformed services 
     voter or overseas voter on the grounds that the voter 
     submitted the application before the first date on which the 
     State otherwise accepts or processes such applications for 
     that election which are submitted by absentee voters who are 
     not members of the uniformed services or overseas 
     citizens.''.
       (b) Requirement for Revision to Postcard Form.--
       (1) In general.--The Presidential designee shall ensure 
     that the official postcard form prescribed under section 
     101(b)(2) of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee 
     Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20301(b)(2)) enables a voter using the 
     form to--
       (A) request an absentee ballot for each election for 
     Federal office held in a State through the end of the 
     calendar year following the next regularly scheduled general 
     election for Federal office; or
       (B) request an absentee ballot for a specific election or 
     elections for Federal office held in a State during the 
     period described in subparagraph (A).
       (2) Presidential designee.--For purposes of this paragraph, 
     the term ``Presidential designee'' means the individual 
     designated under section 101(a) of the Uniformed and Overseas 
     Citizens Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20301(a)).
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall apply with respect to voter registration and absentee 
     ballot applications which are submitted to a State or local 
     election official on or after the date of enactment of this 
     Act.

     SEC. 1405. EXTENDING GUARANTEE OF RESIDENCY FOR VOTING 
                   PURPOSES TO FAMILY MEMBERS OF ABSENT MILITARY 
                   PERSONNEL.

       Section 102 of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee 
     Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20302), as amended by section 1302, is 
     amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(i) Guarantee of Residency for Spouses and Dependents of 
     Absent Members of Uniformed Service.--For the purposes of 
     voting in any election for any Federal office or any State or 
     local office, a spouse or dependent of an individual who is 
     an absent uniformed services voter described in subparagraph 
     (A) or (B) of section 107(1) shall not, solely by reason of 
     that individual's absence and without regard to whether or 
     not such spouse or dependent is accompanying that 
     individual--
       ``(1) be deemed to have lost a residence or domicile in 
     that State, without regard to whether or not that individual 
     intends to return to that State;
       ``(2) be deemed to have acquired a residence or domicile in 
     any other State; or
       ``(3) be deemed to have become a resident in or a resident 
     of any other State.''.

     SEC. 1406. TECHNICAL CLARIFICATIONS TO CONFORM TO MILITARY 
                   AND OVERSEAS VOTER EMPOWERMENT ACT AMENDMENTS 
                   RELATED TO THE FEDERAL WRITE-IN ABSENTEE 
                   BALLOT.

       (a) In General.--Section 102(a)(3) of the Uniformed and 
     Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20302(a)(3)) 
     is amended by striking ``general elections'' and inserting 
     ``general, special, primary, and runoff elections''.
       (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 103 of such Act (52 
     U.S.C. 20303) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (b)(2)(B), by striking ``general''; and
       (2) in the heading thereof, by striking ``general''.

     SEC. 1407. TREATMENT OF POST CARD REGISTRATION REQUESTS.

       Section 102 of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee 
     Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20302), as amended by sections 1302 and 
     1405, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
     subsection:
       ``(j) Treatment of Post Card Registrations.--A State shall 
     not remove any absent uniformed services voter or overseas 
     voter who has registered to vote using the official post card 
     form (prescribed under section 101) from the official list of 
     registered voters except in accordance with subparagraph (A), 
     (B), or (C) of section 8(a)(3) of the National Voter 
     Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20507).''.

     SEC. 1408. PRESIDENTIAL DESIGNEE REPORT ON VOTER 
                   DISENFRANCHISEMENT.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Presidential designee shall submit 
     to Congress a report on the impact of widespread mail-in 
     voting on the ability of active duty military service members 
     to vote, how quickly the votes of those individuals are 
     counted, and whether higher volumes of mail-in votes makes it 
     harder for such individuals to vote in elections for Federal 
     elections.
       (b) Presidential Designee.--For purposes of this section, 
     the term ``Presidential designee'' means the individual 
     designated under section 101(a) of the Uniformed and Overseas 
     Citizens Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20301(a)).

     SEC. 1409. EFFECTIVE DATE.

       Except as provided in section 1402(b) and section 1404(c), 
     the amendments made by this subtitle shall apply with respect 
     to elections occurring on or after January 1, 2026.

                 Subtitle F--Enhancement of Enforcement

     SEC. 1501. ENHANCEMENT OF ENFORCEMENT OF HELP AMERICA VOTE 
                   ACT OF 2002.

       (a) Complaints; Availability of Private Right of Action.--
     Section 401 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 
     21111) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``The Attorney General'' and inserting 
     ``(a) In General.--The Attorney General''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new subsections:
       ``(b) Filing of Complaints by Aggrieved Persons.--A person 
     who is aggrieved by a violation of title III that impairs 
     their ability to cast a ballot or a provisional ballot, to 
     register or maintain one's registration to vote, or to vote 
     on a voting system meeting the requirements of such title, 
     which has occurred, is occurring, or is about to occur may 
     file a written, signed, and notarized complaint with the 
     Attorney General describing the violation and requesting the 
     Attorney General to take appropriate action under this 
     section. The Attorney General shall immediately provide a 
     copy of a complaint filed under the previous sentence to the 
     entity responsible for administering the State-based 
     administrative complaint procedures described in section 
     402(a) for the State involved.

[[Page S4445]]

       ``(c) Availability of Private Right of Action.--Any person 
     who is authorized to file a complaint under subsection (b) 
     (including any individual who seeks to enforce the 
     individual's right to a voter-verifiable paper ballot, the 
     right to have the voter-verifiable paper ballot counted in 
     accordance with this Act, or any other right under title III) 
     may file an action under section 1979 of the Revised Statutes 
     of the United States (42 U.S.C. 1983) to enforce the uniform 
     and nondiscriminatory election technology and administration 
     requirements under subtitle A of title III.
       ``(d) No Effect on State Procedures.--Nothing in this 
     section may be construed to affect the availability of the 
     State-based administrative complaint procedures required 
     under section 402 to any person filing a complaint under this 
     subsection.''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall apply with respect to violations occurring with respect 
     to elections for Federal office held in 2026 or any 
     succeeding year.

  Subtitle G--Promoting Voter Access Through Election Administration 
                       Modernization Improvements

                     PART 1--PROMOTING VOTER ACCESS

     SEC. 1601. 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) Requirement for precinct-based polling.--
       ``(A) In general.--If an applicable individual has been 
     assigned to a polling place that is different than the 
     polling place that such individual was assigned with respect 
     to the most recent past election for Federal office in which 
     the individual was eligible to vote--
       ``(i) the appropriate election official shall, not later 
     than 2 days before the beginning of an early voting period--

       ``(I) notify the individual of the location of the polling 
     place; and
       ``(II) 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

       ``(ii) if such assignment is made after the date that is 2 
     days before the beginning of an early voting period and the 
     individual appears on the date of the election at the polling 
     place to which the individual was previously assigned, the 
     jurisdiction shall make every reasonable effort to enable the 
     individual to vote a ballot on the date of the election 
     without the use of a provisional ballot.
       ``(B) Applicable individual.--For purposes of subparagraph 
     (A), the term `applicable individual' means, with respect to 
     any election for Federal office, any individual--
       ``(i) who is registered to vote in a jurisdiction for such 
     election and was registered to vote in such jurisdiction for 
     the most recent past election for Federal office; and
       ``(ii) whose voter registration address has not changed 
     since such most recent past election for Federal office.
       ``(C) Methods of notification.--The appropriate election 
     official shall notify an individual under clause (i)(I) of 
     subparagraph (A) by mail, telephone, and (if available) text 
     message and electronic mail.
       ``(2) 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.
       ``(3) 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).
       ``(4) 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(e)), as redesignated by subsection (a), is 
     amended by striking ``Each State'' and inserting ``Except as 
     provided in subsection (d)(4), each State''.

     SEC. 1602. APPLICABILITY TO COMMONWEALTH OF THE NORTHERN 
                   MARIANA ISLANDS.

       Paragraphs (6) and (8) of section 107 of the Uniformed and 
     Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20310) are 
     each amended by striking ``and American Samoa'' and inserting 
     ``American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern 
     Mariana Islands''.

     SEC. 1603. ELIMINATION OF 14-DAY TIME PERIOD BETWEEN GENERAL 
                   ELECTION AND RUNOFF ELECTION FOR FEDERAL 
                   ELECTIONS IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS AND GUAM.

       Section 2 of the Act entitled ``An Act to provide that the 
     unincorporated territories of Guam and the Virgin Islands 
     shall each be represented in Congress by a Delegate to the 
     House of Representatives'', approved April 10, 1972 (48 
     U.S.C. 1712), is amended--
       (1) by striking ``(a) The Delegate'' and inserting ``The 
     Delegate'';
       (2) by striking ``on the fourteenth day following such an 
     election'' in the fourth sentence of subsection (a); and
       (3) by striking subsection (b).

     SEC. 1604. APPLICATION OF FEDERAL ELECTION ADMINISTRATION 
                   LAWS TO TERRITORIES OF THE UNITED STATES.

       (a) National Voter Registration Act of 1993.--Section 3(4) 
     of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 
     20502(4)) is amended by striking ``States and the District of 
     Columbia'' and inserting ``States, 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''.
       (b) Help America Vote Act of 2002.--
       (1) Coverage of commonwealth of the northern mariana 
     islands.--Section 901 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 
     (52 U.S.C. 21141) is amended by striking ``and the United 
     States Virgin Islands'' and inserting ``the United States 
     Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
     Islands''.
       (2) Conforming amendments to help america vote act of 
     2002.--Such Act is further amended as follows:
       (A) The second sentence of section 213(a)(2) (52 U.S.C. 
     20943(a)(2)) is amended by striking ``and American Samoa'' 
     and inserting ``American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the 
     Northern Mariana Islands''.
       (B) Section 252(c)(2) (52 U.S.C. 21002(c)(2)) is amended by 
     striking ``or the United States Virgin Islands'' and 
     inserting ``the United States Virgin Islands, or the 
     Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands''.
       (3) Conforming amendment relating to consultation of help 
     america vote foundation with local election officials.--
     Section 90102(c) of title 36, United States Code, is amended 
     by striking ``and the United States Virgin Islands'' and 
     inserting ``the United States Virgin Islands, and the 
     Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands''.

     SEC. 1605. APPLICATION OF FEDERAL VOTER PROTECTION LAWS TO 
                   TERRITORIES OF THE UNITED STATES.

       (a) Intimidation of Voters.--Section 594 of title 18, 
     United States Code, is amended by striking ``Delegate from 
     the District of Columbia, or Resident Commissioner,'' and 
     inserting ``or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to the 
     Congress''.
       (b) Interference by Government Employees.--Section 595 of 
     title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking 
     ``Delegate from the District of Columbia, or Resident 
     Commissioner,'' and inserting ``or Delegate or Resident 
     Commissioner to the Congress''.
       (c) Voting by Noncitizens.--Section 611(a) of title 18, 
     United States Code, is amended by striking ``Delegate from 
     the District of Columbia, or Resident Commissioner,'' and 
     inserting ``or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to the 
     Congress''.

     SEC. 1606. ENSURING EQUITABLE AND EFFICIENT OPERATION OF 
                   POLLING PLACES.

       (a) In General.--
       (1) Requirement.--Subtitle A of title III of the Help 
     America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.), as 
     amended by section 1031(a), section 1044(a), section 1101(a), 
     section 1102(a), section 1103(a), section 1104(a), section 
     1201(a), section 1301(a), section 1302(a), section 1303(b), 
     and section 1305(a), is amended--
       (A) by redesignating sections 315 and 316 as sections 316 
     and 317, respectively; and
       (B) by inserting after section 314 the following new 
     section:

     ``SEC. 315. ENSURING EQUITABLE AND EFFICIENT OPERATION OF 
                   POLLING PLACES.

       ``(a) Preventing Unreasonable Waiting Times for Voters.--
       ``(1) In general.--Each State or jurisdiction shall take 
     reasonable efforts to provide a sufficient number of voting 
     systems, poll workers, and other election resources 
     (including physical resources) at a polling place used in any 
     election for Federal office, including a polling place at 
     which individuals may cast ballots prior to the date of the 
     election, to ensure--
       ``(A) a fair and equitable waiting time for all voters in 
     the State or jurisdiction; and
       ``(B) that no individual will be required to wait longer 
     than 30 minutes to cast a ballot at the polling place.

[[Page S4446]]

       ``(2) Criteria.--In determining the number of voting 
     systems, poll workers, and other election resources provided 
     at a polling place for purposes of paragraph (1), the State 
     or jurisdiction shall take into account the following 
     factors:
       ``(A) The voting age population.
       ``(B) Voter turnout in past elections.
       ``(C) The number of voters registered.
       ``(D) The number of voters who have registered since the 
     most recent Federal election.
       ``(E) Census data for the population served by the polling 
     place, such as the proportion of the voting-age population 
     who are under 25 years of age or who are naturalized 
     citizens.
       ``(F) The needs and numbers of voters with disabilities and 
     voters with limited English proficiency.
       ``(G) The type of voting systems used.
       ``(H) The length and complexity of initiatives, referenda, 
     and other questions on the ballot.
       ``(I) Such other factors, including relevant demographic 
     factors relating to the population served by the polling 
     place, as the State considers appropriate.
       ``(3) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this subsection may 
     be construed--
       ``(A) to authorize a State or jurisdiction to meet the 
     requirements of this subsection by closing any polling place, 
     prohibiting an individual from entering a line at a polling 
     place, or refusing to permit an individual who has arrived at 
     a polling place prior to closing time from voting at the 
     polling place; or
       ``(B) to limit the use of mobile voting centers.
       ``(b) Limiting Variations on Number of Hours of Operation 
     of Polling Places Within a State.--
       ``(1) Limitation.--
       ``(A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph (B) 
     and paragraph (2), each State shall establish hours of 
     operation for all polling places in the State on the date of 
     any election for Federal office held in the State such that 
     the polling place with the greatest number of hours of 
     operation on such date is not in operation for more than 2 
     hours longer than the polling place with the fewest number of 
     hours of operation on such date.
       ``(B) Permitting variance on basis of population.--
     Subparagraph (A) does not apply to the extent that the State 
     establishes variations in the hours of operation of polling 
     places on the basis of the overall population or the voting 
     age population (as the State may select) of the unit of local 
     government in which such polling places are located.
       ``(2) Exceptions for polling places with hours established 
     by units of local government.--Paragraph (1) does not apply 
     in the case of a polling place--
       ``(A) whose hours of operation are established, in 
     accordance with State law, by the unit of local government in 
     which the polling place is located; or
       ``(B) which is required pursuant to an order by a court to 
     extend its hours of operation beyond the hours otherwise 
     established.
       ``(c) Ensuring Access to Polling Places for Voters.--
       ``(1) Proximity to public transportation.--To the greatest 
     extent practicable, each State and jurisdiction shall ensure 
     that each polling place used on the date of the election is 
     located within walking distance of a stop on a public 
     transportation route.
       ``(2) Availability in rural areas.--In the case of a 
     jurisdiction that includes a rural area, the State or 
     jurisdiction shall--
       ``(A) ensure that an appropriate number of polling places 
     (not less than one) used on the date of the election will be 
     located in such rural areas; and
       ``(B) ensure that such polling places are located in 
     communities which will provide the greatest opportunity for 
     residents of rural areas to vote on the date of the election.
       ``(3) Campuses of institutions of higher education.--In the 
     case of a jurisdiction that is not considered a vote by mail 
     jurisdiction described in section 310(b)(2) or a small 
     jurisdiction described in section 310(b)(3) and that includes 
     an institution of higher education (as defined under section 
     102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002)), 
     including a branch campus of such an institution, the State 
     or jurisdiction shall--
       ``(A) ensure that an appropriate number of polling places 
     (not less than one) used on the date of the election will be 
     located on the physical campus of each such institution, 
     including each such branch campus; and
       ``(B) ensure that such polling places provide the greatest 
     opportunity for residents of the jurisdiction to vote.
       ``(d) Effective Date.--This section shall take effect upon 
     the expiration of the 180-day period which begins on the date 
     of enactment of this subsection.''.
       (2) Conforming amendments relating to issuance of voluntary 
     guidance by election assistance commission.--Section 321(b) 
     of such Act (52 U.S.C. 21101(b)), as redesignated and amended 
     by section 1101(b) and as amended by sections, 1102, 1103, 
     1104, and 1201, is amended--
       (A) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (4);
       (B) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (6);
       (C) in paragraph (6), as so redesignated, by striking 
     ``paragraph (4)'' and inserting ``paragraph (4) or (5)''; and
       (D) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following new 
     paragraph:
       ``(5) in the case of the recommendations with respect to 
     section 315, 180 days after the date of enactment of such 
     section; and''.
       (3) Clerical amendments.--The table of contents of such 
     Act, as amended by section 1031(c), section 1044(b), section 
     1101(c), section 1102(c), section 1103(a), section 1104(c), 
     section 1201(c), section 1301(a), section 1302(a), section 
     1303(b), and section 1305(b), is amended--
       (A) by redesignating the items relating to sections 315 and 
     316 as relating to sections 316 and 317, respectively; and
       (B) by inserting after the item relating to section 314 the 
     following new item:

``Sec. 315. Ensuring equitable and efficient operation of polling 
              places.''.
       (b) Study of Methods to Enforce Fair and Equitable Waiting 
     Times.--
       (1) Study.--The Election Assistance Commission and the 
     Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a 
     joint study of the effectiveness of various methods of 
     enforcing the requirements of section 315(a) of the Help 
     America Vote Act of 2002, as added by subsection (a), 
     including methods of best allocating resources to 
     jurisdictions which have had the most difficulty in providing 
     a fair and equitable waiting time at polling places to all 
     voters, and to communities of color in particular.
       (2) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Election Assistance Commission and 
     the Comptroller General of the United States shall publish 
     and submit to Congress a report on the study conducted under 
     paragraph (1).

     SEC. 1607. PROHIBITING STATES FROM RESTRICTING CURBSIDE 
                   VOTING.

       (a) Requirement.--Subtitle A of title III of the Help 
     America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.), as 
     amended by section 1031(a), section 1044(a), section 1101(a), 
     section 1102(a), section 1103(a), section 1104(a), section 
     1201(a), section 1301(a), section 1302(a), section 1303(b), 
     section 1305(a), and section 1606(a)(1), is amended--
       (1) by redesignating sections 316 and 317 as sections 317 
     and 318, respectively; and
       (2) by inserting after section 315 the following new 
     section:

     ``SEC. 316. PROHIBITING STATES FROM RESTRICTING CURBSIDE 
                   VOTING.

       ``(a) Prohibition.--A State may not--
       ``(1) prohibit any jurisdiction administering an election 
     for Federal office in the State from utilizing curbside 
     voting as a method by which individuals may cast ballots in 
     the election; or
       ``(2) impose any restrictions which would exclude any 
     individual who is eligible to vote in such an election in a 
     jurisdiction which utilizes curbside voting from casting a 
     ballot in the election by such method.
       ``(b) Effective Date.--This section shall apply with 
     respect to the regularly scheduled general election for 
     Federal office held in November 2026 and each succeeding 
     election for Federal office.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendments.--The table of contents of such 
     Act, as amended by section 1031(c), section 1044(b), section 
     1101(c), section 1102(c), section 1103(a), section 1104(c), 
     section 1201(c), section 1301(a), section 1302(a), section 
     1303(b), section 1305(a), and section 1606(a)(3), is 
     amended--
       (1) by redesignating the items relating to sections 316 and 
     317 as relating to sections 317 and 318, respectively; and
       (2) by inserting after the item relating to section 315 the 
     following new item:

``Sec. 316. Prohibiting States from restricting curbside voting.''.

  PART 2--IMPROVEMENTS IN OPERATION OF ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION

     SEC. 1611. REAUTHORIZATION OF ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION.

       Section 210 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 
     20930) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``for each of the fiscal years 2003 through 
     2005'' and inserting ``for fiscal year 2026 and each 
     succeeding fiscal year''; and
       (2) by striking ``(but not to exceed $10,000,000 for each 
     such year)''.

     SEC. 1612. RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE OPERATIONS OF ELECTION 
                   ASSISTANCE COMMISSION.

       (a) Assessment of Information Technology and 
     Cybersecurity.--Not later than June 30, 2026, the Election 
     Assistance Commission shall carry out an assessment of the 
     security and effectiveness of the Commission's information 
     technology systems, including the cybersecurity of such 
     systems.
       (b) Improvements to Administrative Complaint Procedures.--
       (1) Review of procedures.--The Election Assistance 
     Commission shall carry out a review of the effectiveness and 
     efficiency of the State-based administrative complaint 
     procedures established and maintained under section 402 of 
     the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21112) for the 
     investigation and resolution of allegations of violations of 
     title III of such Act.
       (2) Recommendations to streamline procedures.--Not later 
     than June 30, 2026, the Commission shall submit to Congress a 
     report on the review carried out under paragraph (1), and 
     shall include in the report such recommendations as the 
     Commission considers appropriate to streamline and improve 
     the procedures which are the subject of the review.

[[Page S4447]]

  


     SEC. 1613. REPEAL OF EXEMPTION OF ELECTION ASSISTANCE 
                   COMMISSION FROM CERTAIN GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING 
                   REQUIREMENTS.

       (a) In General.--Section 205 of the Help America Vote Act 
     of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 20925) is amended by striking subsection 
     (e).
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall apply with respect to contracts entered into by the 
     Election Assistance Commission on or after the date of 
     enactment of this Act.

                    PART 3--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

     SEC. 1621. DEFINITION OF ELECTION FOR FEDERAL OFFICE.

       (a) Definition.--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.''.

     SEC. 1622. NO EFFECT ON OTHER LAWS.

       (a) In General.--Except as specifically provided, nothing 
     in this title may be construed to authorize or require 
     conduct prohibited under any of the following laws, or to 
     supersede, restrict, or limit the application of such laws:
       (1) The Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 10301 et 
     seq.).
       (2) The Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and 
     Handicapped Act (52 U.S.C. 20101 et seq.).
       (3) The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act 
     (52 U.S.C. 20301 et seq.).
       (4) The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 
     20501 et seq.).
       (5) The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 
     12101 et seq.).
       (6) The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 701 et seq.).
       (b) No Effect on Preclearance or Other Requirements Under 
     Voting Rights Act.--The approval by any person of a payment 
     or grant application under this title, or any other action 
     taken by any person under this title, shall not be considered 
     to have any effect on requirements for preclearance under 
     section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 10304) 
     or any other requirements of such Act.
       (c) No Effect on Authority of States to Provide Greater 
     Opportunities for Voting.--Nothing in this title or the 
     amendments made by this title may be construed to prohibit 
     any State from enacting any law which provides greater 
     opportunities for individuals to register to vote and to vote 
     in elections for Federal office than are provided by this 
     title and the amendments made by this title.

     SEC. 1623. CLARIFICATION OF EXEMPTION FOR STATES WITHOUT 
                   VOTER REGISTRATION.

       To the extent that any provision of this title or any 
     amendment made by this title imposes a requirement on a State 
     relating to registering individuals to vote in elections for 
     Federal office, such provision shall not apply in the case of 
     any State in which, under law that is in effect continuously 
     on and after the date of enactment of this Act, there is no 
     voter registration requirement for any voter in the State 
     with respect to an election for Federal office.

     SEC. 1624. CLARIFICATION OF EXEMPTION FOR STATES WHICH DO NOT 
                   COLLECT TELEPHONE INFORMATION.

       (a) Amendment to Help America Vote Act of 2002.--Subtitle A 
     of title III of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 
     21081 et seq.), as amended by section 1031(a), section 
     1044(a), section 1101(a), section 1102(a), section 1103(a), 
     section 1104(a), section 1201(a), section 1301(a), section 
     1302(a), section 1303(b), section 1305(a), section 
     1606(a)(1), and section 1607(a), is amended--
       (1) by redesignating sections 317 and 318 as sections 318 
     and 319, respectively; and
       (2) by inserting after section 316 the following new 
     section:

     ``SEC. 317. APPLICATION OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS TO STATES WHICH 
                   DO NOT COLLECT TELEPHONE INFORMATION.

       ``(a) In General.--To the extent that any provision of this 
     title imposes a requirement on a State or jurisdiction 
     relating to contacting voters by telephone, such provision 
     shall not apply in the case of any State which continuously 
     on and after the date of enactment of this Act, does not 
     collect telephone numbers for voters as part of voter 
     registration in the State with respect to an election for 
     Federal office.
       ``(b) Exception.--Subsection (a) shall not apply in any 
     case in which the voter has voluntarily provided telephone 
     information.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendments.--The table of contents of such 
     Act, as amended by section 1031(c), section 1044(b), section 
     1101(c), section 1102(c), section 1103(a), section 1104(c), 
     section 1201(c), section 1301(a), section 1302(a), section 
     1303(b), section 1305(a), section 1606(a)(3), and section 
     1607(b), is amended--
       (1) by redesignating the items relating to sections 317 and 
     318 as relating to sections 318 and 319, respectively; and
       (2) by inserting after the item relating to section 316 the 
     following new item:

``Sec. 317. Application of certain provisions to States which do not 
              collect telephone information.''.

                   Subtitle H--Democracy Restoration

     SEC. 1701. SHORT TITLE.

       This subtitle may be cited as the ``Democracy Restoration 
     Act of 2024''.

     SEC. 1702. FINDINGS.

       Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) The right to vote is the most basic constitutive act of 
     citizenship. Regaining the right to vote reintegrates 
     individuals with criminal convictions into free society, 
     helping to enhance public safety.
       (2) Article I, section 4, of the Constitution grants 
     Congress ultimate supervisory power over Federal elections, 
     an authority which has repeatedly been upheld by the United 
     States Supreme Court.
       (3) Basic constitutional principles of fairness and equal 
     protection require an equal opportunity for citizens of the 
     United States to vote in Federal elections. The right to vote 
     may not be abridged or denied by the United States or by any 
     State on account of race, color, gender, or previous 
     condition of servitude. The 13th, 14th, 15th, 19th, 24th, and 
     26th Amendments to the Constitution empower Congress to enact 
     measures to protect the right to vote in Federal elections. 
     The 8th Amendment to the Constitution provides for no 
     excessive bail to be required, nor excessive fines imposed, 
     nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
       (4) There are 3 areas in which discrepancies in State laws 
     regarding criminal convictions lead to unfairness in Federal 
     elections--
       (A) the lack of a uniform standard for voting in Federal 
     elections leads to an unfair disparity and unequal 
     participation in Federal elections based solely on where a 
     person lives;
       (B) laws governing the restoration of voting rights after a 
     criminal conviction vary throughout the country and persons 
     in some States can easily regain their voting rights while in 
     other States persons effectively lose their right to vote 
     permanently; and
       (C) State disenfranchisement laws disproportionately impact 
     racial and ethnic minorities.
       (5) State disenfranchisement laws vary widely. Two States 
     (Maine and Vermont) and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico do 
     not disenfranchise individuals with criminal convictions at 
     all. In 2020, the District of Columbia re-enfranchised its 
     citizens who are under the supervision of the Federal Bureau 
     of Prisons. Twenty-five States disenfranchise certain 
     individuals on felony probation or parole. During 2023, 
     lawmakers in Minnesota and New Mexico expanded voting rights 
     to citizens on felony probation and parole. In 11 States, a 
     conviction for certain offenses can result in lifetime 
     disenfranchisement.
       (6) Several States deny the right to vote to individuals 
     convicted of certain misdemeanors.
       (7) In 2022, over 4,600,000 citizens of the United States, 
     or about 1 in 50 adults in the United States, could not vote 
     as a result of a felony conviction. Of the 4,600,000 citizens 
     barred from voting then, only 23 percent were in prison or 
     jail. By contrast, 75 percent of persons disenfranchised then 
     resided in their communities while on probation or parole or 
     after having completed their sentences. Approximately 
     2,200,000 citizens who had completed their sentences were 
     disenfranchised due to restrictive State laws. Over 930,000 
     Floridians who completed their sentence remain 
     disenfranchised because of a pay-to-vote requirement that was 
     enacted by Florida lawmakers in 2019 to undermine the impact 
     of a 2018 ballot initiative that eliminated the lifetime ban 
     for persons with certain felony convictions. In 3 States--
     Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee--more than 8 percent of 
     the total population is disenfranchised.
       (8) In those States that disenfranchise individuals post-
     sentence, the right to vote can be regained in theory, but in 
     practice this possibility is often granted in a non-uniform 
     and potentially discriminatory manner. Disenfranchised 
     individuals sometimes must either obtain a pardon or an order 
     from the Governor or an action by the parole or pardon board, 
     depending on the offense and State. Financial restrictions 
     may also inhibit individuals who have completed their 
     sentences from re-enfranchisement. Individuals convicted of a 
     Federal offense often have additional barriers to regaining 
     voting rights.
       (9) Many felony disenfranchisement laws today derive 
     directly from post-Civil War efforts to stifle the Fourteenth 
     and Fifteenth Amendments. Between 1865 and 1880, at least 14 
     States--Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, 
     Illinois, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, North 
     Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas--enacted or 
     expanded their felony disenfranchisement laws. One of the 
     primary goals of these laws was to prevent African Americans 
     from voting. Of the States that enacted or expanded their 
     felony disenfranchisement laws during this post-Civil War 
     period, at least 11 continue to preclude persons on felony 
     probation or parole from voting.
       (10) State disenfranchisement laws disproportionately 
     impact racial and ethnic minorities. In recent years, African 
     Americans have been imprisoned at over 5 times the rate of 
     Whites. More than 6 percent of the voting-age African-
     American population, or 1,800,000 African Americans, are 
     disenfranchised due to a felony conviction. In 9 States--
     Alabama (16 percent), Arizona

[[Page S4448]]

     (13 percent), Florida (15 percent), Kentucky (15 percent), 
     Mississippi (16 percent), South Dakota (14 percent), 
     Tennessee (21 percent), Virginia (16 percent), and Wyoming 
     (36 percent)--more than 1 in 8 African Americans are unable 
     to vote because of a felony conviction, twice the national 
     average for African Americans.
       (11) Latino citizens are also disproportionately 
     disenfranchised based upon their disproportionate 
     representation in the criminal justice system. Although data 
     on ethnicity in correctional populations are unevenly 
     reported and undercounted in some States, a conservative 
     estimate is that at least 506,000 Latino Americans or 1.7 
     percent of the voting-age population are disenfranchised. In 
     31 States Latinos are disenfranchised at a higher rate than 
     the general population. In Arizona and Tennessee over 6 
     percent of Latino voters are disenfranchised due to a felony 
     conviction.
       (12) Women have been significantly impacted by mass 
     incarceration since the early 1980s. Approximately 1,000,000 
     women were disenfranchised in 2022, comprising over 20 
     percent of the total disenfranchised population.
       (13) Disenfranchising citizens who have been convicted of a 
     criminal offense and who are living and working in the 
     community serves no compelling State interest and hinders 
     their rehabilitation and reintegration into society. Models 
     of successful re-entry for persons convicted of a crime 
     emphasize the importance of community ties, feeling vested 
     and integrated, and prosocial attitudes. Individuals with 
     criminal convictions who succeed in avoiding recidivism are 
     typically more likely to see themselves as law-abiding 
     members of the community. Restoration of voting rights builds 
     those qualities and facilitates reintegration into the 
     community. That is why allowing citizens with criminal 
     convictions who are living in a community to vote is 
     correlated with a lower likelihood of recidivism. Restoration 
     of voting rights thus reduces violence and protects public 
     safety.
       (14) State disenfranchisement laws can suppress electoral 
     participation among eligible voters by discouraging voting 
     among family and community members of disenfranchised 
     persons. Future electoral participation by the children of 
     disenfranchised parents may be impacted as well.
       (15) The United States is one of the only Western 
     democracies that permits the permanent denial of voting 
     rights for individuals with felony convictions.
       (16) The Eighth Amendment's prohibition on cruel and 
     unusual punishments ``guarantees individuals the right not to 
     be subjected to excessive sanctions.'' (Roper v. Simmons, 543 
     U.S. 551, 560 (2005)). That right stems from the basic 
     precept of justice ``that punishment for crime should be 
     graduated and proportioned to [the] offense.'' Id. (quoting 
     Weems v. United States, 217 U.S. 349, 367 (1910)). As the 
     Supreme Court has long recognized, ``[t]he concept of 
     proportionality is central to the Eighth Amendment.'' (Graham 
     v. Florida, 560 U.S. 48, 59 (2010)). Many State 
     disenfranchisement laws are grossly disproportional to the 
     offenses that lead to disenfranchisement and thus violate the 
     bar on cruel and unusual punishments. For example, a number 
     of States mandate lifetime disenfranchisement for a single 
     felony conviction or just two felony convictions, even where 
     the convictions were for non-violent offenses. In numerous 
     other States, disenfranchisement can last years or even 
     decades while individuals remain on probation or parole, 
     often only because a person cannot pay their legal financial 
     obligations. These kinds of extreme voting bans run afoul of 
     the Eighth Amendment.
       (17) The Twenty-Fourth Amendment provides that the right to 
     vote ``shall not be denied or abridged by the United States 
     or any State by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or 
     other tax.'' Section 2 of the Twenty-Fourth Amendment gives 
     Congress the power to enforce this article by appropriate 
     legislation. Court fines and fees that individuals must pay 
     to have their voting rights restored constitute an ``other 
     tax'' for purposes of the Twenty-Fourth Amendment. At least 
     five States explicitly require the payment of fines and fees 
     before individuals with felony convictions can have their 
     voting rights restored. More than 20 other States effectively 
     tie the right to vote to the payment of fines and fees, by 
     requiring that individuals complete their probation or parole 
     before their rights are restored. In these States, the non-
     payment of fines and fees is a basis on which probation or 
     parole can be extended. Moreover, these States sometimes do 
     not record the basis on which an individual's probation or 
     parole was extended, making it impossible to determine from 
     the State's records whether non-payment of fines and fees is 
     the reason that an individual remains on probation or parole. 
     For these reasons, the only way to ensure that States do not 
     deny the right to vote based solely on non-payment of fines 
     and fees is to prevent States from conditioning voting rights 
     on the completion of probation or parole.

     SEC. 1703. RIGHTS OF CITIZENS.

       The right of an individual who is a citizen of the United 
     States to vote in any election for Federal office shall not 
     be denied or abridged because that individual has been 
     convicted of a criminal offense unless such individual is 
     serving a felony sentence in a correctional institution or 
     facility at the time of the election.

     SEC. 1704. ENFORCEMENT.

       (a) Attorney General.--The Attorney General may, in a civil 
     action, obtain such declaratory or injunctive relief as is 
     necessary to remedy a violation of this subtitle.
       (b) Private Right of Action.--
       (1) In general.--A person who is aggrieved by a violation 
     of this subtitle may provide written notice of the violation 
     to the chief election official of the State involved.
       (2) Relief.--Except as provided in paragraph (3), if the 
     violation is not corrected within 90 days after receipt of a 
     notice under paragraph (1), or within 20 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.
       (3) Exception.--If the violation occurred within 30 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 under paragraph (1) before 
     bringing a civil action to obtain declaratory or injunctive 
     relief with respect to the violation.

     SEC. 1705. NOTIFICATION OF RESTORATION OF VOTING RIGHTS.

       (a) State Notification.--
       (1) Notification.--On the date determined under paragraph 
     (2), each State shall notify in writing any individual who 
     has been convicted of a criminal offense under the law of 
     that State that such individual has the right to vote in an 
     election for Federal office pursuant to the Democracy 
     Restoration Act of 2024 and may register to vote in any such 
     election and provide such individuals with any materials that 
     are necessary to register to vote in any such election.
       (2) Date of notification.--
       (A) Felony conviction.--In the case of such an individual 
     who has been convicted of a felony, the notification required 
     under paragraph (1) shall be given on the date on which the 
     individual--
       (i) is sentenced to serve only a term of probation; or
       (ii) is released from the custody of that State (other than 
     to the custody of another State or the Federal Government to 
     serve a term of imprisonment for a felony conviction).
       (B) Misdemeanor conviction.--In the case of such an 
     individual who has been convicted of a misdemeanor, the 
     notification required under paragraph (1) shall be given on 
     the date on which such individual is sentenced by a State 
     court.
       (b) Federal Notification.--
       (1) Notification.--Any individual who has been convicted of 
     a criminal offense under Federal law shall be notified in 
     accordance with paragraph (2) that such individual has the 
     right to vote in an election for Federal office pursuant to 
     the Democracy Restoration Act of 2024 and may register to 
     vote in any such election.
       (2) Date of notification.--
       (A) Felony conviction.--In the case of such an individual 
     who has been convicted of a felony, the notification required 
     under paragraph (1) shall be given--
       (i) in the case of an individual who is sentenced to serve 
     only a term of probation, by the Assistant Director for the 
     Office of Probation and Pretrial Services of the 
     Administrative Office of the United States Courts on the date 
     on which the individual is sentenced; or
       (ii) in the case of any individual committed to the custody 
     of the Bureau of Prisons, by the Director of the Bureau of 
     Prisons, during the period beginning on the date that is 6 
     months before such individual is released and ending on the 
     date such individual is released from the custody of the 
     Bureau of Prisons.
       (B) Misdemeanor conviction.--In the case of such an 
     individual who has been convicted of a misdemeanor, the 
     notification required under paragraph (1) shall be given on 
     the date on which such individual is sentenced by a court 
     established by an Act of Congress.

     SEC. 1706. DEFINITIONS.

       For purposes of this subtitle:
       (1) Correctional institution or facility.--The term 
     ``correctional institution or facility'' means any prison, 
     penitentiary, jail, or other institution or facility for the 
     confinement of individuals convicted of criminal offenses, 
     whether publicly or privately operated, except that such term 
     does not include any residential community treatment center 
     (or similar public or private facility).
       (2) Election.--The term ``election'' means--
       (A) a general, special, primary, or runoff election;
       (B) a convention or caucus of a political party held to 
     nominate a candidate;
       (C) a primary election held for the selection of delegates 
     to a national nominating convention of a political party; or
       (D) a primary election held for the expression of a 
     preference for the nomination of persons for election to the 
     office of President.
       (3) Federal office.--The term ``Federal office'' means the 
     office of President or Vice President of the United States, 
     or of Senator or Representative in, or Delegate or Resident 
     Commissioner to, the Congress of the United States.
       (4) Probation.--The term ``probation'' means probation, 
     imposed by a Federal, State, or local court, with or without 
     a condition on the individual involved concerning--

[[Page S4449]]

       (A) the individual's freedom of movement;
       (B) the payment of damages by the individual;
       (C) periodic reporting by the individual to an officer of 
     the court; or
       (D) supervision of the individual by an officer of the 
     court.

     SEC. 1707. RELATION TO OTHER LAWS.

       (a) State Laws Relating to Voting Rights.--Nothing in this 
     division shall be construed to prohibit any State from 
     enacting any State law which affords the right to vote in any 
     election for Federal office on terms less restrictive than 
     those established by this division.
       (b) Certain Federal Acts.--The rights and remedies 
     established by this subtitle are in addition to all other 
     rights and remedies provided by law, and neither rights and 
     remedies established by this subtitle shall supersede, 
     restrict, or limit the application of the Voting Rights Act 
     of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 10301 et seq.), the National Voter 
     Registration Act (52 U.S.C. 20501), or the Help America Vote 
     Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 20901 et seq.).

     SEC. 1708. FEDERAL PRISON FUNDS.

       No State, unit of local government, or other person may 
     receive or use, to construct or otherwise improve a prison, 
     jail, or other place of incarceration, any Federal funds 
     unless that State, unit of local government, or person--
       (1) is in compliance with section 1703; and
       (2) has in effect a program under which each individual 
     incarcerated in that person's jurisdiction who is a citizen 
     of the United States is notified, upon release from such 
     incarceration, of that individual's rights under section 
     1703.

     SEC. 1709. EFFECTIVE DATE.

       This subtitle shall apply to citizens of the United States 
     voting in any election for Federal office held on or after 
     the date of enactment of this Act.

      Subtitle I--Voter Identification and Allowable Alternatives

     SEC. 1801. REQUIREMENTS FOR VOTER IDENTIFICATION.

       (a) Requirement to Provide Identification as Condition of 
     Receiving Ballot.--Section 303 of the Help America Vote Act 
     of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21083) is amended by redesignating 
     subsections (c) and (d) as subsections (d) and (e), 
     respectively, and by inserting after subsection (b) the 
     following new subsection:
       ``(c) Voter Identification Requirements.--
       ``(1) Voter identification requirement defined.--For 
     purposes of this subsection:
       ``(A) In general.--The term `voter identification 
     requirement' means any requirement that an individual 
     desiring to vote in person in an election for Federal office 
     present identification as a requirement to receive or cast a 
     ballot in person in such election.
       ``(B) Exception.--Such term does not include any 
     requirement described in subsection (b)(2)(A) as applied with 
     respect to an individual described in subsection (b)(1).
       ``(2) In general.--If a State or local jurisdiction has a 
     voter identification requirement, the State or local 
     jurisdiction--
       ``(A) shall treat any applicable identifying document as 
     meeting such voter identification requirement;
       ``(B) notwithstanding the failure to present an applicable 
     identifying document, shall treat an individual desiring to 
     vote in person in an election for Federal office as meeting 
     such voter identification requirement if--
       ``(i) the individual presents the appropriate State or 
     local election official with a sworn written statement, 
     signed in the presence of the official by an adult who has 
     known the individual for not less than 6 months under penalty 
     of perjury, attesting to the individual's identity;
       ``(ii) the official has known the individual for at least 
     six months; or
       ``(iii) in the case of a resident of a State-licensed care 
     facility, an employee of the facility confirms the 
     individual's identity; and
       ``(C) shall permit any individual desiring to vote in an 
     election for Federal office who does not present an 
     applicable identifying document required under subparagraph 
     (A) or qualify for an exception under subparagraph (B) to 
     cast a provisional ballot with respect to the election under 
     section 302(a) in accordance with paragraph (3).
       ``(3) Rules for provisional ballot.--
       ``(A) In general.--An individual may cast a provisional 
     ballot pursuant to paragraph (2)(C) so long as the individual 
     presents 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.
       ``(B) Prohibition on other requirements.--Except as 
     otherwise provided this paragraph, a State or local 
     jurisdiction may not impose any other additional requirement 
     or condition with respect to the casting of a provisional 
     ballot by an individual described in paragraph (2)(C).
       ``(C) Counting of provisional ballot.--In the case of a 
     provisional ballot cast pursuant to paragraph (2)(C), the 
     appropriate State or local election official shall not make a 
     determination under section 302(a)(4) that the individual is 
     eligible under State law to vote in the election unless--
       ``(i) the official determines that the signature on such 
     statement matches 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; or
       ``(ii) not later than 10 days after casting the provisional 
     ballot, the individual presents an applicable identifying 
     document, either in person or by electronic methods, to the 
     official and the official confirms the individual is the 
     person identified on the applicable identifying document.
       ``(D) Notice and opportunity to cure discrepancy in 
     signatures or other defects on provisional ballots.--
       ``(i) Notice and opportunity to cure discrepancy in 
     signatures.--If an individual casts a provisional ballot 
     under this paragraph 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) as soon as practical, but not later than the next 
     business day after such determination is made, make a good 
     faith effort to notify the individual by mail, telephone, and 
     (if available) text message and electronic mail that--

       ``(aa) 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 or other official 
     record or document used by the State to verify the signatures 
     of voters; and
       ``(bb) if such discrepancy is not cured prior to the 
     expiration of the third day following the State's deadline 
     for receiving mail-in ballots or absentee ballots, such 
     ballot will not be counted; and

       ``(II) cure such discrepancy and count the ballot if, prior 
     to the expiration of the third day following the State's 
     deadline for receiving mail-in ballots or absentee ballots, 
     the individual provides the official with information to cure 
     such discrepancy, either in person, by telephone, or by 
     electronic methods.

       ``(ii) Notice and opportunity to cure other defects.--If an 
     individual casts a provisional ballot under this paragraph 
     with a defect which, if left uncured, would cause the ballot 
     to not be counted, the appropriate State or local election 
     official, prior to making a final determination as to the 
     validity of the ballot, shall--

       ``(I) as soon as practical, but not later than the next 
     business day after such determination is made, make a good 
     faith effort to notify the individual by mail, telephone, and 
     (if available) text message and electronic mail that--

       ``(aa) the ballot has some defect; and
       ``(bb) if the individual does not cure the other defect 
     prior to the expiration of the third day following the 
     State's deadline for receiving mail-in ballots or absentee 
     ballots, such ballot will not be counted; and

       ``(II) count the ballot if, prior to the expiration of the 
     third day following the State's deadline for receiving mail-
     in ballots or absentee ballots, the individual cures the 
     defect.

       ``(E) No exemption.--Notwithstanding section 302(a), States 
     described in section 4(b) of the National Voter Registration 
     Act of 1993 shall be required to meet the requirements of 
     paragraph (2)(C).
       ``(F) Rule of construction.--
       ``(i) In general.--Nothing in paragraph (2)(C) or this 
     paragraph shall be construed to prevent a State from 
     permitting an individual who provides a sworn statement 
     described in subparagraph (A) to cast a regular ballot in 
     lieu of a provisional ballot.
       ``(ii) Regular ballot.--For purpose of this subparagraph, 
     the term `regular ballot' means a ballot which is cast and 
     counted in same manner as ballots cast by individuals meeting 
     the voter identification requirement (and all other 
     applicable requirements with respect to voting in the 
     election).
       ``(4) Development and use of pre-printed version of 
     statement by commission.--
       ``(A) In general.--The Commission shall develop pre-printed 
     versions of the statements described in paragraphs (2)(B)(i) 
     and (3)(A) which include appropriate blank spaces for the 
     provision of names and signatures.
       ``(B) Providing pre-printed copy of statement.--Each State 
     and jurisdiction that has a voter identification requirement 
     shall make copies of the pre-printed version of the statement 
     developed under subparagraph (A) available at polling places 
     for use by individuals voting in person.
       ``(5) Required provision of identifying documents.--
       ``(A) In general.--Each State and jurisdiction that has a 
     voter identification requirement shall--
       ``(i) for each individual who, on or after the applicable 
     date, is registered to vote in such State or jurisdiction in 
     elections for Federal office, provide the individual with a 
     government-issued identification that meets the requirements 
     of this subsection without charge;
       ``(ii) for each individual who, before the applicable date, 
     was registered to vote in such State or jurisdiction in 
     elections for Federal office but does not otherwise possess 
     an identifying document, provide the individual with a 
     government-issued identification that meets the requirements 
     of this subsection without charge, so long as the State 
     provides the individual with reasonable opportunities to 
     obtain such identification prior to the date of the election; 
     and
       ``(iii) for each individual who is provided with an 
     identification under clause (i) or clause (ii), provide the 
     individual with such

[[Page S4450]]

     assistance without charge upon request as may be necessary to 
     enable the individual to obtain and process any documentation 
     necessary to obtain the identification.
       ``(B) Applicable date.--For purposes of this paragraph, the 
     term `applicable date' means the later of--
       ``(i) January 1, 2026, or
       ``(ii) the first date after the date of enactment of this 
     subsection for which the State or local jurisdiction has in 
     effect a voter identification requirement.
       ``(6) Applicable identifying document.--For purposes of 
     this subsection--
       ``(A) In general.--The term `applicable identifying 
     document' means, with respect to any individual, any document 
     issued to such individual containing the individual's name.
       ``(B) Included documents.--The term `applicable identifying 
     document' shall include any of the following (so long as such 
     document is not expired, as indicated by an expiration date 
     included on the document):
       ``(i) A valid driver's license or an identification card 
     issued by a State, the Federal Government, or a State or 
     federally recognized Tribal government.
       ``(ii) A State-issued identification described in paragraph 
     (4).
       ``(iii) A valid United States passport or passport card.
       ``(iv) A valid employee identification card issued by--

       ``(I) any branch, department, agency, or entity of the 
     United States Government or of any State,
       ``(II) any State or federally recognized Tribal government, 
     or
       ``(III) any county, municipality, board, authority, or 
     other political subdivision of a State.

       ``(v) A valid student identification card issued by an 
     institution of higher education, or a valid high school 
     identification card issued by a State-accredited high school.
       ``(vi) A valid military identification card issued by the 
     United States.
       ``(vii) A valid gun license or concealed carry permit.
       ``(viii) A valid Medicare card or Social Security card.
       ``(ix) A valid birth certificate.
       ``(x) A valid voter registration card.
       ``(xi) A valid hunting or fishing license issued by a 
     State.
       ``(xii) A valid identification card issued to the 
     individual by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP) 
     program.
       ``(xiii) A valid identification card issued to the 
     individual by the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families 
     (TANF) program.
       ``(xiv) A valid identification card issued to the 
     individual by Medicaid.
       ``(xv) A valid bank card or valid debit card.
       ``(xvi) A valid utility bill issued within six months of 
     the date of the election.
       ``(xvii) A valid lease or mortgage document issued within 
     six months of the date of the election.
       ``(xviii) A valid bank statement issued within six months 
     of the date of the election.
       ``(xix) A valid health insurance card issued to the voter.
       ``(xx) Any other document containing the individual's name 
     issued by--

       ``(I) any branch, department, agency, or entity of the 
     United States Government or of any State;
       ``(II) any State or federally recognized tribal government; 
     or
       ``(III) any county, municipality, board, authority, or 
     other political subdivision of a State.

       ``(C) Copies and electronic documents accepted.--The term 
     `applicable identifying document' includes--
       ``(i) any copy of a document described in subparagraph (A) 
     or (B); and
       ``(ii) any document described in subparagraph (A) or (B) 
     which is presented in electronic format.''.
       (b) Payments to States to Cover Costs of Required 
     Identification Documents.--
       (1) In general.--The Election Assistance Commission shall 
     make payments to States to cover the costs incurred in 
     providing identifications under section 303(c)(5) of the Help 
     America Vote Act of 2002, as amended by this section.
       (2) Amount of payment.--The amount of the payment made to a 
     State under this subsection for any year shall be equal to 
     the amount of fees which would have been collected by the 
     State during the year in providing the identifications 
     required under section 303(c)(5) of such Act if the State had 
     charged the usual and customary rates for such 
     identifications, as determined on the basis of information 
     furnished to the Commission by the State at such time and in 
     such form as the Commission may require.
       (3) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated for payments under this subsection an 
     aggregate amount of $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2026 and each 
     of the 4 succeeding fiscal years.
       (c) Conforming Amendments.--Section 303(b)(2)(A) of the 
     Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21083(b)(2)(A)) is 
     amended--
       (1) in clause (i), by striking ``in person'' and all that 
     follows and inserting ``in person, presents to the 
     appropriate State or local election official an applicable 
     identifying document (as defined in subsection (c)(6)); or''; 
     and
       (2) in clause (ii), by striking ``by mail'' and all that 
     follows and inserting ``by mail, submits with the ballot an 
     applicable identifying document (as so defined).''.
       (d) Definition.--For the purposes of this section, the term 
     ``State'' means each of the several States, 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.
       (e) Effective Date.--Section 303(e) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 
     21083(d)(2)), as redesignated by subsection (a), is amended 
     by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(3) Voter identification requirements.--Each State and 
     jurisdiction shall be required to comply with the 
     requirements of subsection (c) with respect to elections for 
     Federal office held on or after January 1, 2026.''.

             Subtitle J--Voter List Maintenance Procedures

                    PART 1--VOTER CAGING PROHIBITED

     SEC. 1901. VOTER CAGING PROHIBITED.

       (a) Definitions.--In this section--
       (1) the term ``voter caging document'' means--
       (A) a non-forwardable document sent by any person other 
     than a State or local election official that is returned to 
     the sender or a third party as undelivered or undeliverable 
     despite an attempt to deliver such document to the address of 
     a registered voter or applicant; or
       (B) any document sent by any person other than a State or 
     local election official with instructions to an addressee 
     that the document be returned to the sender or a third party 
     but is not so returned, despite an attempt to deliver such 
     document to the address of a registered voter or applicant;
       (2) the term ``voter caging list'' means a list of 
     individuals compiled from voter caging documents; and
       (3) the term ``unverified match list'' means any list 
     produced by matching the information of registered voters or 
     applicants for voter registration to a list of individuals 
     who are ineligible to vote in the registrar's jurisdiction, 
     by virtue of death, conviction, change of address, or 
     otherwise, unless one of the pieces of information matched 
     includes a signature, photograph, or unique identifying 
     number ensuring that the information from each source refers 
     to the same individual.
       (b) Prohibition Against Voter Caging.--No State or local 
     election official shall prevent an individual from 
     registering or voting in any election for Federal office, or 
     permit in connection with any election for Federal office a 
     formal challenge under State law to an individual's 
     registration status or eligibility to vote, if the basis for 
     such decision is evidence consisting of--
       (1) a voter caging document or voter caging list;
       (2) an unverified match list;
       (3) an error or omission on any record or paper relating to 
     any application, registration, or other act requisite to 
     voting, if such error or omission is not material to an 
     individual's eligibility to vote under section 2004(a)(2)(B) 
     of the Revised Statutes (52 U.S.C. 10101(a)(2)(B)); or
       (4) any other evidence so designated for purposes of this 
     section by the Election Assistance Commission,
     except that the election official may use such evidence if it 
     is corroborated by independent evidence of the individual's 
     ineligibility to register or vote.
       (c) Enforcement.--
       (1) Civil enforcement.--
       (A) In 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 
     section.
       (B) Private right of action.--
       (i) In general.--A person who is aggrieved by a violation 
     of this section may provide written notice of the violation 
     to the chief election official of the State involved.
       (ii) Relief.--Except as provided in clause (iii), if the 
     violation is not corrected within 90 days after receipt of a 
     notice under clause (i), or within 20 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.
       (iii) Exception.--If the violation occurred within 30 days 
     before the date of an election for Federal office, on the 
     date of the election, or after the date of the election but 
     prior to the completion of the canvass, the aggrieved person 
     need not provide notice under clause (i) before bringing a 
     civil action to obtain declaratory or injunctive relief with 
     respect to the violation.
       (2) Criminal penalty.--Whoever knowingly challenges the 
     eligibility of one or more individuals to register or vote or 
     knowingly causes the eligibility of such individuals to be 
     challenged in violation of this section with the intent that 
     one or more eligible voters be disqualified, shall be fined 
     under title 18, United States Code, or imprisoned not more 
     than 1 year, or both, for each such violation. Each violation 
     shall be a separate offense.
       (d) No Effect on Related Laws.--Nothing in this section is 
     intended to override the protections of the National Voter 
     Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20501 et seq.) or to 
     affect the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 10301 et 
     seq.).

           PART 2--SAVING ELIGIBLE VOTERS FROM VOTER PURGING

     SEC. 1911. CONDITIONS FOR REMOVAL OF VOTERS FROM LIST OF 
                   REGISTERED VOTERS.

       (a) Conditions Described.--The National Voter Registration 
     Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C.

[[Page S4451]]

     20501 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 8 the 
     following new section:

     ``SEC. 8A. CONDITIONS FOR REMOVAL OF VOTERS FROM OFFICIAL 
                   LIST OF REGISTERED VOTERS.

       ``(a) Verification on Basis of Objective and Reliable 
     Evidence of Ineligibility.--
       ``(1) Requiring verification.--Notwithstanding any other 
     provision of this Act, a State may not remove the name of any 
     registrant from the official list of voters eligible to vote 
     in elections for Federal office in the State unless the State 
     verifies, on the basis of objective and reliable evidence, 
     that the registrant is ineligible to vote in such elections.
       ``(2) Factors not considered as objective and reliable 
     evidence of ineligibility.--For purposes of paragraph (1), 
     except as permitted under section 8(d) after a notice 
     described in paragraph (2) of such section has been sent, the 
     following factors, or any combination thereof, shall not be 
     treated as objective and reliable evidence of a registrant's 
     ineligibility to vote:
       ``(A) The failure of the registrant to vote in any 
     election.
       ``(B) The failure of the registrant to respond to any 
     election mail, unless the election mail has been returned as 
     undeliverable.
       ``(C) The failure of the registrant to take any other 
     action with respect to voting in any election or with respect 
     to the registrant's status as a registrant.
       ``(3) Removal based on official records.--
       ``(A) In general.--Nothing in this section shall prohibit a 
     State from removing a registrant from the official list of 
     eligible voters in elections for Federal office if, on the 
     basis of official records maintained by the State, a State or 
     local election official knows, on the basis of objective and 
     reliable evidence, that the registrant has--
       ``(i) died; or
       ``(ii) permanently moved out of the State and is no longer 
     eligible to vote in the State.
       ``(B) Opportunity to demonstrate eligibility.--The State 
     shall provide a voter removed from the official list of 
     eligible voters in elections for Federal office under this 
     paragraph an opportunity to demonstrate that the registrant 
     is eligible to vote and be reinstated on the official list of 
     eligible voters in elections for Federal office in the State.
       ``(b) Notice After Removal.--
       ``(1) Notice to individual removed.--
       ``(A) In general.--Not later than 48 hours after a State 
     removes the name of a registrant from the official list of 
     eligible voters, the State shall send notice of the removal 
     to the former registrant, and shall include in the notice the 
     grounds for the removal and information on how the former 
     registrant may contest the removal or be reinstated, 
     including a telephone number for the appropriate election 
     official.
       ``(B) Exceptions.--Subparagraph (A) does not apply in the 
     case of a registrant--
       ``(i) who sends written confirmation to the State that the 
     registrant is no longer eligible to vote in the registrar's 
     jurisdiction in which the registrant was registered; or
       ``(ii) who is removed from the official list of eligible 
     voters by reason of the death of the registrant.
       ``(2) Public notice.--Not later than 48 hours after 
     conducting any general program to remove the names of 
     ineligible voters from the official list of eligible voters 
     (as described in section 8(a)(4)), the State shall 
     disseminate a public notice through such methods as may be 
     reasonable to reach the general public (including by 
     publishing the notice in a newspaper of wide circulation and 
     posting the notice on the websites of the appropriate 
     election officials) that list maintenance is taking place and 
     that registrants should check their registration status to 
     ensure no errors or mistakes have been made. The State shall 
     ensure that the public notice disseminated under this 
     paragraph is in a format that is reasonably convenient and 
     accessible to voters with disabilities, including voters who 
     have low vision or are blind.''.
       (b) Conditions for Transmission of Notices of Removal.--
     Section 8(d) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 20507(d)) is amended by 
     adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(4) A State may not transmit a notice to a registrant 
     under this subsection unless the State obtains objective and 
     reliable evidence (in accordance with the standards for such 
     evidence which are described in section 8A(a)(2)) that the 
     registrant has changed residence to a place outside the 
     registrar's jurisdiction in which the registrant is 
     registered.''.
       (c) Conforming Amendments.--
       (1) National voter registration act of 1993.--Section 8(a) 
     of such Act (52 U.S.C. 20507(a)) is amended--
       (A) in paragraph (3), by striking ``provide'' and inserting 
     ``subject to section 8A, provide''; and
       (B) in paragraph (4), by striking ``conduct'' and inserting 
     ``subject to section 8A, conduct''.
       (2) Help america vote act of 2002.--Section 303(a)(4)(A) of 
     the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21083(a)(4)(A)) 
     is amended by striking ``registrants'' the second place it 
     appears and inserting ``and subject to section 8A of such 
     Act, registrants''.
       (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act.

                        Subtitle K--Severability

     SEC. 1921. SEVERABILITY.

       If any provision of this title or any amendment made by 
     this title, or the application of any such provision or 
     amendment to any person or circumstance, is held to be 
     unconstitutional, the remainder of this title, and the 
     application of such provision or amendment to any other 
     person or circumstance, shall not be affected by the holding.

                   SUBDIVISION 2--ELECTION INTEGRITY

       TITLE II--PROHIBITING INTERFERENCE WITH VOTER REGISTRATION

     SEC. 2001. PROHIBITING HINDERING, INTERFERING WITH, OR 
                   PREVENTING VOTER REGISTRATION.

       (a) In General.--Chapter 29 of title 18, United States 
     Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
     section:

     ``Sec. 612. Hindering, interfering with, or preventing 
       registering to vote

       ``(a) Prohibition.--It shall be unlawful for any person, 
     whether acting under color of law or otherwise, to corruptly 
     hinder, interfere with, or prevent another person from 
     registering to vote or to corruptly hinder, interfere with, 
     or prevent another person from aiding another person in 
     registering to vote.
       ``(b) Attempt.--Any person who attempts to commit any 
     offense described in subsection (a) shall be subject to the 
     same penalties as those prescribed for the offense that the 
     person attempted to commit.
       ``(c) Penalty.--Any person who violates subsection (a) 
     shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 5 
     years, or both.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 
     29 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at 
     the end the following new item:

``612. Hindering, interfering with, or preventing registering to 
              vote.''.
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall apply with respect to elections held on or after the 
     date of the enactment of this Act, except that no person may 
     be found to have violated section 612 of title 18, United 
     States Code (as added by subsection (a)), on the basis of any 
     act occurring prior to the date of the enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 2002. ESTABLISHMENT OF BEST PRACTICES.

       (a) Best Practices.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall 
     develop and publish recommendations for best practices for 
     States to use to deter and prevent violations of section 612 
     of title 18, United States Code (as added by section 2001), 
     and section 12 of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 
     (52 U.S.C. 20511) (relating to the unlawful interference with 
     registering to vote, or voting, or attempting to register to 
     vote or vote), including practices to provide for the posting 
     of relevant information at polling places and voter 
     registration agencies under such Act, the training of poll 
     workers and election officials, and relevant educational 
     materials. For purposes of this subsection, 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.
       (b) Inclusion in Voter Information Requirements.--Section 
     302(b)(2) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (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) information relating to the prohibitions of section 
     612 of title 18, United States Code, and section 12 of the 
     National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20511) 
     (relating to the unlawful interference with registering to 
     vote, or voting, or attempting to register to vote or vote), 
     including information on how individuals may report 
     allegations of violations of such prohibitions.''.

               TITLE III--PREVENTING ELECTION SUBVERSION

     Subtitle A--Restrictions on Removal of Election Administrators

     SEC. 3001. RESTRICTIONS ON REMOVAL OF LOCAL ELECTION 
                   ADMINISTRATORS IN ADMINISTRATION OF ELECTIONS 
                   FOR FEDERAL OFFICE.

       (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) Congress has explicit and broad authority to regulate 
     the time, place, and manner of Federal elections under the 
     Elections Clause under article I, section 4, clause 1 of the 
     Constitution, including by establishing standards for the 
     fair, impartial, and uniform administration of Federal 
     elections by State and local officials.
       (2) The Elections Clause was understood from the framing of 
     the Constitution to contain ``words of great latitude,'' 
     granting Congress broad power over Federal elections and a 
     plenary right to preempt State regulation in this area. As 
     made clear at the Constitutional Convention and the State 
     ratification debates that followed, this grant of 
     congressional authority was meant to ``insure free and fair 
     elections,'' promote the uniform administration of Federal 
     elections, and ``preserve and restore to the people their 
     equal and sacred rights of election.''.
       (3) In the founding debates on the Elections Clause, many 
     delegates also argued that a broad grant of authority to 
     Congress over Federal elections was necessary to check any 
     ``abuses that might be made of the discretionary power'' to 
     regulate the time, place, and manner of elections granted the

[[Page S4452]]

     States, including attempts at partisan entrenchment, 
     malapportionment, and the exclusion of political minorities. 
     As the Supreme Court has recognized, the Elections Clause 
     empowers Congress to ``protect the elections on which its 
     existence depends,'' Ex parte Yarbrough, 110 U.S. 651, 658 
     (1884), and ``protect the citizen in the exercise of rights 
     conferred by the Constitution of the United States essential 
     to the healthy organization of the government itself,'' id. 
     at 666.
       (4) The Elections Clause grants Congress ``plenary and 
     paramount jurisdiction over the whole subject'' of Federal 
     elections, Ex parte Siebold, 100 U.S. 371, 388 (1879), 
     allowing Congress to implement ``a complete code for 
     congressional elections.'' Smiley v.  Holm, 285 U.S. 355, 366 
     (1932). The Elections Clause, unlike, for example, the 
     Commerce Clause, has been found to grant Congress the 
     authority to compel States to alter their regulations as to 
     Federal elections, id. at 366-67, even if these alterations 
     would impose additional costs on the States to execute or 
     enforce. Association of Community Organizations for Reform 
     Now v. Miller, 129 F.3d 833 (6th Cir. 1997).
       (5) The phrase ``manner of holding elections'' in the 
     Elections Clause has been interpreted by the Supreme Court to 
     authorize Congress to regulate all aspects of the Federal 
     election process, including ``notices, registration, 
     supervision of voting, protection of voters, prevention of 
     fraud and corrupt practices, counting of votes, duties of 
     inspectors and canvassers, and the making and publication of 
     election returns.'' Smiley v.  Holm, 285 U.S. 355, 366 
     (1932).
       (6) The Supreme Court has recognized the broad 
     ``substantive scope'' of the Elections Clause and upheld 
     Federal laws promulgated thereunder regulating redistricting, 
     voter registration, campaign finance, primary elections, 
     recounts, party affiliation rules, and balloting.
       (7) The authority of Congress under the Elections Clause 
     also entails the power to ensure enforcement of its laws 
     regulating Federal elections. ``[I]f Congress has the power 
     to make regulations, it must have the power to enforce 
     them.'' Ex parte Siebold, 100 U.S. 371, 387 (1879). The 
     Supreme Court has noted that there can be no question that 
     Congress may impose additional penalties for offenses 
     committed by State officers in connection with Federal 
     elections even if they differ from the penalties prescribed 
     by State law for the same acts. Id. at 387-88.
       (8) The fair and impartial administration of Federal 
     elections by State and local officials is central to ``the 
     successful working of this government,'' Ex parte Yarbrough, 
     110 U.S. 651, 666 (1884), and to ``protect the act of voting 
     . . . and the election itself from corruption or fraud,'' id. 
     at 661-62.
       (9) The Elections Clause thus grants Congress the authority 
     to ensure that the administration of Federal elections is 
     free of political bias or discrimination and that election 
     officials are insulated from political influence or other 
     forms of coercion in discharging their duties in connection 
     with Federal elections.
       (10) In some States, oversight of local election 
     administrators has been allocated to State Election Boards, 
     or special commissions formed by those boards, that are 
     appointed by the prevailing political party in a State, as 
     opposed to nonpartisan or elected office holders.
       (11) In certain newly enacted State policies, these 
     appointed statewide election administrators have been granted 
     wide latitude to suspend or remove local election 
     administrators in cases where the statewide election 
     administrators identify whatever the State deems to be a 
     violation. There is no requirement that there be a finding of 
     intent by the local election administrator to commit the 
     violation.
       (12) Local election administrators across the country can 
     be suspended or removed according to different standards, 
     potentially exposing them to different political pressures or 
     biases that could result in uneven administration of Federal 
     elections.
       (13) The Elections Clause grants Congress the ultimate 
     authority to ensure that oversight of State and local 
     election administrators is fair and impartial in order to 
     ensure equitable and uniform administration of Federal 
     elections.
       (b) Restriction.--
       (1) Standard for removal of a local election 
     administrator.--A statewide election administrator may only 
     suspend, remove, or relieve the duties of a local election 
     administrator in the State with respect to the administration 
     of an election for Federal office for inefficiency, neglect 
     of duty, or malfeasance in office.
       (2) Private right of action.--
       (A) In general.--Any local election administrator 
     suspended, removed, or otherwise relieved of duties in 
     violation of paragraph (1) with respect to the administration 
     of an election for Federal office or against whom any 
     proceeding for suspension, removal, or relief from duty in 
     violation of paragraph (1) with respect to the administration 
     of an election for Federal office may be pending, may bring 
     an action in an appropriate district court of the United 
     States for declaratory or injunctive relief with respect to 
     the violation. Any such action shall name as the defendant 
     the statewide election administrator responsible for the 
     adverse action. The district court shall, to the extent 
     practicable, expedite any such proceeding.
       (B) Statute of limitations.--Any action brought under this 
     subsection must be commenced not later than one year after 
     the date of the suspension, removal, relief from duties, or 
     commencement of the proceeding to remove, suspend, or relieve 
     the duties of a local election administrator with respect to 
     the administration of an election for Federal office.
       (3) Attorney's fees.--In any action or proceeding under 
     this subsection, the court may allow a prevailing plaintiff, 
     other than the United States, reasonable attorney's fees as 
     part of the costs, and may include expert fees as part of the 
     attorney's fee. The term ``prevailing plaintiff'' means a 
     plaintiff that substantially prevails pursuant to a judicial 
     or administrative judgment or order, or an enforceable 
     written agreement.
       (4) Removal of state proceedings to federal court.--A local 
     election administrator who is subject to an administrative or 
     judicial proceeding for suspension, removal, or relief from 
     duty by a statewide election administrator with respect to 
     the administration of an election for Federal office may 
     remove the proceeding to an appropriate district court of the 
     United States. Any order remanding a case to the State court 
     or agency from which it was removed under this subsection 
     shall be reviewable by appeal or otherwise.
       (5) Right of united states to intervene.--
       (A) Notice to attorney general.--Whenever any 
     administrative or judicial proceeding is brought to suspend, 
     remove, or relieve the duties of any local election 
     administrator by a statewide election administrator with 
     respect to the administration of an election for Federal 
     office, the statewide election administrator who initiated 
     such proceeding shall deliver a copy of the pleadings 
     instituting the proceeding to the Assistant Attorney General 
     for the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice. 
     The local election administrator against whom such proceeding 
     is brought may also deliver such pleadings to the Assistant 
     Attorney General.
       (B) Right to intervene.--The United States may intervene in 
     any administrative or judicial proceeding brought to suspend, 
     remove, or relieve the duties of any local election 
     administrator by a statewide election administrator with 
     respect to the administration of an election for Federal 
     office and in any action initiated pursuant to paragraph (2) 
     or in any removal pursuant to paragraph (4).
       (6) Review.--In reviewing any action brought under this 
     section, a court of the United States shall not afford any 
     deference to any State official, administrator, or tribunal 
     that initiated, approved, adjudicated, or reviewed any 
     administrative or judicial proceeding to suspend, remove, or 
     otherwise relieve the duties of a local election 
     administrator.
       (c) Reports to the Department of Justice.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the 
     suspension, removal, or relief of the duties of a local 
     election administrator by a statewide election administrator, 
     the Statewide election administrator shall submit to the 
     Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Divisions of 
     the Department of Justice a report that includes the 
     following information:
       (A) A statement that a local election administrator was 
     suspended, removed, or relieved of their duties.
       (B) Information on whether the local election administrator 
     was determined to be inefficient or to have engaged in 
     neglect of duty or malfeasance in office.
       (C) A description of the effect that the suspension, 
     removal, or relief of the duties of the local election 
     administrator will have on--
       (i) the administration of elections and voters in the 
     election jurisdictions for which the local election official 
     provided such duties; and
       (ii) the administration of elections and voters in the 
     State at large.
       (D) Demographic information about the local election 
     official suspended, removed, or relieved and the 
     jurisdictions for which such election official was providing 
     the duties suspended, removed, or relieved.
       (E) Such other information as requested by the Assistant 
     Attorney General for the purposes of determining--
       (i) whether such suspension, removal, or relief of duties 
     was based on unlawful discrimination; and
       (ii) whether such suspension, removal, or relief of duties 
     was due to inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in 
     office.
       (2) Expedited reporting for actions within 30 days of an 
     election.--
       (A) In general.--If a suspension, removal, or relief of 
     duties of a local administrator described in paragraph (1) 
     occurs during the period described in subparagraph (B), the 
     report required under paragraph (1) shall be submitted not 
     later than 48 hours after such suspension, removal, or relief 
     of duties.
       (B) Period described.--The period described in this 
     subparagraph is any period which begins 60 days before the 
     date of an election for Federal office and which ends 60 days 
     after such election.
       (d) Definitions.--In this section, the following 
     definitions apply:
       (1) Election.--The term ``election'' has the meaning given 
     the term in section 301(1) of the Federal Election Campaign 
     Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30101(1)).
       (2) Federal office.--The term ``Federal office'' has the 
     meaning given the term in section 301(3) of the Federal 
     Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30101(3)).

[[Page S4453]]

       (3) Local election administrator.--The term ``local 
     election administrator'' means, with respect to a local 
     jurisdiction in a State, the individual or entity responsible 
     for the administration of elections for Federal office in the 
     local jurisdiction.
       (4) Statewide election administrator.--The term ``statewide 
     election administrator'' means, with respect to a State--
       (A) the individual or entity, including a State elections 
     board, responsible for the administration of elections for 
     Federal office in the State on a statewide basis; or
       (B) a statewide legislative or executive entity with the 
     authority to suspend, remove, or relieve a local election 
     administrator.
       (e) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be 
     construed to grant any additional authority to remove a local 
     elections administrator beyond any authority provided under 
     the law of the State.

         Subtitle B--Increased Protections for Election Workers

     SEC. 3101. HARASSMENT OF ELECTION WORKERS PROHIBITED.

       (a) In General.--Section 594 of title 18, United 6 States 
     Code, is amended--
       (1) by striking ``Whoever intimidates'' and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(a) In General.--Whoever intimidates''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(b) Intimidation of Election Workers.--
       ``(1) In general.--Whoever intimidates, threatens, coerces, 
     or attempts to intimidate, threaten, coerce, any election 
     worker with intent to impede, intimidate, or interfere with 
     such election worker while engaged in the performance of 
     official duties, or with intent to retaliate against such 
     election worker on account of the performance of official 
     duties shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more 
     than one year, or both
       ``(2) Election worker.--For purposes of paragraph (1), the 
     term `election worker' means any individual who is an 
     election official, poll worker, or an election volunteer in 
     connection with an election for a Federal office.''.
       (b) Conforming Amendments.--
       (1) The heading of section 594 of title 18, United States 
     Code, is amended by inserting ``and election workers'' after 
     ``voters''.
       (2) The item relating to section 594 in the table of 
     sections for chapter 29 of title 18, United States Code, is 
     amended by inserting ``and election workers'' after 
     ``voters''.

     SEC. 3102. PROTECTION OF ELECTION WORKERS.

       (a) In General.--Section 594(b) of title 18, United States 
     Code, as amended by section 3101, is amended--
       (1) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); and
       (2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new 
     paragraph:
       ``(2) Prohibition on publication of personal information.--
     Whoever knowingly makes restricted personal information about 
     an election worker, or a member of the immediate family of 
     that election worker, publicly available in connection with 
     such election worker's official duties--
       ``(A) with the intent to threaten, intimidate, or incite 
     the commission of a crime of violence against that election 
     worker, or a member of the immediate family of that election 
     worker; or
       ``(B) with the intent and knowledge that the restricted 
     personal information will be used to threaten, intimidate, or 
     facilitate the commission of a crime of violence against that 
     election worker, or a member of the immediate family of that 
     election worker,
     shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 1 
     year, or both.''.
       (b) Definitions.--Paragraph (3) of section 594(b) of title 
     18, United States Code, as amended by section 3101 and 
     redesignated by subsection (a), is amended--
       (1) by striking all that precedes ``term'' and inserting 
     the following:
       ``(3) Definitions.--For purposes of this subsection--
       ``(A) Election worker.--The''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(B) Other terms.--The terms `restricted personal 
     information', `crime of violence', and `immediate family' 
     have the respective meanings given such terms under section 
     119.''.

   Subtitle C--Prohibiting Deceptive Practices and Preventing Voter 
                              Intimidation

     SEC. 3201. SHORT TITLE.

       This subtitle may be cited as the ``Deceptive Practices and 
     Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2024''.

     SEC. 3202. PROHIBITION ON DECEPTIVE PRACTICES IN FEDERAL 
                   ELECTIONS.

       (a) Prohibition.--Subsection (b) of section 2004 of the 
     Revised Statutes (52 U.S.C. 10101(b)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``No person'' and inserting the following:
       ``(1) In general.--No person''; and
       (2) by inserting at the end the following new paragraphs:
       ``(2) False statements regarding federal elections.--
       ``(A) Prohibition.--No person, whether acting under color 
     of law or otherwise, shall, within 60 days before an election 
     described in paragraph (5), by any means, including by means 
     of written, electronic, or telephonic communications, 
     communicate or cause to be communicated information described 
     in subparagraph (B), or produce information described in 
     subparagraph (B) with the intent that such information be 
     communicated, if such person--
       ``(i) knows such information to be materially false; and
       ``(ii) has the intent to impede or prevent another person 
     from exercising the right to vote in an election described in 
     paragraph (5).
       ``(B) Information described.--Information is described in 
     this subparagraph if such information is regarding--
       ``(i) the time, place, or manner of holding any election 
     described in paragraph (5); or
       ``(ii) the qualifications for or restrictions on voter 
     eligibility for any such election, including--

       ``(I) any criminal, civil, or other legal penalties 
     associated with voting in any such election; or
       ``(II) information regarding a voter's registration status 
     or eligibility.

       ``(3) False statements regarding public endorsements.--
       ``(A) Prohibition.--No person, whether acting under color 
     of law or otherwise, shall, within 60 days before an election 
     described in paragraph (5), by any means, including by means 
     of written, electronic, or telephonic communications, 
     communicate, or cause to be communicated, a materially false 
     statement about an endorsement, if such person--
       ``(i) knows such statement to be false; and
       ``(ii) has the intent to impede or prevent another person 
     from exercising the right to vote in an election described in 
     paragraph (5).
       ``(B) Definition of `materially false'.--For purposes of 
     subparagraph (A), a statement about an endorsement is 
     `materially false' if, with respect to an upcoming election 
     described in paragraph (5)--
       ``(i) the statement states that a specifically named 
     person, political party, or organization has endorsed the 
     election of a specific candidate for a Federal office 
     described in such paragraph; and
       ``(ii) such person, political party, or organization has 
     not endorsed the election of such candidate.
       ``(4) Hindering, interfering with, or preventing voting or 
     registering to vote.--No person, whether acting under color 
     of law or otherwise, shall intentionally hinder, interfere 
     with, or prevent another person from voting, registering to 
     vote, or aiding another person to vote or register to vote in 
     an election described in paragraph (5), including by 
     operating a polling place or ballot box that falsely purports 
     to be an official location established for such an election 
     by a unit of government.
       ``(5) Election described.--An election described in this 
     paragraph is any general, primary, runoff, or special 
     election held solely or in part for the purpose of nominating 
     or electing a candidate for the office of President, Vice 
     President, Presidential elector, Member of the Senate, Member 
     of the House of Representatives, or Delegate or Commissioner 
     from a Territory or possession.''.
       (b) Private Right of Action.--
       (1) In general.--Subsection (c) of section 2004 of the 
     Revised Statutes (52 U.S.C. 10101(c)) is amended--
       (A) by striking ``Whenever any person'' and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(1) In general.--Whenever any person''; and
       (B) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(2) Civil action.--Any person aggrieved by a violation of 
     this section may institute a civil action for preventive 
     relief, including an application in a United States district 
     court for a permanent or temporary injunction, restraining 
     order, or other order. In any such action, the court, in its 
     discretion, may allow the prevailing party a reasonable 
     attorney's fee as part of the costs.''.
       (2) Conforming amendments.--Section 2004 of the Revised 
     Statutes (52 U.S.C. 10101) is amended--
       (A) in subsection (e), by striking ``subsection (c)'' and 
     inserting ``subsection (c)(1)''; and
       (B) in subsection (g), by striking ``subsection (c)'' and 
     inserting ``subsection (c)(1)''.
       (c) Criminal Penalties.--
       (1) Deceptive acts.--Section 594 of title 18, United States 
     Code, as amended by sections 3101 and 3102, is amended--
       (A) in subsection (a), by striking ``at any election'' and 
     inserting ``at any general, primary, runoff, or special 
     election''; and
       (B) by adding at the end the following new subsections:
       ``(c) Deceptive Acts.--
       ``(1) False statements regarding federal elections.--
       ``(A) Prohibition.--It shall be unlawful for any person, 
     whether acting under color of law or otherwise, within 60 
     days before an election described in subsection (f), by any 
     means, including by means of written, electronic, or 
     telephonic communications, to communicate or cause to be 
     communicated information described in subparagraph (B), or 
     produce information described in subparagraph (B) with the 
     intent that such information be communicated, if such 
     person--
       ``(i) knows such information to be materially false; and
       ``(ii) has the intent to impede or prevent another person 
     from exercising the right to vote in an election described in 
     subsection (f).
       ``(B) Information described.--Information is described in 
     this subparagraph if such information is regarding--
       ``(i) the time or place of holding any election described 
     in subsection (e); or

[[Page S4454]]

       ``(ii) the qualifications for or restrictions on voter 
     eligibility for any such election, including--

       ``(I) any criminal, civil, or other legal penalties 
     associated with voting in any such election; or
       ``(II) information regarding a voter's registration status 
     or eligibility.

       ``(2) Penalty.--Any person who violates paragraph (1) shall 
     be fined not more than $100,000, imprisoned for not more than 
     5 years, or both.
       ``(d) Hindering, Interfering With, or Preventing Voting or 
     Registering to Vote.--
       ``(1) Prohibition.--It shall be unlawful for any person, 
     whether acting under color of law or otherwise, to corruptly 
     hinder, interfere with, or prevent another person from 
     voting, registering to vote, or aiding another person to vote 
     or register to vote in an election described in subsection 
     (f).
       ``(2) Penalty.--Any person who violates paragraph (1) shall 
     be fined not more than $100,000, imprisoned for not more than 
     5 years, or both.
       ``(e) Attempt.--Any person who attempts to commit any 
     offense described in subsection (c)(1) or (d)(1) shall be 
     subject to the same penalties as those prescribed for the 
     offense that the person attempted to commit.
       ``(f) Election Described.--An election described in this 
     subsection is any general, primary, runoff, or special 
     election held solely or in part for the purpose of nominating 
     or electing a candidate for the office of President, Vice 
     President, Presidential elector, Senator, Member of the House 
     of Representatives, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to 
     the Congress.''.
       (2) Modifications to penalty for voter and election worker 
     intimidation.--Section 594(a) of title 18, United States 
     Code, as amended by this Act, is amended by striking ``fined 
     under this title or imprisoned not more than one year'' and 
     inserting ``fined not more than $100,000, imprisoned for not 
     more than 5 years''.
       (3) Sentencing guidelines.--
       (A) Review and amendment.--Not later than 180 days after 
     the date of enactment of this Act, the United States 
     Sentencing Commission, pursuant to its authority under 
     section 994 of title 28, United States Code, and in 
     accordance with this section, shall review and, if 
     appropriate, amend the Federal sentencing guidelines and 
     policy statements applicable to persons convicted of any 
     offense under section 594 of title 18, United States Code, as 
     amended by this section.
       (B) Authorization.--The United States Sentencing Commission 
     may amend the Federal Sentencing Guidelines in accordance 
     with the procedures set forth in section 21(a) of the 
     Sentencing Act of 1987 (28 U.S.C. 994 note) as though the 
     authority under that section had not expired.
       (4) Payments for refraining from voting.--Subsection (c) of 
     section 11 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 10307) 
     is amended by striking ``either for registration to vote or 
     for voting'' and inserting ``for registration to vote, for 
     voting, or for not voting''.

     SEC. 3203. CORRECTIVE ACTION.

       (a) Corrective Action.--
       (1) In general.--If the Attorney General receives a 
     credible report that materially false information has been or 
     is being communicated in violation of paragraphs (2) and (3) 
     of section 2004(b) of the Revised Statutes (52 U.S.C. 
     10101(b)), as added by section 3202(a), and if the Attorney 
     General determines that State and local election officials 
     have not taken adequate steps to promptly communicate 
     accurate information to correct the materially false 
     information, the Attorney General shall, pursuant to the 
     written procedures and standards under subsection (b), 
     communicate to the public, by any means, including by means 
     of written, electronic, or telephonic communications, 
     accurate information designed to correct the materially false 
     information.
       (2) Communication of corrective information.--Any 
     information communicated by the Attorney General under 
     paragraph (1)--
       (A) shall--
       (i) be accurate and objective;
       (ii) consist of only the information necessary to correct 
     the materially false information that has been or is being 
     communicated; and
       (iii) to the extent practicable, be by a means that the 
     Attorney General determines will reach the persons to whom 
     the materially false information has been or is being 
     communicated; and
       (B) shall not be designed to favor or disfavor any 
     particular candidate, organization, or political party.
       (b) Written Procedures and Standards for Taking Corrective 
     Action.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall publish 
     written procedures and standards for determining when and how 
     corrective action will be taken under this section.
       (2) Inclusion of appropriate deadlines.--The procedures and 
     standards under paragraph (1) shall include appropriate 
     deadlines, based in part on the number of days remaining 
     before the upcoming election.
       (3) Consultation.--In developing the procedures and 
     standards under paragraph (1), the Attorney General shall 
     consult with the Election Assistance Commission, State and 
     local election officials, civil rights organizations, voting 
     rights groups, voter protection groups, and other interested 
     community organizations.
       (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated to the Attorney General such sums as may 
     be necessary to carry out this subtitle.

     SEC. 3204. REPORTS TO CONGRESS.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after each general 
     election for Federal office, the Attorney General shall 
     submit to Congress a report compiling all allegations 
     received by the Attorney General of deceptive practices 
     described in paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) of section 2004(b) 
     of the Revised Statutes (52 U.S.C. 10101(b)), as added by 
     section 3202(a), relating to the general election for Federal 
     office and any primary, runoff, or a special election for 
     Federal office held in the 2 years preceding the general 
     election.
       (b) Contents.--
       (1) In general.--Each report submitted under subsection (a) 
     shall include--
       (A) a description of each allegation of a deceptive 
     practice described in subsection (a), including the 
     geographic location, racial and ethnic composition, and 
     language minority-group membership of the persons toward whom 
     the alleged deceptive practice was directed;
       (B) the status of the investigation of each allegation 
     described in subparagraph (A);
       (C) a description of each corrective action taken by the 
     Attorney General under section 3203(a) in response to an 
     allegation described in subparagraph (A);
       (D) a description of each referral of an allegation 
     described in subparagraph (A) to other Federal, State, or 
     local agencies;
       (E) to the extent information is available, a description 
     of any civil action instituted under section 2004(c)(2) of 
     the Revised Statutes (52 U.S.C. 10101(c)(2)), as added by 
     section 3202(b), in connection with an allegation described 
     in subparagraph (A); and
       (F) a description of any criminal prosecution instituted 
     under subsection (c) or (d) of section 594 of title 18, 
     United States Code, as amended by section 3202(c), in 
     connection with the receipt of an allegation described in 
     subparagraph (A) by the Attorney General.
       (2) Exclusion of certain information.--
       (A) In general.--The Attorney General shall not include in 
     a report submitted under subsection (a) any information 
     protected from disclosure by rule 6(e) of the Federal Rules 
     of Criminal Procedure or any Federal criminal statute.
       (B) Exclusion of certain other information.--The Attorney 
     General may determine that the following information shall 
     not be included in a report submitted under subsection (a):
       (i) Any information that is privileged.
       (ii) Any information concerning an ongoing investigation.
       (iii) Any information concerning a criminal or civil 
     proceeding conducted under seal.
       (iv) Any other nonpublic information that the Attorney 
     General determines the disclosure of which could reasonably 
     be expected to infringe on the rights of any individual or 
     adversely affect the integrity of a pending or future 
     criminal investigation.
       (c) Report Made Public.--On the date that the Attorney 
     General submits the report under subsection (a), the Attorney 
     General shall also make the report publicly available through 
     the internet and other appropriate means.

     SEC. 3205. PRIVATE RIGHTS OF ACTION BY ELECTION OFFICIALS.

       Subsection (c)(2) of section 2004 of the Revised Statutes 
     (52 U.S.C. 10101(b)), as added by section 3202(b), is 
     amended--
       (1) by striking ``Any person'' and inserting the following:
       ``(A) In general.--Any person''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
       ``(B) Intimidation, etc.--
       ``(i) In general.--A person aggrieved by a violation of 
     subsection (b)(1) shall include, without limitation, an 
     officer responsible for maintaining order and preventing 
     intimidation, threats, or coercion in or around a location at 
     which voters may cast their votes. .
       ``(ii) Corrective action.--If the Attorney General receives 
     a credible report that conduct that violates or would be 
     reasonably likely to violate subsection (b)(1) has occurred 
     or is likely to occur, and if the Attorney General determines 
     that State and local officials have not taken adequate steps 
     to promptly communicate that such conduct would violate 
     subsection (b)(1) or applicable State or local laws, the 
     Attorney General shall communicate to the public, by any 
     means, including by means of written, electronic, or 
     telephonic communications, accurate information designed to 
     convey the unlawfulness of proscribed conduct under 
     subsection (b)(1) and the responsibilities of and resources 
     available to State and local officials to prevent or correct 
     such violations.''.

     SEC. 3206. MAKING INTIMIDATION OF TABULATION, CANVASS, AND 
                   CERTIFICATION EFFORTS A CRIME.

       Section 12(1) of the National Voter Registration Act (52 
     U.S.C. 20511) is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``or'' at the end; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
       ``(D) processing or scanning ballots, or tabulating, 
     canvassing, or certifying voting results; or''.

  Subtitle D--Protection of Election Records & Election Infrastructure

     SEC. 3301. STRENGTHEN PROTECTIONS FOR FEDERAL ELECTION 
                   RECORDS.

       (a) Finding of Constitutional Authority.--Congress finds as 
     follows:
       (1) Congress has explicit and broad authority to regulate 
     the time, place, and manner

[[Page S4455]]

     of Federal elections under the Elections Clause under article 
     I, section 4, clause 1 of the Constitution, including by 
     establishing standards for the fair, impartial, and uniform 
     administration of Federal elections by State and local 
     officials.
       (2) The Elections Clause grants Congress ``plenary and 
     paramount jurisdiction over the whole subject'' of Federal 
     elections, Ex parte Siebold, 100 U.S. 371, 388 (1879), 
     allowing Congress to implement ``a complete code for 
     congressional elections.'' Smiley v.  Holm, 285 U.S. 355, 366 
     (1932).
       (3) The fair and impartial administration of Federal 
     elections by State and local officials is central to ``the 
     successful working of this government'', Ex parte Yarbrough, 
     110 U.S. 651, 666 (1884), and to ``protect the act of voting 
     . . . and the election itself from corruption or fraud'', id. 
     at 661-62.
       (4) The Elections Clause thus grants Congress the authority 
     to strengthen the protections for Federal election records.
       (5) Congress has intervened in the electoral process to 
     protect the health and legitimacy of federal elections, 
     including for example, Congress' enactment of the Help 
     America Vote Act of 2002 as a response to several issues that 
     occurred during the 2000 Presidential election. See  ``The 
     Elections Clause: Constitutional Interpretation and 
     Congressional Exercise'', Hearing Before Comm. on House 
     Administration, 117th Cong. (2021), written testimony of Vice 
     Dean Franita Tolson at 3.
       (b) Strengthening of Protections.--Section 301 of the Civil 
     Rights Act of 1960 (52 U.S.C. 20701) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``Every officer'' and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(a) In General.--Every officer'';
       (2) by striking ``records and papers'' and inserting 
     ``records (including electronic records), papers, and 
     election equipment'' each place the term appears;
       (3) by striking ``record or paper'' and inserting ``record 
     (including electronic record), paper, or election 
     equipment'';
       (4) by inserting ``(but only under the direct 
     administrative supervision of an election officer). 
     Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the 
     paper record of a voter's cast ballot shall remain the 
     official record of the cast ballot for purposes of this 
     title'' after ``upon such custodian'';
       (5) by inserting ``, or acts in reckless disregard of,'' 
     after ``fails to comply with''; and
       (6) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
       ``(b) Election Equipment.--The requirement in subsection 
     (a) to preserve election equipment shall not be construed to 
     prevent the reuse of such equipment in any election that 
     takes place within twenty-two months of a Federal election 
     described in subsection (a), provided that all electronic 
     records, files, and data from such equipment related to such 
     Federal election are retained and preserved.
       ``(c) Guidance.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of this subsection, the Director of the 
     Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency of the 
     Department of Homeland Security, in consultation with the 
     Election Assistance Commission and the Attorney General, 
     shall issue guidance regarding compliance with subsections 
     (a) and (b), including minimum standards and best practices 
     for retaining and preserving records and papers in compliance 
     with subsection (a). Such guidance shall also include 
     protocols for enabling the observation of the preservation, 
     security, and transfer of records and papers described in 
     subsection (a) by the Attorney General and by a 
     representative of each party, as defined by the Attorney 
     General.''.
       (c) Protecting the Integrity of Paper Ballots in Federal 
     Elections.--
       (1) Protocols and conditions for inspection of ballots.--
     Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the Attorney General, in consultation with the 
     Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security 
     Agency of the Department of Homeland Security and the 
     Election Assistance Commission, shall promulgate regulations 
     establishing the election security protocols and conditions, 
     including appropriate chain of custody and proper 
     preservation practices, which will apply to the inspection of 
     the paper ballots which are required to be retained and 
     preserved under section 301 of the Civil Rights Act of 1960 
     (52 U.S.C. 20701).
       (2) Cause of action for injunctive and declaratory 
     relief.--The Attorney General may bring an action in an 
     appropriate district court of the United States for such 
     declaratory or injunctive relief as may be necessary to 
     ensure compliance with the regulations promulgated under 
     subsection (a).

     SEC. 3302. PENALTIES; INSPECTION; NONDISCLOSURE; 
                   JURISDICTION.

       (a) Expansion of Scope of Penalties for Interference.--
     Section 302 of the Civil Rights Act of 1960 (52 U.S.C. 20702) 
     is amended--
       (1) by inserting ``, or whose reckless disregard of section 
     301 results in the theft, destruction, concealment, 
     mutilation, or alteration of,'' after ``or alters''; and
       (2) by striking ``record or paper'' and inserting ``record 
     (including electronic record), paper, or election 
     equipment''.
       (b) Inspection, Reproduction, and Copying.--Section 303 of 
     such Act (52 U.S.C. 20703) is amended by striking ``record or 
     paper'' each place it appears and inserting ``record 
     (including electronic record), paper, or election 
     equipment''.
       (c) Nondisclosure.--Section 304 of such Act (52 U.S.C. 
     20704) is amended by striking ``record or paper'' and 
     inserting ``record (including electronic record), paper, or 
     election equipment''.
       (d) Jurisdiction to Compel Production.--Section 305 of such 
     Act (52 U.S.C. 20705) is amended by striking ``record or 
     paper'' each place it appears and inserting ``record 
     (including electronic record), paper, or election 
     equipment''.

     SEC. 3303. JUDICIAL REVIEW TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE.

       Title III of the Civil Rights Act of 1960 (52 U.S.C. 20701 
     et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

     ``SEC. 307. JUDICIAL REVIEW TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE.

       ``(a) Cause of Action.--The Attorney General, a 
     representative of the Attorney General, or a candidate in a 
     Federal election described in section 301 may bring an action 
     in the district court of the United States for the judicial 
     district in which a record or paper is located, or in the 
     United States District Court for the District of Columbia, to 
     compel compliance with the requirements of section 301.
       ``(b) Duty to Expedite.--It shall be the duty of the court 
     to advance on the docket, and to expedite to the greatest 
     possible extent the disposition of, the action and any appeal 
     under this section.''.

 Subtitle E--Judicial Protection of the Right to Vote and Non-partisan 
                            Vote Tabulation

                       PART 1--RIGHT TO VOTE ACT

     SEC. 3401. SHORT TITLE.

       This part may be cited as the ``Right to Vote Act''.

     SEC. 3402. UNDUE BURDENS ON THE ABILITY TO VOTE IN ELECTIONS 
                   FOR FEDERAL OFFICE PROHIBITED.

       (a) In General.--Every citizen of legal voting age shall 
     have the right to vote and have one's vote counted in 
     elections for Federal office free from any burden on the 
     time, place, or manner of voting, as set forth in subsections 
     (b) and (c).
       (b) Retrogression.--A government may not diminish the 
     ability to vote or to have one's vote counted in an election 
     for Federal office unless the law, rule, standard, practice, 
     procedure, or other governmental action causing the 
     diminishment is the least restrictive means of significantly 
     furthering an important, particularized government interest.
       (c) Substantial Impairment.--
       (1) In general.--A government may not substantially impair 
     the ability of an individual to vote or to have one's vote 
     counted in an election for Federal office unless the law, 
     rule, standard, practice, procedure, or other governmental 
     action causing the impairment significantly furthers an 
     important, particularized governmental interest.
       (2) Substantial impairment.--For purposes of this section, 
     a substantial impairment is a non-trivial impairment that 
     makes it more difficult to vote or to have one's vote counted 
     than if the law, rule, standard, practice, procedure, or 
     other governmental action had not been adopted or 
     implemented. An impairment may be substantial even if the 
     voter or other similarly situated voters are able to vote or 
     to have one's vote counted notwithstanding the impairment.

     SEC. 3403. JUDICIAL REVIEW.

       (a) Civil Action.--An action challenging a violation of 
     this part may be brought by any aggrieved person or the 
     Attorney General in the district court for the District of 
     Columbia, or the district court for the district in which the 
     violation took place or where any defendant resides or does 
     business, at the selection of the plaintiff, to obtain all 
     appropriate relief, whether declaratory or injunctive, or 
     facial or as-applied. Process may be served in any district 
     where a defendant resides, does business, or may be found.
       (b) Standards to Be Applied.--A courts adjudicating an 
     action brought under this part shall apply the following 
     standards:
       (1) Retrogression.--
       (A) A plaintiff establishes a prima facie case of 
     retrogression by demonstrating by a preponderance of the 
     evidence that a rule, standard, practice, procedure, or other 
     governmental action diminishes the ability, or otherwise 
     makes it more difficult, to vote, or have one's vote counted.
       (B) If a plaintiff establishes a prima facie case as 
     described in subparagraph (A), the government shall be 
     provided an opportunity to demonstrate by clear and 
     convincing evidence that the diminishment is necessary to 
     significantly further an important, particularized 
     governmental interest.
       (C) If the government meets its burden under subparagraph 
     (B), the challenged rule, standard, practice, procedure, or 
     other governmental action shall nonetheless be deemed invalid 
     if the plaintiff demonstrates by a preponderance of the 
     evidence that the government could adopt or implement a less-
     restrictive means of furthering the particularized important 
     governmental interest.
       (2) Substantial impairment.--
       (A) A plaintiff establishes a prima facie case of 
     substantial impairment by demonstrating by a preponderance of 
     the evidence that a rule, standard, practice, procedure, or 
     other governmental action is a non-trivial impairment of the 
     ability to vote or to have one's vote counted.
       (B) If a plaintiff establishes a prima facie case as 
     described in subparagraph (A), the government shall be 
     provided an opportunity to demonstrate by clear and 
     convincing evidence that the impairment significantly 
     furthers an important, particularized governmental interest.

[[Page S4456]]

       (c) Duty to Expedite.--It shall be the duty of the court to 
     advance on the docket and to expedite to the greatest 
     reasonable extent the disposition of the action and appeal 
     under this section.
       (d) Attorney's Fees.--Section 722(b) of the Revised 
     Statutes (42 U.S.C. 1988(b)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``or section 40302'' and inserting 
     ``section 40302''; and
       (2) by striking ``, the court'' and inserting ``, or 
     section 3402(a) of the Freedom to Vote Act, the court''.

     SEC. 3404. DEFINITIONS.

       In this part--
       (1) the term ``covered entity'' means 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;
       (2) the terms ``election'' and ``Federal office'' have the 
     meanings given such terms in section 301 of the Federal 
     Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30101);
       (3) the term ``have one's vote counted'' means all actions 
     necessary to have a vote included in the appropriate totals 
     of votes cast with respect to candidates for public office 
     for which votes are received in an election and reflected in 
     the certified vote totals by any government responsible for 
     tallying or certifying the results of elections for Federal 
     office;
       (4) the term ``government'' includes a branch, department, 
     agency, instrumentality, and official (or other person acting 
     under color of law) of the United States, of any State, of 
     any covered entity, or of any political subdivision of any 
     State or covered entity; and
       (5) the term ``vote'' means all actions necessary to make a 
     vote effective, including registration or other action 
     required by law as a prerequisite to voting, casting a 
     ballot.

     SEC. 3405. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.

       (a) Burdens Not Authorized.--Nothing in this part may be 
     construed to authorize a government to burden the right to 
     vote in elections for Federal office.
       (b) Other Rights and Remedies.--Nothing in this part shall 
     be construed to alter any rights existing under a State 
     constitution or the Constitution of the United States, or to 
     limit any remedies for any other violations of Federal, 
     State, or local law.
       (c) Other Provisions of This Act.--Nothing in this subtitle 
     shall be construed as affecting section 1703 of this Act 
     (relating to rights of citizens).
       (d) Other Definitions.--The definitions set forth in 
     section 3404 shall apply only to this part and shall not be 
     construed to amend or interpret any other provision of law.

     SEC. 3406. SEVERABILITY.

       If any provision of this part or the application of such 
     provision to any citizen or circumstance is held to be 
     unconstitutional, the remainder of this part and the 
     application of the provisions of such to any citizen or 
     circumstance shall not be affected thereby.

     SEC. 3407. EFFECTIVE DATE.

       (a) Actions Brought for Retrogression.--Subsection (b) of 
     section 3402 shall apply to any law, rule, standard, 
     practice, procedure, or other governmental action that was 
     not in effect during the November 2022 general election for 
     Federal office but that will be in effect with respect to 
     elections for Federal office occurring on or after January 1, 
     2024, even if such law, rule, standard, practice, procedure, 
     or other governmental action is already in effect as of the 
     date of the enactment of this Act.
       (b) Actions Brought for Substantial Impairment.--Subsection 
     (c) of section 3402 shall apply to any law, rule, standard, 
     practice, procedure, or other governmental action in effect 
     with respect to elections for Federal office occurring on or 
     after January 1, 2024.

         PART 2--CLARIFYING JURISDICTION OVER ELECTION DISPUTES

     SEC. 3411. FINDINGS.

       In addition to providing for the statutory rights described 
     in part 1, including judicial review under section 3403, 
     Congress makes the following findings regarding enforcement 
     of constitutional provisions protecting the right to vote:
       (1) It is a priority of Congress to ensure that pending and 
     future disputes arising under the Fifteenth Amendment or any 
     other constitutional provisions protecting the right to vote 
     may be heard in Federal court.
       (2) The Fifth Circuit has misconstrued section 1344 of 
     title 28, United States Code, to deprive Federal courts of 
     subject matter jurisdiction in certain classes of cases that 
     implicate voters' constitutional rights, see, e.g., Keyes v.  
     Gunn, 890 F.3d 232 (5th Cir. 2018), cert. denied, 139 S. Ct. 
     434 (2018); Johnson v.  Stevenson, 170 F.2d 108 (5th Cir. 
     1948).
       (3) Section 1344 of such title is also superfluous in light 
     of other broad grants of Federal jurisdiction. See, e.g., 
     section 1331, section 1343(a)(3), and section 1343(a)(4) of 
     title 28, United States Code.
       (4) Congress therefore finds that a repeal of section 1344 
     is appropriate and that such repeal will ensure that Federal 
     courts nationwide are empowered to enforce voters' 
     constitutional rights in Federal elections and State 
     legislative elections.

     SEC. 3412. CLARIFYING AUTHORITY OF UNITED STATES DISTRICT 
                   COURTS TO HEAR CASES.

       (a) In General.--Section 1344 of title 28, United States 
     Code, is repealed.
       (b) Continuing Authority of Courts to Hear Cases Under 
     Other Existing Authority.--Nothing in this part may be 
     construed to affect the authority of district courts of the 
     United States to exercise jurisdiction pursuant to existing 
     provisions of law, including sections 1331, 1343(a)(3), and 
     1343(a)(4) of title 28, United States Code, in any cases 
     arising under the Constitution, laws, or treaties of the 
     United States concerning the administration, conduct, or 
     results of an election for Federal office or state 
     legislative office.
       (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 
     85 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by striking 
     the item relating to section 1344.

     SEC. 3413. EFFECTIVE DATE.

       This part and the amendments made by this part shall apply 
     to actions brought on or after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act and to actions brought before the date of enactment 
     of this Act which are pending as of such date.

            Subtitle F--Poll Worker Recruitment and Training

     SEC. 3501. GRANTS TO STATES FOR POLL WORKER RECRUITMENT AND 
                   TRAINING.

       (a) Grants by Election Assistance Commission.--
       (1) In general.--The Election Assistance Commission 
     (hereafter referred to as the ``Commission'') shall, subject 
     to the availability of appropriations provided to carry out 
     this section, make a grant to each eligible State for 
     recruiting and training individuals to serve as poll workers 
     on dates of elections for public office.
       (2) Use of commission materials.--In carrying out 
     activities with a grant provided under this section, the 
     recipient of the grant shall use the manual prepared by the 
     Commission on successful practices for poll worker 
     recruiting, training, and retention as an interactive 
     training tool, and shall develop training programs with the 
     participation and input of experts in adult learning.
       (3) Access and cultural considerations.--The Commission 
     shall ensure that the manual described in paragraph (2) 
     provides training in methods that will enable poll workers to 
     provide access and delivery of services in a culturally 
     competent manner to all voters who use their services, 
     including those with limited English proficiency, diverse 
     cultural and ethnic backgrounds, disabilities, and regardless 
     of gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity. These 
     methods must ensure that each voter will have access to poll 
     worker services that are delivered in a manner that meets the 
     unique needs of the voter.
       (b) Requirements for Eligibility.--
       (1) Application.--Each State that desires to receive a 
     payment under this section 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.
       (2) Contents of application.--Each application submitted 
     under paragraph (1) shall--
       (A) describe the activities for which assistance under this 
     section is sought;
       (B) provide assurances that the funds provided under this 
     section will be used to supplement and not supplant other 
     funds used to carry out the activities;
       (C) provide assurances that the State will furnish the 
     Commission with information on the number of individuals who 
     served as poll workers after recruitment and training with 
     the funds provided under this section;
       (D) provide assurances that the State will dedicate poll 
     worker recruitment efforts with respect to--
       (i) youth and minors, including by recruiting at 
     institutions of higher education and secondary education; and
       (ii) diversity, including with respect to race, ethnicity, 
     and disability; and
       (E) provide such additional information and certifications 
     as the Commission determines to be essential to ensure 
     compliance with the requirements of this section.
       (c) Amount of Grant.--
       (1) In general.--The amount of a grant made to a State 
     under this section shall be equal to the product of--
       (A) the aggregate amount made available for grants to 
     States under this section; and
       (B) the voting age population percentage for the State.
       (2) Voting age population percentage defined.--In paragraph 
     (1), the ``voting age population percentage'' for a State is 
     the quotient of--
       (A) the voting age population of the State (as determined 
     on the basis of the most recent information available from 
     the Bureau of the Census); and
       (B) the total voting age population of all States (as 
     determined on the basis of the most recent information 
     available from the Bureau of the Census).
       (d) Reports to Congress.--
       (1) Reports by recipients of grants.--Not later than 6 
     months after the date on which the final grant is made under 
     this section, each recipient of a grant shall submit a report 
     to the Commission on the activities conducted with the funds 
     provided by the grant.
       (2) Reports by commission.--Not later than 1 year after the 
     date on which the final grant is made under this section, the 
     Commission shall submit a report to Congress on the grants 
     made under this section and the activities carried out by 
     recipients with the grants, and shall include in the report 
     such

[[Page S4457]]

     recommendations as the Commission considers appropriate.
       (e) Funding.--
       (1) Continuing availability of amount appropriated.--Any 
     amount appropriated to carry out this section shall remain 
     available without fiscal year limitation until expended.
       (2) Administrative expenses.--Of the amount appropriated 
     for any fiscal year to carry out this section, not more than 
     3 percent shall be available for administrative expenses of 
     the Commission.

     SEC. 3502. STATE DEFINED.

       In this subtitle, 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.

           Subtitle G--Preventing Poll Observer Interference

     SEC. 3601. PROTECTIONS FOR VOTERS ON ELECTION DAY.

       (a) Requirements.--Subtitle A of title III of the Help 
     America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.) is amended 
     by inserting after section 303 the following new section:

     ``SEC. 303A. VOTER PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS.

       ``(a) Requirements for Challenges by Persons Other Than 
     Election Officials.--
       ``(1) Requirements for challenges.--No person, other than a 
     State or local election official, shall submit a formal 
     challenge to an individual's eligibility to register to vote 
     in an election for Federal office or to vote in an election 
     for Federal office unless that challenge is supported by 
     personal knowledge with respect to each individual challenged 
     regarding the grounds for ineligibility which is--
       ``(A) documented in writing; and
       ``(B) subject to an oath or attestation under penalty of 
     perjury that the challenger has a good faith factual basis to 
     believe that the individual who is the subject of the 
     challenge is ineligible to register to vote or vote in that 
     election, except a challenge which is based on the race, 
     ethnicity, or national origin of the individual who is the 
     subject of the challenge may not be considered to have a good 
     faith factual basis for purposes of this paragraph.
       ``(2) Prohibition on challenges on or near date of 
     election.--No person, other than a State or local election 
     official, shall be permitted--
       ``(A) to challenge an individual's eligibility to vote in 
     an election for Federal office on the date of the election on 
     grounds that could have been made in advance of such date; or
       ``(B) to challenge an individual's eligibility to register 
     to vote in an election for Federal office or to vote in an 
     election for Federal office less than 10 days before the 
     election unless the individual registered to vote less than 
     20 days before the election.
       ``(b) Buffer Rule.--
       ``(1) In general.--A person who is serving as a poll 
     observer with respect to an election for Federal office may 
     not come within 8 feet of--
       ``(A) a voter or ballot at a polling location during any 
     period of voting (including any period of early voting) in 
     such election; or
       ``(B) a ballot at any time during which the processing, 
     scanning, tabulating, canvassing, or certifying voting 
     results is occurring.
       ``(2) Rule of construction.--Nothing in paragraph (1) may 
     be construed to limit the ability of a State or local 
     election official to require poll observers to maintain a 
     distance greater than 8 feet.
       ``(c) Effective Date.--This section shall apply with 
     respect to elections for Federal office occurring on and 
     after January 1, 2026.''.
       (b) Conforming Amendment Relating to Voluntary Guidance.--
     Section 321(b)(4) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 21101(b)), as added 
     and redesignated by section 1101(b) and as amended by 
     sections 1102, 1103, 1104, and 1303, is amended by striking 
     ``and 313'' and inserting ``313, and 303A''.
       (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents of such Act 
     is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 
     303 the following:

``Sec. 303A. Voter protection requirements.''.

       Subtitle H--Preventing Restrictions on Food and Beverages

     SEC. 3701. SHORT TITLE; FINDINGS.

       (a) Short Title.--This subtitle may be cited as the 
     ``Voters' Access to Water Act''.
       (b) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
       (1) States have a legitimate interest in prohibiting 
     electioneering at or near polling places, and each State has 
     some form of restriction on political activities near polling 
     places when voting is taking place.
       (2) In recent elections, voters have waited in unacceptably 
     long lines to cast their ballot. During the 2018 midterm 
     election, more than 3,000,000 voters were made to wait longer 
     than the acceptable threshold for wait times set by the 
     Presidential Commission on Election Administration, including 
     many well-documented cases where voters were made to wait for 
     several hours. A disproportionate number of those who had to 
     wait long periods were Black or Latino voters, who were more 
     likely than White voters to wait in the longest lines on 
     Election Day.
       (3) Allowing volunteers to donate food and water to all 
     people waiting in line at a polling place, regardless of the 
     voters' political preference and without engaging in 
     electioneering activities or partisan advocacy, helps ensure 
     Americans who face long lines at their polling place can 
     still exercise their Constitutional right to vote, without 
     risk of dehydration, inadequate food, discomfort, and risks 
     to health.

     SEC. 3702. PROHIBITING RESTRICTIONS ON DONATIONS OF FOOD AND 
                   BEVERAGES AT POLLING STATIONS.

       (a) Requirement.--Subtitle A of title III of the Help 
     America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.), as 
     amended by section 1031(a), section 1044(a), section 1101(a), 
     section 1102(a), section 1103(a), section 1104(a), section 
     1201(a), section 1301(a), section 1302(a), section 1303(b), 
     section 1305(a), section 1606(a)(1), section 1607(a), and 
     section 1624(a) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating sections 318 and 319 as sections 319 
     and 320, respectively; and
       (2) by inserting after section 317 the following new 
     section:

     ``SEC. 318. PROHIBITING STATES FROM RESTRICTING DONATIONS OF 
                   FOOD AND BEVERAGES AT POLLING STATIONS.

       ``(a) Prohibition.--Subject to the exception in subsection 
     (b), a State may not impose any restriction on the donation 
     of food and nonalcoholic beverages to persons outside of the 
     entrance to the building where a polling place for a Federal 
     election is located, provided that such food and nonalcoholic 
     beverages are distributed without regard to the electoral 
     participation or political preferences of the recipients.
       ``(b) Exception.--A State may require persons distributing 
     food and nonalcoholic beverages outside the entrance to the 
     building where a polling place for a Federal election is 
     located to refrain from political or electioneering activity.
       ``(c) Effective Date.--This section shall apply with 
     respect to elections for Federal office occurring on and 
     after January 1, 2026.''.
       (b) Voluntary Guidance.--Section 321(b)(4) of such Act (52 
     U.S.C. 21101(b)), as added and redesignated by section 
     1101(b) and as amended by sections 1102, 1103, 1104, 1303, 
     and 3601(b), is amended by striking ``and 303A'' and 
     inserting ``303A, and 317''.
       (c) Clerical Amendments.--The table of contents of such 
     Act, as amended by section 1031(c), section 1044(b), section 
     1101(c), section 1102(c), section 1103(a), section 1104(c), 
     section 1201(c), section 1301(a), section 1302(a), section 
     1303(b), section 1305(a), section 1606(a)(3), section 
     1607(b), and section 1624(b) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating the items relating to sections 318 and 
     319 as relating to sections 319 and 320, respectively; and
       (2) by inserting after the item relating to section 317 the 
     following new item:

``Sec. 318. Prohibiting States from restricting donations of food and 
              beverages at polling stations.''.

 Subtitle I--Establishing Duty to Report Foreign Election Interference

     SEC. 3801. FINDINGS RELATING TO ILLICIT MONEY UNDERMINING OUR 
                   DEMOCRACY.

       Congress finds the following:
       (1) Criminals, terrorists, and corrupt government officials 
     frequently abuse anonymously held Limited Liability Companies 
     (LLCs), also known as ``shell companies,'' to hide, move, and 
     launder the dirty money derived from illicit activities such 
     as trafficking, bribery, exploitation, and embezzlement. 
     Ownership and control of the finances that run through shell 
     companies are obscured to regulators and law enforcement 
     because little information is required and collected when 
     establishing these entities.
       (2) The public release of the ``Panama Papers'' in 2016 and 
     the ``Paradise Papers'' in 2017 revealed that these shell 
     companies often purchase and sell United States real estate. 
     United States anti-money laundering laws do not apply to cash 
     transactions involving real estate effectively concealing the 
     beneficiaries and transactions from regulators and law 
     enforcement.
       (3) Since the Supreme Court's decisions in Citizens United 
     v.  Federal Election Commission, 558 U.S. 310 (2010), 
     billions of dollars have flowed into super PACs through LLCs 
     whose funders are anonymous or intentionally obscured. 
     Criminal investigations have uncovered LLCs that were used to 
     hide illegal campaign contributions from foreign criminal 
     fugitives, to advance international influence-buying schemes, 
     and to conceal contributions from donors who were already 
     under investigation for bribery and racketeering. Voters have 
     no way to know the true sources of the money being routed 
     through these LLCs to influence elections, including whether 
     any of the funds come from foreign or other illicit sources.
       (4) Congress should curb the use of anonymous shell 
     companies for illicit purposes by requiring United States 
     companies to disclose their beneficial owners, strengthening 
     anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism finance laws.
       (5) Congress should examine the money laundering and 
     terrorist financing risks in the real estate market, 
     including the role of anonymous parties, and review 
     legislation to address any vulnerabilities identified in this 
     sector.
       (6) Congress should examine the methods by which corruption 
     flourishes and the means to detect and deter the financial 
     misconduct that fuels this driver of global instability. 
     Congress should monitor government efforts to enforce United 
     States anticorruption laws and regulations.

     SEC. 3802. FEDERAL CAMPAIGN REPORTING OF FOREIGN CONTACTS.

       (a) Initial Notice.--

[[Page S4458]]

       (1) In general.--Section 304 of the Federal Election 
     Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30104) is amended by adding 
     at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(j) Disclosure of Reportable Foreign Contacts.--
       ``(1) Committee obligation to notify.--Not later than 1 
     week after a reportable foreign contact, each political 
     committee shall notify the Federal Bureau of Investigation 
     and the Commission of the reportable foreign contact and 
     provide a summary of the circumstances with respect to such 
     reportable foreign contact. The Federal Bureau of 
     Investigation, not later than 1 week after receiving a 
     notification from a political committee under this paragraph, 
     shall submit to the political committee, the Permanent Select 
     Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives, 
     and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate 
     written or electronic confirmation of receipt of the 
     notification.
       ``(2) Individual obligation to notify.--Not later than 3 
     days after a reportable foreign contact--
       ``(A) each candidate and each immediate family member of a 
     candidate shall notify the treasurer or other designated 
     official of the principal campaign committee of such 
     candidate of the reportable foreign contact and provide a 
     summary of the circumstances with respect to such reportable 
     foreign contact; and
       ``(B) each official, employee, or agent of a political 
     committee shall notify the treasurer or other designated 
     official of the committee of the reportable foreign contact 
     and provide a summary of the circumstances with respect to 
     such reportable foreign contact.
       ``(3) Reportable foreign contact.--In this subsection:
       ``(A) In general.--The term `reportable foreign contact' 
     means any direct or indirect contact or communication that--
       ``(i) is between--

       ``(I) a candidate, an immediate family member of the 
     candidate, a political committee, or any official, employee, 
     or agent of such committee; and
       ``(II) an individual that the person described in subclause 
     (I) knows, has reason to know, or reasonably believes is a 
     covered foreign national; and

       ``(ii) the person described in clause (i)(I) knows, has 
     reason to know, or reasonably believes involves--

       ``(I) an offer or other proposal for a contribution, 
     donation, expenditure, disbursement, or solicitation 
     described in section 319; or
       ``(II) direct or indirect coordination or collaboration 
     with, or a direct or indirect offer or provision of 
     information or services to or from, a covered foreign 
     national in connection with an election.

       ``(B) Exceptions.--
       ``(i) Contacts in official capacity as elected official.--
     The term `reportable foreign contact' shall not include any 
     contact or communication with a covered foreign national by 
     an elected official or an employee of an elected official 
     solely in an official capacity as such an official or 
     employee.
       ``(ii) Contacts for purposes of enabling observation of 
     elections by international observers.--The term `reportable 
     foreign contact' shall not include any contact or 
     communication with a covered foreign national by any person 
     which is made for purposes of enabling the observation of 
     elections in the United States by a foreign national or the 
     observation of elections outside of the United States by a 
     candidate, political committee, or any official, employee, or 
     agent of such committee.
       ``(iii) Exceptions not applicable if contacts or 
     communications involve prohibited disbursements.--A contact 
     or communication by an elected official or an employee of an 
     elected official shall not be considered to be made solely in 
     an official capacity for purposes of clause (i), and a 
     contact or communication shall not be considered to be made 
     for purposes of enabling the observation of elections for 
     purposes of clause (ii), if the contact or communication 
     involves a contribution, donation, expenditure, disbursement, 
     or solicitation described in section 319.
       ``(C) Covered foreign national defined.--
       ``(i) In general.--In this paragraph, the term `covered 
     foreign national' means--

       ``(I) a foreign principal (as defined in section 1(b) of 
     the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 (22 U.S.C. 
     611(b)) that is a government of a foreign country or a 
     foreign political party;
       ``(II) any person who acts as an agent, representative, 
     employee, or servant, or any person who acts in any other 
     capacity at the order, request, or under the direction or 
     control, of a foreign principal described in subclause (I) or 
     of a person any of whose activities are directly or 
     indirectly supervised, directed, controlled, financed, or 
     subsidized in whole or in major part by a foreign principal 
     described in subclause (I); or
       ``(III) any person included in the list of specially 
     designated nationals and blocked persons maintained by the 
     Office of Foreign Assets Control of the Department of the 
     Treasury pursuant to authorities relating to the imposition 
     of sanctions relating to the conduct of a foreign principal 
     described in subclause (I).

       ``(ii) Clarification regarding application to citizens of 
     the united states.--In the case of a citizen of the United 
     States, subclause (II) of clause (i) applies only to the 
     extent that the person involved acts within the scope of that 
     person's status as the agent of a foreign principal described 
     in subclause (I) of clause (i).
       ``(4) Immediate family member.--In this subsection, the 
     term `immediate family member' means, with respect to a 
     candidate, a parent, parent-in-law, spouse, adult child, or 
     sibling.''.
       (2) Effective date.--The amendment made by paragraph (1) 
     shall apply with respect to reportable foreign contacts which 
     occur on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.
       (b) Information Included on Report.--
       (1) In general.--Section 304(b) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 
     30104(b)) is amended--
       (A) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (7);
       (B) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (8) and 
     inserting ``; and''; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(9) for any reportable foreign contact (as defined in 
     subsection (j)(3))--
       ``(A) the date, time, and location of the contact;
       ``(B) the date and time of when a designated official of 
     the committee was notified of the contact;
       ``(C) the identity of individuals involved; and
       ``(D) a description of the contact, including the nature of 
     any contribution, donation, expenditure, disbursement, or 
     solicitation involved and the nature of any activity 
     described in subsection (j)(3)(A)(ii)(II) involved.''.
       (2) Effective date.--The amendments made by paragraph (1) 
     shall apply with respect to reports filed on or after the 
     expiration of the 60-day period which begins on the date of 
     the enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 3803. FEDERAL CAMPAIGN FOREIGN CONTACT REPORTING 
                   COMPLIANCE SYSTEM.

       (a) In General.--Section 302 of the Federal Election 
     Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30102) is amended by adding 
     at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(j) Reportable Foreign Contacts Compliance Policy.--
       ``(1) Reporting.--Each political committee shall establish 
     a policy that requires all officials, employees, and agents 
     of such committee (and, in the case of an authorized 
     committee, the candidate and each immediate family member of 
     the candidate) to notify the treasurer or other appropriate 
     designated official of the committee of any reportable 
     foreign contact (as defined in section 304(j)) not later than 
     3 days after such contact was made.
       ``(2) Retention and preservation of records.--Each 
     political committee shall establish a policy that provides 
     for the retention and preservation of records and information 
     related to reportable foreign contacts (as so defined) for a 
     period of not less than 3 years.
       ``(3) Certification.--
       ``(A) In general.--Upon filing its statement of 
     organization under section 303(a), and with each report filed 
     under section 304(a), the treasurer of each political 
     committee (other than an authorized committee) shall certify 
     that--
       ``(i) the committee has in place policies that meet the 
     requirements of paragraphs (1) and (2);
       ``(ii) the committee has designated an official to monitor 
     compliance with such policies; and
       ``(iii) not later than 1 week after the beginning of any 
     formal or informal affiliation with the committee, all 
     officials, employees, and agents of such committee will--

       ``(I) receive notice of such policies;
       ``(II) be informed of the prohibitions under section 319; 
     and
       ``(III) sign a certification affirming their understanding 
     of such policies and prohibitions.

       ``(B) Authorized committees.--With respect to an authorized 
     committee, the candidate shall make the certification 
     required under subparagraph (A).''.
       (b) Effective Date.--
       (1) In general.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
     apply with respect to political committees which file a 
     statement of organization under section 303(a) of the Federal 
     Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30103(a)) on or 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act.
       (2) Transition rule for existing committees.--Not later 
     than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
     each political committee under the Federal Election Campaign 
     Act of 1971 shall file a certification with the Federal 
     Election Commission that the committee is in compliance with 
     the requirements of section 302(j) of such Act (as added by 
     subsection (a)).

     SEC. 3804. CRIMINAL PENALTIES.

       Section 309(d)(1) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 
     1971 (52 U.S.C. 30109(d)(1)) is amended by adding at the end 
     the following new subparagraphs:
       ``(E) Any person who knowingly and willfully commits a 
     violation of subsection (j) or (b)(9) of section 304 or 
     section 302(j) shall be fined not more than $500,000, 
     imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.
       ``(F) Any person who knowingly and willfully conceals or 
     destroys any materials relating to a reportable foreign 
     contact (as defined in section 304(j)) shall be fined not 
     more than $1,000,000, imprisoned not more than 5 years, or 
     both.''.

[[Page S4459]]

  


     SEC. 3805. REPORT TO CONGRESSIONAL INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEES.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Director 
     of the Federal Bureau of Investigation shall submit to the 
     congressional intelligence committees a report relating to 
     notifications received by the Federal Bureau of Investigation 
     under section 304(j)(1) of the Federal Election Campaign Act 
     of 1971 (as added by section 4902(a) of this division).
       (b) Elements.--Each report under subsection (a) shall 
     include, at a minimum, the following with respect to 
     notifications described in subsection (a):
       (1) The number of such notifications received from 
     political committees during the year covered by the report.
       (2) A description of protocols and procedures developed by 
     the Federal Bureau of Investigation relating to receipt and 
     maintenance of records relating to such notifications.
       (3) With respect to such notifications received during the 
     year covered by the report, a description of any subsequent 
     actions taken by the Director resulting from the receipt of 
     such notifications.
       (c) Congressional Intelligence Committees Defined.--In this 
     section, the term ``congressional intelligence committees'' 
     has the meaning given that term in section 3 of the National 
     Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003).

     SEC. 3806. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.

       Nothing in this subtitle or the amendments made by this 
     subtitle shall be construed--
       (1) to impede legitimate journalistic activities; or
       (2) to impose any additional limitation on the right to 
     express political views or to participate in public discourse 
     of any individual who--
       (A) resides in the United States;
       (B) is not a citizen of the United States or a national of 
     the United States, as defined in section 101(a)(22) of the 
     Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(22)); and
       (C) is not lawfully admitted for permanent residence, as 
     defined by section 101(a)(20) of the Immigration and 
     Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(20)).

 Subtitle J--Promoting Accuracy, Integrity, and Security Through Voter-
                   Verifiable Permanent Paper Ballot

     SEC. 3901. SHORT TITLE.

       This subtitle may be cited as the ``Voter Confidence and 
     Increased Accessibility Act of 2024''.

     SEC. 3902. PAPER BALLOT AND MANUAL COUNTING REQUIREMENTS.

       (a) In General.--Section 301(a)(2) of the Help America Vote 
     Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081(a)(2)) is amended to read as 
     follows:
       ``(2) Paper ballot requirement.--
       ``(A) Voter-verifiable paper ballots.--
       ``(i) The voting system shall require the use of an 
     individual, durable, voter-verifiable paper ballot of the 
     voter's vote selections that shall be marked by the voter and 
     presented to the voter for verification before the voter's 
     ballot is preserved in accordance with subparagraph (B), and 
     which shall be counted by hand or other counting device or 
     read by a ballot tabulation device. For purposes of this 
     subclause, the term `individual, durable, voter-verifiable 
     paper ballot' means a paper ballot marked by the voter by 
     hand or a paper ballot marked through the use of a 
     nontabulating ballot marking device or system, so long as the 
     voter shall have the option at every in-person voting 
     location to mark by hand a printed ballot that includes all 
     relevant contests and candidates.
       ``(ii) The voting system shall provide the voter with an 
     opportunity to correct any error on the paper ballot before 
     the permanent voter-verifiable paper ballot is preserved in 
     accordance with subparagraph (B).
       ``(iii) The voting system shall not preserve the voter-
     verifiable paper ballots in any manner that makes it 
     possible, at any time after the ballot has been cast, to 
     associate a voter with the record of the voter's vote 
     selections.
       ``(iv) The voting system shall prevent, through mechanical 
     means or through independently verified protections, the 
     modification or addition of vote selections on a printed or 
     marked ballot at any time after the voter has been provided 
     an opportunity to correct errors on the ballot pursuant to 
     clause (ii).
       ``(B) Preservation as official record.--The individual, 
     durable, voter-verifiable paper ballot used in accordance 
     with subparagraph (A) shall constitute the official ballot 
     and shall be preserved and used as the official ballot for 
     purposes of any recount or audit conducted with respect to 
     any election for Federal office in which the voting system is 
     used.
       ``(C) Manual counting requirements for recounts and 
     audits.--
       ``(i) Each paper ballot used pursuant to subparagraph (A) 
     shall be suitable for a manual audit, and such ballots, or at 
     least those ballots the machine could not count, shall be 
     counted by hand in any recount or audit conducted with 
     respect to any election for Federal office.
       ``(ii) In the event of any inconsistencies or 
     irregularities between any electronic vote tallies and the 
     vote tallies determined by counting by hand the individual, 
     durable, voter-verifiable paper ballots used pursuant to 
     subparagraph (A), the individual, durable, voter-verifiable 
     paper ballots shall be the true and correct record of the 
     votes cast.
       ``(D) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress that 
     as innovation occurs in the election infrastructure sector, 
     Congress should ensure that this Act and other Federal 
     requirements for voting systems are updated to keep pace with 
     best practices and recommendations for security and 
     accessibility.''.
       (b) Conforming Amendment Clarifying Applicability of 
     Alternative Language Accessibility.--Section 301(a)(4) of 
     such Act (52 U.S.C. 21081(a)(4)) is amended by inserting 
     ``(including the paper ballots required to be used under 
     paragraph (2))'' after ``voting system''.
       (c) Other Conforming Amendments.--Section 301(a)(1) of such 
     Act (52 U.S.C. 21081(a)(1)) is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (A)(i), by striking ``counted'' and 
     inserting ``counted, in accordance with paragraphs (2) and 
     (3)'';
       (2) in subparagraph (A)(ii), by striking ``counted'' and 
     inserting ``counted, in accordance with paragraphs (2) and 
     (3)'';
       (3) in subparagraph (A)(iii), by striking ``counted'' each 
     place it appears and inserting ``counted, in accordance with 
     paragraphs (2) and (3)''; and
       (4) in subparagraph (B)(ii), by striking ``counted'' and 
     inserting ``counted, in accordance with paragraphs (2) and 
     (3)''.

     SEC. 3903. ACCESSIBILITY AND BALLOT VERIFICATION FOR 
                   INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.

       (a) In General.--Paragraph (3) of section 301(a) of the 
     Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081(a)(3)) is 
     amended to read as follows:
       ``(3) Accessibility for individuals with disabilities.--
       ``(A) In general.--The voting system shall--
       ``(i) be accessible for individuals with disabilities, 
     including nonvisual accessibility for the blind and visually 
     impaired, in a manner that provides the same opportunity for 
     access and participation (including privacy and independence) 
     as for other voters;
       ``(ii)(I) ensure that individuals with disabilities and 
     others are given an equivalent opportunity to vote, including 
     with privacy and independence, in a manner that produces a 
     voter-verifiable paper ballot; and
       ``(II) satisfy the requirement of clause (i) through the 
     use at in-person polling locations of a sufficient number 
     (not less than one) of voting systems equipped to serve 
     individuals with and without disabilities, including 
     nonvisual and enhanced visual accessibility for the blind and 
     visually impaired, and nonmanual and enhanced manual 
     accessibility for the mobility and dexterity impaired; and
       ``(iii) if purchased with funds made available under title 
     II on or after January 1, 2007, meet the voting system 
     standards for disability access (as outlined in this 
     paragraph).
       ``(B) Means of meeting requirements.--A voting system may 
     meet the requirements of subparagraph (A)(i) and paragraph 
     (2) by--
       ``(i) allowing the voter to privately and independently 
     verify the permanent paper ballot through the presentation, 
     in accessible form, of the printed or marked vote selections 
     from the same printed or marked information that would be 
     used for any vote tabulation or auditing;
       ``(ii) allowing the voter to privately and independently 
     verify and cast the permanent paper ballot without requiring 
     the voter to manually handle the paper ballot;
       ``(iii) marking ballots that are identical in size, ink, 
     and paper stock to those ballots that would either be marked 
     by hand or be marked by a ballot marking device made 
     generally available to voters; or
       ``(iv) combining ballots produced by any ballot marking 
     devices reserved for individuals with disabilities with 
     ballots that have either been marked by voters by hand or 
     marked by ballot marking devices made generally available to 
     voters, in a way that prevents identification of the ballots 
     that were cast using any ballot marking device that was 
     reserved for individuals with disabilities.
       ``(C) Sufficient number.--For purposes of subparagraph 
     (A)(ii)(II), the sufficient number of voting systems for any 
     in-person polling location shall be determined based on 
     guidance from the Attorney General, in consultation with the 
     Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board 
     established under section 502(a)(1) of the Rehabilitation Act 
     of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 792(a)(1)) (commonly referred to as the 
     United States Access Board) and the Commission.''.
       (b) Specific Requirement of Study, Testing, and Development 
     of Accessible Voting Options.--
       (1) Study and reporting.--Subtitle C of title II of such 
     Act (52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.) is amended--
       (A) by redesignating section 247 as section 248; and
       (B) by inserting after section 246 the following new 
     section:

     ``SEC. 247. STUDY AND REPORT ON ACCESSIBLE VOTING OPTIONS.

       ``(a) Grants to Study and Report.--The Commission, in 
     coordination with the Access Board and the Cybersecurity and 
     Infrastructure Security Agency, shall make grants to not 
     fewer than 2 eligible entities to study, test, and develop--
       ``(1) accessible and secure remote voting systems;
       ``(2) voting, verification, and casting devices to enhance 
     the accessibility of voting and verification for individuals 
     with disabilities; or
       ``(3) both of the matters described in paragraph (1) and 
     (2).

[[Page S4460]]

       ``(b) Eligibility.--An entity is eligible to receive a 
     grant under this part if it submits to the Commission (at 
     such time and in such form as the Commission may require) an 
     application containing--
       ``(1) a certification that the entity shall complete the 
     activities carried out with the grant not later than January 
     1, 2028; and
       ``(2) such other information and certifications as the 
     Commission may require.
       ``(c) Availability of Technology.--Any technology developed 
     with the grants made under this section shall be treated as 
     non-proprietary and shall be made available to the public, 
     including to manufacturers of voting systems.
       ``(d) Coordination With Grants for Technology 
     Improvements.--The Commission shall carry out this section so 
     that the activities carried out with the grants made under 
     subsection (a) are coordinated with the research conducted 
     under the grant program carried out by the Commission under 
     section 271, to the extent that the Commission determine 
     necessary to provide for the advancement of accessible voting 
     technology.
       ``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out subsection (a) $10,000,000, 
     to remain available until expended.''.
       (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of contents of such Act 
     is amended--
       (A) by redesignating the item relating to section 247 as 
     relating to section 248; and
       (B) by inserting after the item relating to section 246 the 
     following new item:

``Sec. 247. Study and report on accessible voting options.''.
       (c) Clarification of Accessibility Standards Under 
     Voluntary Voting System Guidance.--In adopting any voluntary 
     guidance under subtitle B of title III of the Help America 
     Vote Act with respect to the accessibility of the paper 
     ballot verification requirements for individuals with 
     disabilities, the Election Assistance Commission shall 
     include and apply the same accessibility standards applicable 
     under the voluntary guidance adopted for accessible voting 
     systems under such subtitle.
       (d) Permitting Use of Funds for Protection and Advocacy 
     Systems to Support Actions to Enforce Election-Related 
     Disability Access.--Section 292(a) of the Help America Vote 
     Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21062(a)) is amended by striking ``; 
     except that'' and all that follows and inserting a period.

     SEC. 3904. DURABILITY AND READABILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR 
                   BALLOTS.

       Section 301(a) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 
     U.S.C. 21081(a)) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new paragraph:
       ``(7) Durability and readability requirements for 
     ballots.--
       ``(A) Durability requirements for paper ballots.--
       ``(i) In general.--All voter-verifiable paper ballots 
     required to be used under this Act shall be marked or printed 
     on durable paper.
       ``(ii) Definition.--For purposes of this Act, paper is 
     `durable' if it is capable of withstanding multiple counts 
     and recounts by hand without compromising the fundamental 
     integrity of the ballots, and capable of retaining the 
     information marked or printed on them for the full duration 
     of a retention and preservation period of 22 months.
       ``(B) Readability requirements for paper ballots marked by 
     ballot marking device.--All voter-verifiable paper ballots 
     completed by the voter through the use of a ballot marking 
     device shall be clearly readable by the voter without 
     assistance (other than eyeglasses or other personal vision 
     enhancing devices) and by a ballot tabulation device or other 
     device equipped for individuals with disabilities.''.

     SEC. 3905. STUDY AND REPORT ON OPTIMAL BALLOT DESIGN.

       (a) Study.--The Election Assistance Commission shall 
     conduct a study of the best ways to design ballots used in 
     elections for public office, including paper ballots and 
     electronic or digital ballots, to minimize confusion and user 
     errors.
       (b) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Election Assistance Commission 
     shall submit to Congress a report on the study conducted 
     under subsection (a).

     SEC. 3906. BALLOT MARKING DEVICE CYBERSECURITY REQUIREMENTS.

       Section 301(a) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 
     U.S.C. 21081(a)), as amended by section 3904, is further 
     amended by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
       ``(8) Prohibition of use of wireless communications devices 
     in systems or devices.--No system or device upon which ballot 
     marking devices or ballot tabulation devices are configured, 
     upon which ballots are marked by voters at a polling place 
     (except as necessary for individuals with disabilities to use 
     ballot marking devices that meet the accessibility 
     requirements of paragraph (3)), or upon which votes are cast, 
     tabulated, or aggregated shall contain, use, or be accessible 
     by any wireless, power-line, or concealed communication 
     device.
       ``(9) Prohibiting connection of system to the internet.--No 
     system or device upon which ballot marking devices or ballot 
     tabulation devices are configured, upon which ballots are 
     marked by voters at a voting place, or upon which votes are 
     cast, tabulated, or aggregated shall be connected to the 
     internet or any non-local computer system via telephone or 
     other communication network at any time.''.

     SEC. 3907. EFFECTIVE DATE FOR NEW REQUIREMENTS.

       Section 301(d) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 
     U.S.C. 21081(d)) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(d) Effective Date.--
       ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), 
     each State and jurisdiction shall be required to comply with 
     the requirements of this section on and after January 1, 
     2006.
       ``(2) Special rule for certain requirements.--
       ``(A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraphs (B) 
     and (C), the requirements of this section which are first 
     imposed on a State or jurisdiction pursuant to the amendments 
     made by the Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act 
     of 2024 shall apply with respect to voting systems used for 
     any election for Federal office held in 2026 or any 
     succeeding year.
       ``(B) Special rule for jurisdictions using certain paper 
     record printers or certain systems using or producing voter-
     verifiable paper records in 2024.--
       ``(i) In general.--In the case of a jurisdiction described 
     in clause (ii), the requirements of paragraphs (2)(A)(i) and 
     (7) of subsection (a) (as amended or added by the Voter 
     Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2024) shall not 
     apply before the date on which the jurisdiction replaces the 
     printers or systems described in clause (ii)(I) for use in 
     the administration of elections for Federal office.
       ``(ii) Jurisdictions described.--A jurisdiction described 
     in this clause is a jurisdiction--

       ``(I) which used voter-verifiable paper record printers 
     attached to direct recording electronic voting machines, or 
     which used other voting systems that used or produced paper 
     records of the vote verifiable by voters but that are not in 
     compliance with paragraphs (2)(A)(i) and (7) of subsection 
     (a) (as amended or added by the Voter Confidence and 
     Increased Accessibility Act of 2024), for the administration 
     of the regularly scheduled general election for Federal 
     office held in November 2024; and
       ``(II) which will continue to use such printers or systems 
     for the administration of elections for Federal office held 
     in years before the applicable year.

       ``(iii) Mandatory availability of paper ballots at polling 
     places using grandfathered printers and systems.--

       ``(I) Requiring ballots to be offered and provided.--The 
     appropriate election official at each polling place that uses 
     a printer or system described in clause (ii)(I) for the 
     administration of elections for Federal office shall offer 
     each individual who is eligible to cast a vote in the 
     election at the polling place the opportunity to cast the 
     vote using a blank printed paper ballot which the individual 
     may mark by hand and which is not produced by the direct 
     recording electronic voting machine or other such system. The 
     official shall provide the individual with the ballot and the 
     supplies necessary to mark the ballot, and shall ensure (to 
     the greatest extent practicable) that the waiting period for 
     the individual to cast a vote is the lesser of 30 minutes or 
     the average waiting period for an individual who does not 
     agree to cast the vote using such a paper ballot under this 
     clause.
       ``(II) Treatment of ballot.--Any paper ballot which is cast 
     by an individual under this clause shall be counted and 
     otherwise treated as a regular ballot for all purposes 
     (including by incorporating it into the final unofficial vote 
     count (as defined by the State) for the precinct) and not as 
     a provisional ballot, unless the individual casting the 
     ballot would have otherwise been required to cast a 
     provisional ballot.
       ``(III) Posting of notice.--The appropriate election 
     official shall ensure there is prominently displayed at each 
     polling place a notice that describes the obligation of the 
     official to offer individuals the opportunity to cast votes 
     using a printed blank paper ballot. The notice shall comply 
     with the requirements of section 203 of the Voting Rights Act 
     of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 10503).
       ``(IV) Training of election officials.--The chief State 
     election official shall ensure that election officials at 
     polling places in the State are aware of the requirements of 
     this clause, including the requirement to display a notice 
     under subclause (III), and are aware that it is a violation 
     of the requirements of this title for an election official to 
     fail to offer an individual the opportunity to cast a vote 
     using a blank printed paper ballot.
       ``(V) Period of applicability.--The requirements of this 
     clause apply only during the period beginning on January 1, 
     2026, and ending on the date on which the which the 
     jurisdiction replaces the printers or systems described in 
     clause (ii)(I) for use in the administration of elections for 
     Federal office.

       ``(C) Delay for certain jurisdictions using voting systems 
     with wireless communication devices or internet 
     connections.--
       ``(i) Delay.--In the case of a jurisdiction described in 
     clause (ii), subparagraph (A) shall apply to a voting system 
     in the jurisdiction as if the reference in such subparagraph 
     to `2026' were a reference to `the applicable year', but only 
     with respect to the following requirements of this section.

       ``(I) Paragraph (8) of subsection (a) (relating to 
     prohibition of wireless communication devices)

[[Page S4461]]

       ``(II) Paragraph (9) of subsection (a) (relating to 
     prohibition of connecting systems to the internet)

       ``(ii) Jurisdictions described.--A jurisdiction described 
     in this clause is a jurisdiction--

       ``(I) which used a voting system which is not in compliance 
     with paragraphs (8) or (9) of subsection (a) (as amended or 
     added by the Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act 
     of 2024) for the administration of the regularly scheduled 
     general election for Federal office held in November 2022;
       ``(II) which was not able, to all extent practicable, to 
     comply with paragraph (8) and (9) of subsection (a) before 
     January 1, 2026; and
       ``(III) which will continue to use such printers or systems 
     for the administration of elections for Federal office held 
     in years before the applicable year.

       ``(iii) Applicable year.--

       ``(I) In general.--Except as provided in subclause (II), 
     the term `applicable year' means 2030.
       ``(II) Extension.--If a State or jurisdiction certifies to 
     the Commission not later than January 1, 2030, that the State 
     or jurisdiction will not meet the requirements described in 
     subclauses (I) and (II) of clause (i) by such date because it 
     would be impractical to do so and includes in the 
     certification the reasons for the failure to meet the 
     deadline, the term `applicable year' means 2034.''.

     SEC. 3908. GRANTS FOR OBTAINING COMPLIANT PAPER BALLOT VOTING 
                   SYSTEMS AND CARRYING OUT VOTING SYSTEM SECURITY 
                   IMPROVEMENTS.

       (a) Availability of Grants.--
       (1) In general.--Subtitle D of title II of the Help America 
     Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21001 et seq.), as amended by 
     section 1302(c), is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new part:

 ``PART 8--GRANTS FOR OBTAINING COMPLIANT PAPER BALLOT VOTING SYSTEMS 
          AND CARRYING OUT VOTING SYSTEM SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS

     ``SEC. 298. GRANTS FOR OBTAINING COMPLIANT PAPER BALLOT 
                   VOTING SYSTEMS AND CARRYING OUT VOTING SYSTEM 
                   SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS.

       ``(a) Availability and Use of Grant.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Commission shall make a grant to 
     each eligible State--
       ``(A) to replace a voting system--
       ``(i) which does not meet the requirements which are first 
     imposed on the State pursuant to the amendments made by the 
     Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2024 with 
     a voting system which--

       ``(I) does meet such requirements; and
       ``(II) in the case of a grandfathered voting system (as 
     defined in paragraph (2)), is in compliance with the most 
     recent voluntary voting system guidelines; or

       ``(ii) which does meet such requirements but which is not 
     in compliance with the most recent voluntary voting system 
     guidelines with another system which does meet such 
     requirements and is in compliance with such guidelines;
       ``(B) to carry out voting system security improvements 
     described in section 298A with respect to the regularly 
     scheduled general election for Federal office held in 
     November 2026 and each succeeding election for Federal 
     office;
       ``(C) to implement and model best practices for ballot 
     design, ballot instructions, and the testing of ballots; and
       ``(D) to purchase or acquire accessible voting systems that 
     meet the requirements of paragraph (2) and paragraph 
     (3)(A)(i) of section 301(a) by the means described in 
     paragraph (3)(B) of such section.
       ``(2) Definition of grandfathered voting system.--In this 
     subsection, the term `grandfathered voting system' means a 
     voting system that is used by a jurisdiction described in 
     subparagraph (B)(ii) or (C)(ii) of section 301(d)(2).
       ``(b) Amount of Payment.--
       ``(1) In general.--The amount of payment made to an 
     eligible State under this section shall be the minimum 
     payment amount described in paragraph (2) plus the voting age 
     population proportion amount described in paragraph (3).
       ``(2) Minimum payment amount.--The minimum payment amount 
     described in this paragraph is--
       ``(A) in the case of any of the several States or the 
     District of Columbia, one-half of 1 percent of the aggregate 
     amount made available for payments under this section; and
       ``(B) in the case of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, 
     American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, or the 
     Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, one-tenth of 1 
     percent of such aggregate amount.
       ``(3) Voting age population proportion amount.--The voting 
     age population proportion amount described in this paragraph 
     is the product of--
       ``(A) the aggregate amount made available for payments 
     under this section minus the total of all of the minimum 
     payment amounts determined under paragraph (2); and
       ``(B) the voting age population proportion for the State 
     (as defined in paragraph (4)).
       ``(4) Voting age population proportion defined.--The term 
     `voting age population proportion' means, with respect to a 
     State, the amount equal to the quotient of--
       ``(A) the voting age population of the State (as reported 
     in the most recent decennial census); and
       ``(B) the total voting age population of all States (as 
     reported in the most recent decennial census).
       ``(5) Requirement relating to purchase of accessible voting 
     systems.--An eligible State shall use not less than 10 
     percent of funds received by the State under this section to 
     purchase accessible voting systems described in subsection 
     (a)(1)(D).

     ``SEC. 298A. VOTING SYSTEM SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS DESCRIBED.

       ``(a) Permitted Uses.--A voting system security improvement 
     described in this section is any of the following:
       ``(1) The acquisition of goods and services from qualified 
     election infrastructure vendors by purchase, lease, or such 
     other arrangements as may be appropriate.
       ``(2) Cyber and risk mitigation training.
       ``(3) A security risk and vulnerability assessment of the 
     State's election infrastructure (as defined in section 
     3908(b) of the Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility 
     Act of 2024) which is carried out by a provider of 
     cybersecurity services under a contract entered into between 
     the chief State election official and the provider.
       ``(4) The maintenance of infrastructure used for elections, 
     including addressing risks and vulnerabilities which are 
     identified under either of the security risk and 
     vulnerability assessments described in paragraph (3), except 
     that none of the funds provided under this part may be used 
     to renovate or replace a building or facility which is not a 
     primary provider of information technology services for the 
     administration of elections, and which is used primarily for 
     purposes other than the administration of elections for 
     public office.
       ``(5) Providing increased technical support for any 
     information technology infrastructure that the chief State 
     election official deems to be part of the State's election 
     infrastructure (as so defined) or designates as critical to 
     the operation of the State's election infrastructure (as so 
     defined).
       ``(6) Enhancing the cybersecurity and operations of the 
     information technology infrastructure described in paragraph 
     (4).
       ``(7) Enhancing the cybersecurity of voter registration 
     systems.
       ``(b) Qualified Election Infrastructure Vendors 
     Described.--For purposes of this part, a `qualified election 
     infrastructure vendor' is any person who provides, supports, 
     or maintains, or who seeks to provide, support, or maintain, 
     election infrastructure (as defined in section 3908(b) of the 
     Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2024) on 
     behalf of a State, unit of local government, or election 
     agency (as defined in section 3908(b) of such Act) who meets 
     the criteria described in section 3908(b) of such Act.

     ``SEC. 298B. 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 description of how the State will use the grant to 
     carry out the activities authorized under this part;
       ``(2) a certification and assurance that, not later than 5 
     years after receiving the grant, the State will carry out 
     voting system security improvements, as described in section 
     298A; and
       ``(3) such other information and assurances as the 
     Commission may require.

     ``SEC. 298C. REPORTS TO CONGRESS.

       ``Not later than 90 days after the end of each fiscal year, 
     the Commission shall submit a report to the Committees on 
     Homeland Security, House Administration, and the Judiciary of 
     the House of Representatives and the Committees on Homeland 
     Security and Governmental Affairs, the Judiciary, and Rules 
     and Administration of the Senate, on the activities carried 
     out with the funds provided under this part.

     ``SEC. 298D. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       ``(a) Authorization.--There are authorized to be 
     appropriated for grants under this part--
       ``(1) $2,400,000,000 for fiscal year 2026; and
       ``(2) $175,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2028, 2030, 
     2032, and 2034.
       ``(b) Continuing Availability of Amounts.--Any amounts 
     appropriated pursuant to the authorization of this section 
     shall remain available until expended.''.
       (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of contents of such Act, 
     as amended by section 1402(c), is amended by adding at the 
     end of the items relating to subtitle D of title II the 
     following:

 ``Part 8--Grants for Obtaining Compliant Paper Ballot Voting Systems 
          and Carrying Out Voting System Security Improvements

``Sec. 298. Grants for obtaining compliant paper ballot voting systems 
              and carrying out voting system security improvements.
``Sec. 298A. Voting system security improvements described.
``Sec. 298B. Eligibility of States.
``Sec. 298C. Reports to Congress.
``Sec. 298D. Authorization of appropriations.
       (b) Qualified Election Infrastructure Vendors.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary, in consultation with the 
     Chair, shall establish and publish criteria for qualified 
     election infrastructure vendors for purposes of section 298A 
     of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (as added by this Act).

[[Page S4462]]

       (2) Criteria.--The criteria established under paragraph (1) 
     shall include each of the following requirements:
       (A) The vendor shall--
       (i) be owned and controlled by a citizen or permanent 
     resident of the United States or a member of the Five Eyes 
     intelligence-sharing alliance; and
       (ii) in the case of any election infrastructure which is a 
     voting machine, ensure that such voting machine is assembled 
     in the United States.
       (B) The vendor shall disclose to the Secretary and the 
     Chair, and to the chief State election official of any State 
     to which the vendor provides any goods and services with 
     funds provided under part 8 of subtitle D of title II of the 
     Help America Vote Act of 2002 (as added by this Act), of any 
     sourcing outside the United States for parts of the election 
     infrastructure.
       (C) The vendor shall disclose to the Secretary and the 
     Chair, and to the chief State election official of any State 
     to which the vendor provides any goods and services with 
     funds provided under such part 8, the identification of any 
     entity or individual with a more than 5 percent ownership 
     interest in the vendor.
       (D) The vendor agrees to ensure that the election 
     infrastructure will be developed and maintained in a manner 
     that is consistent with the cybersecurity best practices 
     issued by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security 
     Agency of the Department of Homeland Security.
       (E) The vendor agrees to maintain its information 
     technology infrastructure in a manner that is consistent with 
     the cybersecurity best practices issued by the Cybersecurity 
     and Infrastructure Security Agency of the Department of 
     Homeland Security.
       (F) The vendor agrees to ensure that the election 
     infrastructure will be developed and maintained in a manner 
     that is consistent with the supply chain best practices 
     issued by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security 
     Agency of the Department of Homeland Security.
       (G) The vendor agrees to ensure that it has personnel 
     policies and practices in place that are consistent with 
     personnel best practices, including cybersecurity training 
     and background checks, issued by the Cybersecurity and 
     Infrastructure Security Agency of the Department of Homeland 
     Security.
       (H) The vendor agrees to ensure that the election 
     infrastructure will be developed and maintained in a manner 
     that is consistent with data integrity best practices, 
     including requirements for encrypted transfers and 
     validation, testing and checking printed materials for 
     accuracy, and disclosure of quality control incidents, issued 
     by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency of 
     the Department of Homeland Security.
       (I) The vendor agrees to meet the requirements of paragraph 
     (3) with respect to any known or suspected cybersecurity 
     incidents involving any of the goods and services provided by 
     the vendor pursuant to a grant under part 8 of subtitle D of 
     title II of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (as added by 
     this Act).
       (J) The vendor agrees to permit independent security 
     testing by the Election Assistance Commission (in accordance 
     with section 231(a) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 
     U.S.C. 20971)) and by the Secretary of the goods and services 
     provided by the vendor pursuant to a grant under part 8 of 
     subtitle D of title II of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 
     (as added by this Act).
       (3) Cybersecurity incident reporting requirements.--
       (A) In general.--A vendor meets the requirements of this 
     paragraph if, upon becoming aware of the possibility that an 
     election cybersecurity incident has occurred involving any of 
     the goods and services provided by the vendor pursuant to a 
     grant under part 8 of subtitle D of title II of the Help 
     America Vote Act of 2002 (as added by this Act)--
       (i) the vendor promptly assesses whether or not such an 
     incident occurred, and submits a notification meeting the 
     requirements of subparagraph (B) to the Secretary and the 
     Chair of the assessment as soon as practicable (but in no 
     case later than 3 days after the vendor first becomes aware 
     of the possibility that the incident occurred);
       (ii) if the incident involves goods or services provided to 
     an election agency, the vendor submits a notification meeting 
     the requirements of subparagraph (B) to the agency as soon as 
     practicable (but in no case later than 3 days after the 
     vendor first becomes aware of the possibility that the 
     incident occurred), and cooperates with the agency in 
     providing any other necessary notifications relating to the 
     incident; and
       (iii) the vendor provides all necessary updates to any 
     notification submitted under clause (i) or clause (ii).
       (B) Contents of notifications.--Each notification submitted 
     under clause (i) or clause (ii) of subparagraph (A) shall 
     contain the following information with respect to any 
     election cybersecurity incident covered by the notification:
       (i) The date, time, and time zone when the election 
     cybersecurity incident began, if known.
       (ii) The date, time, and time zone when the election 
     cybersecurity incident was detected.
       (iii) The date, time, and duration of the election 
     cybersecurity incident.
       (iv) The circumstances of the election cybersecurity 
     incident, including the specific election infrastructure 
     systems believed to have been accessed and information 
     acquired, if any.
       (v) Any planned and implemented technical measures to 
     respond to and recover from the incident.
       (vi) In the case of any notification which is an update to 
     a prior notification, any additional material information 
     relating to the incident, including technical data, as it 
     becomes available.
       (C) Development of criteria for reporting.--Not later than 
     1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director 
     of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency 
     shall, in consultation with the Election Infrastructure 
     Sector Coordinating Council, develop criteria for incidents 
     which are required to be reported in accordance with 
     subparagraph (A).
       (4) Definitions.--In this subsection:
       (A) Chair.--The term ``Chair'' means the Chair of the 
     Election Assistance Commission.
       (B) Chief state election official.--The term ``chief State 
     election official'' means, with respect to a State, the 
     individual designated by the State under section 10 of the 
     National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20509) to 
     be responsible for coordination of the State's 
     responsibilities under such Act.
       (C) Election agency.--The term ``election agency'' means 
     any component of a State, or any component of a unit of local 
     government in a State, which is responsible for the 
     administration of elections for Federal office in the State.
       (D) Election infrastructure.--The term ``election 
     infrastructure'' means storage facilities, polling places, 
     and centralized vote tabulation locations used to support the 
     administration of elections for public office, as well as 
     related information and communications technology, including 
     voter registration databases, voting machines, electronic 
     mail and other communications systems (including electronic 
     mail and other systems of vendors who have entered into 
     contracts with election agencies to support the 
     administration of elections, manage the election process, and 
     report and display election results), and other systems used 
     to manage the election process and to report and display 
     election results on behalf of an election agency.
       (E) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Homeland Security.
       (F) State.--The term ``State'' has the meaning given such 
     term in section 901 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 
     U.S.C. 21141).

                    Subtitle K--Provisional Ballots

     SEC. 3911. REQUIREMENTS FOR COUNTING PROVISIONAL BALLOTS; 
                   ESTABLISHMENT OF UNIFORM AND NONDISCRIMINATORY 
                   STANDARDS.

       (a) In General.--Section 302 of the Help America Vote Act 
     of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21082), as amended by section 1601(a), is 
     amended--
       (1) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (h); and
       (2) by inserting after subsection (d) the following new 
     subsections:
       ``(e) Counting of Provisional Ballots.--
       ``(1) In general.--
       ``(A) For purposes of subsection (a)(4), if a provisional 
     ballot is cast within the same county in which the voter is 
     registered or otherwise eligible to vote, then 
     notwithstanding the precinct or polling place at which a 
     provisional ballot is cast within the county, the appropriate 
     election official of the jurisdiction in which the individual 
     is registered or otherwise eligible to vote shall count each 
     vote on such ballot for each election in which the individual 
     who cast such ballot is eligible to vote.
       ``(B) In addition to the requirements under subsection (a), 
     for each State or political subdivision that provides voters 
     provisional ballots, challenge ballots, or affidavit ballots 
     under the State's applicable law governing the voting 
     processes for those voters whose eligibility to vote is 
     determined to be uncertain by election officials, election 
     officials shall--
       ``(i) provide clear written instructions indicating the 
     reason the voter was given a provisional ballot, the 
     information or documents the voter needs to prove 
     eligibility, the location at which the voter must appear to 
     submit these materials or alternative methods, including 
     email or facsimile, that the voter may use to submit these 
     materials, and the deadline for submitting these materials;
       ``(ii) provide a verbal translation of any written 
     instructions to the voter if necessary;
       ``(iii) permit any voter who votes provisionally at any 
     polling place on Indian lands to appear at any polling place 
     or at a central location for the election board to submit the 
     documentation or information to prove eligibility; and
       ``(iv) notify the voter as to whether the voter's 
     provisional ballot was counted or rejected and provide the 
     reason for rejection if the voter's provisional ballot was 
     rejected after the voter provided the required information or 
     documentation on eligibility.
       ``(2) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this subsection 
     shall prohibit a State or jurisdiction from counting a 
     provisional ballot which is cast in a different county within 
     the State than the county in which the voter is registered or 
     otherwise eligible to vote.
       ``(f) Due Process Requirements for States Requiring 
     Signature Verification.--
       ``(1) Requirement.--
       ``(A) In general.--A State may not impose a signature 
     verification requirement as a

[[Page S4463]]

     condition of accepting and counting a provisional 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 provisional 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 in 
     signatures.--If an individual submits a provisional 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) as soon as practical, but no later than the next 
     business day after such determination is made, make a good 
     faith effort to notify the individual by mail, telephone, and 
     (if available) text message and 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 or other official 
     record or document used by the State to verify the signatures 
     of voters; and
       ``(II) if such discrepancy is not cured prior to the 
     expiration of the third day following the State's deadline 
     for receiving mail-in ballots or absentee ballots, such 
     ballot will not be counted; and

       ``(ii) cure such discrepancy and count the ballot if, prior 
     to the expiration of the third day following the State's 
     deadline for receiving mail-in ballots or absentee ballots, 
     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 cure missing signature or 
     other defect.--If an individual submits a provisional ballot 
     without a signature or submits a provisional ballot with 
     another defect which, if left uncured, would cause the ballot 
     to not be counted, the appropriate State or local election 
     official, prior to making a final determination as to the 
     validity of the ballot, shall--
       ``(i) as soon as practical, but no later than the next 
     business day after such determination is made, make a good 
     faith effort to notify the individual by mail, telephone, and 
     (if available) text message and electronic mail that--

       ``(I) the ballot did not include a signature or has some 
     other defect; and
       ``(II) if the individual does not provide the missing 
     signature or cure the other defect prior to the expiration of 
     the third day following the State's deadline for receiving 
     mail-in ballots or absentee ballots, such ballot will not be 
     counted; and

       ``(ii) count the ballot if, prior to the expiration of the 
     third day following the State's deadline for receiving mail-
     in ballots or absentee ballots, the individual provides the 
     official with the missing signature on a form proscribed by 
     the State or cures the other defect.
       ``(C) Other requirements.--
       ``(i) In general.--An election official may not make a 
     determination that a discrepancy exists between the signature 
     on a provisional ballot and the signature of the individual 
     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;
       ``(II) each official who makes the determination has 
     received training in procedures used to verify signatures; 
     and
       ``(III) of the officials who make the determination, at 
     least one is affiliated with the political party whose 
     candidate received the most votes in the most recent 
     statewide election for Federal office held in the State and 
     at least one is affiliated with the political party whose 
     candidate received the second most votes in the most recent 
     statewide election for Federal office held in the State.

       ``(ii) Exception.--Clause (i)(III) shall not apply to any 
     State in which, under a law that is in effect continuously on 
     and after the date of enactment of this section, 
     determinations regarding signature discrepancies are made by 
     election officials who are not affiliated with a political 
     party.
       ``(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 the Commission a report containing the 
     following information for the applicable Federal election 
     cycle in the State:
       ``(i) The number of provisional 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 
     provisional ballots determined valid as a result of such 
     process.
       ``(B) Submission to congress.--Not later than 10 days after 
     receiving a report under subparagraph (A), the Commission 
     shall transmit such report to Congress.
       ``(C) Federal election cycle defined.--For purposes of this 
     subsection, the term `Federal election cycle' means, with 
     respect to any regularly scheduled election for Federal 
     office, the period beginning on the day after the date of the 
     preceding regularly scheduled general election for Federal 
     office and ending on the date of such regularly scheduled 
     general election.
       ``(4) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this subsection 
     shall be construed--
       ``(A) to prohibit a State from rejecting a ballot attempted 
     to be cast in an election for Federal office by an individual 
     who is not eligible to vote in the election; or
       ``(B) to prohibit a State from providing an individual with 
     more time and more methods for curing a discrepancy in the 
     individual's signature, providing a missing signature, or 
     curing any other defect than the State is required to provide 
     under this subsection.
       ``(5) Effective date.--This subsection shall apply with 
     respect to elections held on or after January 1, 2026.
       ``(g) Uniform and Nondiscriminatory Standards.--
       ``(1) In general.--Consistent with the requirements of this 
     section, 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 elections held on or after January 1, 2026.
       ``(h) Additional Conditions Prohibited.--If an individual 
     in a State is eligible to cast a provisional ballot as 
     provided under this section, the State may not impose any 
     additional conditions or requirements (including conditions 
     or requirements regarding the timeframe in which a 
     provisional ballot may be cast) on the eligibility of the 
     individual to cast such provisional ballot.''.
       (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 302(h) of such Act (52 
     U.S.C. 21082(g)), as amended by section 1601(a) and 
     redesignated by subsection (a), is amended by striking 
     ``subsection (d)(4)'' and inserting ``subsections (d)(4), 
     (e)(3), and (f)(2)''.

                    TITLE IV--VOTING SYSTEM SECURITY

     SEC. 4001. POST-ELECTION AUDIT REQUIREMENT.

       (a) In General.--Title III of the Help America Vote Act of 
     2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.), as amended by section 3601, 
     is amended by inserting after section 303A the following new 
     section:

     ``SEC. 303B. POST-ELECTION AUDITS.

       ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
       ``(1) Post-election audit.--Except as provided in 
     subsection (c)(1)(B), the term `post-election audit' means, 
     with respect to any election contest, a post-election process 
     that--
       ``(A) has a probability of at least 95 percent of 
     correcting the reported outcome if the reported outcome is 
     not the correct outcome;
       ``(B) will not change the outcome if the reported outcome 
     is the correct outcome; and
       ``(C) involves a manual adjudication of voter intent from 
     some or all of the ballots validly cast in the election 
     contest.
       ``(2) Reported outcome; correct outcome; outcome.--
       ``(A) Reported outcome.--The term `reported outcome' means 
     the outcome of an election contest 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.
       ``(B) Correct outcome.--The term `correct outcome' means 
     the outcome that would be determined by a manual adjudication 
     of voter intent for all votes validly cast in the election 
     contest.
       ``(C) Outcome.--The term `outcome' means the winner or set 
     of winners of an election contest.
       ``(3) Manual adjudication of voter intent.--The term 
     `manual adjudication of voter intent' means direct inspection 
     and determination by humans, without assistance from 
     electronic or mechanical tabulation devices, of the ballot 
     choices marked by voters on each voter-verifiable paper 
     record.
       ``(4) Ballot manifest.--The term `ballot manifest' means a 
     record maintained by each jurisdiction that--
       ``(A) is created without reliance on any part of the voting 
     system used to tabulate votes;
       ``(B) functions as a sampling frame for conducting a post-
     election audit; and
       ``(C) accounts for all ballots validly cast regardless of 
     how they were tabulated and includes 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.
       ``(b) Requirements.--
       ``(1) In general.--
       ``(A) Audits.--
       ``(i) In general.--Each State and jurisdiction shall 
     administer post-election audits of the results of all 
     election contests for Federal office held in the State in 
     accordance with the requirements of paragraph (2).
       ``(ii) Exception.--Clause (i) shall not apply to any 
     election contest for which the State or jurisdiction conducts 
     a full recount through a manual adjudication of voter intent.
       ``(B) Full manual tabulation.--If a post-election audit 
     conducted under subparagraph (A) corrects the reported 
     outcome of an election contest, the State or jurisdiction 
     shall

[[Page S4464]]

     use the results of the manual adjudication of voter intent 
     conducted as part of the post-election audit as the official 
     results of the election contest.
       ``(2) Audit requirements.--
       ``(A) Rules and procedures.--
       ``(i) In general.--Not later than 6 years after the date of 
     the enactment of this section, the chief State election 
     official of the State shall establish rules and procedures 
     for conducting post-election audits.
       ``(ii) Matters included.--The rules and procedures 
     established under clause (i) shall include the following:

       ``(I) Rules and procedures for ensuring the security of 
     ballots and documenting that prescribed procedures were 
     followed.
       ``(II) Rules and procedures for ensuring the accuracy of 
     ballot manifests produced by jurisdictions.
       ``(III) Rules and procedures for governing the format of 
     ballot manifests and other data involved in post-election 
     audits.
       ``(IV) Methods to ensure that any cast vote records used in 
     a post-election audit are those used by the voting system to 
     tally the results of the election contest sent to the chief 
     State election official of the State and made public.
       ``(V) Rules and procedures for the random selection of 
     ballots to be inspected manually during each audit.
       ``(VI) Rules and procedures for the calculations and other 
     methods to be used in the audit and to determine whether and 
     when the audit of each election contest is complete.
       ``(VII) Rules and procedures for testing any software used 
     to conduct post-election audits.

       ``(B) Public report.--
       ``(i) In general.--After the completion of the post-
     election audit and at least 5 days before the election 
     contest is certified by the State, the State shall make 
     public and submit to the Commission a report on the results 
     of the audit, together with such information as necessary to 
     confirm that the audit was conducted properly.
       ``(ii) Format of data.--All data published with the report 
     under clause (i) shall be published in machine-readable, open 
     data formats.
       ``(iii) Protection of anonymity of votes.--Information and 
     data published by the State under this subparagraph shall not 
     compromise the anonymity of votes.
       ``(iv) Report made available by commission.--After 
     receiving any report submitted under clause (i), the 
     Commission shall make such report available on its website.
       ``(3) Effective date; waiver.--
       ``(A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraphs (B) 
     and (C), each State and jurisdiction shall be required to 
     comply with the requirements of this subsection for the first 
     regularly scheduled election for Federal office occurring in 
     2034 and for each subsequent election for Federal office.
       ``(B) Waiver.--Except as provided in subparagraph (C), if a 
     State certifies to the Election Assistance Commission not 
     later than the first regularly scheduled election for Federal 
     office occurring in 2034, that the State will not meet the 
     deadline described in subparagraph (A) because it would be 
     impracticable to do so and includes in the certification the 
     reasons for the failure to meet such deadline, subparagraph 
     (A) and subsection (c)(2) shall be applied to the State by 
     substituting `2036' for `2034'.
       ``(C) Additional waiver period.--If a State certifies to 
     the Election Assistance Commission not later than the first 
     regularly scheduled election for Federal office occurring in 
     2036, that the State will not meet the deadline described in 
     subparagraph (A) (after application of subparagraph (B)) 
     because it would be impracticable to do so and includes in 
     the certification the reasons for the failure to meet such 
     deadline, subparagraph (A) and subsection (c)(2) shall be 
     applied to the State by substituting `2038' for `2034'.
       ``(c) Phased Implementation.--
       ``(1) Post-election audits.--
       ``(A) In general.--For the regularly scheduled elections 
     for Federal office occurring in 2028 and 2030, each State 
     shall administer a post-election audit of the result of at 
     least one statewide election contest for Federal office held 
     in the State, or if no such statewide contest is on the 
     ballot, one election contest for Federal office chosen at 
     random.
       ``(B) Post-election audit defined.--In this subsection, the 
     term `post-election audit' means a post-election process that 
     involves a manual adjudication of voter intent from a sample 
     of ballots validly cast in the election contest.
       ``(2) Post-election audits for select contests.--Subject to 
     subparagraphs (B) and (C) of subsection (b)(3), for the 
     regularly scheduled elections for Federal office occurring in 
     2030 and for each subsequent election for Federal office that 
     occurs prior to the first regularly scheduled election for 
     Federal office occurring in 2034, each State shall administer 
     a post-election audit of the result of at least one statewide 
     election contest for Federal office held in the State, or if 
     no such statewide contest is on the ballot, one election 
     contest for Federal office chosen at random.
       ``(3) States that administer post-election audits for all 
     contests.--A State shall be exempt from the requirements of 
     this subsection for any regularly scheduled election for 
     Federal office in which the State meets the requirements of 
     subsection (b).''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents for such 
     Act, as amended by section 3601, is amended by inserting 
     after the item relating to section 303A the following new 
     item:

``Sec. 303B. Post-election audits.''.
       (c) Study on Post-election Audit Best Practices.--
       (1) In general.--The Director of the National Institute of 
     Standards and Technology shall establish an advisory 
     committee to study post-election audits and establish best 
     practices for post-election audit methodologies and 
     procedures.
       (2) Advisory committee.--The Director of the National 
     Institute of Standards and Technology shall appoint 
     individuals to the advisory committee and secure the 
     representation of--
       (A) State and local election officials;
       (B) individuals with experience and expertise in election 
     security;
       (C) individuals with experience and expertise in post-
     election audit procedures; and
       (D) individuals with experience and expertise in 
     statistical methods.
       (3) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out 
     the purposes of this subsection.

     SEC. 4002. ELECTION INFRASTRUCTURE DESIGNATION.

       Subparagraph (J) of section 2001(3) of the Homeland 
     Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 601(3)) is amended by 
     inserting ``, including election infrastructure'' before the 
     period at the end.

     SEC. 4003. GUIDELINES AND CERTIFICATION FOR ELECTRONIC POLL 
                   BOOKS AND REMOTE BALLOT MARKING SYSTEMS.

       (a) Inclusion Under Voluntary Voting System Guidelines.--
     Section 222 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 
     20962) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating subsections (a), (b), (c), (d), and 
     (e) as subsections (b), (c), (d), (e), and (f);
       (2) by inserting after the section heading the following:
       ``(a) Voluntary Voting System Guidelines.--The Commission 
     shall adopt voluntary voting system guidelines that describe 
     functionality, accessibility, and security principles for the 
     design, development, and operation of voting systems, 
     electronic poll books, and remote ballot marking systems.''; 
     and
       (3) by adding at the end the following new subsections:
       ``(g) Initial Guidelines for Electronic Poll Books and 
     Remote Ballot Marking Systems.--
       ``(1) Adoption date.--The Commission shall adopt initial 
     voluntary voting system guidelines for electronic poll books 
     and remote ballot marking systems not later than 1 year after 
     the date of the enactment of the Freedom to Vote Act.
       ``(2) Special rule for initial guidelines.--The Commission 
     may adopt initial voluntary voting system guidelines for 
     electronic poll books and remote ballot marking systems 
     without modifying the most recently adopted voluntary voting 
     system guidelines for voting systems.
       ``(h) Definitions.--In this section:
       ``(1) Electronic poll book.--The term `electronic poll 
     book' means the total combination of mechanical, 
     electromechanical, or electronic equipment (including the 
     software, firmware, and documentation required to program, 
     control, and support the equipment) that is used--
       ``(A) to retain the list of registered voters at a polling 
     location, or vote center, or other location at which voters 
     cast votes in an election for Federal office; and
       ``(B) to identify registered voters who are eligible to 
     vote in an election.
       ``(2) Remote ballot marking system.--The term `remote 
     ballot marking system' means an election system that--
       ``(A) is used by a voter to mark their ballots outside of a 
     voting center or polling place; and
       ``(B) allows a voter to receive a blank ballot to mark 
     electronically, print, and then cast by returning the printed 
     ballot to the elections office or other designated 
     location.''.
       (b) Providing for Certification of Electronic Poll Books 
     and Remote Ballot Marking System.--Section 231(a) of the Help 
     America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 20971(a)) is amended, in 
     each of paragraphs (1) and (2), by inserting ``, electronic 
     poll books, and remote ballot marking systems'' after 
     ``software''.

     SEC. 4004. PRE-ELECTION REPORTS ON VOTING SYSTEM USAGE.

       (a) Requiring States to Submit Reports.--Title III of the 
     Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.) is 
     amended by inserting after section 301 the following new 
     section:

     ``SEC. 301A. PRE-ELECTION REPORTS ON VOTING SYSTEM USAGE.

       ``(a) Requiring States to Submit Reports.--Not later than 
     120 days before the date of each regularly scheduled general 
     election for Federal office, the chief State election 
     official of a State shall submit a report to the Commission 
     containing a detailed voting system usage plan for each 
     jurisdiction in the State which will administer the election, 
     including a detailed plan for the usage of electronic poll 
     books and other equipment and components of such system. If a 
     jurisdiction acquires and implements a new voting system 
     within the 120 days before the date of the election, it shall 
     notify the chief State election official of the State, who 
     shall submit to the Commission in a timely manner an updated 
     report under the preceding sentence.

[[Page S4465]]

       ``(b) Effective Date.--Subsection (a) shall apply with 
     respect to the regularly scheduled general election for 
     Federal office held in November 2026 and each succeeding 
     regularly scheduled general election for Federal office''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents of such Act 
     is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 
     301 the following new item:

``Sec. 301A. Pre-election reports on voting system usage.''.

     SEC. 4005. USE OF VOTING MACHINES MANUFACTURED IN THE UNITED 
                   STATES.

       (a) Requirement.--Section 301(a) of the Help America Vote 
     Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081(a)), as amended by section 3904 
     and section 3906, is further amended by adding at the end the 
     following new paragraph:
       ``(10) Voting machine requirements.--
       ``(A) Manufacturing requirements.--By not later than the 
     date of the regularly scheduled general election for Federal 
     office occurring in November 2028, each State shall seek to 
     ensure to the extent practicable that any voting machine used 
     in such election and in any subsequent election for Federal 
     office is manufactured in the United States.
       ``(B) Assembly requirements.--By not later than the date of 
     the regularly scheduled general election for Federal office 
     occurring in November 2028, each State shall seek to ensure 
     that any voting machine purchased or acquired for such 
     election and in any subsequent election for Federal office is 
     assembled in the United States.
       ``(C) Software and code requirements.--By not later than 
     the date of the regularly scheduled general election for 
     Federal office occurring in November 2028, each State shall 
     seek to ensure that any software or code developed for any 
     voting system purchased or acquired for such election and in 
     any subsequent election for Federal office is developed and 
     stored in the United States.''.
       (b) Conforming Amendment Relating to Effective Date.--
     Section 301(d)(1) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 21081(d)(1)), as 
     amended by section 3907, is amended by striking ``paragraph 
     (2)'' and inserting ``subsection (a)(10) and paragraph (2)''.

     SEC. 4006. USE OF POLITICAL PARTY HEADQUARTERS BUILDING FUND 
                   FOR TECHNOLOGY OR CYBERSECURITY-RELATED 
                   PURPOSES.

       (a) Permitting Use of Fund.--Section 315(a)(9)(B) of the 
     Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 
     30116(a)(9)(B)) is amended by striking the period at the end 
     and inserting the following: ``, and to defray technology or 
     cybersecurity-related expenses.''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall apply with respect to calendar year 2026 and each 
     succeeding calendar year.

     SEC. 4007. SEVERABILITY.

       If any provision of this title or any amendment made by 
     this title, or the application of any such provision or 
     amendment to any person or circumstance, is held to be 
     unconstitutional, the remainder of this title, and the 
     application of such provision or amendment to any other 
     person or circumstance, shall not be affected by the holding.

           SUBDIVISION 3--CIVIC PARTICIPATION AND EMPOWERMENT

               TITLE V--NONPARTISAN REDISTRICTING REFORM

     SEC. 5001. FINDING OF CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY.

       Congress finds that it has the authority to establish the 
     terms and conditions States must follow in carrying out 
     congressional redistricting after an apportionment of Members 
     of the House of Representatives because--
       (1) the authority granted to Congress under article I, 
     section 4 of the Constitution of the United States gives 
     Congress the power to enact laws governing the time, place, 
     and manner of elections for Members of the House of 
     Representatives;
       (2) the authority granted to Congress under section 5 of 
     the 14th amendment to the Constitution gives Congress the 
     power to enact laws to enforce section 2 of such amendment, 
     which requires Representatives to be apportioned among the 
     several States according to their number;
       (3) the authority granted to Congress under section 5 of 
     the 14th amendment to the Constitution gives Congress the 
     power to enact laws to enforce section 1 of such amendment, 
     including protections against excessive partisan 
     gerrymandering that Federal courts have not enforced because 
     they understand such enforcement to be committed to Congress 
     by the Constitution;
       (4) of the authority granted to Congress to enforce article 
     IV, section 4, of the Constitution, and the guarantee of a 
     Republican Form of Government to every State, which Federal 
     courts have not enforced because they understand such 
     enforcement to be committed to Congress by the Constitution;
       (5) requiring States to use uniform redistricting criteria 
     is an appropriate and important exercise of such authority; 
     and
       (6) partisan gerrymandering dilutes citizens' votes because 
     partisan gerrymandering injures voters and political parties 
     by infringing on their First Amendment right to associate 
     freely and their Fourteenth Amendment right to equal 
     protection of the laws.

     SEC. 5002. BAN ON MID-DECADE REDISTRICTING.

       A State that has been redistricted in accordance with this 
     title may not be redistricted again until after the next 
     apportionment of Representatives under section 22(a) of the 
     Act entitled ``An Act to provide for the fifteenth and 
     subsequent decennial censuses and to provide for an 
     apportionment of Representatives in Congress'', approved June 
     18, 1929 (2 U.S.C. 2a), unless a court requires the State to 
     conduct such subsequent redistricting to comply with the 
     Constitution of the United States, the Voting Rights Act of 
     1965 (52 U.S.C. 10301 et seq.), the terms or conditions of 
     this title, or applicable State law.

     SEC. 5003. CRITERIA FOR REDISTRICTING.

       (a) Requiring Plans to Meet Criteria.--A State may not use 
     a congressional redistricting plan enacted following the 
     notice of apportionment transmitted to the President on April 
     26, 2021, or any subsequent notice of apportionment, if such 
     plan is not in compliance with this section, without regard 
     to whether or not the plan was enacted by the State before, 
     on, or after the effective date of this title.
       (b) Ranked Criteria.--Under the redistricting plan of a 
     State, there shall be established single-member congressional 
     districts using the following criteria as set forth in the 
     following order of priority:
       (1) Districts shall comply with the United States 
     Constitution, including the requirement that they 
     substantially equalize total population, without regard to 
     age, citizenship status, or immigration status.
       (2) Districts shall comply with the Voting Rights Act of 
     1965 (52 U.S.C. 10301 et seq.), including by creating any 
     districts where, if based upon the totality of the 
     circumstances, 2 or more politically cohesive groups 
     protected by such Act are able to elect representatives of 
     choice in coalition with one another, and all applicable 
     Federal laws.
       (3)(A) Districts shall be drawn, to the extent that the 
     totality of the circumstances warrant, to ensure the 
     practical ability of a group protected under the Voting 
     Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 10301 et seq.) to participate 
     in the political process and to nominate candidates and to 
     elect representatives of choice is not diluted or diminished, 
     regardless of whether or not such protected group constitutes 
     a majority of a district's population, voting age population, 
     or citizen voting age population.
       (B) For purposes of subparagraph (A), the assessment of 
     whether a protected group has the practical ability to 
     nominate candidates and to elect representatives of choice 
     shall require the consideration of the following factors:
       (i) Whether the group is politically cohesive.
       (ii) Whether there is racially polarized voting in the 
     relevant geographic region.
       (iii) If there is racially polarized voting in the relevant 
     geographic region, whether the preferred candidates of the 
     group nevertheless receive a sufficient amount of consistent 
     crossover support from other voters such that the group is a 
     functional majority with the ability to both nominate 
     candidates and elect representatives of choice.
       (4)(A) Districts shall be drawn to represent communities of 
     interest and neighborhoods to the extent practicable after 
     compliance with the requirements of paragraphs (1) through 
     (3). A community of interest is defined as an area for which 
     the record before the entity responsible for developing and 
     adopting the redistricting plan demonstrates the existence of 
     broadly shared interests and representational needs, 
     including shared interests and representational needs rooted 
     in common ethnic, racial, economic, Indian, social, cultural, 
     geographic, or historic identities, or arising from similar 
     socioeconomic conditions. The term communities of interest 
     may, if the record warrants, include political subdivisions 
     such as counties, municipalities, Indian lands, or school 
     districts, but shall not include common relationships with 
     political parties or political candidates.
       (B) For purposes of subparagraph (A), in considering the 
     needs of multiple, overlapping communities of interest, the 
     entity responsible for developing and adopting the 
     redistricting plan shall give greater weight to those 
     communities of interest whose representational needs would 
     most benefit from the community's inclusion in a single 
     congressional district.
       (c) No Favoring or Disfavoring of Political Parties.--
       (1) Prohibition.--A State may not use a redistricting plan 
     to conduct an election if the plan's congressional districts, 
     when considered cumulatively on a statewide basis, have been 
     drawn with the intent or have the effect of materially 
     favoring or disfavoring any political party.
       (2) Determination of effect.--The determination of whether 
     a redistricting plan has the effect of materially favoring or 
     disfavoring a political party shall be based on an evaluation 
     of the totality of circumstances which, at a minimum, shall 
     involve consideration of each of the following factors:
       (A) Computer modeling based on relevant statewide general 
     elections for Federal office held over the 8 years preceding 
     the adoption of the redistricting plan setting forth the 
     probable electoral outcomes for the plan under a range of 
     reasonably foreseeable conditions.
       (B) An analysis of whether the redistricting plan is 
     statistically likely to result in partisan advantage or 
     disadvantage on a statewide basis, the degree of any such 
     advantage or disadvantage, and whether such advantage or 
     disadvantage is likely to be

[[Page S4466]]

     present under a range of reasonably foreseeable electoral 
     conditions.
       (C) A comparison of the modeled electoral outcomes for the 
     redistricting plan to the modeled electoral outcomes for 
     alternative plans that demonstrably comply with the 
     requirements of paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of subsection 
     (b) in order to determine whether reasonable alternatives 
     exist that would result in materially lower levels of 
     partisan advantage or disadvantage on a statewide basis. For 
     purposes of this subparagraph, alternative plans considered 
     may include both actual plans proposed during the 
     redistricting process and other plans prepared for purposes 
     of comparison.
       (D) Any other relevant information, including how broad 
     support for the redistricting plan was among members of the 
     entity responsible for developing and adopting the plan and 
     whether the processes leading to the development and adoption 
     of the plan were transparent and equally open to all members 
     of the entity and to the public.
       (3) Rebuttable presumption.--
       (A) Trigger.--In any civil action brought under section 
     5006 in which a party asserts a claim that a State has 
     enacted a redistricting plan which is in violation of this 
     subsection, a party may file a motion not later than 30 days 
     after the enactment of the plan (or, in the case of a plan 
     enacted before the effective date of this Act, not later than 
     30 days after the effective date of this Act) requesting that 
     the court determine whether a presumption of such a violation 
     exists. If such a motion is timely filed, the court shall 
     hold a hearing not later than 15 days after the date the 
     motion is filed to assess whether a presumption of such a 
     violation exists.
       (B) Assessment.--To conduct the assessment required under 
     subparagraph (A), the court shall do the following:
       (i) Determine the number of congressional districts under 
     the plan that would have been carried by each political 
     party's candidates for the office of President and the office 
     of Senator in the 2 most recent general elections for the 
     office of President and the 2 most recent general elections 
     for the office of Senator (other than special general 
     elections) immediately preceding the enactment of the plan, 
     except that if a State conducts a primary election for the 
     office of Senator which is open to candidates of all 
     political parties, the primary election shall be used instead 
     of the general election and the number of districts carried 
     by a party's candidates for the office of Senator shall be 
     determined on the basis of the combined vote share of all 
     candidates in the election who are affiliated with such 
     party.
       (ii) Determine, for each of the 4 elections assessed under 
     clause (i), whether the number of districts that would have 
     been carried by any party's candidate as determined under 
     clause (i) results in partisan advantage or disadvantage in 
     excess of the applicable threshold described in subparagraph 
     (C). The degree of partisan advantage or disadvantage shall 
     be determined by one or more standard quantitative measures 
     of partisan fairness that--

       (I) use a party's share of the statewide vote to calculate 
     a corresponding benchmark share of seats; and
       (II) measure the amount by which the share of seats the 
     party's candidate would have won in the election involved 
     exceeds the benchmark share of seats.

       (C) Applicable threshold described.--The applicable 
     threshold described in this subparagraph is, with respect to 
     a State and a number of seats, the greater of--
       (i) an amount equal to 7 percent of the number of 
     congressional districts in the State; or
       (ii) one congressional district.
       (D) Description of quantitative measures; prohibiting 
     rounding.--In carrying out this subsection--
       (i) the standard quantitative measures of partisan fairness 
     used by the court may include the simplified efficiency gap 
     but may not include strict proportionality; and
       (ii) the court may not round any number.
       (E) Presumption of violation.--A plan is presumed to 
     violate paragraph (1) if, on the basis of at least one 
     standard quantitative measure of partisan fairness, it 
     exceeds the applicable threshold described in subparagraph 
     (C) with respect to 2 or more of the 4 elections assessed 
     under subparagraph (B).
       (F) Stay of use of plan.--Notwithstanding any other 
     provision of this title, in any action under this paragraph, 
     the following rules shall apply:
       (i) Upon filing of a motion under subparagraph (A), a 
     State's use of the plan which is the subject of the motion 
     shall be automatically stayed pending resolution of such 
     motion.
       (ii) If after considering the motion, the court rules that 
     the plan is presumed under subparagraph (E) to violate 
     paragraph (1), a State may not use such plan until and unless 
     the court which is carrying out the determination of the 
     effect of the plan under paragraph (2) determines that, 
     notwithstanding the presumptive violation, the plan does not 
     violate paragraph (1).
       (G) No effect on other assessments.--The absence of a 
     presumption of a violation with respect to a redistricting 
     plan as determined under this paragraph shall not affect the 
     determination of the effect or intent of the plan under this 
     section.
       (4) Determination of intent.--A court may rely on all 
     available evidence when determining whether a redistricting 
     plan was drawn with the intent to materially favor or 
     disfavor a political party, including evidence of the 
     partisan effects of a plan, the degree of support the plan 
     received from members of the entity responsible for 
     developing and adopting the plan, and whether the processes 
     leading to development and adoption of the plan were 
     transparent and equally open to all members of the entity and 
     to the public.
       (5) No violation based on certain criteria.--No 
     redistricting plan shall be found to be in violation of 
     paragraph (1) because of the proper application of the 
     criteria set forth in paragraphs (1), (2), or (3) of 
     subsection (b), unless one or more alternative plans could 
     have complied with such paragraphs without having the effect 
     of materially favoring or disfavoring a political party.
       (d) Factors Prohibited From Consideration.--In developing 
     the redistricting plan for the State, the State may not take 
     into consideration any of the following factors, except as 
     necessary to comply with the criteria described in paragraphs 
     (1) through (3) of subsection (b), to achieve partisan 
     fairness and comply with subsection (b), and to enable the 
     redistricting plan to be measured against the external 
     metrics described in section 5004(c):
       (1) The residence of any Member of the House of 
     Representatives or candidate.
       (2) The political party affiliation or voting history of 
     the population of a district.
       (e) Additional Criteria.--A State may not rely upon 
     criteria, districting principles, or other policies of the 
     State which are not set forth in this section to justify non-
     compliance with the requirements of this section.
       (f) Applicability.--
       (1) In general.--This section applies to any authority, 
     whether appointed, elected, judicial, or otherwise, 
     responsible for enacting the congressional redistricting plan 
     of a State.
       (2) Date of enactment.--This section applies to any 
     congressional redistricting plan enacted following the notice 
     of apportionment transmitted to the President on April 26, 
     2021, regardless of the date of enactment by the State of the 
     congressional redistricting plan.
       (g) Severability of Criteria.--If any provision of this 
     section, or the application of any such provision to any 
     person or circumstance, is held to be unconstitutional, the 
     remainder of this section, and the application of such 
     provision to any other person or circumstance, shall not be 
     affected by the holding.

     SEC. 5004. DEVELOPMENT OF PLAN.

       (a) Public Notice and Input.--
       (1) Use of open and transparent process.--The entity 
     responsible for developing and adopting the congressional 
     redistricting plan of a State shall solicit and take into 
     consideration comments from the public throughout the process 
     of developing the plan, and shall carry out its duties in an 
     open and transparent manner which provides for the widest 
     public dissemination reasonably possible of its proposed and 
     final redistricting plans.
       (2) Website.--
       (A) Features.--The entity shall maintain a public Internet 
     site which is not affiliated with or maintained by the office 
     of any elected official and which includes the following 
     features:
       (i) All proposed redistricting plans and the final 
     redistricting plan, including the accompanying written 
     evaluation under subsection (c).
       (ii) All comments received from the public submitted under 
     paragraph (1).
       (iii) Access in an easily usable format to the demographic 
     and other data used by the entity to develop and analyze the 
     proposed redistricting plans, together with any reports 
     analyzing and evaluating such plans and access to software 
     that members of the public may use to draw maps of proposed 
     districts.
       (iv) A method by which members of the public may submit 
     comments directly to the entity.
       (B) Searchable format.--The entity shall ensure that all 
     information posted and maintained on the site under this 
     paragraph, including information and proposed maps submitted 
     by the public, shall be maintained in an easily searchable 
     format.
       (3) Multiple language requirements for all notices.--The 
     entity responsible for developing and adopting the plan shall 
     make each notice which is required to be posted and published 
     under this section available in any language in which the 
     State (or any jurisdiction in the State) is required to 
     provide election materials under section 203 of the Voting 
     Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 10503).
       (b) Development of Plan.--
       (1) Hearings.--The entity responsible for developing and 
     adopting the congressional redistricting plan shall hold 
     hearings both before and after releasing proposed plans in 
     order to solicit public input on the content of such plans. 
     These hearings shall--
       (A) be held in different regions of the State and streamed 
     live on the public Internet site maintained under subsection 
     (a)(2);
       (B) be sufficient in number, scheduled at times and places, 
     and noticed and conducted in a manner to ensure that all 
     members of the public, including members of racial, ethnic, 
     and language minorities protected under the Voting Rights Act 
     of 1965, have a meaningful opportunity to attend and provide 
     input both before and after the entity releases proposed 
     plans.
       (2) Posting of maps.--The entity responsible for developing 
     and adopting the congressional redistricting plan shall make 
     proposed plans, amendments to proposed plans,

[[Page S4467]]

     and the data needed to analyze such plans for compliance with 
     the criteria of this title available for public review, 
     including on the public Internet site required under 
     subsection (a)(2), for a period of not less than 5 days 
     before any vote or hearing is held on any such plan or any 
     amendment to such a plan.
       (c) Release of Written Evaluation of Plan Against External 
     Metrics Required Prior to Vote.--The entity responsible for 
     developing and adopting the congressional redistricting plan 
     for a State may not hold a vote on a proposed redistricting 
     plan, including a vote in a committee, unless at least 48 
     hours prior to holding the vote the State has released a 
     written evaluation that measures each such plan against 
     external metrics which cover the criteria set forth in 
     section 5003(b), including the impact of the plan on the 
     ability of members of a class of citizens protected by the 
     Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 10301 et seq.) to elect 
     candidates of choice, the degree to which the plan preserves 
     or divides communities of interest, and any analysis used by 
     the State to assess compliance with the requirements of 
     section 5003(b) and (c).
       (d) Public Input and Comments.--The entity responsible for 
     developing and adopting the congressional redistricting plan 
     for a State shall make all public comments received about 
     potential plans, including alternative plans, available to 
     the public on the Internet site required under subsection 
     (a)(2), at no cost, not later than 24 hours prior to holding 
     a vote on final adoption of a plan.

     SEC. 5005. FAILURE BY STATE TO ENACT PLAN.

       (a) Deadline for Enactment of Plan.--
       (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), each 
     State shall enact a final congressional redistricting plan 
     following transmission of a notice of apportionment to the 
     President by the earliest of--
       (A) the deadline set forth in State law, including any 
     extension to the deadline provided in accordance with State 
     law;
       (B) February 15 of the year in which regularly scheduled 
     general elections for Federal office are held in the State; 
     or
       (C) 90 days before the date of the next regularly scheduled 
     primary election for Federal office held in the State.
       (2) Special rule for plans enacted prior to effective date 
     of title.--If a State enacted a final congressional 
     redistricting plan prior to the effective date of this title 
     and the plan is not in compliance with the requirements of 
     this title, the State shall enact a final redistricting plan 
     which is in compliance with the requirements of this title 
     not later than 45 days after the effective date of this 
     title.
       (b) Development of Plan by Court in Case of Missed 
     Deadline.--If a State has not enacted a final congressional 
     redistricting plan by the applicable deadline under 
     subsection (a), or it appears reasonably likely that a State 
     will fail to enact a final congressional redistricting plan 
     by such deadline--
       (1) any citizen of the State may file an action in the 
     United States district court for the applicable venue asking 
     the district court to assume jurisdiction;
       (2) the United States district court for the applicable 
     venue, acting through a 3-judge court convened pursuant to 
     section 2284 of title 28, United States Code, shall have the 
     exclusive authority to develop and publish the congressional 
     redistricting plan for the State; and
       (3) the final congressional redistricting plan developed 
     and published by the court under this section shall be deemed 
     to be enacted on the date on which the court publishes the 
     final congressional redistricting plan, as described in 
     subsection (e).
       (c) Applicable Venue.--For purposes of this section, the 
     ``applicable venue'' with respect to a State is the District 
     of Columbia or the judicial district in which the capital of 
     the State is located, as selected by the first party to file 
     with the court sufficient evidence that a State has failed 
     to, or is reasonably likely to fail to, enact a final 
     redistricting plan for the State prior to the expiration of 
     the applicable deadline set forth in subsection (a).
       (d) Procedures for Development of Plan.--
       (1) Criteria.--In developing a redistricting plan for a 
     State under this section, the court shall adhere to the same 
     terms and conditions that applied (or that would have 
     applied, as the case may be) to the development of a plan by 
     the State under section 5003.
       (2) Access to information and records.--The court shall 
     have access to any information, data, software, or other 
     records and material that was used (or that would have been 
     used, as the case may be) by the State in carrying out its 
     duties under this title.
       (3) Hearing; public participation.--In developing a 
     redistricting plan for a State, the court shall--
       (A) hold one or more evidentiary hearings at which 
     interested members of the public may appear and be heard and 
     present testimony, including expert testimony, in accordance 
     with the rules of the court; and
       (B) consider other submissions and comments by the public, 
     including proposals for redistricting plans to cover the 
     entire State or any portion of the State.
       (4) Use of special master.--To assist in the development 
     and publication of a redistricting plan for a State under 
     this section, the court may appoint a special master to make 
     recommendations to the court on possible plans for the State.
       (e) Publication of Plan.--
       (1) Public availability of initial plan.--Upon completing 
     the development of one or more initial redistricting plans, 
     the court shall make the plans available to the public at no 
     cost, and shall also make available the underlying data used 
     to develop the plans and a written evaluation of the plans 
     against external metrics (as described in section 5004(c)).
       (2) Publication of final plan.--At any time after the 
     expiration of the 14-day period which begins on the date the 
     court makes the plans available to the public under paragraph 
     (1), and taking into consideration any submissions and 
     comments by the public which are received during such period, 
     the court shall develop and publish the final redistricting 
     plan for the State.
       (f) Use of Interim Plan.--In the event that the court is 
     not able to develop and publish a final redistricting plan 
     for the State with sufficient time for an upcoming election 
     to proceed, the court may develop and publish an interim 
     redistricting plan which shall serve as the redistricting 
     plan for the State until the court develops and publishes a 
     final plan in accordance with this section. Nothing in this 
     subsection may be construed to limit or otherwise affect the 
     authority or discretion of the court to develop and publish 
     the final redistricting plan, including the discretion to 
     make any changes the court deems necessary to an interim 
     redistricting plan.
       (g) Appeals.--Review on appeal of any final or interim plan 
     adopted by the court in accordance with this section shall be 
     governed by the appellate process in section 5006.
       (h) Stay of State Proceedings.--The filing of an action 
     under this section shall act as a stay of any proceedings in 
     State court with respect to the State's congressional 
     redistricting plan unless otherwise ordered by the court.

     SEC. 5006. CIVIL ENFORCEMENT.

       (a) Civil Enforcement.--
       (1) Actions by attorney general.--The Attorney General may 
     bring a civil action for such relief as may be appropriate to 
     carry out this title.
       (2) Availability of private right of action.--
       (A) In general.--Any person residing or domiciled in a 
     State who is aggrieved by the failure of the State to meet 
     the requirements of the Constitution or Federal law, 
     including this title, with respect to the State's 
     congressional redistricting, may bring a civil action in the 
     United States district court for the applicable venue for 
     such relief as may be appropriate to remedy the failure.
       (B) Special rule for claims relating to partisan 
     advantage.--For purposes of subparagraph (A), a person who is 
     aggrieved by the failure of a State to meet the requirements 
     of section 5003(c) may include--
       (i) any political party or committee in the State; and
       (ii) any registered voter in the State who resides in a 
     congressional district that the voter alleges was drawn in a 
     manner that contributes to a violation of such section.
       (C) No awarding of damages to prevailing party.--Except for 
     an award of attorney's fees under subsection (d), a court in 
     a civil action under this section shall not award the 
     prevailing party any monetary damages, compensatory, 
     punitive, or otherwise.
       (3) Delivery of complaint to house and senate.--In any 
     action brought under this section, a copy of the complaint 
     shall be delivered promptly to the Clerk of the House of 
     Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate.
       (4) Exclusive jurisdiction and applicable venue.--The 
     district courts of the United States shall have exclusive 
     jurisdiction to hear and determine claims asserting that a 
     congressional redistricting plan violates the requirements of 
     the Constitution or Federal law, including this title. The 
     applicable venue for such an action shall be the United 
     States District Court for the District of Columbia or for the 
     judicial district in which the capital of the State is 
     located, as selected by the person bringing the action. In a 
     civil action that includes a claim that a redistricting plan 
     is in violation of subsection (b) or (c) of section 5003, the 
     United States District Court for the District of Columbia 
     shall have jurisdiction over any defendant who has been 
     served in any United States judicial district in which the 
     defendant resides, is found, or has an agent, or in the 
     United States judicial district in which the capital of the 
     State is located. Process may be served in any United States 
     judicial district where a defendant resides, is found, or has 
     an agent, or in the United States judicial district in which 
     the capital of the State is located.
       (5) Use of 3-judge court.--If an action under this section 
     raises statewide claims under the Constitution or this title, 
     the action shall be heard by a 3-judge court convened 
     pursuant to section 2284 of title 28, United States Code.
       (6) Review of final decision.--A final decision in an 
     action brought under this section shall be reviewable on 
     appeal by the United States Court of Appeals for the District 
     of Columbia Circuit, which shall hear the matter sitting en 
     banc. There shall be no right of appeal in such proceedings 
     to any other court of appeals. Such appeal shall be taken by 
     the filing of a notice of appeal within 10

[[Page S4468]]

     days of the entry of the final decision. A final decision by 
     the Court of Appeals may be reviewed by the Supreme Court of 
     the United States by writ of certiorari.
       (b) Expedited Consideration.--In any action brought under 
     this section, it shall be the duty of the district court, the 
     United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia 
     Circuit, and the Supreme Court of the United States (if it 
     chooses to hear the action) to advance on the docket and to 
     expedite to the greatest possible extent the disposition of 
     the action and appeal.
       (c) Remedies.--
       (1) Adoption of replacement plan.--
       (A) In general.--If the district court in an action under 
     this section finds that the congressional redistricting plan 
     of a State violates, in whole or in part, the requirements of 
     this title--
       (i) the court shall adopt a replacement congressional 
     redistricting plan for the State in accordance with the 
     process set forth in section 5005; or
       (ii) if circumstances warrant and no delay to an upcoming 
     regularly scheduled election for the House of Representatives 
     in the State would result, the district court, in its 
     discretion, may allow a State to develop and propose a 
     remedial congressional redistricting plan for review by the 
     court to determine whether the plan is in compliance with 
     this title, except that--

       (I) the State may not develop and propose a remedial plan 
     under this clause if the court determines that the 
     congressional redistricting plan of the State was enacted 
     with discriminatory intent in violation of the Constitution 
     or section 5003(b); and
       (II) nothing in this clause may be construed to permit a 
     State to use such a remedial plan which has not been approved 
     by the court.

       (B) Prohibiting use of plans in violation of 
     requirements.--No court shall order a State to use a 
     congressional redistricting plan which violates, in whole or 
     in part, the requirements of this title, or to conduct an 
     election under terms and conditions which violate, in whole 
     or in part, the requirements of this title.
       (C) Special rule in case final adjudication not expected 
     within 3 months of election.--
       (i) Duty of court.--If final adjudication of an action 
     under this section is not reasonably expected to be completed 
     at least 3 months prior to the next regularly scheduled 
     primary election for the House of Representatives in the 
     State, the district court shall--

       (I) develop, adopt, and order the use of an interim 
     congressional redistricting plan in accordance with section 
     5005(f) to address any claims under this title for which a 
     party seeking relief has demonstrated a substantial 
     likelihood of success; or
       (II) order adjustments to the timing of primary elections 
     for the House of Representatives and other related deadlines, 
     as needed, to allow sufficient opportunity for adjudication 
     of the matter and adoption of a remedial or replacement plan 
     for use in the next regularly scheduled general elections for 
     the House of Representatives.

       (ii) Prohibiting failure to act on grounds of pendency of 
     election.--The court may not refuse to take any action 
     described in clause (i) on the grounds of the pendency of the 
     next election held in the State or the potential for 
     disruption, confusion, or additional burdens with respect to 
     the administration of the election in the State.
       (2) No stay pending appeal.--Notwithstanding the appeal of 
     an order finding that a congressional redistricting plan of a 
     State violates, in whole or in part, the requirements of this 
     title, no stay shall issue which shall bar the development or 
     adoption of a replacement or remedial plan under this 
     subsection, as may be directed by the district court, pending 
     such appeal. If such a replacement or remedial plan has been 
     adopted, no appellate court may stay or otherwise enjoin the 
     use of such plan during the pendency of an appeal, except 
     upon an order holding, based on the record, that adoption of 
     such plan was an abuse of discretion.
       (3) Special authority of court of appeals.--
       (A) Ordering of new remedial plan.--If, upon consideration 
     of an appeal under this title, the Court of Appeals 
     determines that a plan does not comply with the requirements 
     of this title, it shall direct that the District Court 
     promptly develop a new remedial plan with assistance of a 
     special master for consideration by the Court of Appeals.
       (B) Failure of district court to take timely action.--If, 
     at any point during the pendency of an action under this 
     section, the District Court fails to take action necessary to 
     permit resolution of the case prior to the next regularly 
     scheduled election for the House of Representatives in the 
     State or fails to grant the relief described in paragraph 
     (1)(C), any party may seek a writ of mandamus from the Court 
     of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. The Court of 
     Appeals shall have jurisdiction over the motion for a writ of 
     mandamus and shall establish an expedited briefing and 
     hearing schedule for resolution of the motion. If the Court 
     of Appeals determines that a writ should be granted, the 
     Court of Appeals shall take any action necessary, including 
     developing a congressional redistricting plan with assistance 
     of a special master to ensure that a remedial plan is adopted 
     in time for use in the next regularly scheduled election for 
     the House of Representatives in the State.
       (4) Effect of enactment of replacement plan.--A State's 
     enactment of a redistricting plan which replaces a plan which 
     is the subject of an action under this section shall not be 
     construed to limit or otherwise affect the authority of the 
     court to adjudicate or grant relief with respect to any 
     claims or issues not addressed by the replacement plan, 
     including claims that the plan which is the subject of the 
     action was enacted, in whole or in part, with discriminatory 
     intent, or claims to consider whether relief should be 
     granted under section 3(c) of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 
     (52 U.S.C. 10302(c)) based on the plan which is the subject 
     of the action.
       (d) Attorney's Fees.--In a civil action under this section, 
     the court may allow the prevailing party (other than the 
     United States) reasonable attorney fees, including litigation 
     expenses, and costs.
       (e) Relation to Other Laws.--
       (1) Rights and remedies additional to other rights and 
     remedies.--The rights and remedies established by this 
     section are in addition to all other rights and remedies 
     provided by law, and neither the rights and remedies 
     established by this section nor any other provision of this 
     title shall supersede, restrict, or limit the application of 
     the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 10301 et seq.).
       (2) Voting rights act of 1965.--Nothing in this title 
     authorizes or requires conduct that is prohibited by the 
     Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 10301 et seq.).
       (f) Legislative Privilege.--No person, legislature, or 
     State may claim legislative privilege under either State or 
     Federal law in a civil action brought under this section or 
     in any other legal challenge, under either State or Federal 
     law, to a redistricting plan enacted under this title.
       (g) Removal.--
       (1) In general.--At any time, a civil action brought in a 
     State court which asserts a claim for which the district 
     courts of the United States have exclusive jurisdiction under 
     this title may be removed by any party in the case, including 
     an intervenor, by filing, in the district court for an 
     applicable venue under this section, a notice of removal 
     signed pursuant to Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil 
     Procedure containing a short and plain statement of the 
     grounds for removal. Consent of parties shall not be required 
     for removal.
       (2) Claims not within the original or supplemental 
     jurisdiction.--If a civil action removed in accordance with 
     paragraph (1) contains claims not within the original or 
     supplemental jurisdiction of the district court, the district 
     court shall sever all such claims and remand them to the 
     State court from which the action was removed.

     SEC. 5007. NO EFFECT ON ELECTIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL OFFICE.

       Nothing in this title or in any amendment made by this 
     title may be construed to affect the manner in which a State 
     carries out elections for State or local office, including 
     the process by which a State establishes the districts used 
     in such elections.

     SEC. 5008. EFFECTIVE DATE.

       (a) In General.--This title and the amendments made by this 
     title shall apply on the date of enactment of this title.
       (b) Application to Congressional Redistricting Plans 
     Resulting From 2020 Decennial Census.--Notwithstanding 
     subsection (a), this title and the amendments made by this 
     title, other than section 5004, shall apply with respect to 
     each congressional redistricting plan enacted pursuant to the 
     notice of apportionment transmitted to the President on April 
     26, 2021, without regard to whether or not a State enacted 
     such a plan prior to the date of the enactment of this Act.

                TITLE VI--CAMPAIGN FINANCE TRANSPARENCY

                        Subtitle A--DISCLOSE Act

     SEC. 6001. SHORT TITLE.

       This subtitle may be cited as the ``Democracy Is 
     Strengthened by Casting Light On Spending in Elections Act of 
     2024'' or the ``DISCLOSE Act of 2024''.

     SEC. 6002. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds the following:
       (1) Campaign finance disclosure is a narrowly tailored and 
     minimally restrictive means to advance substantial government 
     interests, including fostering an informed electorate capable 
     of engaging in self-government and holding their elected 
     officials accountable, detecting and deterring quid pro quo 
     corruption, and identifying information necessary to enforce 
     other campaign finance laws, including campaign contribution 
     limits and the prohibition on foreign money in U.S. 
     campaigns. To further these substantial interests, campaign 
     finance disclosure must be timely and complete, and must 
     disclose the true and original source of money given, 
     transferred, and spent to influence Federal elections. 
     Current law does not meet this objective because corporations 
     and other entities that the Supreme Court has permitted to 
     spend money to influence Federal elections are subject to few 
     if any transparency requirements.
       (2) As the Supreme Court recognized in its per curiam 
     opinion in Buckley v.  Valeo, 424 U.S. 1, (1976), 
     ``disclosure requirements certainly in most applications 
     appear to be the least restrictive means of curbing the evils 
     of campaign ignorance and corruption that Congress found to 
     exist.'' Buckley, 424 U.S. at 68. In Citizens United v. FEC, 
     the Court reiterated that ``disclosure is a less restrictive

[[Page S4469]]

     alternative to more comprehensive regulations of speech.'' 
     558 U.S. 310, 369 (2010).
       (3) No subsequent decision has called these holdings into 
     question, including the Court's decision in Americans for 
     Prosperity Foundation v. Bonta, 141 S. Ct. 2373 (2021). That 
     case did not involve campaign finance disclosure, and the 
     Court did not overturn its longstanding recognition of the 
     substantial interests furthered by such disclosure.
       (4) Campaign finance disclosure is also essential to 
     enforce the Federal Election Campaign Act's prohibition on 
     contributions by and solicitations of foreign nationals. See 
     section 319 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52 
     U.S.C. 30121).
       (5) Congress should close loopholes allowing spending by 
     foreign nationals in domestic elections. For example, in 
     2021, the Federal Election Commission, the independent 
     Federal agency charged with protecting the integrity of the 
     Federal campaign finance process, found reason to believe and 
     conciliated a matter where an experienced political 
     consultant knowingly and willfully violated Federal law by 
     soliciting a contribution from a foreign national by offering 
     to transmit a $2,000,000 contribution to a super PAC through 
     his company and two 501(c)(4) organizations, to conceal the 
     origin of the funds. This scheme was only unveiled after 
     appearing in a The Telegraph UK article and video capturing 
     the solicitation. See Conciliation Agreement, MURs 7165 & 
     7196 (Great America PAC, et al.), date June 28, 2021; Factual 
     and Legal Analysis, MURs 7165 & 7196 (Jesse Benton), dated 
     Mar. 2, 2021.

  PART 1--CLOSING LOOPHOLES ALLOWING SPENDING BY FOREIGN NATIONALS IN 
                               ELECTIONS

     SEC. 6003. CLARIFICATION OF APPLICATION OF FOREIGN MONEY BAN 
                   TO CERTAIN DISBURSEMENTS AND ACTIVITIES.

       Section 319(b) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 
     (52 U.S.C. 30121(b)) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as 
     subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively, and by moving such 
     subparagraphs 2 ems to the right;
       (2) by striking ``As used in this section, the term'' and 
     inserting the following: ``Definitions.--For purposes of this 
     section--
       ``(1) Foreign national.--The term'';
       (3) by moving paragraphs (1) and (2) two ems to the right 
     and redesignating them as subparagraphs (A) and (B), 
     respectively; and
       (4) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(2) Contribution and donation.--For purposes of 
     paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a), the term 
     `contribution or donation' includes any disbursement to a 
     political committee which accepts donations or contributions 
     that do not comply with any of the limitations, prohibitions, 
     and reporting requirements of this Act (or any disbursement 
     to or on behalf of any account of a political committee which 
     is established for the purpose of accepting such donations or 
     contributions), or to any other person for the purpose of 
     funding an expenditure, independent expenditure, or 
     electioneering communication (as defined in section 
     304(f)(3)).''.

     SEC. 6004. STUDY AND REPORT ON ILLICIT FOREIGN MONEY IN 
                   FEDERAL ELECTIONS.

       (a) Study.--For each 4-year election cycle (beginning with 
     the 4-year election cycle ending in 2024), the Comptroller 
     General shall conduct a study on the incidence of illicit 
     foreign money in all elections for Federal office held during 
     the preceding 4-year election cycle, including what 
     information is known about the presence of such money in 
     elections for Federal office.
       (b) Report.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than the applicable date with 
     respect to any 4-year election cycle, the Comptroller General 
     shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a 
     report on the study conducted under subsection (a).
       (2) Matters included.--The report submitted under paragraph 
     (1) shall include a description of the extent to which 
     illicit foreign money was used to target particular groups, 
     including rural communities, African-American and other 
     minority communities, and military and veteran communities, 
     based on such targeting information as is available and 
     accessible to the Comptroller General.
       (3) Applicable date.--For purposes of paragraph (1), the 
     term ``applicable date'' means--
       (A) in the case of the 4-year election cycle ending in 
     2024, the date that is 1 year after the date of the enactment 
     of this Act; and
       (B) in the case of any other 4-year election cycle, the 
     date that is 1 year after the date on which such 4-year 
     election cycle ends.
       (c) Definitions.--As used in this section:
       (1) 4-year election cycle.--The term ``4-year election 
     cycle'' means the 4-year period ending on the date of the 
     general election for the offices of President and Vice 
     President.
       (2) Illicit foreign money.--The term ``illicit foreign 
     money'' means any contribution, donation, expenditure, or 
     disbursement by a foreign national (as defined in section 
     319(b) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52 
     U.S.C.30121(b))) prohibited under such section.
       (3) Election; federal office.--The terms ``election'' and 
     ``Federal office'' have the meanings given such terms under 
     section 301 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52 
     U.S.C. 30101).
       (4) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
     ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
       (A) the Committee on House Administration of the House of 
     Representatives;
       (B) the Committee on Rules and Administration of the 
     Senate;
       (C) the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of 
     Representatives; and
       (D) the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate.
       (d) Sunset.--This section shall not apply to any 4-year 
     election cycle beginning after the election for the offices 
     of President and Vice President in 2032.

     SEC. 6005. PROHIBITION ON CONTRIBUTIONS AND DONATIONS BY 
                   FOREIGN NATIONALS IN CONNECTION WITH BALLOT 
                   INITIATIVES AND REFERENDA.

       (a) In General.--Section 319(b) of the Federal Election 
     Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30121(b)), as amended by 
     section 6003, is amended by adding at the end the following 
     new paragraph:
       ``(3) Federal, state, or local election.--The term 
     `Federal, State, or local election' includes a State or local 
     ballot initiative or referendum, but only in the case of--
       ``(A) a covered foreign national described in section 
     304(j)(3)(C); or
       ``(B) a foreign principal described in section 1(b)(2) or 
     1(b)(3) of the Foreign Agent Registration Act of 1938, as 
     amended (22 U.S.C. 611(b)(2) or (b)(3)) or an agent of such a 
     foreign principal under such Act.''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section 
     shall apply with respect to elections held in 2026 or any 
     succeeding year.

     SEC. 6006. DISBURSEMENTS AND ACTIVITIES SUBJECT TO FOREIGN 
                   MONEY BAN.

       (a) Disbursements Described.--Section 319(a)(1) of the 
     Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30121(a)(1)) 
     is amended--
       (1) by striking ``or'' at the end of subparagraph (B); and
       (2) by striking subparagraph (C) and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(C) an expenditure;
       ``(D) an independent expenditure;
       ``(E) a disbursement for an electioneering communication 
     (within the meaning of section 304(f)(3));
       ``(F) a disbursement for a communication which is placed or 
     promoted for a fee on a website, web application, or digital 
     application that refers to a clearly identified candidate for 
     election for Federal office and is disseminated within 60 
     days before a general, special or runoff election for the 
     office sought by the candidate or 30 days before a primary or 
     preference election, or a convention or caucus of a political 
     party that has authority to nominate a candidate for the 
     office sought by the candidate;
       ``(G) a disbursement by a covered foreign national 
     described in section 304(j)(3)(C) for a broadcast, cable or 
     satellite communication, or for a communication which is 
     placed or promoted for a fee on a website, web application, 
     or digital application, that promotes, supports, attacks or 
     opposes the election of a clearly identified candidate for 
     Federal, State, or local office (regardless of whether the 
     communication contains express advocacy or the functional 
     equivalent of express advocacy);
       ``(H) a disbursement for a broadcast, cable, or satellite 
     communication, or for any communication which is placed or 
     promoted for a fee on an online platform (as defined in 
     section 304(k)(3)), that discusses a national legislative 
     issue of public importance in a year in which a regularly 
     scheduled general election for Federal office is held, but 
     only if the disbursement is made by a covered foreign 
     national described in section 304(j)(3)(C);
       ``(I) a disbursement by a covered foreign national 
     described in section 304(j)(3)(C) to compensate any person 
     for internet activity that promotes, supports, attacks or 
     opposes the election of a clearly identified candidate for 
     Federal, State, or local office (regardless of whether the 
     activity contains express advocacy or the functional 
     equivalent of express advocacy); or
       ``(J) a disbursement by a covered foreign national 
     described in section 304(j)(3)(C) for a Federal judicial 
     nomination communication (as defined in section 
     324(g)(2));''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall apply with respect to disbursements made on or after 
     the date of the enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 6007. PROHIBITING ESTABLISHMENT OF CORPORATION TO 
                   CONCEAL ELECTION CONTRIBUTIONS AND DONATIONS BY 
                   FOREIGN NATIONALS.

       (a) Prohibition.--Chapter 29 of title 18, United States 
     Code, as amended by section 2001(a), is amended by adding at 
     the end the following:

     ``Sec. 613. Establishment of corporation to conceal election 
       contributions and donations by foreign nationals

       ``(a) Offense.--It shall be unlawful for an owner, officer, 
     attorney, or incorporation agent of a corporation, company, 
     or other entity to establish or use the corporation, company, 
     or other entity with the intent to conceal an activity of a 
     foreign national (as defined in section 319 of the Federal 
     Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30121)) prohibited 
     under such section 319.
       ``(b) Penalty.--Any person who violates subsection (a) 
     shall be imprisoned for not more than 5 years, fined under 
     this title, or both.''.
       (b) Table of Sections.--The table of sections for chapter 
     29 of title 18, United States Code, as amended by section 
     2001(b), is amended by inserting after the item relating to 
     section 612 the following:


[[Page S4470]]


``613. Establishment of corporation to conceal election contributions 
              and donations by foreign nationals.''.

          PART 2--REPORTING OF CAMPAIGN-RELATED DISBURSEMENTS

     SEC. 6011. REPORTING OF CAMPAIGN-RELATED DISBURSEMENTS.

       (a) In General.--Section 324 of the Federal Election 
     Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30126) is amended to read as 
     follows:

     ``SEC. 324. DISCLOSURE OF CAMPAIGN-RELATED DISBURSEMENTS BY 
                   COVERED ORGANIZATIONS.

       ``(a) Disclosure Statement.--
       ``(1) In general.--Any covered organization that makes 
     campaign-related disbursements aggregating more than $10,000 
     in an election reporting cycle shall, not later than 24 hours 
     after each disclosure date, file a statement with the 
     Commission made under penalty of perjury that contains the 
     information described in paragraph (2)--
       ``(A) in the case of the first statement filed under this 
     subsection, for the period beginning on the first day of the 
     election reporting cycle (or, if earlier, the period 
     beginning one year before the first such disclosure date) and 
     ending on the first such disclosure date; and
       ``(B) in the case of any subsequent statement filed under 
     this subsection, for the period beginning on the previous 
     disclosure date and ending on such disclosure date.
       ``(2) Information described.--The information described in 
     this paragraph is as follows:
       ``(A) The name of the covered organization and the 
     principal place of business of such organization and, in the 
     case of a covered organization that is a corporation (other 
     than a business concern that is an issuer of a class of 
     securities registered under section 12 of the Securities 
     Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78l) or that is required to 
     file reports under section 15(d) of that Act (15 U.S.C. 
     78o(d))) or an entity described in subsection (e)(2), a list 
     of the beneficial owners (as defined in paragraph (4)(A)) of 
     the entity that--
       ``(i) identifies each beneficial owner by name and current 
     residential or business street address; and
       ``(ii) if any beneficial owner exercises control over the 
     entity through another legal entity, such as a corporation, 
     partnership, limited liability company, or trust, identifies 
     each such other legal entity and each such beneficial owner 
     who will use that other entity to exercise control over the 
     entity.
       ``(B) The amount of each campaign-related disbursement made 
     by such organization during the period covered by the 
     statement of more than $1,000, and the name and address of 
     the person to whom the disbursement was made.
       ``(C) In the case of a campaign-related disbursement that 
     is not a covered transfer, the election to which the 
     campaign-related disbursement pertains and if the 
     disbursement is made for a public communication, the name of 
     any candidate identified in such communication and if such 
     communication is in support of or in opposition to the 
     identified candidate.
       ``(D) A certification by the chief executive officer or 
     person who is the head of the covered organization that the 
     campaign-related disbursement is not made in cooperation, 
     consultation, or concert with or at the request or suggestion 
     of a candidate, authorized committee, or agent of a 
     candidate, political party, or agent of a political party.
       ``(E)(i) If the covered organization makes campaign-related 
     disbursements using exclusively funds in a campaign-related 
     disbursement segregated fund, for each payment made to the 
     account by a person other than the covered organization--

       ``(I) the name and address of each person who made such 
     payment to the account during the period covered by the 
     statement;
       ``(II) the date and amount of such payment; and
       ``(III) the aggregate amount of all such payments made by 
     the person during the period beginning on the first day of 
     the election reporting cycle (or, if earlier, the period 
     beginning one year before the disclosure date) and ending on 
     the disclosure date,

     but only if such payment was made by a person who made 
     payments to the account in an aggregate amount of $10,000 or 
     more during the period beginning on the first day of the 
     election reporting cycle (or, if earlier, the period 
     beginning one year before the disclosure date) and ending on 
     the disclosure date.
       ``(ii) In any calendar year after 2026, section 
     315(c)(1)(B) shall apply to the amount described in clause 
     (i) in the same manner as such section applies to the 
     limitations established under subsections (a)(1)(A), 
     (a)(1)(B), (a)(3), and (h) of such section, except that for 
     purposes of applying such section to the amounts described in 
     subsection (b), the `base period' shall be calendar year 
     2026.
       ``(F)(i) If the covered organization makes campaign-related 
     disbursements using funds other than funds in a campaign-
     related disbursement segregated fund, for each payment to the 
     covered organization--

       ``(I) the name and address of each person who made such 
     payment during the period covered by the statement;
       ``(II) the date and amount of such payment; and
       ``(III) the aggregate amount of all such payments made by 
     the person during the period beginning on the first day of 
     the election reporting cycle (or, if earlier, the period 
     beginning one year before the disclosure date) and ending on 
     the disclosure date,

     but only if such payment was made by a person who made 
     payments to the covered organization in an aggregate amount 
     of $10,000 or more during the period beginning on the first 
     day of the election reporting cycle (or, if earlier, the 
     period beginning one year before the disclosure date) and 
     ending on the disclosure date.
       ``(ii) In any calendar year after 2026, section 
     315(c)(1)(B) shall apply to the amount described in clause 
     (i) in the same manner as such section applies to the 
     limitations established under subsections (a)(1)(A), 
     (a)(1)(B), (a)(3), and (h) of such section, except that for 
     purposes of applying such section to the amounts described in 
     subsection (b), the `base period' shall be calendar year 
     2026.
       ``(G) Such other information as required in rules 
     established by the Commission to promote the purposes of this 
     section.
       ``(3) Exceptions.--
       ``(A) Amounts received in ordinary course of business.--The 
     requirement to include in a statement filed under paragraph 
     (1) the information described in paragraph (2) shall not 
     apply to amounts received by the covered organization in 
     commercial transactions in the ordinary course of any trade 
     or business conducted by the covered organization or in the 
     form of investments (other than investments by the principal 
     shareholder in a limited liability corporation) in the 
     covered organization. For purposes of this subparagraph, 
     amounts received by a covered organization as remittances 
     from an employee to the employee's collective bargaining 
     representative shall be treated as amounts received in 
     commercial transactions in the ordinary course of the 
     business conducted by the covered organization.
       ``(B) Donor restriction on use of funds.--The requirement 
     to include in a statement submitted under paragraph (1) the 
     information described in subparagraph (F) of paragraph (2) 
     shall not apply if--
       ``(i) the person described in such subparagraph prohibited, 
     in writing, the use of the payment made by such person for 
     campaign-related disbursements; and
       ``(ii) the covered organization agreed to follow the 
     prohibition and deposited the payment in an account which is 
     segregated from a campaign-related disbursement segregated 
     fund and any other account used to make campaign-related 
     disbursements.
       ``(C) Threat of harassment or reprisal.--The requirement to 
     include any information relating to the name or address of 
     any person (other than a candidate) in a statement submitted 
     under paragraph (1) shall not apply if the inclusion of the 
     information would subject the person to serious threats, 
     harassment, or reprisals.
       ``(4) Other definitions.--For purposes of this section:
       ``(A) Beneficial owner defined.--
       ``(i) In general.--Except as provided in clause (ii), the 
     term `beneficial owner' means, with respect to any entity, a 
     natural person who, directly or indirectly--

       ``(I) exercises substantial control over an entity through 
     ownership, voting rights, agreement, or otherwise; or
       ``(II) has a substantial interest in or receives 
     substantial economic benefits from the assets of an entity.

       ``(ii) Exceptions.--The term `beneficial owner' shall not 
     include--

       ``(I) a minor child;
       ``(II) a person acting as a nominee, intermediary, 
     custodian, or agent on behalf of another person;
       ``(III) a person acting solely as an employee of an entity 
     and whose control over or economic benefits from the entity 
     derives solely from the employment status of the person;
       ``(IV) a person whose only interest in an entity is through 
     a right of inheritance, unless the person also meets the 
     requirements of clause (i); or
       ``(V) a creditor of an entity, unless the creditor also 
     meets the requirements of clause (i).

       ``(iii) Anti-abuse rule.--The exceptions under clause (ii) 
     shall not apply if used for the purpose of evading, 
     circumventing, or abusing the provisions of clause (i) or 
     paragraph (2)(A).
       ``(B) Campaign-related disbursement segregated fund.--The 
     term `campaign-related disbursement segregated fund' means a 
     segregated bank account consisting of funds that were paid 
     directly to such account by persons other than the covered 
     organization that controls the account.
       ``(C) Disclosure date.--The term `disclosure date' means--
       ``(i) the first date during any election reporting cycle by 
     which a person has made campaign-related disbursements 
     aggregating more than $10,000; and
       ``(ii) any other date during such election reporting cycle 
     by which a person has made campaign-related disbursements 
     aggregating more than $10,000 since the most recent 
     disclosure date for such election reporting cycle.
       ``(D) Election reporting cycle.--The term `election 
     reporting cycle' means the 2-year period beginning on the 
     date of the most recent general election for Federal office.
       ``(E) Payment.--The term `payment' includes any 
     contribution, donation, transfer, payment of dues, or other 
     payment.
       ``(b) Coordination With Other Provisions.--Information 
     included in a statement filed under this section may be 
     excluded from statements and reports filed under section 304.

[[Page S4471]]

       ``(c) Filing.--Statements required to be filed under 
     subsection (a) shall be subject to the requirements of 
     section 304(d) to the same extent and in the same manner as 
     if such reports had been required under subsection (c) or (g) 
     of section 304.
       ``(d) Campaign-related Disbursement Defined.--
       ``(1) In general.--In this section, the term `campaign-
     related disbursement' means a disbursement by a covered 
     organization for any of the following:
       ``(A) An independent expenditure which expressly advocates 
     the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate for 
     election for Federal office, or is the functional equivalent 
     of express advocacy because, when taken as a whole, it can be 
     interpreted by a reasonable person only as advocating the 
     election or defeat of a candidate for election for Federal 
     office.
       ``(B) An applicable public communication.
       ``(C) An electioneering communication, as defined in 
     section 304(f)(3).
       ``(D) A covered transfer.
       ``(2) Applicable public communications.--
       ``(A) In general.--The term `applicable public 
     communication' means any public communication that refers to 
     a clearly identified candidate for election for Federal 
     office and which promotes or supports the election of a 
     candidate for that office, or attacks or opposes the election 
     of a candidate for that office, without regard to whether the 
     communication expressly advocates a vote for or against a 
     candidate for that office.
       ``(B) Exception.--Such term shall not include any news 
     story, commentary, or editorial distributed through the 
     facilities of any broadcasting station or any print, online, 
     or digital newspaper, magazine, publication, or periodical, 
     unless such facilities are owned or controlled by any 
     political party, political committee, or candidate.
       ``(e) Covered Organization Defined.--In this section, the 
     term `covered organization' means any of the following:
       ``(1) A corporation (other than an organization described 
     in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986).
       ``(2) A limited liability corporation that is not otherwise 
     treated as a corporation for purposes of this Act (other than 
     an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the 
     Internal Revenue Code of 1986).
       ``(3) An organization described in section 501(c) of such 
     Code and exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of such 
     Code (other than an organization described in section 
     501(c)(3) of such Code).
       ``(4) A labor organization (as defined in section 316(b)).
       ``(5) Any political organization under section 527 of the 
     Internal Revenue Code of 1986, other than a political 
     committee under this Act (except as provided in paragraph 
     (6)).
       ``(6) A political committee with an account that accepts 
     donations or contributions that do not comply with the 
     contribution limits or source prohibitions under this Act, 
     but only with respect to such accounts.
       ``(f) Covered Transfer Defined.--
       ``(1) In general.--In this section, the term `covered 
     transfer' means any transfer or payment of funds by a covered 
     organization to another person if the covered organization--
       ``(A) designates, requests, or suggests that the amounts be 
     used for--
       ``(i) campaign-related disbursements (other than covered 
     transfers); or
       ``(ii) making a transfer to another person for the purpose 
     of making or paying for such campaign-related disbursements;
       ``(B) made such transfer or payment in response to a 
     solicitation or other request for a donation or payment for--
       ``(i) the making of or paying for campaign-related 
     disbursements (other than covered transfers); or
       ``(ii) making a transfer to another person for the purpose 
     of making or paying for such campaign-related disbursements;
       ``(C) engaged in discussions with the recipient of the 
     transfer or payment regarding--
       ``(i) the making of or paying for campaign-related 
     disbursements (other than covered transfers); or
       ``(ii) donating or transferring any amount of such transfer 
     or payment to another person for the purpose of making or 
     paying for such campaign-related disbursements; or
       ``(D) knew or had reason to know that the person receiving 
     the transfer or payment would make campaign-related 
     disbursements in an aggregate amount of $50,000 or more 
     during the 2-year period beginning on the date of the 
     transfer or payment.
       ``(2) Exclusions.--The term `covered transfer' does not 
     include any of the following:
       ``(A) A disbursement made by a covered organization in a 
     commercial transaction in the ordinary course of any trade or 
     business conducted by the covered organization or in the form 
     of investments made by the covered organization.
       ``(B) A disbursement made by a covered organization if--
       ``(i) the covered organization prohibited, in writing, the 
     use of such disbursement for campaign-related disbursements; 
     and
       ``(ii) the recipient of the disbursement agreed to follow 
     the prohibition and deposited the disbursement in an account 
     which is segregated from a campaign-related disbursement 
     segregated fund and any other account used to make campaign-
     related disbursements.
       ``(3) Special rule regarding transfers among affiliates.--
       ``(A) Special rule.--A transfer of an amount by one covered 
     organization to another covered organization which is treated 
     as a transfer between affiliates under subparagraph (C) shall 
     be considered a covered transfer by the covered organization 
     which transfers the amount only if the aggregate amount 
     transferred during the year by such covered organization to 
     that same covered organization is equal to or greater than 
     $50,000.
       ``(B) Determination of amount of certain payments among 
     affiliates.--In determining the amount of a transfer between 
     affiliates for purposes of subparagraph (A), to the extent 
     that the transfer consists of funds attributable to dues, 
     fees, or assessments which are paid by individuals on a 
     regular, periodic basis in accordance with a per-individual 
     calculation which is made on a regular basis, the transfer 
     shall be attributed to the individuals paying the dues, fees, 
     or assessments and shall not be attributed to the covered 
     organization.
       ``(C) Description of transfers between affiliates.--A 
     transfer of amounts from one covered organization to another 
     covered organization shall be treated as a transfer between 
     affiliates if--
       ``(i) one of the organizations is an affiliate of the other 
     organization; or
       ``(ii) each of the organizations is an affiliate of the 
     same organization,
     except that the transfer shall not be treated as a transfer 
     between affiliates if one of the organizations is established 
     for the purpose of making campaign-related disbursements.
       ``(D) Determination of affiliate status.--For purposes of 
     subparagraph (C), a covered organization is an affiliate of 
     another covered organization if--
       ``(i) the governing instrument of the organization requires 
     it to be bound by decisions of the other organization;
       ``(ii) the governing board of the organization includes 
     persons who are specifically designated representatives of 
     the other organization or are members of the governing board, 
     officers, or paid executive staff members of the other 
     organization, or whose service on the governing board is 
     contingent upon the approval of the other organization; or
       ``(iii) the organization is chartered by the other 
     organization.
       ``(E) Coverage of transfers to affiliated section 501(c)(3) 
     organizations.--This paragraph shall apply with respect to an 
     amount transferred by a covered organization to an 
     organization described in paragraph (3) of section 501(c) of 
     the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from tax under 
     section 501(a) of such Code in the same manner as this 
     paragraph applies to an amount transferred by a covered 
     organization to another covered organization.
       ``(g) No Effect on Other Reporting Requirements.--Except as 
     provided in subsection (b)(1), nothing in this section shall 
     be construed to waive or otherwise affect any other 
     requirement of this Act which relates to the reporting of 
     campaign-related disbursements.''.
       (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 304(f)(6) of such Act 
     (52 U.S.C. 30104) is amended by striking ``Any requirement'' 
     and inserting ``Except as provided in section 324(b), any 
     requirement''.
       (c) Regulations.--Not later than 6 months after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Federal Election Commission 
     shall promulgate regulations relating the application of the 
     exemption under section 324(a)(3)(C) of the Federal Election 
     Campaign Act of 1971 (as added by subsection (a)). Such 
     regulations--
       (1) shall require that the legal burden of establishing 
     eligibility for such exemption is upon the organization 
     required to make the report required under section 324(a)(1) 
     of such Act (as added by subsection (a)), and
       (2) shall be consistent with the principles applied in 
     Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, 558 U.S. 310 
     (2010).

     SEC. 6012. REPORTING OF FEDERAL JUDICIAL NOMINATION 
                   DISBURSEMENTS.

       (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) A fair and impartial judiciary is critical for our 
     democracy and crucial to maintain the faith of the people of 
     the United States in the justice system. As the Supreme Court 
     held in Caperton v. Massey, ``there is a serious risk of 
     actual bias--based on objective and reasonable perceptions--
     when a person with a personal stake in a particular case had 
     a significant and disproportionate influence in placing the 
     judge on the case.'' ( Caperton v. A. T. Massey Coal Co., 556 
     U.S. 868, 884 (2009)).
       (2) Public trust in government is at a historic low. 
     According to polling, most Americans believe that 
     corporations have too much power and influence in politics 
     and the courts.
       (3) The prevalence and pervasiveness of dark money drives 
     public concern about corruption in politics and the courts. 
     Dark money is funding for organizations and political 
     activities that cannot be traced to actual donors. It is made 
     possible by loopholes in our tax laws and regulations, weak 
     oversight by the Internal Revenue Service, and donor-friendly 
     court decisions.
       (4) Under current law, ``social welfare'' organizations and 
     business leagues can use funds to influence elections so long 
     as political activity is not their ``primary'' activity. 
     Super PACs can accept and spend unlimited contributions from 
     any non-foreign source. These groups can spend tens of 
     millions of dollars on political activities. Such dark

[[Page S4472]]

     money groups spent an estimated $1,050,000,000 in the 2020 
     election cycle.
       (5) Dark money is used to shape judicial decision-making. 
     This can take many forms, akin to agency capture: influencing 
     judicial selection by controlling who gets nominated and 
     funding candidate advertisements; creating public relations 
     campaigns aimed at mobilizing the judiciary around particular 
     issues; and drafting law review articles, amicus briefs, and 
     other products which tell judges how to decide a given case 
     and provide ready-made arguments for willing judges to adopt.
       (6) Over the past decade, nonprofit organizations that do 
     not disclose their donors have spent hundreds of millions of 
     dollars to influence the nomination and confirmation process 
     for Federal judges. One organization alone has spent nearly 
     $40,000,000 on advertisements supporting or opposing Supreme 
     Court nominees since 2016.
       (7) Anonymous money spent on judicial nominations is not 
     subject to any disclosure requirements. Federal election laws 
     only regulate contributions and expenditures relating to 
     electoral politics; thus, expenditures, contributions, and 
     advocacy efforts for Federal judgeships are not covered under 
     the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971. Without more 
     disclosure, the public has no way of knowing whether the 
     people spending money supporting or opposing judicial 
     nominations have business before the courts.
       (8) Congress and the American people have a compelling 
     interest in knowing who is funding these campaigns to select 
     and confirm judges to lifetime appointments on the Federal 
     bench.
       (b) Reporting.--Section 324 of the Federal Election 
     Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30126), as amended by section 
     6011, is amended by redesignating subsection (g) as 
     subsection (h) and by inserting after subsection (f) the 
     following new subsection:
       ``(g) Application to Federal Judicial Nominations.--
       ``(1) In general.--For purposes of this section--
       ``(A) a disbursement by a covered organization for a 
     Federal judicial nomination communication shall be treated as 
     a campaign-related disbursement; and
       ``(B) in the case of campaign-related disbursements which 
     are for Federal judicial nomination communications--
       ``(i) the dollar amounts in paragraphs (1) and (2) of 
     subsection (a) shall be applied separately with respect to 
     such disbursements and other campaign-related disbursements;
       ``(ii) the election reporting cycle shall be the calendar 
     year in which the disbursement for the Federal judicial 
     nomination communication is made;
       ``(iii) references to a candidate in subsections (a)(2)(C), 
     (a)(2)(D), and (a)(3)(C) shall be treated as references to a 
     nominee for a Federal judge or justice; and
       ``(iv) the reference to an election in subsection (a)(2)(C) 
     shall be treated as a reference to the nomination of such 
     nominee.
       ``(2) Federal judicial nomination communication.--
       ``(A) In general.--The term `Federal judicial nomination 
     communication' means any communication--
       ``(i) that is by means of any broadcast, cable, or 
     satellite, paid internet, or paid digital communication, paid 
     promotion, newspaper, magazine, outdoor advertising facility, 
     mass mailing, telephone bank, telephone messaging effort of 
     more than 500 substantially similar calls or electronic 
     messages within a 30-day period, or any other form of general 
     public political advertising; and
       ``(ii) which promotes, supports, attacks, or opposes the 
     nomination or Senate confirmation of an individual as a 
     Federal judge or justice.
       ``(B) Exception.--Such term shall not include any news 
     story, commentary, or editorial distributed through the 
     facilities of any broadcasting station or any print, online, 
     or digital newspaper, magazine, publication, or periodical, 
     unless such facilities are owned or controlled by any 
     political party, political committee, or candidate.
       ``(C) Intent not required.--A disbursement for an item 
     described in subparagraph (A) shall be treated as a 
     disbursement for a Federal judicial nomination communication 
     regardless of the intent of the person making the 
     disbursement.''.

     SEC. 6013. COORDINATION WITH FINCEN.

       (a) In General.--The Director of the Financial Crimes 
     Enforcement Network of the Department of the Treasury shall 
     provide the Federal Election Commission with such information 
     as necessary to assist in administering and enforcing section 
     324 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended 
     by this part.
       (b) Report.--Not later than 6 months after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Chairman of the Federal Election 
     Commission, in consultation with the Director of the 
     Financial Crimes Enforcement Network of the Department of the 
     Treasury, shall submit to Congress a report with 
     recommendations for providing further legislative authority 
     to assist in the administration and enforcement of such 
     section 324.

     SEC. 6014. APPLICATION OF FOREIGN MONEY BAN TO DISBURSEMENTS 
                   FOR CAMPAIGN-RELATED DISBURSEMENTS CONSISTING 
                   OF COVERED TRANSFERS.

       Section 319(b)(2) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 
     1971 (52 U.S.C. 30121(a)(1)(A)), as amended by section 6003, 
     is amended--
       (1) by striking ``includes any disbursement'' and inserting 
     ``includes--
       ``(A) any disbursement'';
       (2) by striking the period at the end and inserting ``; 
     and'', and
       (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
       ``(B) any disbursement, other than a disbursement described 
     in section 324(a)(3)(A), to another person who made a 
     campaign-related disbursement consisting of a covered 
     transfer (as described in section 324) during the 2-year 
     period ending on the date of the disbursement.''.

     SEC. 6015. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING IMPLEMENTATION.

       It is the sense of Congress that the Federal Election 
     Commission should simplify the process for filing any 
     disclosure required under the provisions of, and amendments 
     made by, this part in order to ensure that such process is as 
     easy and accessible as possible.

     SEC. 6016. EFFECTIVE DATE.

       The amendments made by this part shall apply with respect 
     to disbursements made on or after January 1, 2026, and shall 
     take effect without regard to whether or not the Federal 
     Election Commission has promulgated regulations to carry out 
     such amendments.

                  PART 3--OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS

     SEC. 6021. PETITION FOR CERTIORARI.

       Section 307(a)(6) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 
     1971 (52 U.S.C. 30107(a)(6)) is amended by inserting 
     ``(including a proceeding before the Supreme Court on 
     certiorari)'' after ``appeal''.

     SEC. 6022. JUDICIAL REVIEW OF ACTIONS RELATED TO CAMPAIGN 
                   FINANCE LAWS.

       (a) In General.--Title IV of the Federal Election Campaign 
     Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30141 et seq.) is amended by inserting 
     after section 406 the following new section:

     ``SEC. 407. JUDICIAL REVIEW.

       ``(a) In General.--If any action is brought for declaratory 
     or injunctive relief to challenge, whether facially or as-
     applied, the constitutionality or lawfulness of any provision 
     of this Act, including title V, or of chapter 95 or 96 of the 
     Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or is brought to with respect 
     to any action of the Commission under chapter 95 or 96 of the 
     Internal Revenue Code of 1986, the following rules shall 
     apply:
       ``(1) The action shall be filed in the United States 
     District Court for the District of Columbia and an appeal 
     from the decision of the district court may be taken to the 
     Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
       ``(2) In the case of an action relating to declaratory or 
     injunctive relief to challenge the constitutionality of a 
     provision, the party filing the action shall concurrently 
     deliver a copy of the complaint to the Clerk of the House of 
     Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate.
       ``(3) It shall be the duty of the United States District 
     Court for the District of Columbia and the Court of Appeals 
     for the District of Columbia Circuit to advance on the docket 
     and to expedite to the greatest possible extent the 
     disposition of the action and appeal.
       ``(b) Clarifying Scope of Jurisdiction.--If an action at 
     the time of its commencement is not subject to subsection 
     (a), but an amendment, counterclaim, cross-claim, affirmative 
     defense, or any other pleading or motion is filed 
     challenging, whether facially or as-applied, the 
     constitutionality or lawfulness of this Act or of chapter 95 
     or 96 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or is brought to 
     with respect to any action of the Commission under chapter 95 
     or 96 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, the district 
     court shall transfer the action to the District Court for the 
     District of Columbia, and the action shall thereafter be 
     conducted pursuant to subsection (a).
       ``(c) Intervention by Members of Congress.--In any action 
     described in subsection (a) relating to declaratory or 
     injunctive relief to challenge the constitutionality of a 
     provision, any Member of the House of Representatives 
     (including a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to the 
     Congress) or Senate shall have the right to intervene either 
     in support of or opposition to the position of a party to the 
     case regarding the constitutionality of the provision. To 
     avoid duplication of efforts and reduce the burdens placed on 
     the parties to the action, the court in any such action may 
     make such orders as it considers necessary, including orders 
     to require interveners taking similar positions to file joint 
     papers or to be represented by a single attorney at oral 
     argument.
       ``(d) Challenge by Members of Congress.--Any Member of 
     Congress may bring an action, subject to the special rules 
     described in subsection (a), for declaratory or injunctive 
     relief to challenge, whether facially or as-applied, the 
     constitutionality of any provision of this Act or chapter 95 
     or 96 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.''.
       (b) Conforming Amendments.--
       (1) Section 9011 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is 
     amended to read as follows:

     ``SEC. 9011. JUDICIAL REVIEW.

       ``For provisions relating to judicial review of 
     certifications, determinations, and actions by the Commission 
     under this chapter, see section 407 of the Federal Election 
     Campaign Act of 1971.''.
       (2) Section 9041 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is 
     amended to read as follows:

     ``SEC. 9041. JUDICIAL REVIEW.

       ``For provisions relating to judicial review of actions by 
     the Commission under this

[[Page S4473]]

     chapter, see section 407 of the Federal Election Campaign Act 
     of 1971.''.
       (3) Section 310 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 
     1971 (52 U.S.C. 30110) is repealed.
       (4) Section 403 of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 
     2002 (52 U.S.C. 30110 note) is repealed.

     SEC. 6023. EFFECTIVE DATE.

       The amendments made by this subtitle shall take effect and 
     apply on the date of the enactment of this Act, without 
     regard to whether or not the Federal Election Commission has 
     promulgated regulations to carry out this subtitle and the 
     amendments made by this subtitle.

                         Subtitle B--Honest Ads

     SEC. 6101. SHORT TITLE.

       This subtitle may be cited as the ``Honest Ads Act''.

     SEC. 6102. PURPOSE.

       The purpose of this subtitle is to enhance the integrity of 
     American democracy and national security by improving 
     disclosure requirements for online political advertisements 
     in order to uphold the Supreme Court's well-established 
     standard that the electorate bears the right to be fully 
     informed.

     SEC. 6103. FINDINGS.

       Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) In 2002, the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 
     (Public Law 107-155) became law, establishing disclosure 
     requirements for political advertisements distributed from a 
     television or radio broadcast station or provider of cable or 
     satellite television. In 2003, the Supreme Court upheld 
     regulations on electioneering communications established 
     under the Act, noting that such requirements ``provide the 
     electorate with information and insure that the voters are 
     fully informed about the person or group who is speaking.'' 
     The Court reaffirmed this conclusion in 2010 by an 8-1 vote.
       (2) In its 2006 rulemaking, the Federal Election 
     Commission, the independent Federal agency charged with 
     protecting the integrity of the Federal campaign finance 
     process, noted that 18 percent of all Americans cited the 
     internet as their leading source of news about the 2004 
     Presidential election. By contrast, Gallup and the Knight 
     Foundation found in 2020 that the majority of Americans, 58 
     percent, got most of their news about elections online.
       (3) According to studies from AdImpact and Borrell 
     Associates, in 2020, an estimated $1,700,000,000 was spent on 
     online political advertising, more than 10 times the amount 
     spent in 2012.
       (4) In order to enhance transparency of all political 
     advertisement funding, it is prudent to extend to online 
     internet platforms the same types of political advertisement 
     disclosure requirements applicable to broadcast television 
     and radio stations, and providers of cable and satellite 
     television.
       (5) Effective and complete transparency for voters must 
     include information about the true and original source of 
     money given, transferred, and spent on political 
     advertisements made online.
       (6) Requiring the disclosure of this information is a 
     necessary and narrowly tailored means to inform the voting 
     public of who is behind digital advertising disseminated to 
     influence their votes and to enable the Federal Election 
     Commission and the Department of Justice to detect and 
     prosecute illegal foreign spending on local, State, and 
     Federal elections and other campaign finance violations.
       (7) Paid advertising on large online platforms is different 
     from advertising placed on other common media in terms of the 
     comparatively low cost of reaching large numbers of people, 
     the availability of sophisticated microtargeting, and the 
     ease with which online advertisers, particularly those 
     located outside the United States, can evade disclosure 
     requirements. Requiring large online platforms to maintain 
     public files of information about the online political ads 
     they disseminate is the best and least restrictive means to 
     ensure the voting public has complete information about who 
     is trying to influence their votes and to aid enforcement of 
     other laws, including the prohibition on foreign money in 
     domestic campaigns.
       (8) The reach of a few large internet platforms--larger 
     than any broadcast, satellite, or cable provider--has greatly 
     facilitated the scope and effectiveness of disinformation 
     campaigns. For instance, the largest platform has over 
     247,000,000 American users--over 153,000,000 of them on a 
     daily basis. By contrast, the largest cable television 
     provider has 16,142,000 subscribers, while the largest 
     satellite television provider has 13,300,000 subscribers. And 
     the most-watched television broadcast in United States 
     history had 118,000,000 viewers.
       (9) The public nature of broadcast television, radio, and 
     satellite ensures a level of publicity for any political 
     advertisement. These communications are accessible to the 
     press, fact-checkers, and political opponents. This creates 
     strong disincentives for a candidate to disseminate 
     materially false, inflammatory, or contradictory messages to 
     the public. Social media platforms, in contrast, can target 
     portions of the electorate with direct, ephemeral 
     advertisements often on the basis of private information the 
     platform has on individuals, enabling political 
     advertisements that are contradictory, racially or socially 
     inflammatory, or materially false.
       (10) Large social media platforms are the only entities in 
     possession of certain key data related to paid online ads, 
     including the exact audience targeted by those ads and their 
     number of impressions. Such information, which cannot be 
     reliably disclosed by the purchasers of ads, is extremely 
     useful for informing the electorate, guarding against 
     corruption, and aiding in the enforcement of existing 
     campaign finance regulations.
       (11) Paid advertisements on social media platforms have 
     served as critical tools for foreign online influence 
     campaigns--even those that rely on large amounts of unpaid 
     content--because such ads allow foreign actors to test the 
     effectiveness of different messages, expose their messages to 
     audiences who have not sought out such content, and recruit 
     audiences for future campaigns and posts.
       (12) A 2019 Senate Select Committee on Intelligence's 
     Report on Russian Active Measures Campaigns and Interference 
     in the 2016 U.S. Election Volume 2: Russia's Use of Social 
     Media with Additional Views, the Committee recommended ``that 
     Congress examine legislative approaches to ensuring Americans 
     know the sources of online political advertisements. The 
     Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 requires political 
     advertisements on television, radio and satellite to disclose 
     the sponsor of the advertisement. The same requirements 
     should apply online. This will also help to ensure that the 
     IRA or any similarly situated actors cannot use paid 
     advertisements for purposes of foreign interference.''.
       (13) On March 16, 2021, the Office of the Director of 
     National Intelligence released the declassified Intelligence 
     Community assessment of foreign threats to the 2020 U.S. 
     Federal elections. The declassified report found: 
     ``Throughout the election cycle, Russia's online influence 
     actors sought to affect U.S. public perceptions of the 
     candidates, as well as advance Moscow's longstanding goals of 
     undermining confidence in US election processes and 
     increasing sociopolitical divisions among the American 
     people.'' The report also determined that Iran sought to 
     influence the election by ``creating and amplifying social 
     media content that criticized [candidates].''
       (14) According to a Wall Street Journal report in April 
     2021, voluntary ad libraries operated by major platforms rely 
     on foreign governments to self-report political ad purchases. 
     These ad-buys, including those diminishing major human rights 
     violations like the Uighur genocide, are under-reported by 
     foreign government purchasers, with no substantial oversight 
     or repercussions from the platforms.
       (15) Multiple reports have indicated that online ads have 
     become a key vector for strategic influence by the People's 
     Republic of China. An April 2021 Wall Street Journal report 
     noted that the Chinese government and Chinese state-owned 
     enterprises are major purchasers of ads on the U.S.'s largest 
     social media platform, including to advance Chinese 
     propaganda.
       (16) Large online platforms have made changes to their 
     policies intended to make it harder for foreign actors to 
     purchase political ads. However, these private actions have 
     not been taken by all platforms, have not been reliably 
     enforced, and are subject to immediate change at the 
     discretion of the platforms.
       (17) The Federal Election Commission's current regulations 
     on political advertisements do not provide sufficient 
     transparency to uphold the public's right to be fully 
     informed about political advertisements made online.

     SEC. 6104. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

       It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) the dramatic increase in digital political 
     advertisements, and the growing centrality of online 
     platforms in the lives of Americans, requires the Congress 
     and the Federal Election Commission to take meaningful action 
     to ensure that laws and regulations provide the 
     accountability and transparency that is fundamental to our 
     democracy;
       (2) free and fair elections require both transparency and 
     accountability which give the public a right to know the true 
     sources of funding for political advertisements, be they 
     foreign or domestic, in order to make informed political 
     choices and hold elected officials accountable; and
       (3) transparency of funding for political advertisements is 
     essential to enforce other campaign finance laws, including 
     the prohibition on campaign spending by foreign nationals.

     SEC. 6105. EXPANSION OF DEFINITION OF PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.

       (a) In General.--Paragraph (22) of section 301 of the 
     Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30101(22)) 
     is amended by striking ``or satellite communication'' and 
     inserting ``satellite, paid internet, or paid digital 
     communication''.
       (b) Treatment of Contributions and Expenditures.--Section 
     301 of such Act (52 U.S.C. 30101) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (8)(B)(v), by striking ``on broadcasting 
     stations, or in newspapers, magazines, or similar types of 
     general public political advertising'' and inserting ``in any 
     public communication''; and
       (2) in paragraph (9)(B)--
       (A) by amending clause (i) to read as follows:
       ``(i) any news story, commentary, or editorial distributed 
     through the facilities of any broadcasting station or any 
     print, online, or digital newspaper, magazine, publication, 
     periodical, blog, or platform, unless

[[Page S4474]]

     such broadcasting, print, online, or digital facilities are 
     owned or controlled by any political party, political 
     committee, or candidate;''; and
       (B) in clause (iv), by striking ``on broadcasting stations, 
     or in newspapers, magazines, or similar types of general 
     public political advertising'' and inserting ``in any public 
     communication''.
       (c) Disclosure and Disclaimer Statements.--Subsection (a) 
     of section 318 of such Act (52 U.S.C. 30120) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``financing any communication through any 
     broadcasting station, newspaper, magazine, outdoor 
     advertising facility, mailing, or any other type of general 
     public political advertising'' and inserting ``financing any 
     public communication''; and
       (2) by striking ``solicits any contribution through any 
     broadcasting station, newspaper, magazine, outdoor 
     advertising facility, mailing, or any other type of general 
     public political advertising'' and inserting ``solicits any 
     contribution through any public communication''.
       (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act 
     and shall take effect without regard to whether or not the 
     Federal Election Commission has promulgated the final 
     regulations necessary to carry out this part and the 
     amendments made by this part by the deadline set forth in 
     subsection (e).
       (e) Regulation.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Federal Election Commission 
     shall promulgate regulations on what constitutes a paid 
     internet or paid digital communication for purposes of 
     paragraph (22) of section 301 of the Federal Election 
     Campaign Act of 1971(52 U.S.C. 30101(22)), as amended by 
     subsection (a), except that such regulation shall not define 
     a paid internet or paid digital communication to include 
     communications for which the only payment consists of 
     internal resources, such as employee compensation, of the 
     entity paying for the communication.

     SEC. 6106. EXPANSION OF DEFINITION OF ELECTIONEERING 
                   COMMUNICATION.

       (a) Expansion to Online Communications.--
       (1) Application to qualified internet and digital 
     communications.--
       (A) In general.--Subparagraph (A) of section 304(f)(3) of 
     the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 
     30104(f)(3)(A)) is amended by striking ``or satellite 
     communication'' each place it appears in clauses (i) and (ii) 
     and inserting ``satellite, or qualified internet or digital 
     communication''.
       (B) Qualified internet or digital communication.--Paragraph 
     (3) of section 304(f) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 30104(f)) is 
     amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
       ``(D) Qualified internet or digital communication.--The 
     term `qualified internet or digital communication' means any 
     communication which is placed or promoted for a fee on an 
     online platform (as defined in subsection (k)(3)).''.
       (2) Nonapplication of relevant electorate to online 
     communications.--Section 304(f)(3)(A)(i)(III) of such Act (52 
     U.S.C. 30104(f)(3)(A)(i)(III)) is amended by inserting ``any 
     broadcast, cable, or satellite'' before ``communication''.
       (3) News exemption.--Section 304(f)(3)(B)(i) of such Act 
     (52 U.S.C. 30104(f)(3)(B)(i)) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(i) a communication appearing in a news story, 
     commentary, or editorial distributed through the facilities 
     of any broadcasting station or any online or digital 
     newspaper, magazine, publication, periodical, blog, or 
     platform, unless such broadcasting, online, or digital 
     facilities are owned or controlled by any political party, 
     political committee, or candidate;''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall apply with respect to communications made on or after 
     January 1, 2026, and shall take effect without regard to 
     whether or not the Federal Election Commission has 
     promulgated regulations to carry out such amendments.

     SEC. 6107. APPLICATION OF DISCLAIMER STATEMENTS TO ONLINE 
                   COMMUNICATIONS.

       (a) Clear and Conspicuous Manner Requirement.--Subsection 
     (a) of section 318 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 
     1971 (52 U.S.C. 30120(a)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``shall clearly state'' each place it 
     appears in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) and inserting ``shall 
     state in a clear and conspicuous manner''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following flush sentence: 
     ``For purposes of this section, a communication does not make 
     a statement in a clear and conspicuous manner if it is 
     difficult to read or hear or if the placement is easily 
     overlooked.''.
       (b) Special Rules for Qualified Internet or Digital 
     Communications.--
       (1) In general.--Section 318 of such Act (52 U.S.C. 30120) 
     is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(e) Special Rules for Qualified Internet or Digital 
     Communications.--
       ``(1) Special rules with respect to statements.--In the 
     case of any qualified internet or digital communication (as 
     defined in section 304(f)(3)(D)) which is disseminated 
     through a medium in which the provision of all of the 
     information specified in this section is not possible, the 
     communication shall, in a clear and conspicuous manner--
       ``(A) state the name of the person who paid for the 
     communication; and
       ``(B) provide a means for the recipient of the 
     communication to obtain the remainder of the information 
     required under this section with minimal effort and without 
     receiving or viewing any additional material other than such 
     required information.
       ``(2) Safe harbor for determining clear and conspicuous 
     manner.--A statement in qualified internet or digital 
     communication (as defined in section 304(f)(3)(D)) shall be 
     considered to be made in a clear and conspicuous manner as 
     provided in subsection (a) if the communication meets the 
     following requirements:
       ``(A) Text or graphic communications.--In the case of a 
     text or graphic communication, the statement--
       ``(i) appears in letters at least as large as the majority 
     of the text in the communication; and
       ``(ii) meets the requirements of paragraphs (2) and (3) of 
     subsection (c).
       ``(B) Audio communications.--In the case of an audio 
     communication, the statement is spoken in a clearly audible 
     and intelligible manner at the beginning or end of the 
     communication and lasts at least 3 seconds.
       ``(C) Video communications.--In the case of a video 
     communication which also includes audio, the statement--
       ``(i) is included at either the beginning or the end of the 
     communication; and
       ``(ii) is made both in--

       ``(I) a written format that meets the requirements of 
     subparagraph (A) and appears for at least 4 seconds; and
       ``(II) an audible format that meets the requirements of 
     subparagraph (B).

       ``(D) Other communications.--In the case of any other type 
     of communication, the statement is at least as clear and 
     conspicuous as the statement specified in subparagraph (A), 
     (B), or (C).''.
       (2) Nonapplication of certain exceptions.--The exceptions 
     provided in section 110.11(f)(1)(i) and (ii) of title 11, 
     Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor to such rules, 
     shall have no application to qualified internet or digital 
     communications (as defined in section 304(f)(3)(D) of the 
     Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971).
       (c) Modification of Additional Requirements for Certain 
     Communications.--Section 318(d) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 
     30120(d)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1)(A)--
       (A) by striking ``which is transmitted through radio'' and 
     inserting ``which is in an audio format''; and
       (B) by striking ``By radio'' in the heading and inserting 
     ``Audio format'';
       (2) in paragraph (1)(B)--
       (A) by striking ``which is transmitted through television'' 
     and inserting ``which is in video format''; and
       (B) by striking ``By television'' in the heading and 
     inserting ``Video format''; and
       (3) in paragraph (2)--
       (A) by striking ``transmitted through radio or television'' 
     and inserting ``made in audio or video format''; and
       (B) by striking ``through television'' in the second 
     sentence and inserting ``in video format''.
       (d) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act 
     and shall take effect without regard to whether or not the 
     Federal Election Commission has promulgated regulations to 
     carry out such amendments.

     SEC. 6108. POLITICAL RECORD REQUIREMENTS FOR ONLINE 
                   PLATFORMS.

       (a) In General.--Section 304 of the Federal Election 
     Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30104), as amended by section 
     3802, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
     subsection:
       ``(k) Disclosure of Certain Online Advertisements.--
       ``(1) In general.--
       ``(A) Requirements for online platforms.--
       ``(i) In general.--An online platform shall maintain, and 
     make available for online public inspection in machine 
     readable format, a complete record of any qualified political 
     advertisement which is purchased by a person whose aggregate 
     purchases of qualified political advertisements on such 
     online platform during the calendar year exceeds $500.
       ``(ii) Requirement relating to political ads sold by third 
     party advertising vendors.--An online platform that displays 
     a qualified political advertisement sold by a third party 
     advertising vendor shall include on its own platform--

       ``(I) an easily accessible and identifiable link to the 
     records maintained by the third-party advertising vendor 
     under clause (i) regarding such qualified political 
     advertisement; or
       ``(II) in any case in which the third party advertising 
     vendor does not make such records available, a statement that 
     no records from the third party advertising vendors records 
     are available.

       ``(B) Requirements for advertisers.--Any person who 
     requests to purchase a qualified political advertisement on 
     an online platform shall provide the online platform with 
     such information as is necessary for the online platform to 
     comply with the requirements of subparagraph (A).
       ``(2) Contents of record.--A record maintained under 
     paragraph (1)(A) shall contain--
       ``(A) a digital copy of the qualified political 
     advertisement;
       ``(B) a description of the audience that received the 
     advertisement, the number of views generated from the 
     advertisement, and

[[Page S4475]]

     the date and time that the advertisement is first displayed 
     and last displayed; and
       ``(C) information regarding--
       ``(i) the total cost of the advertisement (which may be 
     rounded to the nearest $100);
       ``(ii) the name of the candidate to which the advertisement 
     refers and the office to which the candidate is seeking 
     election, the election to which the advertisement refers, or 
     the national legislative issue to which the advertisement 
     refers (as applicable);
       ``(iii) in the case of a request made by, or on behalf of, 
     a candidate, the name of the candidate, the authorized 
     committee of the candidate, and the treasurer of such 
     committee; and
       ``(iv) in the case of any request not described in clause 
     (iii), the name of the person purchasing the advertisement, 
     the name and address of a contact person for such person, and 
     a list of the chief executive officers or members of the 
     executive committee or of the board of directors of such 
     person.
       ``(3) Online platform.--
       ``(A) In general.--For purposes of this subsection, subject 
     to subparagraph (B), the term `online platform' means any 
     public-facing website, web application, or digital 
     application (including a social network, ad network, or 
     search engine) which--
       ``(i)(I) sells qualified political advertisements; and
       ``(II) has 50,000,000 or more unique monthly United States 
     visitors or users for a majority of months during the 
     preceding 12 months; or
       ``(ii) is a third-party advertising vendor that has 
     50,000,000 or more unique monthly United States visitors in 
     the aggregate on any advertisement space that it has sold or 
     bought for a majority of months during the preceding 12 
     months, as measured by an independent digital ratings service 
     accredited by the Media Ratings Council (or its successor).
       ``(B) Exemption.--Such term shall not include any online 
     platform that is a distribution facility of any broadcasting 
     station or newspaper, magazine, blog, publication, or 
     periodical.
       ``(C) Third-party advertising vendor defined.--For purposes 
     of this subsection, the term `third-party advertising vendor' 
     includes any third-party advertising vendor network, 
     advertising agency, advertiser, or third-party advertisement 
     serving company that buys and sells advertisement space on 
     behalf of unaffiliated third-party websites, search engines, 
     digital applications, or social media sites.
       ``(4) Qualified political advertisement.--For purposes of 
     this subsection, the term `qualified political advertisement' 
     means any advertisement (including search engine marketing, 
     display advertisements, video advertisements, native 
     advertisements, and sponsorships) that--
       ``(A) is made by or on behalf of a candidate; or
       ``(B) communicates a message relating to any political 
     matter of national importance, including--
       ``(i) a candidate;
       ``(ii) any election to Federal office; or
       ``(iii) a national legislative issue of public importance.
       ``(5) Time to maintain file.--The information required 
     under this subsection shall be made available as soon as 
     possible and shall be retained by the online platform for a 
     period of not less than 4 years.
       ``(6) Special rule.--For purposes of this subsection, 
     multiple versions of an advertisement that contain no 
     material differences (such as versions that differ only 
     because they contain a recipient's name, or differ only in 
     size, color, font, or layout) may be treated as a single 
     qualified political advertisement.
       ``(7) Penalties.--For penalties for failure by online 
     platforms, and persons requesting to purchase a qualified 
     political advertisement on online platforms, to comply with 
     the requirements of this subsection, see section 309.''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act 
     and shall take effect without regard to whether or not the 
     Federal Election Commission has promulgated the final 
     regulations necessary to carry out this part and the 
     amendments made by this part by the deadline set forth in 
     subsection (c).
       (c) Rulemaking.--Not later than 120 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Federal Election Commission 
     shall establish rules--
       (1) for determining whether an advertisement communicates a 
     national legislative issue for purposes of section 304(k) of 
     the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (as added by 
     subsection (a));
       (2) requiring common data formats for the record required 
     to be maintained under such section 304(k) so that all online 
     platforms submit and maintain data online in a common, 
     machine-readable and publicly accessible format; and
       (3) establishing search interface requirements relating to 
     such record, including searches by candidate name, issue, 
     purchaser, and date.
       (d) Reporting.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, and biannually thereafter, the 
     Chairman of the Federal Election Commission shall submit a 
     report to Congress on--
       (1) matters relating to compliance with and the enforcement 
     of the requirements of section 304(k) of the Federal Election 
     Campaign Act of 1971, as added by subsection (a);
       (2) recommendations for any modifications to such section 
     to assist in carrying out its purposes; and
       (3) identifying ways to bring transparency and 
     accountability to political advertisements distributed online 
     for free.

     SEC. 6109. PREVENTING CONTRIBUTIONS, EXPENDITURES, 
                   INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES, AND DISBURSEMENTS FOR 
                   ELECTIONEERING COMMUNICATIONS BY FOREIGN 
                   NATIONALS IN THE FORM OF ONLINE ADVERTISING.

       Section 319 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 
     (52 U.S.C. 30121) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new subsection:
       ``(c) Responsibilities of Broadcast Stations, Providers of 
     Cable and Satellite Television, and Online Platforms.--
       ``(1) In general.--Each television or radio broadcast 
     station, provider of cable or satellite television, or online 
     platform (as defined in section 304(k)(3)) shall make 
     reasonable efforts to ensure that communications described in 
     section 318(a) and made available by such station, provider, 
     or platform are not purchased by a foreign national, directly 
     or indirectly.
       ``(2) Regulations.-- Not later than 1 year after the date 
     of the enactment of this subsection, the Commission shall 
     promulgate regulations on what constitutes reasonable efforts 
     under paragraph (1).''.

     SEC. 6110. REQUIRING ONLINE PLATFORMS TO DISPLAY NOTICES 
                   IDENTIFYING SPONSORS OF POLITICAL 
                   ADVERTISEMENTS AND TO ENSURE NOTICES CONTINUE 
                   TO BE PRESENT WHEN ADVERTISEMENTS ARE SHARED.

       (a) In General.--Section 304 of the Federal Election 
     Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30104), as amended by section 
     3802 and section 6108(a), is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new subsection:
       ``(l) Ensuring Display and Sharing of Sponsor 
     Identification in Online Political Advertisements.--
       ``(1) Requirement.--Any online platform that displays a 
     qualified political advertisement (regardless of whether such 
     qualified political advertisement was purchased directly from 
     the online platform) shall--
       ``(A) display with the advertisement a visible notice 
     identifying the sponsor of the advertisement (or, if it is 
     not practical for the platform to display such a notice, a 
     notice that the advertisement is sponsored by a person other 
     than the platform); and
       ``(B) ensure that the notice will continue to be displayed 
     if a viewer of the advertisement shares the advertisement 
     with others on that platform.
       ``(2) Safe harbor.--An online platform shall not be treated 
     as having failed to comply with the requirements of paragraph 
     (1)(A) for the misidentification of a person as the sponsor 
     of a the advertisement if--
       ``(A) the person placing the online advertisement 
     designated the person displayed in the advertisement as the 
     sponsor; and
       ``(B) the online platform relied on such designation in 
     good faith.
       ``(3) Definitions.--In this subsection--
       ``(A) the term `online platform' has the meaning given such 
     term in subsection (k)(3);
       ``(B) the term ``qualified political advertisement' has the 
     meaning given such term in subsection (k)(4); and
       ``(C) the term `sponsor' means the person purchasing the 
     advertisement.''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall apply with respect to advertisements displayed on or 
     after the 120-day period which begins on the date of the 
     enactment of this Act and shall take effect without regard to 
     whether or not the Federal Election Commission has 
     promulgated regulations to carry out such amendments.

                       Subtitle C--Spotlight Act

     SEC. 6201. SHORT TITLE.

       This subtitle may be cited as the ``Spotlight Act''.

     SEC. 6202. INCLUSION OF CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION ON ANNUAL 
                   RETURNS OF CERTAIN ORGANIZATIONS.

       (a) Repeal of Regulations.--The final regulations of the 
     Department of the Treasury relating to guidance under section 
     6033 regarding the reporting requirements of exempt 
     organizations (published at 85 Fed. Reg. 31959 (May 28, 
     2020)) shall have no force and effect.
       (b) Inclusion of Contributor Information.--
       (1) Social welfare organizations.--Section 6033(f)(1) of 
     the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting 
     ``(5),'' after ``paragraphs''.
       (2) Labor organizations and business leagues.--Section 6033 
     of such Code is amended by redesignating subsection (o) as 
     subsection (p) and by inserting after subsection (n) the 
     following new subsection:
       ``(o) Additional Requirements for Organizations Described 
     in Subsections (c)(5) and (c)(6) of Section 501.--Every 
     organization which is described in paragraph (5) or (6) of 
     section 501(c) and which is subject to the requirements of 
     subsection (a) shall include on the return required under 
     subsection (a) the information referred to in subsection 
     (b)(5).''.
       (3) Effective date.--The amendments made by this subsection 
     shall apply to returns required to be filed for taxable years 
     ending after the date of the enactment of this Act.
       (c) Modification to Discretionary Exceptions.--Section 
     6033(a)(3)(B) of the Internal

[[Page S4476]]

     Revenue Code of 1986 is amended to read as follows:
       ``(B) Discretionary exceptions.--
       ``(i) In general.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply to any 
     organization if the Secretary made a determination under this 
     subparagraph before July 16, 2018, that such filing is not 
     necessary to the efficient administration of the internal 
     revenue laws.
       ``(ii) Recommendations for other exceptions.--The Secretary 
     may recommend to Congress that Congress relieve any 
     organization required under paragraph (1) to file an 
     information return from filing such a return if the Secretary 
     determines that such filing does not advance a national 
     security, law enforcement, or tax administration purpose.''.

                 TITLE VII--CAMPAIGN FINANCE OVERSIGHT

         Subtitle A--Stopping Super PAC-Candidate Coordination

     SEC. 7001. SHORT TITLE.

       This subtitle may be cited as the ``Stop Super PAC-
     Candidate Coordination Act''.

     SEC. 7002. CLARIFICATION OF TREATMENT OF COORDINATED 
                   EXPENDITURES AS CONTRIBUTIONS TO CANDIDATES.

       (a) Treatment as Contribution to Candidate.--Section 
     301(8)(A) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52 
     U.S.C. 30101(8)(A)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``or'' at the end of clause (i);
       (2) by striking the period at the end of clause (ii) and 
     inserting ``; or''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following new clause:
       ``(iii) any payment made by any person (other than a 
     candidate, an authorized committee of a candidate, or a 
     political committee of a political party) for a coordinated 
     expenditure (as such term is defined in section 325) which is 
     not otherwise treated as a contribution under clause (i) or 
     clause (ii).''.
       (b) Definitions.--Title III of such Act (52 U.S.C. 30101 et 
     seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
     section:

     ``SEC. 325. PAYMENTS FOR COORDINATED EXPENDITURES.

       ``(a) Coordinated Expenditures.--
       ``(1) In general.--For purposes of section 301(8)(A)(iii), 
     the term `coordinated expenditure' means--
       ``(A) any expenditure, or any payment for a covered 
     communication described in subsection (e), which is made in 
     cooperation, consultation, or concert with, or at the request 
     or suggestion of, a candidate, an authorized committee of a 
     candidate, a political committee of a political party, or 
     agents of the candidate or committee, as defined in 
     subsection (b); or
       ``(B) any payment for any communication which republishes, 
     disseminates, or distributes, in whole or in part, any video 
     or broadcast or any written, graphic, or other form of 
     campaign material prepared by the candidate or committee or 
     by agents of the candidate or committee (including any 
     excerpt or use of any video from any such broadcast or 
     written, graphic, or other form of campaign material).
       ``(2) Exception for payments for certain communications.--A 
     payment for a communication (including a covered 
     communication described in subsection (e)) shall not be 
     treated as a coordinated expenditure under this subsection 
     if--
       ``(A) the communication appears in a news story, 
     commentary, or editorial distributed through the facilities 
     of any broadcasting station, newspaper, magazine, or other 
     periodical publication, unless such facilities are owned or 
     controlled by any political party, political committee, or 
     candidate; or
       ``(B) the communication constitutes a candidate debate or 
     forum conducted pursuant to regulations adopted by the 
     Commission pursuant to section 304(f)(3)(B)(iii), or which 
     solely promotes such a debate or forum and is made by or on 
     behalf of the person sponsoring the debate or forum.
       ``(b) Coordination Described.--
       ``(1) In general.--For purposes of this section, a payment 
     is made `in cooperation, consultation, or concert with, or at 
     the request or suggestion of,' a candidate, an authorized 
     committee of a candidate, a political committee of a 
     political party, or agents of the candidate or committee, if 
     the payment, or any communication for which the payment is 
     made, is not made entirely independently of the candidate, 
     committee, or agents. For purposes of the previous sentence, 
     a payment or communication not made entirely independently of 
     the candidate or committee includes any payment or 
     communication made pursuant to any general or particular 
     understanding with, or pursuant to any communication with, 
     the candidate, committee, or agents about the payment or 
     communication.
       ``(2) No finding of coordination based solely on sharing of 
     information regarding legislative or policy position.--For 
     purposes of this section, a payment shall not be considered 
     to be made by a person in cooperation, consultation, or 
     concert with, or at the request or suggestion of, a candidate 
     or committee, solely on the grounds that the person or the 
     person's agent engaged in discussions with the candidate or 
     committee, or with any agent of the candidate or committee, 
     regarding that person's position on a legislative or policy 
     matter (including urging the candidate or committee to adopt 
     that person's position), so long as there is no communication 
     between the person and the candidate or committee, or any 
     agent of the candidate or committee, regarding the 
     candidate's or committee's campaign advertising, message, 
     strategy, policy, polling, allocation of resources, 
     fundraising, or other campaign activities.
       ``(3) No effect on party coordination standard.--Nothing in 
     this section shall be construed to affect the determination 
     of coordination between a candidate and a political committee 
     of a political party for purposes of section 315(d).
       ``(c) Payments by Coordinated Spenders for Covered 
     Communications.--
       ``(1) Payments made in cooperation, consultation, or 
     concert with candidates.--For purposes of subsection 
     (a)(1)(A), if the person who makes a payment for a covered 
     communication, as defined in subsection (e), is a coordinated 
     spender under paragraph (2) with respect to the candidate as 
     described in paragraph (2), the payment for the covered 
     communication is made in cooperation, consultation, or 
     concert with the candidate.
       ``(2) Coordinated spender defined.--For purposes of this 
     subsection, the term `coordinated spender' means, with 
     respect to a candidate or an authorized committee of a 
     candidate, a person (other than a political committee of a 
     political party) for which any of the following applies:
       ``(A) During the 4-year period ending on the date on which 
     the person makes the payment, the person was directly or 
     indirectly formed or established by or at the request or 
     suggestion of, or with the encouragement of, the candidate 
     (including an individual who later becomes a candidate) or 
     committee or agents of the candidate or committee, including 
     with the approval of the candidate or committee or agents of 
     the candidate or committee.
       ``(B) The candidate or committee or any agent of the 
     candidate or committee solicits funds, appears at a 
     fundraising event, or engages in other fundraising activity 
     on the person's behalf during the election cycle involved, 
     including by providing the person with names of potential 
     donors or other lists to be used by the person in engaging in 
     fundraising activity, regardless of whether the person pays 
     fair market value for the names or lists provided. For 
     purposes of this subparagraph, the term `election cycle' 
     means, with respect to an election for Federal office, the 
     period beginning on the day after the date of the most recent 
     general election for that office (or, if the general election 
     resulted in a runoff election, the date of the runoff 
     election) and ending on the date of the next general election 
     for that office (or, if the general election resulted in a 
     runoff election, the date of the runoff election).
       ``(C) The person is established, directed, or managed by 
     the candidate or committee or by any person who, during the 
     4-year period ending on the date on which the person makes 
     the payment, has been employed or retained as a political, 
     campaign media, or fundraising adviser or consultant for the 
     candidate or committee or for any other entity directly or 
     indirectly controlled by the candidate or committee, or has 
     held a formal position with the candidate or committee 
     (including a position as an employee of the office of the 
     candidate at any time the candidate held any Federal, State, 
     or local public office during the 4-year period).
       ``(D) The person has retained the professional services of 
     any person who, during the 2-year period ending on the date 
     on which the person makes the payment, has provided or is 
     providing professional services relating to the campaign to 
     the candidate or committee, unless the person providing the 
     professional services used a firewall or similar procedure in 
     accordance with subsection (d). For purposes of this 
     subparagraph, the term `professional services' includes any 
     services in support of the candidate's or committee's 
     campaign activities, including advertising, message, 
     strategy, policy, polling, allocation of resources, 
     fundraising, and campaign operations, but does not include 
     accounting or legal services.
       ``(E) The person is established, directed, or managed by a 
     member of the immediate family of the candidate, or the 
     person or any officer or agent of the person has had more 
     than incidental discussions about the candidate's campaign 
     with a member of the immediate family of the candidate. For 
     purposes of this subparagraph, the term `immediate family' 
     has the meaning given such term in section 9004(e) of the 
     Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
       ``(d) Use of Firewall as Safe Harbor.--
       ``(1) No coordination if firewall applies.--A person shall 
     not be determined to have made a payment in cooperation, 
     consultation, or concert with, or at the request or 
     suggestion of, a candidate or committee in accordance with 
     this section if the person established and used a firewall or 
     similar procedure to restrict the sharing of information 
     between individuals who are employed by or who are serving as 
     agents for the person making the payment, but only if the 
     firewall or similar procedures meet the requirements of 
     paragraph (2).
       ``(2) Requirements described.--The requirements described 
     in this paragraph with respect to a firewall or similar 
     procedure are as follows:
       ``(A) The firewall or procedure is designed and implemented 
     to prohibit the flow of information between employees and 
     consultants providing services for the person paying for the 
     communication and those employees or consultants providing, 
     or who previously provided, services to a candidate who is 
     clearly identified in the communication or an authorized 
     committee of the candidate, the candidate's opponent or an 
     authorized committee of the candidate's opponent, or a 
     committee of a political party.

[[Page S4477]]

       ``(B) The firewall or procedure must be described in a 
     written policy that is distributed, signed, and dated by all 
     relevant employees, consultants, and clients subject to the 
     policy.
       ``(C) The policy must be preserved and retained by the 
     person for at least 5 years following any termination or 
     cessation of representation by employees, consultants, and 
     clients who are subject to the policy.
       ``(D) The policy must prohibit any employees, consultants, 
     and clients who are subject to the policy from attending 
     meetings, trainings, or other discussions where nonpublic 
     plans, projects, activities, or needs of candidates for 
     election for Federal office or political committees are 
     discussed.
       ``(E) The policy must prohibit each owner of an 
     organization, and each executive, manager, and supervisor 
     within an organization, from simultaneously overseeing the 
     work of employees and consultants who are subject to the 
     firewall or procedure.
       ``(F) The policy must place restrictions on internal and 
     external communications, including by establishing separate 
     emailing lists, for employees, consultants, and clients who 
     are subject to the firewall or procedure and those who are 
     not subject to the firewall or procedure.
       ``(G) The policy must require the person to establish 
     separate files, including electronic file folders--
       ``(i) for employees, consultants, and clients who are 
     subject to the firewall or procedure and to prohibit access 
     to such files by employees, consultants, and clients who are 
     not subject to the firewall or procedure; and
       ``(ii) for employees, consultants, and clients who are not 
     subject to the firewall or procedure and to prohibit access 
     to such files by employees, consultants, and clients who are 
     subject to the firewall or procedure.
       ``(H) The person must conduct a training on the applicable 
     requirements and obligations of this Act and the policy for 
     all employees, consultants, and clients.
       ``(3) Exception if information is shared regardless of 
     firewall.--A person who established and used a firewall or 
     similar procedure which meets the requirements of paragraph 
     (2) shall be determined to have made a payment in 
     cooperation, consultation, or concert with, or at the request 
     or suggestion of, a candidate or committee in accordance with 
     this section if specific information indicates that, 
     notwithstanding the establishment and use of the firewall or 
     similar procedure, information about the candidate's or 
     committee's campaign plans, projects, activities, or needs 
     that is material to the creation, production, or distribution 
     of the covered communication was used or conveyed to the 
     person paying for the communication.
       ``(4) Use as defense to enforcement action.--If, in a 
     procedure or action brought by the Commission under section 
     309, a person who is alleged to have committed a violation of 
     this Act which involves the making of a contribution which 
     consists of a payment for a coordinated expenditure raises 
     the use of a firewall or similar procedure as a defense, the 
     person shall provide the Commission with--
       ``(A) a copy of the signed and dated firewall or procedure 
     policy which applied to the person's employees, consultants, 
     or clients whose conduct is at issue in the procedure or 
     action; and
       ``(B) a sworn, written affidavit of the employees, 
     consultants, or clients who were subject to the policy that 
     the terms, conditions, and requirements of the policy were 
     met.
       ``(e) Covered Communication Defined.--
       ``(1) In general.--For purposes of this section, the term 
     `covered communication' means, with respect to a candidate or 
     an authorized committee of a candidate, a public 
     communication (as defined in section 301(22)) which--
       ``(A) expressly advocates the election of the candidate or 
     the defeat of an opponent of the candidate (or contains the 
     functional equivalent of express advocacy);
       ``(B) promotes or supports the election of the candidate, 
     or attacks or opposes the election of an opponent of the 
     candidate (regardless of whether the communication expressly 
     advocates the election or defeat of a candidate or contains 
     the functional equivalent of express advocacy); or
       ``(C) refers to the candidate or an opponent of the 
     candidate but is not described in subparagraph (A) or 
     subparagraph (B), but only if the communication is 
     disseminated during the applicable election period.
       ``(2) Applicable election period.--In paragraph (1)(C), the 
     `applicable election period' with respect to a communication 
     means--
       ``(A) in the case of a communication which refers to a 
     candidate in a general, special, or runoff election, the 120-
     day period which ends on the date of the election; or
       ``(B) in the case of a communication which refers to a 
     candidate in a primary or preference election, or convention 
     or caucus of a political party that has authority to nominate 
     a candidate, the 60-day period which ends on the date of the 
     election or convention or caucus.
       ``(3) Special rules for communications involving 
     congressional candidates.--For purposes of this subsection, a 
     public communication shall not be considered to be a covered 
     communication with respect to a candidate for election for an 
     office other than the office of President or Vice President 
     unless it is publicly disseminated or distributed in the 
     jurisdiction of the office the candidate is seeking.
       ``(f) Penalty.--
       ``(1) Determination of amount.--Any person who knowingly 
     and willfully commits a violation of this Act which involves 
     the making of a contribution which consists of a payment for 
     a coordinated expenditure shall be fined an amount equal to 
     the greater of--
       ``(A) in the case of a person who makes a contribution 
     which consists of a payment for a coordinated expenditure in 
     an amount exceeding the applicable contribution limit under 
     this Act, 300 percent of the amount by which the amount of 
     the payment made by the person exceeds such applicable 
     contribution limit; or
       ``(B) in the case of a person who is prohibited under this 
     Act from making a contribution in any amount, 300 percent of 
     the amount of the payment made by the person for the 
     coordinated expenditure.
       ``(2) Joint and several liability.--Any director, manager, 
     or officer of a person who is subject to a penalty under 
     paragraph (1) shall be jointly and severally liable for any 
     amount of such penalty that is not paid by the person prior 
     to the expiration of the 1-year period which begins on the 
     date the Commission imposes the penalty or the 1-year period 
     which begins on the date of the final judgment following any 
     judicial review of the Commission's action, whichever is 
     later.''.
       (c) Effective Date.--
       (1) Repeal of existing regulations on coordination.--
     Effective upon the expiration of the 90-day period which 
     begins on the date of the enactment of this Act--
       (A) the regulations on coordinated communications adopted 
     by the Federal Election Commission which are in effect on the 
     date of the enactment of this Act (as set forth under the 
     heading ``Coordination'' in subpart C of part 109 of title 
     11, Code of Federal Regulations) are repealed; and
       (B) the Federal Election Commission shall promulgate new 
     regulations on coordinated communications which reflect the 
     amendments made by this Act.
       (2) Effective date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall apply with respect to payments made on or after the 
     expiration of the 120-day period which begins on the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, without regard to whether or not 
     the Federal Election Commission has promulgated regulations 
     in accordance with paragraph (1)(B) as of the expiration of 
     such period.

         Subtitle B--Restoring Integrity to America's Elections

     SEC. 7101. SHORT TITLE.

       This subtitle may be cited as the ``Restoring Integrity to 
     America's Elections Act''.

     SEC. 7102. REVISION TO ENFORCEMENT PROCESS.

       (a) Standard for Initiating Investigations and Determining 
     Whether Violations Have Occurred.--
       (1) Revision of standards.--Section 309(a) of the Federal 
     Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30109(a)) is amended 
     by striking paragraphs (2) and (3) and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(2)(A) The general counsel, upon receiving a complaint 
     filed with the Commission under paragraph (1) or upon the 
     basis of information ascertained by the Commission in the 
     normal course of carrying out its supervisory 
     responsibilities, shall make a determination as to whether or 
     not there is reason to believe that a person has committed, 
     or is about to commit, a violation of this Act or chapter 95 
     or chapter 96 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and as to 
     whether or not the Commission should either initiate an 
     investigation of the matter or that the complaint should be 
     dismissed. The general counsel shall promptly provide 
     notification to the Commission of such determination and the 
     reasons therefore, together with any written response 
     submitted under paragraph (1) by the person alleged to have 
     committed the violation. Upon the expiration of the 30-day 
     period which begins on the date the general counsel provides 
     such notification, the general counsel's determination shall 
     take effect, unless during such 30-day period the Commission, 
     by vote of a majority of the members of the Commission who 
     are serving at the time, overrules the general counsel's 
     determination. If the determination by the general counsel 
     that the Commission should investigate the matter takes 
     effect, or if the determination by the general counsel that 
     the complaint should be dismissed is overruled as provided 
     under the previous sentence, the general counsel shall 
     initiate an investigation of the matter on behalf of the 
     Commission.
       ``(B) If the Commission initiates an investigation pursuant 
     to subparagraph (A), the Commission, through the Chair, shall 
     notify the subject of the investigation of the alleged 
     violation. Such notification shall set forth the factual 
     basis for such alleged violation. The Commission shall make 
     an investigation of such alleged violation, which may include 
     a field investigation or audit, in accordance with the 
     provisions of this section. The general counsel shall provide 
     notification to the Commission of any intent to issue a 
     subpoena or conduct any other form of discovery pursuant to 
     the investigation. Upon the expiration of the 15-day period 
     which begins on the date the general counsel provides such 
     notification, the general counsel may issue the subpoena or 
     conduct the discovery, unless during such 15-day period the 
     Commission, by vote of a majority of the members of the 
     Commission who are serving at the time, prohibits the general 
     counsel from issuing the subpoena or conducting the 
     discovery.

[[Page S4478]]

       ``(3)(A) Upon completion of an investigation under 
     paragraph (2), the general counsel shall make a determination 
     as to whether or not there is probable cause to believe that 
     a person has committed, or is about to commit, a violation of 
     this Act or chapter 95 or chapter 96 of the Internal Revenue 
     Code of 1986, and shall promptly submit such determination to 
     the Commission, and shall include with the determination a 
     brief stating the position of the general counsel on the 
     legal and factual issues of the case.
       ``(B) At the time the general counsel submits to the 
     Commission the determination under subparagraph (A), the 
     general counsel shall simultaneously notify the respondent of 
     such determination and the reasons therefore, shall provide 
     the respondent with an opportunity to submit a brief within 
     30 days stating the position of the respondent on the legal 
     and factual issues of the case and replying to the brief of 
     the general counsel. The general counsel shall promptly 
     submit such brief to the Commission upon receipt.
       ``(C) Upon the expiration of the 30-day period which begins 
     on the date the general counsel submits the determination to 
     the Commission under subparagraph (A) (or, if the respondent 
     submits a brief under subparagraph (B), upon the expiration 
     of the 30-day period which begins on the date the general 
     counsel submits the respondent's brief to the Commission 
     under such subparagraph), the general counsel's determination 
     shall take effect, unless during such 30-day period the 
     Commission, by vote of a majority of the members of the 
     Commission who are serving at the time, overrules the general 
     counsel's determination. If the determination by the general 
     counsel that there is probable cause to believe that a person 
     has committed, or is about to commit, a violation of this Act 
     or chapter 95 or chapter 96 of the Internal Revenue Code of 
     1986, or if the determination by the general counsel that 
     there is not probable cause that a person has committed or is 
     about to commit such a violation is overruled as provided 
     under the previous sentence, for purposes of this subsection, 
     the Commission shall be deemed to have determined that there 
     is probable cause that the person has committed or is about 
     to commit such a violation.''.
       (2) Conforming amendment relating to initial response to 
     filing of complaint.--Section 309(a)(1) of such Act (52 
     U.S.C. 30109(a)(1)) is amended--
       (A) in the third sentence, by striking ``the Commission'' 
     and inserting ``the general counsel''; and
       (B) by amending the fourth sentence to read as follows: 
     ``Not later than 15 days after receiving notice from the 
     general counsel under the previous sentence, the person may 
     provide the general counsel with a written response that no 
     action should be taken against such person on the basis of 
     the complaint.''.
       (b) Revision of Standard for Review of Dismissal of 
     Complaints.--
       (1) In general.--Section 309(a)(8) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 
     30109(a)(8)) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(8)(A)(i) Any party aggrieved by an order of the 
     Commission dismissing a complaint filed by such party may 
     file a petition with the United States District Court for the 
     District of Columbia. Any petition under this subparagraph 
     shall be filed within 60 days after the date on which the 
     party received notice of the dismissal of the complaint.
       ``(ii) In any proceeding under this subparagraph, the court 
     shall determine by de novo review whether the agency's 
     dismissal of the complaint is contrary to law. In any matter 
     in which the penalty for the alleged violation is greater 
     than $50,000, the court should disregard any claim or defense 
     by the Commission of prosecutorial discretion as a basis for 
     dismissing the complaint.
       ``(B)(i) Any party who has filed a complaint with the 
     Commission and who is aggrieved by a failure of the 
     Commission, within one year after the filing of the 
     complaint, to act on such complaint, may file a petition with 
     the United States District Court for the District of 
     Columbia.
       ``(ii) In any proceeding under this subparagraph, the court 
     shall determine by de novo review whether the agency's 
     failure to act on the complaint is contrary to law.
       ``(C) In any proceeding under this paragraph the court may 
     declare that the dismissal of the complaint or the failure to 
     act is contrary to law, and may direct the Commission to 
     conform with such declaration within 30 days, failing which 
     the complainant may bring, in the name of such complainant, a 
     civil action to remedy the violation involved in the original 
     complaint.''.
       (2) Effective date.--The amendments made by paragraph (1) 
     shall apply--
       (A) in the case of complaints which are dismissed by the 
     Federal Election Commission, with respect to complaints which 
     are dismissed on or after the date of the enactment of this 
     Act; and
       (B) in the case of complaints upon which the Federal 
     Election Commission failed to act, with respect to complaints 
     which were filed on or after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act.
       (c) Regulations.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Federal Election Commission 
     shall promulgate new regulations on the enforcement process 
     under section 309 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 
     1971 (52 U.S.C. 30109) to take into account the amendments 
     made by this section.

     SEC. 7103. OFFICIAL EXERCISING THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE 
                   GENERAL COUNSEL.

       Section 306(f)(1) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 
     1971 (52 U.S.C. 30106(f)(1)) is amended by adding at the end 
     the following new sentence: ``In the event of a vacancy in 
     the position of the General Counsel, the most senior attorney 
     employed within the Office of the General Counsel at the time 
     the vacancy arises shall exercise all the responsibilities of 
     the General Counsel until the vacancy is filled.''.

     SEC. 7104. PERMITTING APPEARANCE AT HEARINGS ON REQUESTS FOR 
                   ADVISORY OPINIONS BY PERSONS OPPOSING THE 
                   REQUESTS.

       (a) In General.--Section 308 of such Act (52 U.S.C. 30108) 
     is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(e) To the extent that the Commission provides an 
     opportunity for a person requesting an advisory opinion under 
     this section (or counsel for such person) to appear before 
     the Commission to present testimony in support of the 
     request, and the person (or counsel) accepts such 
     opportunity, the Commission shall provide a reasonable 
     opportunity for an interested party who submitted written 
     comments under subsection (d) in response to the request (or 
     counsel for such interested party) to appear before the 
     Commission to present testimony in response to the 
     request.''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall apply with respect to requests for advisory opinions 
     under section 308 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 
     1971 which are made on or after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act.

     SEC. 7105. PERMANENT EXTENSION OF ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTY 
                   AUTHORITY.

       Section 309(a)(4)(C)(v) of the Federal Election Campaign 
     Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30109(a)(4)(C)(v)) is amended by 
     striking ``, and that end on or before December 31, 2033''.

     SEC. 7106. RESTRICTIONS ON EX PARTE COMMUNICATIONS.

       Section 306(e) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 
     (52 U.S.C. 30106(e)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``(e) The Commission'' and inserting 
     ``(e)(1) The Commission''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(2) Members and employees of the Commission shall be 
     subject to limitations on ex parte communications, as 
     provided in the regulations promulgated by the Commission 
     regarding such communications which are in effect on the date 
     of the enactment of this paragraph.''.

     SEC. 7107. CLARIFYING AUTHORITY OF FEC ATTORNEYS TO REPRESENT 
                   FEC IN SUPREME COURT.

       (a) Clarifying Authority.--Section 306(f)(4) of the Federal 
     Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30106(f)(4)) is 
     amended by striking ``any action instituted under this Act, 
     either (A) by attorneys'' and inserting ``any action 
     instituted under this Act, including an action before the 
     Supreme Court of the United States, either (A) by the General 
     Counsel of the Commission and other attorneys''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall apply with respect to actions instituted before, on, or 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 7108. REQUIRING FORMS TO PERMIT USE OF ACCENT MARKS.

       (a) Requirement.--Section 311(a)(1) of the Federal Election 
     Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30111(a)(1)) is amended by 
     striking the semicolon at the end and inserting the 
     following: ``, and shall ensure that all such forms 
     (including forms in an electronic format) permit the person 
     using the form to include an accent mark as part of the 
     person's identification;''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall take effect upon the expiration of the 90-day period 
     which begins on the date of the enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 7109. EXTENSION OF THE STATUTES OF LIMITATIONS FOR 
                   OFFENSES UNDER THE FEDERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN 
                   ACT OF 1971.

       (a) Civil Offenses.--Section 309(a) of the Federal Election 
     Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30109(a)) is amended by 
     inserting after paragraph (9) the following new paragraph:
       ``(10) No person shall be subject to a civil penalty under 
     this subsection with respect to a violation of this Act 
     unless a complaint is filed with the Commission with respect 
     to the violation under paragraph (1), or the Commission 
     responds to information with respect to the violation which 
     is ascertained in the normal course of carrying out its 
     supervisory responsibilities under paragraph (2), not later 
     than 10 years after the date on which the violation 
     occurred.''.
       (b) Criminal Offenses.--Section 406(a) of such Act (52 
     U.S.C. 30145(a)) is amended by striking ``5 years'' and 
     inserting ``10 years''.
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall apply with respect to violations occurring on or after 
     the date of enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 7110. EFFECTIVE DATE; TRANSITION.

       (a) In General.--Except as otherwise provided, this 
     subtitle and the amendments made by this subtitle shall take 
     effect and apply on the date of the enactment of this Act, 
     without regard to whether or not the Federal Election 
     Commission has promulgated regulations to carry out this 
     subtitle and the amendments made by this subtitle.
       (b) Transition.--
       (1) No effect on existing cases or proceedings.--Nothing in 
     this subtitle or in any amendment made by this subtitle shall 
     affect any of the powers exercised by the Federal Election 
     Commission prior to the date

[[Page S4479]]

     of the enactment of this Act, including any investigation 
     initiated by the Commission prior to such date or any 
     proceeding (including any enforcement action) pending as of 
     such date.
       (2) Treatment of certain complaints.--If, as of the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the General Counsel of the Federal 
     Election Commission has not made any recommendation to the 
     Commission under section 309(a) of the Federal Election 
     Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30109) with respect to a 
     complaint filed prior to the date of the enactment of this 
     Act, this subtitle and the amendments made by this subtitle 
     shall apply with respect to the complaint in the same manner 
     as this subtitle and the amendments made by this subtitle 
     apply with respect to a complaint filed on or after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act.

                    TITLE VIII--CITIZEN EMPOWERMENT

                Subtitle A--Funding to Promote Democracy

               PART 1--PAYMENTS AND ALLOCATIONS TO STATES

     SEC. 8001. DEMOCRACY ADVANCEMENT AND INNOVATION PROGRAM.

       (a) Establishment.--There is established a program to be 
     known as the ``Democracy Advancement and Innovation Program'' 
     under which the Director of the Office of Democracy 
     Advancement and Innovation shall make allocations to each 
     State for each fiscal year to carry out democracy promotion 
     activities described in subsection (b).
       (b) Democracy Promotion Activities Described.--The 
     democracy promotion activities described in this subsection 
     are as follows:
       (1) Activities to promote innovation to improve efficiency 
     and smooth functioning in the administration of elections for 
     Federal office and to secure the infrastructure used in the 
     administration of such elections, including making upgrades 
     to voting equipment and voter registration systems, securing 
     voting locations, expanding polling places and the 
     availability of early and mail voting, recruiting and 
     training nonpartisan election officials, and promoting 
     cybersecurity.
       (2) Activities to ensure equitable access to democracy, 
     including the following:
       (A) Enabling candidates who seek office in the State to 
     receive payments as participating candidates under title V of 
     the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (as added by 
     subtitle B), but only if the State will enable candidates to 
     receive such payments during an entire election cycle.
       (B) Operating a Democracy Credit Program under part 1 of 
     subtitle B, but only if the State will operate the program 
     during an entire election cycle.
       (C) Other activities to ensure equitable access to 
     democracy, including administering a ranked-choice voting 
     system and carrying out Congressional redistricting through 
     independent commissions.
       (3) Activities to increase access to voting in elections 
     for Federal office by underserved communities, individuals 
     with disabilities, racial and language minority groups, 
     individuals entitled to vote by absentee ballot under the 
     Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, and 
     voters residing in Indian lands.
       (c) Permitting States to Retain and Reserve Allocations for 
     Future Use.--A State may retain and reserve an allocation 
     received for a fiscal year to carry out democracy promotion 
     activities in any subsequent fiscal year.
       (d) Requiring Submission and Approval of State Plan.--
       (1) In general.--A State shall receive an allocation under 
     the Program for a fiscal year if--
       (A) not later than 90 days before the first day of the 
     fiscal year, the chief State election official of the State 
     submits to the Director the State plan described in section 
     8002; and
       (B) not later than 45 days before the first day of the 
     fiscal year, the Director, in consultation with the Election 
     Assistance Commission and the Federal Election Commission as 
     described in paragraph (3), determines that the State plan 
     will enable the State to carry out democracy promotion 
     activities and approves the plan.
       (2) Submission and approval of revised plan.--If the 
     Director does not approve the State plan as submitted by the 
     State under paragraph (1) with respect to a fiscal year, the 
     State shall receive a payment under the Program for the 
     fiscal year if, at any time prior to the end of the fiscal 
     year--
       (A) the chief State election official of the State submits 
     a revised version of the State plan; and
       (B) the Director, in consultation with the Election 
     Assistance Commission and the Federal Election Commission as 
     described in paragraph (3), determines that the revised 
     version of the State plan will enable the State to carry out 
     democracy promotion activities and approves the plan.
       (3) Election assistance commission and federal election 
     commission consultation.--With respect to a State plan 
     submitted under paragraph (1) or a revised plan submitted 
     under paragraph (2)--
       (A) the Director shall, prior to making a determination on 
     approval of the plan, consult with the Election Assistance 
     Commission with respect to the proposed State activities 
     described in subsection (b)(1) and with the Federal Election 
     Commission with respect to the proposed State activities 
     described in subsection (b)(2)(A) and (b)(2)(B); and
       (B) the Election Assistance Commission and the Federal 
     Election Commission shall submit to the Director a written 
     assessment with respect to whether the proposed activities of 
     the plan satisfy the requirements of this Act.
       (4) Consultation with legislature.--The chief State 
     election official of the State shall develop the State plan 
     submitted under paragraph (1) and the revised plan submitted 
     under paragraph (2) in consultation with the majority party 
     and minority party leaders of each house of the State 
     legislature.
       (e) State Report on Use of Allocations.--Not later than 90 
     days after the last day of a fiscal year for which an 
     allocation was made to the State under the Program, the chief 
     State election official of the State shall submit a report to 
     the Director describing how the State used the allocation, 
     including a description of the democracy promotion activities 
     the State carried out with the allocation.
       (f) Public Availability of Information.--
       (1) Publicly available website.--The Director shall make 
     available on a publicly accessible website the following:
       (A) State plans submitted under paragraph (1) of subsection 
     (d) and revised plans submitted under paragraph (2) of 
     subsection (d).
       (B) The Director's notifications of determinations with 
     respect to such plans under subsection (d).
       (C) Reports submitted by States under subsection (e).
       (2) Redaction.-- The Director may redact information 
     required to be made available under paragraph (1) if the 
     information would be properly withheld from disclosure under 
     section 552 of title 5, United States Code, or if the public 
     disclosure of the information is otherwise prohibited by law.
       (g) Effective Date.--This section shall apply with respect 
     to fiscal year 2027 and each succeeding fiscal year.

     SEC. 8002. STATE PLAN.

       (a) Contents.--A State plan under this section with respect 
     to a State is a plan containing each of the following:
       (1) A description of the democracy promotion activities the 
     State will carry out with the payment made under the Program.
       (2) A statement of whether or not the State intends to 
     retain and reserve the payment for future democracy promotion 
     activities.
       (3) A description of how the State intends to allocate 
     funds to carry out the proposed activities, which shall 
     include the amount the State intends to allocate to each such 
     activity, including (if applicable) a specific allocation 
     for--
       (A) activities described in subsection 8001(b)(1) (relating 
     to election administration);
       (B) activities described in section 8001(b)(2)(A) (relating 
     to payments to participating candidates in the State under 
     title V of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971), 
     together with the information required under subsection (c);
       (C) activities described in section 8001(b)(2)(B) (relating 
     to the operation of a Democracy Credit Program under part 1 
     of subtitle B);
       (D) activities described in section 8001(b)(2)(C) (relating 
     to other activities to ensure equitable access to democracy); 
     and
       (E) activities described in section 8001(b)(3) (relating to 
     activities to increase access to voting in elections for 
     Federal office by certain communities).
       (4) A description of how the State will establish the fund 
     described in subsection (b) for purposes of administering the 
     democracy promotion activities which the State will carry out 
     with the payment, including information on fund management.
       (5) A description of the State-based administrative 
     complaint procedures established for purposes of section 
     8003(b).
       (6) A statement regarding whether the proposed activities 
     to be funded are permitted under State law, or whether the 
     official intends to seek legal authorization for such 
     activities.
       (b) Requirements for Fund.--
       (1) Fund described.--For purposes of subsection (a)(4), a 
     fund described in this subsection with respect to a State is 
     a fund which is established in the treasury of the State 
     government, which is used in accordance with paragraph (2), 
     and which consists of the following amounts:
       (A) Amounts appropriated or otherwise made available by the 
     State for carrying out the democracy promotion activities for 
     which the payment is made to the State under the Program.
       (B) The payment made to the State under the Program.
       (C) Such other amounts as may be appropriated under law.
       (D) Interest earned on deposits of the fund.
       (2) Use of fund.--Amounts in the fund shall be used by the 
     State exclusively to carry out democracy promotion activities 
     for which the payment is made to the State under the Program.
       (3) Treatment of states that require changes to state 
     law.--In the case of a State that requires State legislation 
     to establish the fund described in this subsection, the 
     Director shall defer disbursement of the payment to such 
     State under the Program until such time as legislation 
     establishing the fund is enacted.
       (c) Specific Information on Use of Funds to Enable 
     Candidates to Participate in Matching Funds Program.--If the 
     State

[[Page S4480]]

     plan under this section includes an allocation for activities 
     described in section 8001(b)(2)(A) (relating to payments to 
     participating candidates in the State under title V of the 
     Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971), the State shall 
     include in the plan specific information on how the amount of 
     the allocation will enable the State to provide for the 
     viable participation of candidates in the State under such 
     title, including the assumptions made by the State in 
     determining the amount of the allocation.

     SEC. 8003. PROHIBITING REDUCTION IN ACCESS TO PARTICIPATION 
                   IN ELECTIONS.

       (a) Prohibiting Use of Payments.--A State may not use a 
     payment made under the Program to carry out any activity 
     which has the purpose or effect of diminishing the ability of 
     any citizen of the United States to participate in the 
     electoral process.
       (b) State-based Administrative Complaint Procedures.--
       (1) Establishment.--A State receiving a payment under the 
     Program shall establish uniform and nondiscriminatory State-
     based administrative complaint procedures under which any 
     person who believes that a violation of subsection (a) has 
     occurred, is occurring, or is about to occur may file a 
     complaint.
       (2) Notification to director.--The State shall transmit to 
     the Director a description of each complaint filed under the 
     procedures, together with--
       (A) if the State provides a remedy with respect to the 
     complaint, a description of the remedy; or
       (B) if the State dismisses the complaint, a statement of 
     the reasons for the dismissal.
       (3) Review by director.--
       (A) Request for review.--Any person who is dissatisfied 
     with the final decision under a State-based administrative 
     complaint procedure under this subsection may, not later than 
     60 days after the decision is made, file a request with the 
     Director to review the decision.
       (B) Action by director.--Upon receiving a request under 
     subparagraph (A), the Director shall review the decision and, 
     in accordance with such procedures as the Director may 
     establish, including procedures to provide notice and an 
     opportunity for a hearing, may uphold the decision or reverse 
     the decision and provide an appropriate remedy.
       (C) Public availability of material.--The Director shall 
     make available on a publicly accessible website all material 
     relating to a request for review and determination by the 
     Director under this paragraph, shall be made available on a 
     publicly accessible website, except that the Director may 
     redact material required to be made available under this 
     subparagraph if the material would be properly withheld from 
     disclosure under section 552 of title 5, United States Code, 
     or if the public disclosure of the material is otherwise 
     prohibited by law.
       (4) Right to petition for review.--
       (A) In general.--Any person aggrieved by an action of the 
     Director under subparagraph (B) of paragraph (3) may file a 
     petition with the United States District Court for the 
     District of Columbia.
       (B) Deadline to file petition.--Any petition under this 
     subparagraph shall be filed not later than 60 days after the 
     date of the action taken by the Director under subparagraph 
     (B) of paragraph (3).
       (C) Standard of review.--In any proceeding under this 
     paragraph, the court shall determine whether the action of 
     the Director was arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of 
     discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with law under 
     section 706 of title 5, United States Code, and may direct 
     the Office to conform with any such determination within 30 
     days.
       (c) Action by Attorney General for Declaratory and 
     Injunctive Relief.--The Attorney General may bring a civil 
     action against any State 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 
     enforce subsection (a).

     SEC. 8004. AMOUNT OF STATE ALLOCATION.

       (a) State-specific Amount.--The amount of the allocation 
     made to a State under the Program for a fiscal year shall be 
     equal to the product of--
       (1) the Congressional district allocation amount 
     (determined under subsection (b)); and
       (2) the number of Congressional districts in the State for 
     the next regularly scheduled general election for Federal 
     office held in the State.
       (b) Congressional District Allocation Amount.--For purposes 
     of subsection (a), the ``Congressional district allocation 
     amount'' with respect to a fiscal year is equal to the 
     quotient of--
       (1) the aggregate amount available for allocations to 
     States under the Program for the fiscal year, as determined 
     by the Director under subsection (c); divided by
       (2) the total number of Congressional districts in all 
     States.
       (c) Determination of Aggregate Amount Available for 
     Allocations; Notification to States.--Not later than 120 days 
     before the first day of each fiscal year, the Director--
       (1) shall, in accordance with section 8012, determine and 
     establish the aggregate amount available for allocations to 
     States under the Program for the fiscal year; and
       (2) shall notify each State of the amount of the State's 
     allocation under the Program for the fiscal year.
       (d) Source of Payments.--The amounts used to make 
     allocations and payments under the Program shall be derived 
     solely from the Trust Fund.

     SEC. 8005. PROCEDURES FOR DISBURSEMENTS OF PAYMENTS AND 
                   ALLOCATIONS.

       (a) Direct Payments to States for Certain Activities Under 
     State Plan.--
       (1) Direct payment.--If the approved State plan of a State 
     includes activities for which allocations are not made under 
     subsections (b), (c), or (d), upon approving the State plan 
     under section 8002, the Director shall direct the Secretary 
     of the Treasury to disburse amounts from the Trust Fund for 
     payment to the State in the aggregate amount provided under 
     the plan for such activities.
       (2) Timing.--As soon as practicable after the Director 
     directs the Secretary of the Treasury to disburse amounts for 
     payment to a State under paragraph (1), the Secretary of the 
     Treasury shall make the payment to the State under such 
     paragraph.
       (3) Continuing availability of funds after appropriation.--
     A payment made to a State under this subsection shall be 
     available without fiscal year limitation.
       (b) Allocation to Election Assistance Commission for 
     Payments to States for Certain Election Administration 
     Activities.--
       (1) Allocation.--If the approved State plan of a State 
     includes activities described in section 8001(b)(1), upon 
     approving the State plan under section 8002, the Director 
     shall direct the Secretary of the Treasury to allocate to the 
     Election Assistance Commission the amount provided for such 
     activities under the plan.
       (2) Payment to state.--As soon as practicable after 
     receiving an allocation under paragraph (1) with respect to a 
     State, the Election Assistance Commission shall make a 
     payment to the State in the amount of the State's allocation.
       (3) Continuing availability of funds after appropriation.--
     A payment made to a State by the Election Assistance 
     Commission under this subsection shall be available without 
     fiscal year limitation.
       (c) Allocation to Federal Election Commission for Payments 
     to Participating Candidates From State.--If the approved 
     State plan of a State includes activities described in 
     section 8001(b)(2)(A), relating to payments to participating 
     candidates in the State under title V of the Federal Election 
     Campaign Act of 1971, upon approving the State plan under 
     section 8002, the Director shall direct the Secretary of the 
     Treasury to allocate to the Federal Election Commission the 
     amount provided for such activities under the plan.
       (d) Allocation to Federal Election Commission for Payments 
     for Democracy Credit Program.--If the approved State plan of 
     a State includes activities described in section 
     8001(b)(2)(B), relating to payments to the State for the 
     operation of a Democracy Credit Program under part 1 of 
     subtitle B, upon approving the State plan under section 8002, 
     the Director shall direct the Secretary of the Treasury to 
     allocate to the Federal Election Commission the amount 
     provided for such activities under the plan.
       (e) Certain Payments Made Directly to Local Election 
     Administrators.--Under rules established by the Director not 
     later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this 
     Act, portions of amounts disbursed to States by the Secretary 
     of the Treasury under subsection (a) and payments made to 
     States by the Election Assistance Commission under subsection 
     (b) may be provided directly to local election administrators 
     carrying out activities in the State plan which may be 
     carried out with such amounts and payments.

     SEC. 8006. OFFICE OF DEMOCRACY ADVANCEMENT AND INNOVATION.

       (a) Establishment.--There is established as an independent 
     establishment in the executive branch the Office of Democracy 
     Advancement and Innovation.
       (b) Director.--
       (1) In general.--The Office shall be headed by a Director, 
     who shall be appointed by the President with the advice and 
     consent of the Senate.
       (2) Term of service.--The Director shall serve for a term 
     of 6 years and may be reappointed to an additional term, and 
     may continue serving as Director until a replacement is 
     appointed. A vacancy in the position of Director shall be 
     filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
       (3) Compensation.--The Director shall be paid at an annual 
     rate of pay equal to the annual rate in effect for level II 
     of the Executive Schedule.
       (4) Removal.--The Director may be removed from office by 
     the President. If the President removes the Director, the 
     President shall communicate in writing the reasons for the 
     removal to both Houses of Congress not later than 30 days 
     beforehand. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to 
     prohibit a personnel action otherwise authorized by law.
       (c) General Counsel and Other Staff.--
       (1) General counsel.--The Director shall appoint a general 
     counsel who shall be paid at an annual rate of pay equal to 
     the annual rate in effect for level III of the Executive 
     Schedule. In the event of a vacancy in the position of the 
     Director, the General Counsel shall exercise all the 
     responsibilities of the Director until such vacancy is 
     filled.
       (2) Senior staff.--The Director may appoint and fix the pay 
     of staff designated as Senior staff, such as a Deputy 
     Director, who

[[Page S4481]]

     may be paid at an annual rate of pay equal to the annual rate 
     in effect for level IV of the Executive Schedule.
       (3) Other staff.--In addition to the General Counsel and 
     Senior staff, the Director may appoint and fix the pay of 
     such other staff as the Director considers necessary to carry 
     out the duties of the Office, except that no such staff may 
     be compensated at an annual rate exceeding the daily 
     equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay in effect for 
     grade GS-15 of the General Schedule.
       (d) Duties.--The duties of the Office are as follows:
       (1) Administration of program.--The Director shall 
     administer the Program, in consultation with the Election 
     Assistance Commission and the Federal Election Commission, 
     including by holding quarterly meetings of representatives 
     from such Commissions.
       (2) Oversight of trust fund.--The Director shall oversee 
     the operation of the Trust Fund and monitor its balances, in 
     consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury. The Director 
     may hold funds in reserve to cover the expenses of the Office 
     and to preserve the solvency of the Trust Fund.
       (3) Reports.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
     regularly scheduled general election for Federal office held 
     in 2028 and each succeeding regularly scheduled general 
     election for Federal office thereafter, the Director shall 
     submit to the Committee on House Administration of the House 
     of Representatives and the Committee on Rules and 
     Administration of the Senate a report on the activities 
     carried out under the Program and the amounts deposited into 
     and paid from the Trust Fund during the two most recent 
     fiscal years.
       (e) Coverage Under Inspector General Act of 1978 for 
     Conducting Audits and Investigations.--
       (1) In general.--Section 415(a)(1)(A) of title 5, United 
     States Code, is amended by inserting ``the Office of 
     Democracy Advancement and Innovation,'' after ``Election 
     Assistance Commission,''.
       (2) Effective date.--The amendment made by paragraph (1) 
     shall take effect 180 days after the appointment of the 
     Director.
       (f) Coverage Under Hatch Act.--Clause (i) of section 
     7323(b)(2)(B) of title 5, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) by striking ``or'' at the end of subclause (XIII); and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new subclause:
       ``(XV) the Office of Democracy Advancement and Innovation; 
     or''.
       (g) Regulations.--
       (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), not 
     later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 
     the Director shall promulgate such rules and regulations as 
     the Director considers necessary and appropriate to carry out 
     the duties of the Office under this Act and the amendments 
     made by this Act.
       (2) State plan submission and approval and distribution of 
     funds.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Director shall promulgate such 
     rules and regulations as the Director considers necessary and 
     appropriate to carry out the requirements of this part and 
     the amendments made by this part.
       (3) Comments by the election assistance commission and the 
     federal election commission.--The Election Assistance 
     Commission and the Federal Election Assistance shall timely 
     submit comments with respect to any proposed regulations 
     promulgated by the Director under this subsection.
       (h) Interim Authority Pending Appointment and Confirmation 
     of Director.--
       (1) Authority of director of office of management and 
     budget.--Notwithstanding subsection (b), during the 
     transition period, the Director of the Office of Management 
     and Budget is authorized to perform the functions of the 
     Office under this title, and shall act for all purposes as, 
     and with the full powers of, the Director.
       (2) Interim administrative services.--
       (A) Authority of office of management and budget.--During 
     the transition period, the Director of the Office of 
     Management and Budget may provide administrative services 
     necessary to support the Office.
       (B) Termination of authority; permitting extension.--The 
     Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall cease 
     providing interim administrative services under this 
     paragraph upon the expiration of the transition period, 
     except that the Director of the Office of Management and 
     Budget may continue to provide such services after the 
     expiration of the transition period if the Director and the 
     Director of the Office of Management and Budget jointly 
     transmit to the Committee on House Administration of the 
     House of Representatives and the Committee on Rules and 
     Administration of the Senate--
       (i) a written determination that an orderly implementation 
     of this title is not feasible by the expiration of the 
     transition period;
       (ii) an explanation of why an extension is necessary for 
     the orderly implementation of this title;
       (iii) a description of the period during which the Director 
     of the Office of Management and Budget shall continue 
     providing services under the authority of this subparagraph; 
     and
       (iv) a description of the steps that will be taken to 
     ensure an orderly and timely implementation of this title 
     during the period described in clause (iii).
       (3) Transition period defined.--In this subsection, the 
     ``transition period'' is the period which begins on the date 
     of the enactment of this Act and ends on the date on which 
     the Director is appointed and confirmed.
       (4) Limit on length of period of interim authorities.--
     Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection, the 
     Director of the Office of Management and Budget may not 
     exercise any authority under this subsection after the 
     expiration of the 24-month period which begins on the date of 
     the enactment of this Act.
       (i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated from the Trust Fund such sums as may be 
     necessary to carry out the activities of the Office for 
     fiscal year 2027 and each succeeding fiscal year.

      PART 2--STATE ELECTION ASSISTANCE AND INNOVATION TRUST FUND

     SEC. 8011. STATE ELECTION ASSISTANCE AND INNOVATION TRUST 
                   FUND.

       (a) Establishment.--There is established in the Treasury a 
     fund to be known as the ``State Election Assistance and 
     Innovation Trust Fund''.
       (b) Sense of the Senate Regarding Funding.--It is the sense 
     of the Senate that--
       (1) no taxpayer funds should be used in funding this title; 
     and
       (2) the Trust Fund should consist of--
       (A) assessments against certain fines, penalties, and 
     settlements as a result of corporate malfeasance; and
       (B) any gifts or bequests for deposit into the Trust Fund.

     SEC. 8012. USES OF FUND.

       (a) Payments and Allocations Described.--For each fiscal 
     year, amounts in the Fund shall be used as follows:
       (1) Payments to States under the Program, as described in 
     section 8005(a).
       (2) Allocations to the Election Assistance Commission, to 
     be used for payments for certain election administration 
     activities, as described in section 8005(b).
       (3) Allocations to the Federal Election Commission, to be 
     used for payments to participating candidates under title V 
     of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as described in 
     section 8005(c).
       (4) Allocations to the Federal Election Commission, to be 
     used for payments to States operating a Democracy Credit 
     Program under part 1 of subtitle B, as described in section 
     8005(d).
       (b) Determination of Aggregate Amount of State 
     Allocations.--The Director shall determine and establish the 
     aggregate amount of State allocations for each fiscal year, 
     taking into account the anticipated balances of the Trust 
     Fund. In carrying out this subsection, the Director shall 
     consult with the Federal Election Commission and the Election 
     Assistance Commission, but shall be solely responsible for 
     making the final determinations under this subsection.

                       PART 3--GENERAL PROVISIONS

     SEC. 8021. DEFINITIONS.

       In this subtitle, the following definitions apply:
       (1) The term ``chief State election official'' has the 
     meaning given such term in section 253(e) of the Help America 
     Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21003(e)).
       (2) The term ``Director'' means the Director of the Office.
       (3) The term ``election cycle'' means the period beginning 
     on the day after the date of the most recent regularly 
     scheduled general election for Federal office and ending on 
     the date of the next regularly scheduled general election for 
     Federal office.
       (4) The term ``Indian lands'' includes--
       (A) Indian country, as defined under section 1151 of title 
     18, United States Code;
       (B) 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));
       (C) any land on which the seat of the Tribal government is 
     located; and
       (D) 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.
       (5) The term ``Office'' means the Office of Democracy 
     Advancement and Innovation established under section 8005.
       (6) The term ``Program'' means the Democracy Advancement 
     and Innovation Program established under section 8001.
       (7) The term ``State'' means each of the several States, 
     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.
       (8) The term ``Trust Fund'' means the State Election 
     Assistance and Innovation Trust Fund established under 
     section 8011.

     SEC. 8022. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION REGARDING CALCULATION OF 
                   DEADLINES.

       (a) In General.--With respect to the calculation of any 
     period of time for the purposes of a deadline in this 
     subtitle, the last day of the period shall be included in 
     such calculation, unless such day is a Saturday, a Sunday, or 
     a legal public holiday, in which case the period of such 
     deadline shall be extended until the end of the next day 
     which is not a Saturday, a Sunday, a legal public holiday.

[[Page S4482]]

       (b) Legal Public Holiday Defined.--For the purposes of this 
     section, the term ``legal public holiday'' means a day 
     described in section 6103(a) of title 5, United States Code.

           Subtitle B--Elections for House of Representatives

     SEC. 8101. SHORT TITLE.

       This subtitle may be cited as the ``Government By the 
     People Act of 2024''.

               PART 1--OPTIONAL DEMOCRACY CREDIT PROGRAM

     SEC. 8102. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.

       (a) Establishment.--The Federal Election Commission 
     (hereafter in this part referred to as the ``Commission'') 
     shall establish a program under which the Commission shall 
     make payments to States to operate a credit program which is 
     described in section 8103 during an election cycle.
       (b) Requirements for Program.--A State is eligible to 
     operate a credit program under this part with respect to an 
     election cycle if, not later than 120 days before the cycle 
     begins, the State submits to the Commission a statement 
     containing--
       (1) information and assurances that the State will operate 
     a credit program which contains the elements described in 
     section 8103(a);
       (2) information and assurances that the State will 
     establish fraud prevention mechanisms described in section 
     8103(b);
       (3) information and assurances that the State will 
     establish a commission to oversee and implement the program 
     as described in section 8103(c);
       (4) information and assurances that the State will carry 
     out a public information campaign as described in section 
     8103(d);
       (5) information and assurances that the State will submit 
     reports as required under section 8104;
       (6) information and assurances that, not later than 60 days 
     before the beginning of the cycle, the State will complete 
     any actions necessary to operate the program during the 
     cycle; and
       (7) such other information and assurances as the Commission 
     may require.
       (c) Reimbursement of Costs.--
       (1) Reimbursement.--Upon receiving the report submitted by 
     a State under section 8104(a) with respect to an election 
     cycle, the Commission shall transmit a payment to the State 
     in an amount equal to the reasonable costs incurred by the 
     State in operating the credit program under this part during 
     the cycle.
       (2) Source of funds.--Payments to a State under the program 
     shall be made using amounts allocated to the Commission for 
     purposes of making payments under this part with respect to 
     the State from the State Election Assistance and Innovation 
     Trust Fund (hereafter referred to as the ``Fund'') under 
     section 8012, in the amount allocated with respect to the 
     State under section 8005(d).
       (3) Cap on amount of payment.--The aggregate amount of 
     payments made to any State with respect to two consecutive 
     election cycles period may not exceed $10,000,000. If the 
     State determines that the maximum payment amount under this 
     paragraph with respect to such cycles is not, or may not be, 
     sufficient to cover the reasonable costs incurred by the 
     State in operating the program under this part for such 
     cycles, the State shall reduce the amount of the credit 
     provided to each qualified individual by such pro rata amount 
     as may be necessary to ensure that the reasonable costs 
     incurred by the State in operating the program will not 
     exceed the amount paid to the State with respect to such 
     cycles.
       (d) Continuing Availability of Funds After Appropriation.--
     A payment made to a State under this part shall be available 
     without fiscal year limitation.

     SEC. 8103. CREDIT PROGRAM DESCRIBED.

       (a) General Elements of Program.--
       (1) Elements described.--The elements of a credit program 
     operated by a State under this part are as follows:
       (A) The State shall provide each qualified individual upon 
     the individual's request with a credit worth $25 to be known 
     as a ``Democracy Credit'' during the election cycle which 
     will be assigned a routing number and which at the option of 
     the individual will be provided in either paper or electronic 
     form.
       (B) Using the routing number assigned to the Democracy 
     Credit, the individual may submit the Democracy Credit in 
     either electronic or paper form to qualified candidates for 
     election for the office of Representative in, or Delegate or 
     Resident Commissioner to, the Congress and allocate such 
     portion of the value of the Democracy Credit in increments of 
     $5 as the individual may select to any such candidate.
       (C) If the candidate transmits the Democracy Credit to the 
     Commission, the Commission shall pay the candidate the 
     portion of the value of the Democracy Credit that the 
     individual allocated to the candidate, which shall be 
     considered a contribution by the individual to the candidate 
     for purposes of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971.
       (2) Designation of qualified individuals.--For purposes of 
     paragraph (1)(A), a ``qualified individual'' with respect to 
     a State means an individual--
       (A) who is a resident of the State;
       (B) who will be of voting age as of the date of the 
     election for the candidate to whom the individual submits a 
     Democracy Credit; and
       (C) who is not prohibited under Federal law from making 
     contributions to candidates for election for Federal office.
       (3) Treatment as contribution to candidate.--For purposes 
     of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, the submission 
     of a Democracy Credit to a candidate by an individual shall 
     be treated as a contribution to the candidate by the 
     individual in the amount of the portion of the value of the 
     Credit that the individual allocated to the candidate.
       (b) Fraud Prevention Mechanism.--In addition to the 
     elements described in subsection (a), a State operating a 
     credit program under this part shall permit an individual to 
     revoke a Democracy Credit not later than 2 days after 
     submitting the Democracy Credit to a candidate.
       (c) Oversight Commission.--In addition to the elements 
     described in subsection (a), a State operating a credit 
     program under this part shall establish a commission or 
     designate an existing entity to oversee and implement the 
     program in the State, except that no such commission or 
     entity may be comprised of elected officials.
       (d) Public Information Campaign.--In addition to the 
     elements described in subsection (a), a State operating a 
     credit program under this part shall carry out a public 
     information campaign to disseminate awareness of the program 
     among qualified individuals.
       (e) No Taxpayer Funds Permitted to Carry Out Program.--No 
     taxpayer funds shall be used to carry out the credit program 
     under this part. For purposes of this subsection, the term 
     ``taxpayer funds'' means revenues received by the Internal 
     Revenue Service from tax liabilities.

     SEC. 8104. REPORTS.

       (a) State Reports.--Not later than 6 months after each 
     first election cycle during which the State operates a 
     program under this part, the State shall submit to the 
     Commission and the Office of Democracy Advancement and 
     Innovation a report analyzing the operation and effectiveness 
     of the program during the cycle and including such other 
     information as the Commission may require.
       (b) Study and Report on Impact and Effectiveness of Credit 
     Programs.--
       (1) Study.--The Commission shall conduct a study on the 
     efficacy of political credit programs, including the program 
     under this part and other similar programs, in expanding and 
     diversifying the pool of individuals who participate in the 
     electoral process, including those who participate as donors 
     and those who participate as candidates.
       (2) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the first election 
     cycle for which States operate the program under this part, 
     the Commission shall publish and submit to Congress a report 
     on the study conducted under paragraph (1).

     SEC. 8105. ELECTION CYCLE DEFINED.

       In this part, the term ``election cycle'' means the period 
     beginning on the day after the date of the most recent 
     regularly scheduled general election for Federal office and 
     ending on the date of the next regularly scheduled general 
     election for Federal office.

   PART 2--OPTIONAL SMALL DOLLAR FINANCING OF ELECTIONS FOR HOUSE OF 
                            REPRESENTATIVES

     SEC. 8111. BENEFITS AND ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR 
                   CANDIDATES.

       The Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30101 
     et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

      ``TITLE V--SMALL DOLLAR FINANCING OF ELECTIONS FOR HOUSE OF 
                            REPRESENTATIVES

                         ``Subtitle A--Benefits

     ``SEC. 501. BENEFITS FOR PARTICIPATING CANDIDATES.

       ``(a) In General.--If a candidate for election to the 
     office of Representative in, or Delegate or Resident 
     Commissioner to, the Congress is certified as a participating 
     candidate under this title with respect to an election for 
     such office, the candidate shall be entitled to payments as 
     provided under this title.
       ``(b) Amount of Payment.--The amount of a payment made 
     under this title shall be equal to 600 percent of the amount 
     of qualified small dollar contributions received by the 
     candidate since the most recent payment made to the candidate 
     under this title during the election cycle, without regard to 
     whether or not the candidate received any of the 
     contributions before, during, or after the Small Dollar 
     Democracy qualifying period applicable to the candidate under 
     section 511(c).
       ``(c) Limit on Aggregate Amount of Payments.--The aggregate 
     amount of payments made to a participating candidate with 
     respect to an election cycle under this title may not exceed 
     50 percent of the average of the 20 greatest amounts of 
     disbursements made by the authorized committees of any 
     winning candidate for the office of Representative in, or 
     Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress during the 
     most recent election cycle, rounded to the nearest $100,000.
       ``(d) No Taxpayer Funds Permitted.--No taxpayer funds shall 
     be used to make payments under this title. For purposes of 
     this subsection, the term `taxpayer funds' means revenues 
     received by the Internal Revenue Service from tax 
     liabilities.

     ``SEC. 502. PROCEDURES FOR MAKING PAYMENTS.

       ``(a) In General.--The Division Director shall make a 
     payment under section 501 to a candidate who is certified as 
     a participating candidate upon receipt from the candidate of 
     a request for a payment which includes--

[[Page S4483]]

       ``(1) a statement of the number and amount of qualified 
     small dollar contributions received by the candidate since 
     the most recent payment made to the candidate under this 
     title during the election cycle;
       ``(2) a statement of the amount of the payment the 
     candidate anticipates receiving with respect to the request;
       ``(3) a statement of the total amount of payments the 
     candidate has received under this title as of the date of the 
     statement; and
       ``(4) such other information and assurances as the Division 
     Director may require.
       ``(b) Restrictions on Submission of Requests.--A candidate 
     may not submit a request under subsection (a) unless each of 
     the following applies:
       ``(1) The amount of the qualified small dollar 
     contributions in the statement referred to in subsection 
     (a)(1) is equal to or greater than $5,000, unless the request 
     is submitted during the 30-day period which ends on the date 
     of a general election.
       ``(2) The candidate did not receive a payment under this 
     title during the 7-day period which ends on the date the 
     candidate submits the request.
       ``(c) Time of Payment.--The Division Director shall, in 
     coordination with the Secretary of the Treasury, take such 
     steps as may be necessary to ensure that the Secretary is 
     able to make payments under this section from the Treasury 
     not later than 2 business days after the receipt of a request 
     submitted under subsection (a).

     ``SEC. 503. USE OF FUNDS.

       ``(a) Use of Funds for Authorized Campaign Expenditures.--A 
     candidate shall use payments made under this title, including 
     payments provided with respect to a previous election cycle 
     which are withheld from remittance to the Commission in 
     accordance with section 524(a)(2), only for making direct 
     payments for the receipt of goods and services which 
     constitute authorized expenditures (as determined in 
     accordance with title III) in connection with the election 
     cycle involved.
       ``(b) Prohibiting Use of Funds for Legal Expenses, Fines, 
     or Penalties.--Notwithstanding title III, a candidate may not 
     use payments made under this title for the payment of 
     expenses incurred in connection with any action, claim, or 
     other matter before the Commission or before any court, 
     hearing officer, arbitrator, or other dispute resolution 
     entity, or for the payment of any fine or civil monetary 
     penalty.

     ``SEC. 504. QUALIFIED SMALL DOLLAR CONTRIBUTIONS DESCRIBED.

       ``(a) In General.--In this title, the term `qualified small 
     dollar contribution' means, with respect to a candidate and 
     the authorized committees of a candidate, a contribution that 
     meets the following requirements:
       ``(1) The contribution is in an amount that is--
       ``(A) not less than $1; and
       ``(B) not more than $200.
       ``(2)(A) The contribution is made directly by an individual 
     to the candidate or an authorized committee of the candidate 
     and is not--
       ``(i) forwarded from the individual making the contribution 
     to the candidate or committee by another person; or
       ``(ii) received by the candidate or committee with the 
     knowledge that the contribution was made at the request, 
     suggestion, or recommendation of another person.
       ``(B) In this paragraph--
       ``(i) the term `person' does not include an individual 
     (other than an individual described in section 304(i)(7) of 
     the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971), a political 
     committee of a political party, or any political committee 
     which is not a separate segregated fund described in section 
     316(b) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 and which 
     does not make contributions or independent expenditures, does 
     not engage in lobbying activity under the Lobbying Disclosure 
     Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), and is not established 
     by, controlled by, or affiliated with a registered lobbyist 
     under such Act, an agent of a registered lobbyist under such 
     Act, or an organization which retains or employs a registered 
     lobbyist under such Act; and
       ``(ii) a contribution is not `made at the request, 
     suggestion, or recommendation of another person' solely on 
     the grounds that the contribution is made in response to 
     information provided to the individual making the 
     contribution by any person, so long as the candidate or 
     authorized committee does not know the identity of the person 
     who provided the information to such individual.
       ``(3) The individual who makes the contribution does not 
     make contributions to the candidate or the authorized 
     committees of the candidate with respect to the election 
     involved in an aggregate amount that exceeds the amount 
     described in paragraph (1)(B), or any contribution to the 
     candidate or the authorized committees of the candidate with 
     respect to the election involved that otherwise is not a 
     qualified small dollar contribution.
       ``(b) Treatment of Democracy Credits.--Any payment received 
     by a candidate and the authorized committees of a candidate 
     which consists of a Democracy Credit under the Freedom to 
     Vote Act shall be considered a qualified small dollar 
     contribution for purposes of this title, so long as the 
     individual making the payment meets the requirements of 
     paragraphs (2) and (3) of subsection (a).
       ``(c) Restriction on Subsequent Contributions.--
       ``(1) Prohibiting donor from making subsequent nonqualified 
     contributions during election cycle.--
       ``(A) In general.--An individual who makes a qualified 
     small dollar contribution to a candidate or the authorized 
     committees of a candidate with respect to an election may not 
     make any subsequent contribution to such candidate or the 
     authorized committees of such candidate with respect to the 
     election cycle which is not a qualified small dollar 
     contribution.
       ``(B) Exception for contributions to candidates who 
     voluntarily withdraw from participation during qualifying 
     period.--Subparagraph (A) does not apply with respect to a 
     contribution made to a candidate who, during the Small Dollar 
     Democracy qualifying period described in section 511(c), 
     submits a statement to the Commission under section 513(c) to 
     voluntarily withdraw from participating in the program under 
     this title.
       ``(2) Treatment of subsequent nonqualified contributions.--
     If, notwithstanding the prohibition described in paragraph 
     (1), an individual who makes a qualified small dollar 
     contribution to a candidate or the authorized committees of a 
     candidate with respect to an election makes a subsequent 
     contribution to such candidate or the authorized committees 
     of such candidate with respect to the election which is 
     prohibited under paragraph (1) because it is not a qualified 
     small dollar contribution, the candidate may take one of the 
     following actions:
       ``(A) Not later than 2 weeks after receiving the 
     contribution, the candidate may return the subsequent 
     contribution to the individual. In the case of a subsequent 
     contribution which is not a qualified small dollar 
     contribution because the contribution fails to meet the 
     requirements of paragraph (3) of subsection (a) (relating to 
     the aggregate amount of contributions made to the candidate 
     or the authorized committees of the candidate by the 
     individual making the contribution), the candidate may return 
     an amount equal to the difference between the amount of the 
     subsequent contribution and the amount described in paragraph 
     (1)(B) of subsection (a).
       ``(B) The candidate may retain the subsequent contribution, 
     so long as not later than 2 weeks after receiving the 
     subsequent contribution, the candidate remits to the 
     Commission an amount equal to any payments received by the 
     candidate under this title which are attributable to the 
     qualified small dollar contribution made by the individual 
     involved. Such amount shall be used to supplement the 
     allocation made to the Commission with respect to candidates 
     from the State in which the candidate seeks office, as 
     described in section 541(a).
       ``(3) No effect on ability to make multiple 
     contributions.--Nothing in this section may be construed to 
     prohibit an individual from making multiple qualified small 
     dollar contributions to any candidate or any number of 
     candidates, so long as each contribution meets each of the 
     requirements of paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of subsection 
     (a).
       ``(d) Notification Requirements for Candidates.--
       ``(1) Notification.--Each authorized committee of a 
     candidate who seeks to be a participating candidate under 
     this title shall provide the following information in any 
     materials for the solicitation of contributions, including 
     any internet site through which individuals may make 
     contributions to the committee:
       ``(A) A statement that if the candidate is certified as a 
     participating candidate under this title, the candidate will 
     receive matching payments in an amount which is based on the 
     total amount of qualified small dollar contributions 
     received.
       ``(B) A statement that a contribution which meets the 
     requirements set forth in subsection (a) shall be treated as 
     a qualified small dollar contribution under this title.
       ``(C) A statement that if a contribution is treated as 
     qualified small dollar contribution under this title, the 
     individual who makes the contribution may not make any 
     contribution to the candidate or the authorized committees of 
     the candidate during the election cycle which is not a 
     qualified small dollar contribution.
       ``(2) Alternative methods of meeting requirements.--An 
     authorized committee may meet the requirements of paragraph 
     (1)--
       ``(A) by including the information described in paragraph 
     (1) in the receipt provided under section 512(b)(3) to a 
     person making a qualified small dollar contribution; or
       ``(B) by modifying the information it provides to persons 
     making contributions which is otherwise required under title 
     III (including information it provides through the internet).

              ``Subtitle B--Eligibility and Certification

     ``SEC. 511. ELIGIBILITY.

       ``(a) In General.--A candidate for the office of 
     Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, 
     the Congress is eligible to be certified as a participating 
     candidate under this title with respect to an election if the 
     candidate meets the following requirements:
       ``(1) The candidate files with the Commission a statement 
     of intent to seek certification as a participating candidate.
       ``(2) The candidate meets the qualifying requirements of 
     section 512.
       ``(3) The candidate files with the Commission a statement 
     certifying that the authorized committees of the candidate 
     meet the requirements of section 504(d).

[[Page S4484]]

       ``(4) Not later than the last day of the Small Dollar 
     Democracy qualifying period, the candidate files with the 
     Commission an affidavit signed by the candidate and the 
     treasurer of the candidate's principal campaign committee 
     declaring that the candidate--
       ``(A) has complied and, if certified, will comply with the 
     contribution and expenditure requirements of section 521;
       ``(B) if certified, will run only as a participating 
     candidate for all elections for the office that such 
     candidate is seeking during that election cycle; and
       ``(C) has either qualified or will take steps to qualify 
     under State law to be on the ballot.
       ``(5) The candidate files with the Commission a 
     certification that the candidate will not use any allocation 
     from the Fund to directly or indirectly pay salaries, fees, 
     consulting expenses, or any other compensation for services 
     rendered to themselves, family members (including spouses as 
     well as children, parents, siblings, or any of their 
     spouses), or any entity or organization in which they have an 
     ownership interest.
       ``(b) General Election.--Notwithstanding subsection (a), a 
     candidate shall not be eligible to be certified as a 
     participating candidate under this title for a general 
     election or a general runoff election unless the candidate's 
     party nominated the candidate to be placed on the ballot for 
     the general election or the candidate is otherwise qualified 
     to be on the ballot under State law.
       ``(c) Small Dollar Democracy Qualifying Period Defined.--
     The term `Small Dollar Democracy qualifying period' means, 
     with respect to any candidate for an office, the 180-day 
     period (during the election cycle for such office) which 
     begins on the date on which the candidate files a statement 
     of intent under section 511(a)(1), except that such period 
     may not continue after the date that is 30 days before the 
     date of the general election for the office.

     ``SEC. 512. QUALIFYING REQUIREMENTS.

       ``(a) Receipt of Qualified Small Dollar Contributions.--A 
     candidate for the office of Representative in, or Delegate or 
     Resident Commissioner to, the Congress meets the requirement 
     of this section if, during the Small Dollar Democracy 
     qualifying period described in section 511(c), each of the 
     following occurs:
       ``(1) Not fewer than 1,000 individuals make a qualified 
     small dollar contribution to the candidate.
       ``(2) The candidate obtains a total dollar amount of 
     qualified small dollar contributions which is equal to or 
     greater than $50,000.
       ``(b) Requirements Relating to Receipt of Qualified Small 
     Dollar Contribution.--Each qualified small dollar 
     contribution--
       ``(1) may be made by means of a personal check, money 
     order, debit card, credit card, electronic payment account, 
     or any other method deemed appropriate by the Division 
     Director;
       ``(2) shall be accompanied by a signed statement (or, in 
     the case of a contribution made online or through other 
     electronic means, an electronic equivalent) containing the 
     contributor's name and address; and
       ``(3) shall be acknowledged by a receipt that is sent to 
     the contributor with a copy (in paper or electronic form) 
     kept by the candidate for the Commission.
       ``(c) Verification of Contributions.--
       ``(1) Procedures.--The Division Director shall establish 
     procedures for the auditing and verification of the 
     contributions received and expenditures made by participating 
     candidates under this title, including procedures for random 
     audits, to ensure that such contributions and expenditures 
     meet the requirements of this title.
       ``(2) Authority of commission to revise procedures.--The 
     Commission, by a vote of not fewer than four of its members, 
     may revise the procedures established by the Division 
     Director under this subsection.

     ``SEC. 513. CERTIFICATION.

       ``(a) Deadline and Notification.--
       ``(1) In general.--Not later than 5 business days after a 
     candidate files an affidavit under section 511(a)(4), the 
     Division Director shall--
       ``(A) determine whether or not the candidate meets the 
     requirements for certification as a participating candidate;
       ``(B) if the Division Director determines that the 
     candidate meets such requirements, certify the candidate as a 
     participating candidate; and
       ``(C) notify the candidate of the Division Director's 
     determination.
       ``(2) Deemed certification for all elections in election 
     cycle.--If the Division Director certifies a candidate as a 
     participating candidate with respect to the first election of 
     the election cycle involved, the Division Director shall be 
     deemed to have certified the candidate as a participating 
     candidate with respect to all subsequent elections of the 
     election cycle.
       ``(3) Authority of commission to reverse determination by 
     division director.--During the 10-day period which begins on 
     the date the Division Director makes a determination under 
     this subsection, the Commission, by a vote of not fewer than 
     four of its members, may review and reverse the 
     determination. If the Commission reverses the determination, 
     the Commission shall promptly notify the candidate involved.
       ``(b) Revocation of Certification.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Division Director shall revoke a 
     certification under subsection (a) if--
       ``(A) a candidate fails to qualify to appear on the ballot 
     at any time after the date of certification (other than a 
     candidate certified as a participating candidate with respect 
     to a primary election who fails to qualify to appear on the 
     ballot for a subsequent election in that election cycle);
       ``(B) a candidate ceases to be a candidate for the office 
     involved, as determined on the basis of an official 
     announcement by an authorized committee of the candidate or 
     on the basis of a reasonable determination by the Commission; 
     or
       ``(C) a candidate otherwise fails to comply with the 
     requirements of this title, including any regulatory 
     requirements prescribed by the Commission.
       ``(2) Existence of criminal sanction.--The Division 
     Director shall revoke a certification under subsection (a) if 
     a penalty is assessed against the candidate under section 
     309(d) with respect to the election.
       ``(3) Effect of revocation.--If a candidate's certification 
     is revoked under this subsection--
       ``(A) the candidate may not receive payments under this 
     title during the remainder of the election cycle involved; 
     and
       ``(B) in the case of a candidate whose certification is 
     revoked pursuant to subparagraph (A) or subparagraph (C) of 
     paragraph (1)--
       ``(i) the candidate shall repay to the Commission an amount 
     equal to the payments received under this title with respect 
     to the election cycle involved plus interest (at a rate 
     determined by the Commission on the basis of an appropriate 
     annual percentage rate for the month involved) on any such 
     amount received, which shall be used by the Commission to 
     supplement the allocation made to the Commission with respect 
     to the State in which the candidate seeks office, as 
     described in section 541(a); and
       ``(ii) the candidate may not be certified as a 
     participating candidate under this title with respect to the 
     next election cycle.
       ``(4) Prohibiting participation in future elections for 
     candidates with multiple revocations.--If the Division 
     Director revokes the certification of an individual as a 
     participating candidate under this title pursuant to 
     subparagraph (A) or subparagraph (C) of paragraph (1) a total 
     of 3 times, the individual may not be certified as a 
     participating candidate under this title with respect to any 
     subsequent election.
       ``(5) Authority of commission to reverse revocation by 
     division director.--During the 10-day period which begins on 
     the date the Division Director makes a determination under 
     this subsection, the Commission, by a vote of not fewer than 
     four of its members, may review and reverse the 
     determination. If the Commission reverses the determination, 
     the Commission shall promptly notify the candidate involved.
       ``(c) Voluntary Withdrawal From Participating During 
     Qualifying Period.--At any time during the Small Dollar 
     Democracy qualifying period described in section 511(c), a 
     candidate may withdraw from participation in the program 
     under this title by submitting to the Commission a statement 
     of withdrawal (without regard to whether or not the 
     Commission has certified the candidate as a participating 
     candidate under this title as of the time the candidate 
     submits such statement), so long as the candidate has not 
     submitted a request for payment under section 502.
       ``(d) Participating Candidate Defined.--In this title, a 
     `participating candidate' means a candidate for the office of 
     Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, 
     the Congress who is certified under this section as eligible 
     to receive benefits under this title.

 ``Subtitle C--Requirements for Candidates Certified as Participating 
                               Candidates

     ``SEC. 521. CONTRIBUTION AND EXPENDITURE REQUIREMENTS.

       ``(a) Permitted Sources of Contributions and 
     Expenditures.--Except as provided in subsection (c), a 
     participating candidate with respect to an election shall, 
     with respect to all elections occurring during the election 
     cycle for the office involved, accept no contributions from 
     any source and make no expenditures from any amounts, other 
     than the following:
       ``(1) Qualified small dollar contributions.
       ``(2) Payments under this title.
       ``(3) Contributions from political committees established 
     and maintained by a national or State political party, 
     subject to the applicable limitations of section 315.
       ``(4) Subject to subsection (b), personal funds of the 
     candidate or of any immediate family member of the candidate 
     (other than funds received through qualified small dollar 
     contributions).
       ``(5) Contributions from individuals who are otherwise 
     permitted to make contributions under this Act, subject to 
     the applicable limitations of section 315, except that the 
     aggregate amount of contributions a participating candidate 
     may accept from any individual with respect to any election 
     during the election cycle may not exceed $1,000.
       ``(6) Contributions from multicandidate political 
     committees, subject to the applicable limitations of section 
     315.
       ``(b) Special Rules for Personal Funds.--
       ``(1) Limit on amount.--A candidate who is certified as a 
     participating candidate may use personal funds (including 
     personal funds of any immediate family member of the 
     candidate) so long as--

[[Page S4485]]

       ``(A) the aggregate amount used with respect to the 
     election cycle (including any period of the cycle occurring 
     prior to the candidate's certification as a participating 
     candidate) does not exceed $50,000; and
       ``(B) the funds are used only for making direct payments 
     for the receipt of goods and services which constitute 
     authorized expenditures in connection with the election cycle 
     involved.
       ``(2) Immediate family member defined.--In this subsection, 
     the term `immediate family member' means, with respect to a 
     candidate--
       ``(A) the candidate's spouse;
       ``(B) a child, stepchild, parent, grandparent, brother, 
     half-brother, sister, or half-sister of the candidate or the 
     candidate's spouse; and
       ``(C) the spouse of any person described in subparagraph 
     (B).
       ``(c) Exceptions.--
       ``(1) Exception for contributions received prior to filing 
     of statement of intent.--A candidate who has accepted 
     contributions that are not described in subsection (a) is not 
     in violation of subsection (a), but only if all such 
     contributions are--
       ``(A) returned to the contributor;
       ``(B) submitted to the Commission, to be used to supplement 
     the allocation made to the Commission with respect to the 
     State in which the candidate seeks office, as described in 
     section 541(a); or
       ``(C) spent in accordance with paragraph (2).
       ``(2) Exception for expenditures made prior to filing of 
     statement of intent.--If a candidate has made expenditures 
     prior to the date the candidate files a statement of intent 
     under section 511(a)(1) that the candidate is prohibited from 
     making under subsection (a) or subsection (b), the candidate 
     is not in violation of such subsection if the aggregate 
     amount of the prohibited expenditures is less than the amount 
     referred to in section 512(a)(2) (relating to the total 
     dollar amount of qualified small dollar contributions which 
     the candidate is required to obtain) which is applicable to 
     the candidate.
       ``(3) Exception for campaign surpluses from a previous 
     election.--Notwithstanding paragraph (1), unexpended 
     contributions received by the candidate or an authorized 
     committee of the candidate with respect to a previous 
     election may be retained, but only if the candidate places 
     the funds in escrow and refrains from raising additional 
     funds for or spending funds from that account during the 
     election cycle in which a candidate is a participating 
     candidate.
       ``(4) Exception for contributions received before the 
     effective date of this title.--Contributions received and 
     expenditures made by the candidate or an authorized committee 
     of the candidate prior to the effective date of this title 
     shall not constitute a violation of subsection (a) or (b). 
     Unexpended contributions shall be treated the same as 
     campaign surpluses under paragraph (3), and expenditures made 
     shall count against the limit in paragraph (2).
       ``(d) Special Rule for Coordinated Party Expenditures.--For 
     purposes of this section, a payment made by a political party 
     in coordination with a participating candidate shall not be 
     treated as a contribution to or as an expenditure made by the 
     participating candidate.
       ``(e) Prohibition on Joint Fundraising Committees.--
       ``(1) Prohibition.--An authorized committee of a candidate 
     who is certified as a participating candidate under this 
     title with respect to an election may not establish a joint 
     fundraising committee with a political committee other than 
     another authorized committee of the candidate.
       ``(2) Status of existing committees for prior elections.--
     If a candidate established a joint fundraising committee 
     described in paragraph (1) with respect to a prior election 
     for which the candidate was not certified as a participating 
     candidate under this title and the candidate does not 
     terminate the committee, the candidate shall not be 
     considered to be in violation of paragraph (1) so long as 
     that joint fundraising committee does not receive any 
     contributions or make any disbursements during the election 
     cycle for which the candidate is certified as a participating 
     candidate under this title.
       ``(f) Prohibition on Leadership PACs.--
       ``(1) Prohibition.--A candidate who is certified as a 
     participating candidate under this title with respect to an 
     election may not associate with, establish, finance, 
     maintain, or control a leadership PAC.
       ``(2) Status of existing leadership pacs.--If a candidate 
     established, financed, maintained, or controlled a leadership 
     PAC prior to being certified as a participating candidate 
     under this title and the candidate does not terminate the 
     leadership PAC, the candidate shall not be considered to be 
     in violation of paragraph (1) so long as the leadership PAC 
     does not receive any contributions or make any disbursements 
     during the election cycle for which the candidate is 
     certified as a participating candidate under this title.
       ``(3) Leadership pac defined.--In this subsection, the term 
     `leadership PAC' has the meaning given such term in section 
     304(i)(8)(B).

     ``SEC. 522. ADMINISTRATION OF CAMPAIGN.

       ``(a) Separate Accounting for Various Permitted 
     Contributions.--Each authorized committee of a candidate 
     certified as a participating candidate under this title--
       ``(1) shall provide for separate accounting of each type of 
     contribution described in section 521(a) which is received by 
     the committee; and
       ``(2) shall provide for separate accounting for the 
     payments received under this title.
       ``(b) Enhanced Disclosure of Information on Donors.--
       ``(1) Mandatory identification of individuals making 
     qualified small dollar contributions.--Each authorized 
     committee of a participating candidate under this title 
     shall, in accordance with section 304(b)(3)(A), include in 
     the reports the committee submits under section 304 the 
     identification of each person who makes a qualified small 
     dollar contribution to the committee.
       ``(2) Mandatory disclosure through internet.--Each 
     authorized committee of a participating candidate under this 
     title shall ensure that all information reported to the 
     Commission under this Act with respect to contributions and 
     expenditures of the committee is available to the public on 
     the internet (whether through a site established for purposes 
     of this subsection, a hyperlink on another public site of the 
     committee, or a hyperlink on a report filed electronically 
     with the Commission) in a searchable, sortable, and 
     downloadable manner.

     ``SEC. 523. PREVENTING UNNECESSARY SPENDING OF MATCHING 
                   FUNDS.

       ``(a) Mandatory Spending of Available Private Funds.--An 
     authorized committee of a candidate certified as a 
     participating candidate under this title may not make any 
     expenditure of any payments received under this title in any 
     amount unless the committee has made an expenditure in an 
     equivalent amount of funds received by the committee which 
     are described in paragraphs (1), (3), (4), (5), and (6) of 
     section 521(a).
       ``(b) Limitation.--Subsection (a) applies to an authorized 
     committee only to the extent that the funds referred to in 
     such subsection are available to the committee at the time 
     the committee makes an expenditure of a payment received 
     under this title.

     ``SEC. 524. REMITTING UNSPENT FUNDS AFTER ELECTION.

       ``(a) Remittance Required.--Not later than the date that is 
     180 days after the last election for which a candidate 
     certified as a participating candidate qualifies to be on the 
     ballot during the election cycle involved, such participating 
     candidate shall remit to the Commission an amount equal to 
     the balance of the payments received under this title by the 
     authorized committees of the candidate which remain 
     unexpended as of such date, which shall be used to supplement 
     the allocation made to the Commission with respect to the 
     State in which the candidate seeks office, as described in 
     section 541(a).
       ``(b) Permitting Candidates Participating in Next Election 
     Cycle To Retain Portion of Unspent Funds.--Notwithstanding 
     subsection (a), a participating candidate may withhold not 
     more than $100,000 from the amount required to be remitted 
     under subsection (a) if the candidate files a signed 
     affidavit with the Commission that the candidate will seek 
     certification as a participating candidate with respect to 
     the next election cycle, except that the candidate may not 
     use any portion of the amount withheld until the candidate is 
     certified as a participating candidate with respect to that 
     next election cycle. If the candidate fails to seek 
     certification as a participating candidate prior to the last 
     day of the Small Dollar Democracy qualifying period for the 
     next election cycle (as described in section 511), or if the 
     Commission notifies the candidate of the Commission's 
     determination does not meet the requirements for 
     certification as a participating candidate with respect to 
     such cycle, the candidate shall immediately remit to the 
     Commission the amount withheld.

                  ``Subtitle D--Enhanced Match Support

     ``SEC. 531. ENHANCED SUPPORT FOR GENERAL ELECTION.

       ``(a) Availability of Enhanced Support.--In addition to the 
     payments made under subtitle A, the Division Director shall 
     make an additional payment to an eligible candidate under 
     this subtitle.
       ``(b) Use of Funds.--A candidate shall use the additional 
     payment under this subtitle only for authorized expenditures 
     in connection with the election involved.

     ``SEC. 532. ELIGIBILITY.

       ``(a) In General.--A candidate is eligible to receive an 
     additional payment under this subtitle if the candidate meets 
     each of the following requirements:
       ``(1) The candidate is on the ballot for the general 
     election for the office the candidate seeks.
       ``(2) The candidate is certified as a participating 
     candidate under this title with respect to the election.
       ``(3) During the enhanced support qualifying period, the 
     candidate receives qualified small dollar contributions in a 
     total amount of not less than $50,000.
       ``(4) During the enhanced support qualifying period, the 
     candidate submits to the Division Director a request for the 
     payment which includes--
       ``(A) a statement of the number and amount of qualified 
     small dollar contributions received by the candidate during 
     the enhanced support qualifying period;
       ``(B) a statement of the amount of the payment the 
     candidate anticipates receiving with respect to the request; 
     and
       ``(C) such other information and assurances as the Division 
     Director may require.
       ``(5) After submitting a request for the additional payment 
     under paragraph (4), the

[[Page S4486]]

     candidate does not submit any other application for an 
     additional payment under this subtitle.
       ``(b) Enhanced Support Qualifying Period Described.--In 
     this subtitle, the term `enhanced support qualifying period' 
     means, with respect to a general election, the period which 
     begins 60 days before the date of the election and ends 14 
     days before the date of the election.

     ``SEC. 533. AMOUNT.

       ``(a) In General.--Subject to subsection (b), the amount of 
     the additional payment made to an eligible candidate under 
     this subtitle shall be an amount equal to 50 percent of--
       ``(1) the amount of the payment made to the candidate under 
     section 501(b) with respect to the qualified small dollar 
     contributions which are received by the candidate during the 
     enhanced support qualifying period (as included in the 
     request submitted by the candidate under section 532(a)(4)); 
     or
       ``(2) in the case of a candidate who is not eligible to 
     receive a payment under section 501(b) with respect to such 
     qualified small dollar contributions because the candidate 
     has reached the limit on the aggregate amount of payments 
     under subtitle A for the election cycle under section 501(c), 
     the amount of the payment which would have been made to the 
     candidate under section 501(b) with respect to such qualified 
     small dollar contributions if the candidate had not reached 
     such limit.
       ``(b) Limit.--The amount of the additional payment 
     determined under subsection (a) with respect to a candidate 
     may not exceed $500,000.
       ``(c) No Effect on Aggregate Limit.--The amount of the 
     additional payment made to a candidate under this subtitle 
     shall not be included in determining the aggregate amount of 
     payments made to a participating candidate with respect to an 
     election cycle under section 501(c).

     ``SEC. 534. WAIVER OF AUTHORITY TO RETAIN PORTION OF UNSPENT 
                   FUNDS AFTER ELECTION.

       ``Notwithstanding section 524(a)(2), a candidate who 
     receives an additional payment under this subtitle with 
     respect to an election is not permitted to withhold any 
     portion from the amount of unspent funds the candidate is 
     required to remit to the Commission under section 524(a)(1).

                ``Subtitle E--Administrative Provisions

     ``SEC. 541. SOURCE OF PAYMENTS.

       ``(a) Allocations From State Election Assistance and 
     Innovation Trust Fund.--The amounts used to make payments to 
     participating candidates under this title who seek office in 
     a State shall be derived from the allocations made to the 
     Commission with respect to the State from the State Election 
     Assistance and Innovation Trust Fund (hereafter referred to 
     as the `Fund') under section 8012 of the Freedom to Vote Act, 
     as provided under section 8005(c) of such Act.
       ``(b) Use of Allocations to Make Payments to Participating 
     Candidates.--
       ``(1) Payments to participating candidates.--The 
     allocations made to the Commission as described in subsection 
     (a) shall be available without further appropriation or 
     fiscal year limitation to make payments to participating 
     candidates as provided in this title.
       ``(2) Ongoing review to determine sufficiency of state 
     allocations.--
       ``(A) Ongoing review.--Not later than 90 days before the 
     first day of each election cycle (beginning with the first 
     election cycle that begins after the date of the enactment of 
     this title), and on an ongoing basis until the end of the 
     election cycle, the Division Director, in consultation with 
     the Director of the Office of Democracy Advancement and 
     Innovation, shall determine whether the amount of the 
     allocation made to the Commission with respect to candidates 
     who seek office in a State as described in subsection (a) 
     will be sufficient to make payments to participating 
     candidates in the State in the amounts provided in this title 
     during such election cycle.
       ``(B) Opportunity for state to increase allocation.--If, at 
     any time the Division Director determines under subparagraph 
     (A) that the amount anticipated to be available in the Fund 
     for payments to participating candidates in a State with 
     respect to the election cycle involved is not, or may not be, 
     sufficient to satisfy the full entitlements of participating 
     candidates in the State to payments under this title for such 
     election cycle--
       ``(i) the Division Director shall notify the State and 
     Congress; and
       ``(ii) the State may direct the Director of the Office of 
     Democracy Advancement and Innovation to direct the Secretary 
     of the Treasury to use the funds described in subparagraph 
     (C), in such amounts as the State may direct, as an 
     additional allocation to the Commission with respect to the 
     State for purposes of subsection (a), in accordance with 
     section 8012 of the Freedom to Vote Act.
       ``(C) Funds described.--The funds described in this 
     subparagraph are funds which were allocated to the State 
     under the Democracy Advancement and Innovation Program under 
     subtitle A of title VIII of the Freedom to Vote Act which, 
     under the State plan under section 8002 of such Act, were to 
     be used for democracy promotion activities described in 
     paragraph (1), (2)(B), (2)(C), or (3) of section 8001(b) of 
     such Act but which remain unobligated.
       ``(3) Elimination of limit of amount of qualified small 
     donor contributions.--
       ``(A) Elimination of limit.--If, after notifying the State 
     under paragraph (2)(B)(i) and (if the State so elects) the 
     State directs under paragraph (2)(B)(ii) an additional 
     allocation to the Commission as provided under such 
     subparagraph, the Division Director determines under 
     paragraph (2)(A) that the amount anticipated to be available 
     in the Fund (after such additional allocation) for payments 
     to participating candidates in the State with respect to the 
     election cycle involved is still not, or may still not be, 
     sufficient to satisfy the full entitlements of participating 
     candidates in the State to payments under this title for such 
     election cycle, the limit on the amount of a qualified small 
     donor contribution under section 504(a)(1)(B) shall not apply 
     with respect to a participating candidate in the State under 
     this title. Nothing in this subparagraph may be construed to 
     waive the limit on the aggregate amount of contributions a 
     participating candidate may accept from any individual under 
     section 521(a)(5).
       ``(B) Determination of amount of payment to candidate.--In 
     determining under section 501(b) the amount of the payment 
     made to a participating candidate for whom the limit on the 
     amount of a qualified small donor contribution does not apply 
     pursuant to subparagraph (A), there shall be excluded any 
     qualified small donor contribution to the extent that the 
     amount contributed by the individual involved exceeds the 
     limit on the amount of such a contribution under section 
     504(a)(1)(B).
       ``(C) No use of amounts from other sources.--In any case in 
     which the Division Director determines that the allocation 
     made to the Commission with respect to candidates in a State 
     as described in subsection (a) is insufficient to make 
     payments to participating candidates in the State under this 
     title (taking into account any increase in the allocation 
     under paragraph (2)), moneys shall not be made available from 
     any other source for the purpose of making such payments.
       ``(c) Effective Date.--This section shall take effect on 
     the date of the enactment of this title, without regard to 
     whether or not regulations have been promulgated to carry out 
     this section.

     ``SEC. 542. ADMINISTRATION THROUGH DEDICATED DIVISION WITHIN 
                   COMMISSION.

       ``(a) Administration Through Dedicated Division.--
       ``(1) Establishment.--The Commission shall establish a 
     separate division within the Commission which is dedicated to 
     issuing regulations to carry out this title and to otherwise 
     carrying out the operation of this title.
       ``(2) Appointment of director and staff.--
       ``(A) Appointment.--Not later than June 1, 2026, the 
     Commission shall appoint a director to head the division 
     established under this section (to be known as the `Division 
     Director') and such other staff as the Commission considers 
     appropriate to enable the division to carry out its duties.
       ``(B) Role of general counsel.--If, at any time after the 
     date referred to in subparagraph (A), there is a vacancy in 
     the position of the Division Director, the General Counsel of 
     the Commission shall serve as the acting Division Director 
     until the Commission appoints a Division Director under this 
     paragraph.
       ``(3) Private right of action.--Any person aggrieved by the 
     failure of the Commission to meet the requirements of this 
     subsection may file an action in an appropriate district 
     court of the United States for such relief, including 
     declaratory and injunctive relief, as may be appropriate.
       ``(b) Regulations.--Not later than the deadline set forth 
     in section 8114 of the Freedom to Vote Act, the Commission, 
     acting through the dedicated division established under this 
     section, shall prescribe regulations to carry out the 
     purposes of this title, including regulations--
       ``(1) to establish procedures for verifying the amount of 
     qualified small dollar contributions with respect to a 
     candidate;
       ``(2) to establish procedures for effectively and 
     efficiently monitoring and enforcing the limits on the 
     raising of qualified small dollar contributions;
       ``(3) to establish procedures for effectively and 
     efficiently monitoring and enforcing the limits on the use of 
     personal funds by participating candidates;
       ``(4) to establish procedures for monitoring the use of 
     payments made from the allocation made to the Commission as 
     described in section 541(a) and matching contributions under 
     this title through audits of not fewer than \1/10\ (or, in 
     the case of the first 3 election cycles during which the 
     program under this title is in effect, not fewer than \1/3\) 
     of all participating candidates or other mechanisms;
       ``(5) to establish procedures for carrying out audits under 
     section 541(b) and permitting States to make additional 
     allocations as provided under section 541(b)(2)(B); and
       ``(6) to establish rules for preventing fraud in the 
     operation of this title which supplement similar rules which 
     apply under this Act.

     ``SEC. 543. VIOLATIONS AND PENALTIES.

       ``(a) Civil Penalty for Violation of Contribution and 
     Expenditure Requirements.--If a candidate who has been 
     certified as a participating candidate accepts a contribution 
     or makes an expenditure that is

[[Page S4487]]

     prohibited under section 521, the Commission may assess a 
     civil penalty against the candidate in an amount that is not 
     more than 3 times the amount of the contribution or 
     expenditure. Any amounts collected under this subsection 
     shall be used to supplement the allocation made to the 
     Commission with respect to the State in which the candidate 
     seeks office, as described in section 541(a).
       ``(b) Repayment for Improper Use of Payments.--
       ``(1) In general.--If the Commission determines that any 
     payment made to a participating candidate was not used as 
     provided for in this title or that a participating candidate 
     has violated any of the dates for remission of funds 
     contained in this title, the Commission shall so notify the 
     candidate and the candidate shall pay to the Commission an 
     amount which shall be used to supplement the allocation made 
     to the Commission with respect to the State in which the 
     candidate seeks office, as described in section 541(a) and 
     which shall be equal to--
       ``(A) the amount of payments so used or not remitted, as 
     appropriate; and
       ``(B) interest on any such amounts (at a rate determined by 
     the Commission).
       ``(2) Other action not precluded.--Any action by the 
     Commission in accordance with this subsection shall not 
     preclude enforcement proceedings by the Commission in 
     accordance with section 309(a), including a referral by the 
     Commission to the Attorney General in the case of an apparent 
     knowing and willful violation of this title.
       ``(c) Prohibiting Certain Candidates From Qualifying as 
     Participating Candidates.--
       ``(1) Candidates with multiple civil penalties.--If the 
     Commission assesses 3 or more civil penalties under 
     subsection (a) against a candidate (with respect to either a 
     single election or multiple elections), the Commission may 
     refuse to certify the candidate as a participating candidate 
     under this title with respect to any subsequent election, 
     except that if each of the penalties were assessed as the 
     result of a knowing and willful violation of any provision of 
     this Act, the candidate is not eligible to be certified as a 
     participating candidate under this title with respect to any 
     subsequent election.
       ``(2) Candidates subject to criminal penalty.--A candidate 
     is not eligible to be certified as a participating candidate 
     under this title with respect to an election if a penalty has 
     been assessed against the candidate under section 309(d) with 
     respect to any previous election.
       ``(d) Imposition of Criminal Penalties.--For criminal 
     penalties for the failure of a participating candidate to 
     comply with the requirements of this title, see section 
     309(d).

     ``SEC. 544. INDEXING OF AMOUNTS.

       ``(a) Indexing.--In any calendar year after 2030, section 
     315(c)(1)(B) shall apply to each amount described in 
     subsection (b) in the same manner as such section applies to 
     the limitations established under subsections (a)(1)(A), 
     (a)(1)(B), (a)(3), and (h) of such section, except that for 
     purposes of applying such section to the amounts described in 
     subsection (b), the `base period' shall be 2029.
       ``(b) Amounts Described.--The amounts described in this 
     subsection are as follows:
       ``(1) The amount referred to in section 502(b)(1) (relating 
     to the minimum amount of qualified small dollar contributions 
     included in a request for payment).
       ``(2) The amounts referred to in section 504(a)(1) 
     (relating to the amount of a qualified small dollar 
     contribution).
       ``(3) The amount referred to in section 512(a)(2) (relating 
     to the total dollar amount of qualified small dollar 
     contributions).
       ``(4) The amount referred to in section 521(a)(5) (relating 
     to the aggregate amount of contributions a participating 
     candidate may accept from any individual with respect to an 
     election).
       ``(5) The amount referred to in section 521(b)(1)(A) 
     (relating to the amount of personal funds that may be used by 
     a candidate who is certified as a participating candidate).
       ``(6) The amounts referred to in section 524(a)(2) 
     (relating to the amount of unspent funds a candidate may 
     retain for use in the next election cycle).
       ``(7) The amount referred to in section 532(a)(3) (relating 
     to the total dollar amount of qualified small dollar 
     contributions for a candidate seeking an additional payment 
     under subtitle D).
       ``(8) The amount referred to in section 533(b) (relating to 
     the limit on the amount of an additional payment made to a 
     candidate under subtitle D).

     ``SEC. 545. ELECTION CYCLE DEFINED.

       ``In this title, the term `election cycle' means, with 
     respect to an election for an office, the period beginning on 
     the day after the date of the most recent general election 
     for that office (or, if the general election resulted in a 
     runoff election, the date of the runoff election) and ending 
     on the date of the next general election for that office (or, 
     if the general election resulted in a runoff election, the 
     date of the runoff election).

     ``SEC. 546. DIVISION DIRECTOR DEFINED.

       ``In this title, the term `Division Director' means the 
     individual serving as the director of the division 
     established under section 542.''.

     SEC. 8112. CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES BY MULTICANDIDATE 
                   AND POLITICAL PARTY COMMITTEES ON BEHALF OF 
                   PARTICIPATING CANDIDATES.

       (a) Authorizing Contributions Only From Separate Accounts 
     Consisting of Qualified Small Dollar Contributions.--Section 
     315(a) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52 
     U.S.C. 30116(a)) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new paragraph:
       ``(10) In the case of a multicandidate political committee 
     or any political committee of a political party, the 
     committee may make a contribution to a candidate who is a 
     participating candidate under title V with respect to an 
     election only if the contribution is paid from a separate, 
     segregated account of the committee which consists solely of 
     contributions which meet the following requirements:
       ``(A) Each such contribution is in an amount which meets 
     the requirements for the amount of a qualified small dollar 
     contribution under section 504(a)(1) with respect to the 
     election involved.
       ``(B) Each such contribution is made by an individual who 
     is not otherwise prohibited from making a contribution under 
     this Act.
       ``(C) The individual who makes the contribution does not 
     make contributions to the committee during the year in an 
     aggregate amount that exceeds the limit described in section 
     504(a)(1).''.
       (b) Permitting Unlimited Coordinated Expenditures From 
     Small Dollar Sources by Political Parties.--Section 315(d) of 
     such Act (52 U.S.C. 30116(d)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (3), by striking ``The national 
     committee'' and inserting ``Except as provided in paragraph 
     (6), the national committee''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(6) The limits described in paragraph (3) do not apply in 
     the case of expenditures in connection with the general 
     election campaign of a candidate for the office of 
     Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, 
     the Congress who is a participating candidate under title V 
     with respect to the election, but only if--
       ``(A) the expenditures are paid from a separate, segregated 
     account of the committee which is described in subsection 
     (a)(10); and
       ``(B) the expenditures are the sole source of funding 
     provided by the committee to the candidate.''.

     SEC. 8113. PROHIBITING USE OF CONTRIBUTIONS BY PARTICIPATING 
                   CANDIDATES FOR PURPOSES OTHER THAN CAMPAIGN FOR 
                   ELECTION.

       Section 313 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 
     (52 U.S.C. 30114) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new subsection:
       ``(d) Restrictions on Permitted Uses of Funds by Candidates 
     Receiving Small Dollar Financing.--Notwithstanding paragraph 
     (2), (3), or (4) of subsection (a), if a candidate for 
     election for the office of Representative in, or Delegate or 
     Resident Commissioner to, the Congress is certified as a 
     participating candidate under title V with respect to the 
     election, any contribution which the candidate is permitted 
     to accept under such title may be used only for authorized 
     expenditures in connection with the candidate's campaign for 
     such office, subject to section 503(b).''.

     SEC. 8114. DEADLINE FOR REGULATIONS; EFFECTIVE DATE.

       (a) In General.--Not later than October 1, 2026, the 
     Federal Election Commission shall promulgate such regulations 
     as may be necessary to carry out this part and the amendments 
     made by this part.
       (b) Effective Date.--This part and the amendments made by 
     this part shall take effect on October 1, 2026, without 
     regard to whether the Commission has promulgated the 
     regulations required under subsection (a) by such date.

 Subtitle C--Personal Use Services as Authorized Campaign Expenditures

     SEC. 8201. SHORT TITLE; FINDINGS; PURPOSE.

       (a) Short Title.--This subtitle may be cited as the ``Help 
     America Run Act''.
       (b) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
       (1) Everyday Americans experience barriers to entry before 
     they can consider running for office to serve their 
     communities.
       (2) Current law states that campaign funds cannot be spent 
     on everyday expenses that would exist whether or not a 
     candidate were running for office, like childcare and food. 
     While the law seems neutral, its actual effect is to 
     privilege the independently wealthy who want to run, because 
     given the demands of running for office, candidates who must 
     work to pay for childcare or to afford health insurance are 
     effectively being left out of the process, even if they have 
     sufficient support to mount a viable campaign.
       (3) Thus current practice favors those prospective 
     candidates who do not need to rely on a regular paycheck to 
     make ends meet. The consequence is that everyday Americans 
     who have firsthand knowledge of the importance of stable 
     childcare, a safety net, or great public schools are less 
     likely to get a seat at the table. This governance by the few 
     is antithetical to the democratic experiment, but most 
     importantly, when lawmakers do not share the concerns of 
     everyday Americans, their policies reflect that.
       (4) These circumstances have contributed to a Congress that 
     does not always reflect everyday Americans. The New York 
     Times reported in 2019 that fewer than 5 percent of 
     representatives cite blue-collar or service jobs in their 
     biographies. A 2020 analysis by OpenSecrets of lawmakers' 
     personal financial disclosure statements showed that the 
     median net worth of lawmakers was just over $1,000,000, or 
     nearly 9 times the median net worth of American families.

[[Page S4488]]

       (5) These circumstances have also contributed to a 
     governing body that does not reflect the nation it serves. 
     For instance, women are 51 percent of the American 
     population. Yet even with a record number of women serving in 
     the One Hundred Eighteenth Congress, the Pew Research Center 
     notes that nearly three out of four Members of this Congress 
     are male. The Center for American Women and Politics found 
     that one third of women legislators surveyed had been 
     actively discouraged from running for office, often by 
     political professionals. This type of discouragement, 
     combined with the prohibitions on using campaign funds for 
     domestic needs like childcare, burdens that still fall 
     disproportionately on American women, particularly 
     disadvantages working mothers. These barriers may explain why 
     only 10 women in history have given birth while serving in 
     Congress, in spite of the prevalence of working parents in 
     other professions. Yet working mothers and fathers are best 
     positioned to create policy that reflects the lived 
     experience of most Americans.
       (6) Working mothers, those caring for their elderly 
     parents, and young professionals who rely on their jobs for 
     health insurance should have the freedom to run to serve the 
     people of the United States. Their networks and net worth are 
     simply not the best indicators of their strength as 
     prospective public servants. In fact, helping ordinary 
     Americans to run may create better policy for all Americans.
       (c) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this subtitle to ensure 
     that all Americans who are otherwise qualified to serve this 
     Nation are able to run for office, regardless of their 
     economic status. By expanding permissible uses of campaign 
     funds and providing modest assurance that testing a run for 
     office will not cost one's livelihood, the Help America Run 
     Act will facilitate the candidacy of representatives who more 
     accurately reflect the experiences, challenges, and ideals of 
     everyday Americans.

     SEC. 8202. TREATMENT OF PAYMENTS FOR CHILD CARE AND OTHER 
                   PERSONAL USE SERVICES AS AUTHORIZED CAMPAIGN 
                   EXPENDITURE.

       (a) Personal Use Services as Authorized Campaign 
     Expenditure.--Section 313 of the Federal Election Campaign 
     Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30114), as amended by section 8113, is 
     amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(e) Treatment of Payments for Child Care and Other 
     Personal Use Services as Authorized Campaign Expenditure.--
       ``(1) Authorized expenditures.--For purposes of subsection 
     (a), the payment by an authorized committee of a candidate 
     for any of the personal use services described in paragraph 
     (3) shall be treated as an authorized expenditure if the 
     services are necessary to enable the participation of the 
     candidate in campaign-connected activities.
       ``(2) Limitations.--
       ``(A) Limit on total amount of payments.--The total amount 
     of payments made by an authorized committee of a candidate 
     for personal use services described in paragraph (3) may not 
     exceed the limit which is applicable under any law, rule, or 
     regulation on the amount of payments which may be made by the 
     committee for the salary of the candidate (without regard to 
     whether or not the committee makes payments to the candidate 
     for that purpose).
       ``(B) Corresponding reduction in amount of salary paid to 
     candidate.--To the extent that an authorized committee of a 
     candidate makes payments for the salary of the candidate, any 
     limit on the amount of such payments which is applicable 
     under any law, rule, or regulation shall be reduced by the 
     amount of any payments made to or on behalf of the candidate 
     for personal use services described in paragraph (3), other 
     than personal use services described in subparagraph (D) of 
     such paragraph.
       ``(C) Exclusion of candidates who are officeholders.--
     Paragraph (1) does not apply with respect to an authorized 
     committee of a candidate who is a holder of Federal office.
       ``(3) Personal use services described.--The personal use 
     services described in this paragraph are as follows:
       ``(A) Child care services.
       ``(B) Elder care services.
       ``(C) Services similar to the services described in 
     subparagraph (A) or subparagraph (B) which are provided on 
     behalf of any dependent who is a qualifying relative under 
     section 152 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
       ``(D) Health insurance premiums.''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act 
     and shall take effect without regard to whether or not the 
     Federal Election Commission has promulgated regulations to 
     carry out such amendments.

             Subtitle D--Empowering Small Dollar Donations

     SEC. 8301. PERMITTING POLITICAL PARTY COMMITTEES TO PROVIDE 
                   ENHANCED SUPPORT FOR HOUSE CANDIDATES THROUGH 
                   USE OF SEPARATE SMALL DOLLAR ACCOUNTS.

       (a) Increase in Limit on Contributions to Candidates.--
     Section 315(a)(2)(A) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 
     1971 (52 U.S.C. 30116(a)(2)(A)) is amended by striking 
     ``exceed $5,000'' and inserting ``exceed $5,000 or, in the 
     case of a contribution made by a national committee of a 
     political party from an account described in paragraph (11), 
     exceed $10,000''.
       (b) Elimination of Limit on Coordinated Expenditures.--
     Section 315(d)(5) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 30116(d)(5)) is 
     amended by striking ``subsection (a)(9)'' and inserting 
     ``subsection (a)(9) or subsection (a)(11)''.
       (c) Accounts Described.--Section 315(a) of such Act (52 
     U.S.C. 30116(a)), as amended by section 8112(a), is amended 
     by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(11) An account described in this paragraph is a 
     separate, segregated account of a national congressional 
     campaign committee of a political party which--
       ``(A) supports only candidates for election for the office 
     of Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner 
     to, the Congress; and
       ``(B) consists exclusively of contributions made during a 
     calendar year by individuals whose aggregate contributions to 
     the committee during the year do not exceed $200.''.
       (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall apply with respect to elections held on or after the 
     date of the enactment of this Act and shall take effect 
     without regard to whether or not the Federal Election 
     Commission has promulgated regulations to carry out such 
     amendments.

                        Subtitle E--Severability

     SEC. 8401. SEVERABILITY.

       If any provision of this title or amendment made by this 
     title, or the application of a provision or amendment to any 
     person or circumstance, is held to be unconstitutional, the 
     remainder of this title and amendments made by this title, 
     and the application of the provisions and amendment to any 
     person or circumstance, shall not be affected by the holding.
                                 ______