[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 51 (Friday, March 20, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Page S1453]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 4735. Mr. RICKETTS (for himself and Mrs. Fischer) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 4420 proposed by Mr. 
Thune (for Mr. Schmitt) to the bill S. 1383, to establish the Veterans 
Advisory Committee on Equal Access, and for other purposes; which was 
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       On page 42, line 21, strike ``or''.
       On page 43, line 3, strike ``subsection (c)(4).'' and 
     insert ``subsection (c)(4); or''.
       On page 43, between lines 3 and 4, insert the following:
       (F) is a resident of a rural county with a population of 
     10,000 residents or less that has been certified to conduct 
     elections for Federal office by mail in accordance with 
     subsection (c)(5)(B).
       On page 45, between lines 17 and 18, insert the following:
       (5) Rural counties.--
       (A) Individual requirement.--An individual seeking an 
     absentee ballot under subsection (a)(1)(F) shall submit, 
     together with the request required under subsection (b), a 
     sworn certification that the individual is a resident of a 
     rural county with a population of 10,000 residents or less 
     that has been certified to conduct elections for Federal 
     office by mail under subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, 
     including documentation that is reasonably sufficient to 
     establish such residency.
       (B) Rural county requirements.--
       (i) In general.--A rural county with a population of 10,000 
     residents or less may conduct elections for Federal office by 
     mail if the chief election official of the State in which the 
     rural county is located submits to the Election Assistance 
     Commission--

       (I) a certification that the rural county has a population 
     of 10,000 residents or less; and
       (II) a written plan for the conduct of elections for 
     Federal office by mail in the applicable rural county, 
     certifying that the rural county shall--

       (aa) maintain not fewer than 1 in-person voting locations; 
     and
       (bb) provide an option for the return of ballots by the 
     voter, in person, to an office of the appropriate election 
     official or to a polling place or other location designated 
     by the State for the return of absentee ballots.
       (ii) Responsibilities of the election assistance 
     commission.--

       (I) Review.--The Election Assistance Commission shall 
     review each certification submitted under clause (i).
       (II) Guidance.--The Election Assistance Commission shall 
     issue guidance relating to additional requirements for the 
     conduct of elections for Federal office by mail in rural 
     counties with populations of 10,000 residents or less under 
     this subparagraph and certifications under clause (i).

       On page 45, line 18, strike ``(5)'' and insert ``(6)''.
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