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Congressional Bills 117th Congress From the United States of America. Government Publishing Office H.R. 1 Introduced in House 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 4, 2021 Mr. Sarbanes for himself, Ms. Pelosi, and Ms. Lofgren introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on Intelligence Permanent Select, the Judiciary, Oversight and Reform, Science, Space, and Technology, Education and Labor, Ways and Means, Financial Services, Ethics, Homeland Security, and Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL To expand Americans' access to the ballot box, reduce the influence of big money in politics, strengthen ethics rules for public servants, and implement other anti-corruption measures for the purpose of fortifying our democracy, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``For the People Act of 2021'' Section 2. ORGANIZATION OF ACT INTO DIVISIONS; TABLE OF CONTENTS. a Divisions.--This Act is organized into divisions as follows: 1 Division A--Voting. 2 Division B--Campaign Finance 3 Division C--Ethics. b

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, and to defend the Nation's democratic process. Congress enacts the ``For the People Act of 2021'' 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 vs 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 vs Sanders, 376 U.S. 1, 16 1964. 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 particularly strong given that Federal courts have not enforced this clause because they understood that its enforcement is committed to Congress by the Constitution. 3A 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 vs Socialist Workers Party, 440 U.S. 173, 184 1979; see United States vs 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 vs 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 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 vs 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. 4A 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 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 2020, according to the Sentencing Project, an estimated 5,200,000 Americans could not vote due to a felony conviction. One in 16 African Americans of voting age is disenfranchised, a rate 3.7 times greater than that of non- African Americans. In seven States-Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wyoming-more than one in seven African Americans is disenfranchised, 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. 5A 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, voter identification requirements, 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 Section 4. STANDARDS FOR JUDICIAL REVIEW. a In General.--If any action is brought for declaratory or injunctive relief to challenge, whether facially or as-applied, the constitutionality of any provision of this Act or any amendment made by this Act or any rule or regulation promulgated under this Act, 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 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, the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, and the Supreme Court of the United States to advance on the docket and to expedite to the greatest possible extent the disposition of the action and appeal. b Intervention by Members of Congress.--In any action described in sub Section 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. DIVISION A--VOTING TITLE I--ELECTION ACCESS Section 1000. Short title; statement of policy. Subtitle A--Voter Registration Modernization Section 1000A. Short title. Part 1--Promoting Internet Registration Section 1001. Requiring availability of internet for voter registration Section 1002. Use of internet to update registration information Section 1003. Provision of election information by electronic mail to individuals registered to vote Section 1004. Clarification of requirement regarding necessary information to show eligibility to vote Section 1005. Prohibiting State from requiring applicants to provide more than last 4 digits of Social Security number Section 1006. Effective date. Part 2--Automatic Voter Registration Section 1011. Short title; findings and purpose Section 1012. Automatic registration of eligible individuals Section 1013. Contributing agency assistance in registration Section 1014. One-time contributing agency assistance in registration of eligible voters in existing records Section 1015. Voter protection and security in automatic registration Section 1016. Registration portability and correction Section 1017. Payments and grants Section 1018. Treatment of exempt States Section 1019. Miscellaneous provisions Section 1020. Definitions Section 1021. Effective date. Part 3--Same Day Voter Registration Section 1031. Same day registration. Part 4--Conditions on Removal on Basis of Interstate Cross-Checks Section 1041. Conditions on removal of registrants from official list of eligible voters on basis of interstate cross-checks. Part 5--Other Initiatives To Promote Voter Registration Section 1051. Annual reports on voter registration statistics Section 1052. Ensuring pre-election registration deadlines are consistent with timing of legal public holidays Section 1053. Use of Postal Service hard copy change of address form to remind individuals to update voter registration Section 1054. Grants to States for activities to encourage involvement of minors in election activities. Part 6--Availability of HAVA Requirements Payments Section 1061. Availability of requirements payments under HAVA to cover costs of compliance with new requirements. Part 7--Prohibiting Interference With Voter Registration Section 1071. Prohibiting hindering, interfering with, or preventing voter registration Section 1072. Establishment of best practices. Part 8--Voter Registration Efficiency Act Section 1081. Short title Section 1082. Requiring applicants for motor vehicle driver's licenses in new state to indicate whether state serves as residence for voter registration purposes. Part 9--Providing Voter Registration Information to Secondary School Students Section 1091. Pilot program for providing voter registration information to secondary school students prior to graduation Section 1092. Reports Section 1093. Authorization of appropriations. Part 10--Voter Registration of Minors Section 1094. Acceptance of voter registration applications from individuals under 18 years of age. Subtitle B--Access to Voting for Individuals With Disabilities Section 1101. Requirements for States to promote access to voter registration and voting for individuals with disabilities Section 1102. Expansion and reauthorization of grant program to assure voting access for individuals with disabilities Section 1103. Pilot programs for enabling individuals with disabilities to register to vote privately and independently at residences Section 1104. GAO analysis and report on voting access for individuals with disabilities. Subtitle C--Prohibiting Voter Caging Section 1201. Voter caging and other questionable challenges prohibited Section 1202. Development and adoption of best practices for preventing voter caging. Subtitle D--Prohibiting Deceptive Practices and Preventing Voter Intimidation Section 1301. Short title Section 1302. Prohibition on deceptive practices in Federal elections Section 1303. Corrective action Section 1304. Reports to Congress. Subtitle E--Democracy Restoration Section 1401. Short title Section 1402. Findings Section 1403. Rights of citizens Section 1404. Enforcement Section 1405. Notification of restoration of voting rights Section 1406. Definitions Section 1407. Relation to other laws Section 1408. Federal prison funds Section 1409. Effective date. Subtitle F--Promoting Accuracy, Integrity, and Security Through Voter- Verified Permanent Paper Ballot Section 1501. Short title Section 1502. Paper ballot and manual counting requirements Section 1503. Accessibility and ballot verification for individuals with disabilities Section 1504. Durability and readability requirements for ballots Section 1505. Study and report on optimal ballot design Section 1506. Paper ballot printing requirements Section 1507. Effective date for new requirements. Subtitle G--Provisional Ballots Section 1601. Requirements for counting provisional ballots; establishment of uniform and nondiscriminatory standards. Subtitle H--Early Voting Section 1611. Early voting. Subtitle I--Voting by Mail Section 1621. Voting by mail Section 1622. Absentee ballot tracking program Section 1623. Voting materials postage. Subtitle J--Absent Uniformed Services Voters and Overseas Voters Section 1701. Pre-election reports on availability and transmission of absentee ballots Section 1702. Enforcement Section 1703. Revisions to 45-day absentee ballot transmission rule Section 1704. Use of single absentee ballot application for subsequent elections Section 1705. Extending guarantee of residency for voting purposes to family members of absent military personnel Section 1706. Requiring transmission of blank absentee ballots under UOCAVA to certain voters Section 1707. Effective date. Subtitle K--Poll Worker Recruitment and Training Section 1801. Grants to States for poll worker recruitment and training Section 1802. State defined. Subtitle L--Enhancement of Enforcement Section 1811. Enhancement of enforcement of Help America Vote Act of 2002. Subtitle M--Federal Election Integrity Section 1821. Prohibition on campaign activities by chief State election administration officials. Subtitle N--Promoting Voter Access Through Election Administration Improvements Part 1--Promoting Voter Access Section 1901. Treatment of institutions of higher education Section 1902. Minimum notification requirements for voters affected by polling place changes Section 1903. Permitting use of sworn written statement to meet identification requirements for voting Section 1904. Accommodations for voters residing in Indian lands Section 1905. Voter information response systems and hotline Section 1906. Ensuring equitable and efficient operation of polling places Section 1907. Requiring States to provide secured drop boxes for voted absentee ballots in elections for Federal office Section 1908. Prohibiting States from restricting curbside voting. Part 2--Disaster and Emergency Contingency Plans Section 1911. Requirements for Federal election contingency plans in response to natural disasters and emergencies. Part 3--Improvements in Operation of Election Assistance Commission Section 1921. Reauthorization of Election Assistance Commission Section 1922. Requiring States to participate in post-general election surveys Section 1923. Reports by National Institute of Standards and Technology on use of funds transferred from Election Assistance Commission Section 1924. Recommendations to improve operations of Election Assistance Commission Section 1925. Repeal of exemption of Election Assistance Commission from certain government contracting requirements. Part 3--Miscellaneous Provisions Section 1931. Application of laws to Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands Section 1932. Definition of election for Federal office Section 1933. No effect on other laws. Subtitle O--Severability Section 1941. Severability Section 1000. SHORT TITLE; STATEMENT OF POLICY. a Short Title.--This title may be cited as the ``Voter Empowerment Act of 2021''. b Statement of Policy.--It is the policy of the United States that-- 1 all eligible citizens of the United States should access and exercise their constitutional right to vote in a free, fair, and timely manner; 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 SECTION 1000A. SHORT TITLE. This subtitle may be cited as the ``Voter Registration Modernization Act of 2021''. PART 1--PROMOTING INTERNET REGISTRATION SECTION 1001. 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 :`` SECTION 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 7a: ``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 9a2, including assistance with providing a signature as required under sub Section 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 6a1 using the mail voter registration application form prescribed by the Election Assistance Commission pursuant to Section 9a2; and ``2 the individual meets the requirements of sub Section 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 sub Section as follows: ``A In the case of an individual who has a signature on file with a State agency, including the State motor vehicle authority, that is required to provide voter registration services under this Act or any other law, the individual consents to the transfer of that electronic signature. ``B If subparagraph A does not apply, the individual submits with the application an electronic copy of the individual's handwritten signature through electronic means. ``C If subparagraph A and subparagraph B do not apply, the individual executes a computerized mark in the signature field on an online voter registration application, in accordance with reasonable security measures established by the State, but only if the State accepts such mark from the individual. ``2 Treatment of individuals unable to meet requirement.--If an individual is unable to meet the requirements of paragraph 1, the State shall-- ``A permit the individual to complete all other elements of the online voter registration application; ``B permit the individual to provide a signature at the time the individual requests a ballot in an election whether the individual requests the ballot at a polling place or requests the ballot by mail; and ``C if the individual carries out the steps described in subparagraph A and subparagraph B, ensure that the individual is registered to vote in the State. ``3 Notice.--The State shall ensure that individuals applying to register to vote online are notified of the requirements of paragraph 1 and of the treatment of individuals unable to meet such requirements, as described in paragraph 2. ``d Confirmation and Disposition.-- ``1 Confirmation of receipt.--Upon the online submission of a completed voter registration application by an individual under this Section , the appropriate State or local election official shall send the individual a notice confirming the State's receipt of the application and providing instructions on how the individual may check the status of the application. ``2 Notice of disposition.--Not later than 7 days after the appropriate State or local election official has approved or rejected an application submitted by an individual under this Section , the official shall send the individual a notice of the disposition of the application. ``3 Method of notification.--The appropriate State or local election official shall send the notices required under this sub Section by regular mail and-- ``A in the case of an individual who has provided the official with an electronic mail address, by electronic mail; and ``B at the option of the individual, by text message. ``e Provision of Services in Nonpartisan Manner.--The services made available under sub Section a shall be provided in a manner that ensures that, consistent with Section 7a5-- ``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 sub Section a. ``g Accessibility of Services.--A state shall ensure that the services made available under this Section are made available to individuals with disabilities to the same extent as services are made available to all other individuals. ``h Use of Additional Telephone-Based System.--A State shall make the services made available online under sub Section a available through the use of an automated telephone-based system, subject to the same terms and conditions applicable under this Section to the services made available online, in addition to making the services available online in accordance with the requirements of this Section . ``i Nondiscrimination Among Registered Voters Using Mail and Online Registration.--In carrying out this Act, the Help America Vote Act of 2002, or any other Federal, State, or local law governing the treatment of registered voters in the State or the administration of elections for public office in the State, a State shall treat a registered voter who registered to vote online in accordance with this Section in the same manner as the State treats a registered voter who registered to vote by mail.''. 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 303b1A of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 52 U.S.C. 21083b1A 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 303b of such Act 52 U.S.C. 21083b 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.; ``ii provided the right to vote otherwise than in person under Section 3b2Bii of the Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act 52 U.S.C. 20102b2Bii; or ``iii entitled to vote otherwise than in person under any other Federal law.''. 3 Conforming amendment relating to effective date.-- Section 303d2A of such Act 52 U.S.C. 21083d2A is amended by striking ``Each State'' and inserting ``Except as provided in sub Section b5, each State''. c Conforming Amendments.-- 1 Timing of registration.-- Section 8a1 of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 52 U.S.C. 20507a1 is amended-- A by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph C; B by redesignating subparagraph D as subparagraph E; and C by inserting after subparagraph C the following new subparagraph: ``D in the case of online registration through the official public website of an election official under Section 6A, if the valid voter registration application is submitted online not later than the lesser of 28 days, or the period provided by State law, before the date of the election as determined by treating the date on which the application is sent electronically as the date on which it is submitted; and''. 2 Informing applicants of eligibility requirements and penalties.-- Section 8a5 of such Act 52 U.S.C. 20507a5 is amended by striking ``and 7'' and inserting ``6A, and 7'' Section 1002. USE OF INTERNET TO UPDATE REGISTRATION INFORMATION. a In General.-- 1 Updates to information contained on computerized statewide voter registration list.-- Section 303a of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 52 U.S.C. 21083a 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 6Ac 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 303d1A of such Act 52 U.S.C. 21083d1A is amended by striking ``subparagraph B'' and inserting ``subparagraph B and sub Section a6''. b Ability of Registrant To Use Online Update To Provide Information on Residence.-- Section 8d2A of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 52 U.S.C. 20507d2A 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 303a6 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,'' Section 1003. 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 9b of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 52 U.S.C. 20508b is amended-- A by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph 3; B by striking the period at the end of paragraph 4 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 302b2 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 which 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 sub Section : ``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 sub Section b5 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 302b of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 52 U.S.C. 21082b 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 9b5 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 The name and address of the polling place at which the individual is assigned to vote in the election. ``B The hours of operation for the polling place. ``C A description of any identification or other information the individual may be required to present at the polling place.'' Section 1004. 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 sub Section j as sub Section k; and 2 by inserting after sub Section i the following new sub Section : ``j Requirement for State To Register Applicants Providing Necessary Information To Show Eligibility To Vote.--For purposes meeting the requirement of sub Section a1 that an eligible applicant is registered to vote in an election for Federal office within the deadlines required under such sub Section , 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 9b2; 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 sub Section c of such Section .'' Section 1005. 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 5c2Bii of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 52 U.S.C. 20504c2Bii 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 9b1 of such Act 52 U.S.C. 20508b1 is amended by striking the semicolon at the end and inserting the following: ``, and to the extent that the form requires the applicant to provide a Social Security number, the form may not require the applicant to provide more than the last 4 digits of such number;'' Section 1006. EFFECTIVE DATE. a In General.--Except as provided in sub Section b, the amendments made by this part other than the amendments made by Section 1004 shall take effect January 1, 2022. b Waiver.--Subject to the approval of the Election Assistance Commission, if a State certifies to the Election Assistance Commission that the State will not meet the deadline referred to in sub Section a because of extraordinary circumstances and includes in the certification the reasons for the failure to meet the deadline, sub Section a shall apply to the State as if the reference in such sub Section to ``January 1, 2022'' were a reference to ``January 1, 2024''. PART 2--AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION SECTION 1011. SHORT TITLE; FINDINGS AND PURPOSE. a Short Title.--This part may be cited as the ``Automatic Voter Registration Act of 2021''. 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 at every level to ensure that all eligible citizens are registered to vote in elections for Federal office; B to enable the State and Federal 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 Section 1012.

AUTOMATIC REGISTRATION OF ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS. a Requiring States To Establish and Operate Automatic Registration System.-- 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 part. 2 Definition.--The term ``automatic registration'' means a system that registers an individual to vote in elections for Federal office in a State, if eligible, by electronically transferring the information necessary for registration from government agencies to election officials of the State so that, unless the individual affirmatively declines to be registered, the individual will be registered to vote in such elections. b Registration of Voters Based on New Agency Records.--The chief State election official shall-- 1 not later than 15 days after a contributing agency has transmitted information with respect to an individual pursuant to Section 1013, ensure that the individual is registered to vote in elections for Federal office in the State if the individual is eligible to be registered to vote in such elections; and 2 not later than 120 days after a contributing agency has transmitted such information with respect to the individual, send written notice to the individual, in addition to other means of notice established by this part, of the individual's voter registration status.

One-Time Registration of Voters Based on Existing Contributing Agency Records.--The chief State election official shall-- 1 identify all individuals whose information is transmitted by a contributing agency pursuant to Section 1014 and who are eligible to be, but are not currently, registered to vote in that State; 2 promptly send each such individual written notice, in addition to other means of notice established by this part, which shall not identify the contributing agency that transmitted the information but shall include-- A an explanation that voter registration is voluntary, but if the individual does not decline registration, the individual will be registered to vote.

B a statement offering the opportunity to decline voter registration through means consistent with the requirements of this part; C 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, a statement offering the individual the opportunity to affiliate or enroll with a political party or to decline to affiliate or enroll with a political party, through means consistent with the requirements of this part; D 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 of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, the consequences of false registration, and a statement that the individual should decline to register if the individual does not meet all those qualifications.

E instructions for correcting any erroneous information; and F instructions for providing any additional information which is listed in the mail voter registration application form for elections for Federal office prescribed pursuant to Section 9 of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993; 3 ensure that each such individual who is eligible to register to vote in elections for Federal office in the State is promptly registered to vote not later than 45 days after the official sends the individual the written notice under paragraph 2, unless, during the 30-day period which begins on the date the election official sends the individual such written notice, the individual declines registration in writing, through a communication made over the internet, or by an officially logged telephone communication; and 4 send written notice to each such individual, in addition to other means of notice established by this part, of the individual's voter registration status. d 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 part on the grounds that the individual is less than 18 years of age at the time a contributing 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. e Contributing Agency Defined.--In this part, the term ``contributing agency'' means, with respect to a State, an agency listed in Section 1013e Section 1013.