H.R. 2847

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2847 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2847

To amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to allow all eligible voters 
to vote by mail in Federal elections, to amend the National Voter 
Registration Act of 1993 to streamline the procedures under which 
individuals may apply to register to vote in such elections through 
State motor vehicle authorities, to permit automatic voter registration 
through such authorities for eligible citizens of the United States, 
and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 10, 2025

Ms. Hoyle of Oregon (for herself, Ms. Bonamici, Mr. Carson, Ms. Chu, 
Mr. Deluzio, Ms. Dexter, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Ms. Norton, Ms. 
Salinas, Ms. Schakowsky, Ms. Tlaib, Mr. Tonko, Mr. Veasey, and Mrs. 
Watson Coleman) introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee 
on Oversight and Government Reform, 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 amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to allow all eligible voters 
to vote by mail in Federal elections, to amend the National Voter 
Registration Act of 1993 to streamline the procedures under which 
individuals may apply to register to vote in such elections through 
State motor vehicle authorities, to permit automatic voter registration 
through such authorities for eligible citizens of the United States, 
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 ``Vote at Home Act of 2025''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds the following:
(1) An inequity of voting rights exists in the United 
States because voters in some States have the universal right 
to vote by mail while voters in other States do not.
(2) Many voters often have work, family, or other 
commitments that make getting to polls and waiting in line on 
the date of an election difficult or impossible. Many citizens 
with disabilities are physically unable to vote due to long 
lines, inadequate parking, no curb cuts, steep ramps, and large 
crowds. In the 2022 election, the Election Assistance 
Commission found that 20 percent of voters with disabilities 
faced difficulties voting in person.
(3) In 2020, despite a global pandemic, the general 
election saw record high turnout as a result of increased vote 
by mail options, which allowed voters to cast a ballot and stay 
safe at the same time.
(4) 36 States and the District of Columbia currently allow 
universal absentee voting (also known as ``no-excuse'' absentee 
voting), which permits any voter to request a mail-in ballot 
without providing a reason for the request. No State which has 
implemented no-excuse absentee voting has repealed it.
(5) 7 states and Washington, DC, conduct elections entirely 
by mail. At least 13 States currently allow some elections to 
be conducted by mail, especially in large and rural 
jurisdictions where voting by mail is especially convenient. 
Polling stations in rural jurisdictions tend to have higher 
costs per voter, smaller staffs, and limited resources. 
Transportation is often a crucial barrier for rural voters.
(6) In 2020, in order to provide greater accessibility and 
to protect the public health, 30 States adopted or changed 
their laws for the general election to allow voters to cast 
their ballots from home. These changes included removing strict 
excuse requirements or allowing COVID-19 concerns to be a valid 
excuse to vote absentee, allowing ballot drop boxes, offering 
prepaid postage on election mail and proactively sending all 
active registered voters applications to request an absentee 
ballot, with some even skipping that step and sending the 
actual ballots.
(7) Voting by mail gives voters more time to consider their 
choices, which is especially important as many ballots contain 
greater numbers of questions about complex issues than in the 
past due to the expanded use of the initiative and referendum 
process in many States.
(8) Voting by mail is cost effective. After the State of 
Oregon adopted vote by mail for all voters in 1996, the cost to 
administer an election in the State dropped by nearly 30 
percent over the next few elections, from $3.07 per voter to 
$2.21 per voter. After Colorado implemented all-mail balloting 
in 2013, voting administration costs decreased by an average of 
40 percent. The cost of conducting vote-by-mail elections is 
generally one-third to one-half less than conducting polling 
place elections. Voting by mail also saves a substantial amount 
by getting rid of the temporary labor costs of hiring poll 
workers. In addition to that cost, many jurisdictions have been 
facing difficulty in obtaining sufficient numbers of poll 
workers.
(9) Allowing all voters the option to vote by mail can 
reduce waiting times for those voters who choose to vote at the 
polls. In 2024, voters in Illinois reported waiting in line up 
to 4 hours to vote; in Pennsylvania, voters reported waiting 
more than 6 hours to cast a ballot.
(10) Voting by mail is preferable to many voters as an 
alternative to going to the polls. In 2024, nearly 30 percent 
of ballots in the United States were cast by mail, up from 10 
percent in 2000. Voting by mail has become increasingly popular 
with voters who want to be certain that they are able to vote 
no matter what comes up on Election Day, as it reduces the 
physical obstacles and eases the time constraints connected 
with the act of voting.
(11) Despite attempts to claim that voting by mail is 
susceptible to fraud, it is not. Strategies such as the 
tracking systems for ballots and Postal Service cooperation in 
preventing ballots from being delivered to names not recognized 
as receiving mail at an address nearly eliminate the potential 
for fraud in vote by mail elections. Evidence of undue 
influence or voter coercion after vote-by-mail implementation 
in Oregon has been nonexistent to minimal.
(12) Many of the reasons which voters in many States are 
required to provide in order to vote by mail require the 
revelation of personal information about health, travel plans, 
or religious activities, which violate voters' privacy while 
doing nothing to prevent voter fraud.
(13) State laws which require voters to obtain a notary 
signature to vote by mail only add cost and inconvenience to 
voters without increasing security.
(14) Vote-by-mail typically increases turnout in all 
elections, but can be particularly effective in increasing 
voter participation in special elections and primary elections. 
Oregon, Washington, and Colorado, 3 States with entirely vote 
by mail systems, continue to have consistently high voter 
turnout rates.
(15) A crucial component of a modern voting system is 
making it easy, affordable, and accessible to register to vote. 
24 States and the District of Columbia have enacted automatic 
voter registration policies, with Oregon and California 
becoming the first to automatically register their citizens to 
vote when they apply for a driver's license. Automatic, 
permanent voter registration has the potential to increase 
participation, protect election integrity, and reduce 
registration costs.

SEC. 3. PROMOTING ABILITY OF VOTERS TO VOTE BY MAIL IN FEDERAL 
ELECTIONS.

(a) Voting by Mail in Federal Elections.--
(1) In general.--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. PROMOTING ABILITY OF VOTERS TO VOTE BY MAIL.

``(a) 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 mail, except to the 
extent that the State imposes a deadline for requesting the ballot and 
related voting materials from the appropriate State or local election 
official and for returning the ballot to the appropriate State or local 
election official.
``(b) Provision of Ballot Materials.--Not later than 2 weeks before 
the date of any election for Federal office, each State shall mail 
ballots to individuals who are registered to vote in such election.
``(c) Accessibility for Individuals With Disabilities.--All ballots 
provided under this section shall be accessible to individuals with 
disabilities in a manner that provides the same opportunity for access 
and participation (including for privacy and independence) as for other 
voters.
``(d) 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.
``(e) Effective Date.--A State shall be required to comply with the 
requirements of this section with respect to elections for Federal 
office held in years beginning with 2026.''.
(2) Conforming amendment relating to enforcement.--Section 
401 of such Act (52 U.S.C. 21111) is amended by striking ``and 
304'' and inserting ``303A, and 304''.
(3) Clerical amendment.--The table of contents for such Act 
is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 303 
the following new item:

``Sec. 303A. Promoting ability of voters to vote by mail.''.
(b) Free Postage for Voting by Mail.--
(1) In general.--Chapter 34 of title 39, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 3407. Ballots provided for voting in Federal elections
``Blank ballots mailed pursuant to section 303A(b) of the Help 
America Vote Act of 2002 which are mailed by a State or local election 
official (individually or in bulk) to a voter, and voted ballots which 
are mailed by a voter to an election official, shall be carried 
expeditiously and free of postage.''.
(2) Technical and conforming amendments.--
(A) Table of sections.--The table of sections for 
chapter 34 of title 39, United States Code, is amended 
by adding at the end the following:

``3407. Ballots provided for voting in Federal elections.''.
(B) Authorization of appropriations.--Section 
2401(c) of title 39, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``3403 through 3406'' and inserting ``3403 
through 3407''.

SEC. 4. VOTER REGISTRATION THROUGH STATE MOTOR VEHICLE AUTHORITIES.

(a) Streamlining Existing Procedures.--Section 5 of the National 
Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20504) is amended to read as 
follows:

``SEC. 5. VOTER REGISTRATION THROUGH MOTOR VEHICLE AUTHORITY.

``(a) Streamlined Registration Through Application for Driver's 
License.--
``(1) In general.--Each State shall include a voter 
registration application form for elections for Federal office 
as part of an application for a State motor vehicle driver's 
license for each applicable individual other than an applicable 
individual described in subsection (b)(1).
``(2) Forms and procedures.--The voter registration 
application portion of an application for a State motor vehicle 
driver's license--
``(A) may not require any information that 
duplicates information required in the driver's license 
portion of the form;
``(B) may require only the minimum amount of 
information necessary to--
``(i) prevent duplicate voter 
registrations; and
``(ii) enable State election officials to 
assess the eligibility of an applicable 
individual and to administer voter 
registration;
``(C) shall include a statement that--
``(i) states each eligibility requirement 
(including citizenship);
``(ii) contains an attestation that the 
applicant meets each such requirement; and
``(iii) requires the signature of the 
applicant, under penalty of perjury;
``(D) shall include--
``(i) a statement that, if an applicant 
declines to register to vote, the fact that the 
applicant has declined to register will remain 
confidential and will be used only for voter 
registration purposes; and
``(ii) a statement that if an applicant 
does register to vote, the office at which the 
applicant submits a voter registration 
application will remain confidential and will 
be used only for voter registration purposes; 
and
``(E) shall be made available (as submitted by the 
applicant, or in machine readable or other format) to 
the appropriate State election official as provided by 
State law--
``(i) subject to clause (ii), not later 
than 10 days after the date of acceptance; or
``(ii) if a registration application is 
accepted within 5 days before the last day for 
registration to vote in an election, not later 
than 5 days after the date of acceptance.
``(3) Treatment of attestations of eligibility.--For 
purposes of an application for voter registration with respect 
to elections for Federal office in a State under this 
subsection, an attestation of eligibility, including an 
attestation that the applicant is a United States citizen, 
shall be treated as the presumptive minimum amount of 
information necessary for the State to assess the eligibility 
of an applicable individual to vote in such elections and for 
the State to administer voter registration, except that a State 
shall prevent the completion of or reject the voter 
registration application of an applicable individual based upon 
reliable information in its possession demonstrating that the 
individual is not a United States citizen or is otherwise 
ineligible to register to vote in elections for Federal office 
in the State at the time of the application for a motor vehicle 
driver's license.
``(b) Automatic Registration of Eligible Citizens.--
``(1) Duties of motor vehicle authority.--Each State motor 
vehicle authority shall transmit the voter registration 
information described in paragraph (2) with respect to an 
applicable individual to the appropriate election official if--
``(A) such individual has presented a document as 
part of an application for a State motor vehicle 
driver's license (including a document presented in a 
previous application retained by the State's motor 
vehicle authority) demonstrating that the individual is 
a United States citizen; or
``(B) based on information provided to the State 
motor vehicle authority by the appropriate election 
official, such individual is currently registered to 
vote in elections for Federal office in the State.
``(2) Voter registration information described.--The voter 
registration information transmitted by the State motor vehicle 
authority described in this paragraph is, with respect to an 
applicable individual, the minimum amount of information 
necessary to--
``(A) prevent duplicate voter registrations;
``(B) enable State election officials to assess the 
eligibility of such an individual who is not at that 
time registered to vote in elections for Federal office 
in the State and to administer voter registration; and
``(C) enable State election officials to update the 
address of such an individual who is currently 
registered to vote in elections for Federal office in 
the State.
``(3) Deadline for transmission to election official.--The 
voter registration information described in paragraph (2) shall 
be made available (in machine readable or other format) to the 
appropriate State election official as provided by State law--
``(A) subject to subparagraph (B), not later than 
10 days after the date of acceptance; or
``(B) if the voter registration information is 
accepted within 5 days before the last day for 
registration to vote in an election, not later than 5 
days after the date of acceptance.
``(4) Determination of registration status by election 
officials receiving information.--Upon receiving the voter 
registration information with respect to an individual under 
paragraph (1), the appropriate State election official shall 
determine--
``(A) whether such individual is at that time 
registered to vote in elections for Federal office in 
the State;
``(B) if the individual is at that time registered 
to vote in such elections, the address at which the 
individual is registered; and
``(C) if the individual at that time is not 
registered to vote in elections for Federal office in 
the State, whether such individual is eligible to vote 
in such elections, including as provided by section 
8(a)(3)(B) through the procedure set forth in section 
303(a)(2)(A)(ii)(I) of the Help America Vote Act of 
2002 (52 U.S.C. 21083(a)(2)(A)(ii)(I)).
``(5) Registration of eligible unregistered individuals.--
``(A) Notice.--In the case of an applicable 
individual who is determined by the appropriate State 
election official to be eligible to vote in elections 
for Federal office in the State and who is not at the 
time registered to vote in such elections, the 
appropriate State election official shall issue a 
notice, which may be combined with the notice described 
in section 8(a)(2), to the individual containing--
``(i) a statement that the individual's 
records and signature shall constitute a 
completed registration for the individual 
unless the individual notifies the election 
official in response to the notice that the 
individual declines to be registered to vote in 
elections for Federal office held in the State; 
and
``(ii) a description of the process by 
which the individual may decline to be 
registered to vote in elections for Federal 
office in the State.
``(B) Registration.--Upon the issuance of a notice 
to an individual under subparagraph (A), the official 
shall ensure that the individual is registered to vote 
in elections for Federal office held in the State 
unless in response to the notice, the individual 
notifies the official that the individual declines to 
be registered to vote in such elections.
``(C) Removal of individuals incorrectly 
registered.--If, after an individual is registered 
under subparagraph (B) to vote in elections for Federal 
office held in the State, the appropriate State 
election official later determines that the individual 
does not meet the eligibility requirements for 
registering to vote in such elections, including as 
provided by section 8(a)(3)(B) or as a result of error 
relating to the duties of the State motor vehicle 
authority under paragraph (1), the individual shall be 
removed from the official list of registered voters in 
the State and deemed never to have registered to vote 
or attempted to register to vote.
``(6) Correcting addresses of individuals registered at 
different addresses.--
``(A) Notice.--In the case of an applicable 
individual who is registered to vote in elections for 
Federal office in the State at a different address in 
the State than the address provided in the information 
transmitted under this subsection, the appropriate 
State election official shall issue a notice, which may 
be combined with the notice described in section 
8(a)(2), to the individual containing--
``(i) a statement that the address provided 
in such information shall be used as the 
individual's address for voter registration 
purposes; and
``(ii) a description of the process by 
which the individual may correct an address for 
voter registration purposes.
``(B) Change of address.--Upon the issuance of a 
notice to an individual under subparagraph (A), the 
official shall ensure that the individual is registered 
to vote in elections for Federal office at the address 
provided in the information transmitted under this 
subsection unless the individual corrects the change of 
address for voter registration purposes.
``(7) Voter protections.--
``(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:
``(i) The individual notified an election 
office of the individual's automatic 
registration to vote under this subsection.
``(ii) The individual is not eligible to 
vote in elections for Federal office but was 
automatically registered to vote under this 
subsection due to agency error.
``(iii) The individual was automatically 
registered to vote under this subsection at an 
incorrect address.
``(iv) The individual did not make an 
affirmation of citizenship, including through 
automatic registration under this subsection.
``(B) Limits on use of automatic registration.--The 
automatic registration of any individual under this 
subsection or the fact that an individual did not make 
an affirmation of citizenship, including through 
automatic registration under this subsection, 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 
subparagraphs (A) or (B) may be construed to prohibit 
or restrict any action under color of law against an 
individual who--
``(i) knowingly and willfully makes a false 
statement to effectuate or perpetuate automatic 
voter registration under this subsection by any 
individual; or
``(ii) casts a ballot knowingly and 
willfully in violation of State law or the laws 
of the United States.
``(c) General Provisions.--
``(1) Prohibiting transmission of information on 
noncitizens.--The State motor vehicle authority shall not 
transmit voter registration information under this section with 
respect to an applicable individual if, as part of the 
application for a State motor vehicle driver's license, the 
individual--
``(A) presents a document demonstrating that the 
individual is not a United States citizen at the time 
of the application; or
``(B) makes an attestation demonstrating that the 
individual is not a United States citizen at the time 
of the application, if such attestation is required by 
State law for purposes of the application for a State 
motor vehicle driver's license.
``(2) Limitation on use of information.--No information 
relating to the failure of an applicant for a State motor 
vehicle driver's license to sign a voter registration 
application or to an applicant's decision to decline voter 
registration may be used for any purpose other than voter 
registration.
``(3) Applicable individual.--For purposes of this section, 
the term `applicable individual' means any individual who 
submits an application for a State motor vehicle driver's 
license, including an initial application, renewal application, 
or change of address form, whether submitted in person, by 
mail, or by electronic means.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment Relating to Timing of Registration Prior 
to Elections.--Section 8(a)(1)(A) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 
20507(a)(1)(A)) is amended to read as follows:
``(A) in the case of registration through a motor 
vehicle authority under section 5--
``(i) if the valid voter registration form 
of the applicant is submitted to the motor 
vehicle authority under such section not later 
than the lesser of 30 days, or the period 
provided by State law, before the date of the 
election; or
``(ii) in the case of registration under 
section 5(b), if the voter registration 
information described in section 5(b)(2) which 
is transmitted by the motor vehicle authority 
is submitted by the applicant to the authority 
not later than the lesser of 30 days, or the 
period provided by State law, before the date 
of the election; or''.
(c) Other Conforming Amendment.--Section 4(a)(1) of such Act (52 
U.S.C. 20503(a)(1)) is amended to read as follows:
``(1) through the State motor vehicle authority pursuant to 
section 5;''.
(d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
effect upon the expiration of the 180-day period which begins on the 
date of the enactment of this Act.
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