H.R. 7182

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7182 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7182

To amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to establish minimum 
notification requirements for voters affected by polling place changes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 21, 2026

Ms. Johnson of Texas (for herself, Mr. Morelle, Ms. Norton, Mr. Johnson 
of Georgia, and Mr. Casten) introduced the following bill; which was 
referred to the Committee on House Administration

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to establish minimum 
notification requirements for voters affected by polling place changes.

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 ``Voter Outreach for Transparent 
Elections Act'' or the ``VOTE Act''.

SEC. 2. 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) In general.--If a State assigns an individual who is 
a registered voter in a State to a polling place with respect 
to an election for Federal office which is not the same polling 
place to which the individual was previously assigned with 
respect to the most recent election for Federal office in the 
State in which the individual was eligible to vote--
``(A) the State shall notify the individual of the 
location of the polling place not later than 7 days 
before the date of the election;
``(B) the appropriate election official of the 
State shall 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
``(C) if the State makes such an assignment fewer 
than 7 days before the date of the election and the 
individual appears on the date of the election at the 
polling place to which the individual was previously 
assigned, the State shall make every reasonable effort 
to enable the individual to vote on the date of the 
election.
``(2) Methods of notification.--The appropriate election 
official shall notify an individual under paragraph (1)(A) by 
mail, telephone, and (if available) text message and electronic 
mail.
``(3) 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.
``(4) 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).
``(C) 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(f)), as redesignated by subsection (a), is amended by striking 
``Each State'' and inserting ``Except as provided in subsection (d)(5), 
each State''.
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