Bill > S954

This bill, the Voter Empowerment Act of 2021, proposes a number of reforms and initiatives to modernize voter registration, promote access to voting for individuals with disabilities, prohibit voter caging and deceptive practices, restore voting rights for individuals with criminal convictions, and establish various other measures to protect and secure elections. The key provisions of the bill include: - Requiring states to provide online voter registration, allow voters to update their registration information online, and provide voter registration and voting information to registered voters by email. - Establishing automatic voter registration systems that would automatically register eligible individuals to vote, with an opt-out option. - Requiring states to allow same-day voter registration on Election Day. - Placing conditions on states' ability to remove voters from registration lists based on interstate voter list checks. - Prohibiting hindering, interfering with, or preventing voter registration, and establishing best practices to prevent such actions. - Prohibiting deceptive practices such as providing materially false information about elections, and authorizing the Attorney General to take corrective action. - Restoring voting rights for individuals with criminal convictions upon completion of their sentence, and requiring states and the federal government to notify such individuals of their restored rights. - Requiring the use of voter-verified paper ballots and manual counting for recounts and audits. - Expanding absentee and mail-in voting, including requiring states to provide prepaid postage for mail-in ballot return envelopes. - Establishing early voting requirements and prohibiting restrictions on curbside voting. - Enhancing requirements for states to promote access to voting for individuals with disabilities. Overall, the bill aims to expand voter access, registration, and participation, while also seeking to enhance the security and integrity of elections through various administrative and procedural requirements.

Government Affairs

https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/954/all-info