Expressing the sense of Congress that the votes of overseas servicemembers must be counted and honored as required under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.

Bill Number

H.Con.Res. 28

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Government Operations and Politics

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-04-14: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.

Last Updated

2026-06-27T19:07:55Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

This concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 28) expresses the sense of Congress—meaning a formal statement of opinion without the force of law—urging that votes cast by overseas U.S. servicemembers and citizens be fully counted and honored, in line with the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA). UOCAVA is a 1986 federal law that protects absentee voting rights for military members and overseas civilians in federal elections by requiring states to handle their ballots properly.

Key Provisions

• Sense of Congress (Section 1): Declares that legally submitted absentee ballots under UOCAVA must be counted in all federal, state, and local elections; states, territories, and election officials must follow UOCAVA without rejecting valid ballots improperly; and any disenfranchisement (denial of voting rights) due to errors or delays is unacceptable and against U.S. values.
• Reaffirmation of Protections (Section 2): Congress recommits to enforcing UOCAVA and encourages states and territories to prioritize quick processing and counting of these ballots to avoid burdens on voters.
• Enforcement Call (Section 3): Urges the U.S. Attorney General to monitor UOCAVA compliance, address violations swiftly, and protect voting rights for servicemembers and overseas citizens.

The resolution highlights challenges like mail delays and military duties that make voting harder for these groups, emphasizing that ignoring their votes harms election trust and disrespects their service.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This is a non-binding resolution, so it introduces no new laws or amendments. It reaffirms and strengthens the intent of UOCAVA without altering its requirements or adding penalties.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: Election officials in states and territories may face increased pressure to improve ballot handling processes, potentially leading to better training or resources for compliance. The Department of Justice (via the Attorney General) could see more scrutiny in monitoring elections.
• On Citizens: Overseas servicemembers and U.S. citizens abroad (e.g., military personnel, diplomats, or expatriates) benefit from heightened awareness of their voting rights, which might reduce accidental disenfranchisement and boost participation in elections.
• On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it underscores U.S. commitment to democratic values, which could indirectly support military morale abroad and signal to allies the importance of voting rights for deployed forces.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Overseas Servicemembers and Citizens: Primary beneficiaries, as the resolution aims to protect their absentee voting rights.
• State and Local Election Authorities: Responsible for implementing UOCAVA; they are urged to avoid errors in ballot processing.
• U.S. Territories: Included alongside states in compliance expectations.
• Department of Justice and Attorney General: Tasked with oversight and enforcement actions.
• Congress: Reinforces its role in promoting voting protections without new legislation.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Reinforces UOCAVA's existing mandates but lacks enforceable mechanisms; any violations would still rely on current federal lawsuits or DOJ interventions rather than new tools.
• Constitutional: Ties into the U.S. Constitution's implied right to vote (protected under the 14th, 15th, 19th, 24th, and 26th Amendments), portraying voting as a "sacred right" essential to democracy, especially for those serving the nation.
• Political: Signals bipartisan congressional support (introduced by Democrats but applicable broadly) for military and overseas voting, potentially influencing future election reforms or public discourse on election integrity without partisan debate. It could build trust in elections by addressing concerns over absentee ballot mishandling.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2]

Cosponsors (2)

Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4], Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12]

Recent Actions

• 2025-04-14: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
• 2025-04-14: Submitted in House
• 2025-04-14: Submitted in House

Bill Versions

• Expressing the sense of Congress that the votes of overseas servicemembers must be counted and honored as required under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act. — issued 2025-04-14 — PDF (3 pages)