Unhoused Voter Opportunity Through Elections Act

Bill Number: H.R. 4914
Origin Chamber: House
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 1
Policy Area: Government Operations and Politics
Status: Introduced
Latest Action: 2025-08-05: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and the Judiciary, 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.
Last Updated: 2026-03-26T08:06:51Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose This legislation aims to eliminate obstacles preventing unhoused individuals from registering to vote and casting ballots in federal elections. It establishes protections, modifies existing voting laws, creates outreach requirements, and authorizes grants to improve access.

Key Provisions

Title I – Voting Rights: Prohibits states or localities from denying voting rights based on residence in a "nontraditional abode," such as shelters, streets, or prisons (in states allowing incarcerated voting). The Attorney General or affected individuals may sue for declaratory or injunctive relief.
Title II – Protections and Best Practices: Amends the Help America Vote Act to require accessible drop boxes, acceptance of signed attestations for residence, recognition of certain criminal justice documents as ID, and notifications to shelters about deadlines. It also mandates best practices developed by the Election Assistance Commission in consultation with service providers. Amends the National Voter Registration Act to designate homeless shelters as voter registration agencies, allow marking of residence locations on forms, and permit use of unsheltered street addresses. Updates the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to include voting access questions in homelessness surveys.
Title III – Grants: Directs the Election Assistance Commission to award grants to states and localities for programs like mobile voting centers and direct outreach, with funds usable for contracts with private service providers. Requires durability assurances for documents exposed to weather.
Title IV – General Provisions: Defines "State" broadly and sets an effective date of six months after enactment for most provisions.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

Expands the National Voter Registration Act by adding emergency shelters as mandatory registration agencies and permitting flexible address documentation for unhoused applicants.
Adds a new subtitle to the Help America Vote Act focused on unhoused access, including drop-box placement criteria and outreach mandates.
Introduces grant authority and survey modifications under the McKinney-Vento Act that were not previously required.
Clarifies that shelters may serve as voting residences without prohibition.

Potential Impacts

Government Agencies: Requires states, localities, and the Election Assistance Commission to implement new procedures, conduct outreach, and manage grants; the Department of Justice gains enforcement roles. HUD-related surveys must now track voting access.
Citizens: Unhoused individuals gain expanded options for proving residence and identification, plus improved information access.
International Relations: No direct effects identified.

Main Stakeholders Affected

Unhoused individuals seeking to vote.
State and local election officials responsible for compliance.
Homeless shelters and social service agencies required to participate in registration and outreach.
The Election Assistance Commission and federal agencies handling enforcement or grants.
Advocacy groups and service providers consulted on best practices.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

Builds on the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by adding explicit protections without altering its core guarantees.
May raise questions about state authority over election administration under the Elections Clause, though the bill frames changes as removing barriers rather than mandating outcomes.
Enforcement relies on civil actions rather than criminal penalties, limiting scope to declaratory and injunctive relief.

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

Sponsor

Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5]

Cosponsors (50)

Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5], Rep. Johnson, Julie [D-TX-32], Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33], Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3], Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7], Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15], Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3], Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3], Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6], Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20], Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9], Rep. Crockett, Jasmine [D-TX-30], Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1], Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17], Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37], Rep. Elfreth, Sarah [D-MD-3], Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3], Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6], Rep. Figures, Shomari [D-AL-2], Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4], Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9], Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37], Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8], Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1], Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12], Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8], Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4], Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10], Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-5], Rep. Mfume, Kweisi [D-MD-7], Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7], Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6], Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9], Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12], Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10], Rep. Sykes, Emilia Strong [D-OH-13], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20], Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2], Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1], Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large]

Recent Actions

2025-08-05: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and the Judiciary, 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.
2025-08-05: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and the Judiciary, 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.
2025-08-05: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and the Judiciary, 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.
2025-08-05: Introduced in House
2025-08-05: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

Unhoused Voter Opportunity Through Elections Act — issued 2025-08-05 — PDF (16 pages)