Voter Purge Protection Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 5707
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-10-08: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-19T08:06:11Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The Voter Purge Protection Act (H.R. 5707) aims to protect eligible voters from being wrongly removed from state voter registration lists for federal elections. It amends the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA) to require states to use only objective and reliable evidence—such as verified proof of ineligibility—before removing anyone from the official list of eligible voters.
Key Provisions
- Verification Requirement for Removals: States cannot remove a registered voter from the list unless they confirm, using objective and reliable evidence (e.g., court records of felony convictions or confirmed death), that the person is ineligible to vote in federal elections.
- Factors Not Considered Evidence: The following do not qualify as proof of ineligibility:
- Not voting in previous elections.
- Failing to respond to a notice from election officials (unless the notice is returned as undeliverable, meaning it couldn't be delivered).
- Any other inaction related to voting or registration status.
- Notice to Removed Voters: Within 48 hours of removal, states must notify the individual in writing, explaining the reason and providing contact information (e.g., a phone number) for contesting the removal or seeking reinstatement. Exceptions apply if the person confirms they are no longer eligible or if removal is due to death.
- Public Notice After Purges: After any large-scale cleanup of voter lists (a "general program" to remove ineligible voters), states must issue a public announcement within 48 hours via accessible methods (e.g., newspapers or websites). This notice must inform the public about the process and urge people to verify their registration status. It must be formatted for accessibility, including for voters with disabilities like low vision or blindness.
- Limits on Sending Removal Notices: States can only send notices questioning a voter's eligibility (under existing NVRA rules) if they have objective evidence that the voter has moved outside their registration area.
- Effective Date: The changes take effect immediately upon the bill's enactment.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- New Section in NVRA: Adds Section 8A to the NVRA, which sets strict conditions for voter removals and explicitly limits what counts as evidence, overriding parts of the existing Section 8 that allowed removals based on less rigorous processes like non-response to notices.
- Amendments to Notice Procedures: Updates NVRA Section 8(d) to require evidence of a residence change before sending any removal notices, preventing proactive inquiries without basis.
- Conforming Updates: Modifies NVRA Section 8(a) and the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA) to reference the new Section 8A, ensuring consistency across federal voting laws. This tightens rules for maintaining accurate voter lists while prohibiting unsubstantiated purges.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: State election officials and agencies responsible for voter rolls (e.g., secretaries of state offices) may face increased administrative requirements, such as verifying evidence before actions and providing timely notices. This could raise costs for compliance and record-keeping but reduce errors in list maintenance.
- On Citizens: Eligible voters, especially those in marginalized or mobile populations, gain stronger protections against accidental or erroneous removal from rolls, potentially making voting access more secure. However, it might slow down the removal of truly ineligible voters if evidence standards prove challenging.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses solely on domestic U.S. federal election processes.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Voters and Registrants: Primary beneficiaries, particularly infrequent voters, recent movers, or those in communities prone to registration challenges.
- State and Local Election Officials: Directly responsible for implementing the verification, notice, and public announcement requirements.
- Voting Rights Advocacy Groups: Organizations focused on expanding access (e.g., those supporting minority or low-income voters) stand to benefit from reduced purge risks.
- Political Parties and Campaigns: Both major parties could be affected, as purges have historically influenced turnout; this may limit strategies relying on list cleanups.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal Implications: The bill reinforces federal oversight of state voter registration under the NVRA, potentially leading to more lawsuits if states challenge the evidence standards as overly burdensome. It builds on existing federal requirements for accurate lists without altering core state authority over elections.
- Constitutional Implications: Aligns with the U.S. Constitution's guarantees of equal protection (14th Amendment) and voting rights (15th, 19th, 24th, and 26th Amendments) by aiming to prevent disenfranchisement through unsubstantiated removals, though it could spark debates on federalism (balance between state and federal power).
- Political Implications: Introduced by a bipartisan group of House members (though predominantly Democrats), it addresses concerns about voter suppression tactics like mass purges, which have been contentious in recent elections. If enacted, it could standardize protections nationwide, influencing future election integrity debates without favoring any party explicitly.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (28)
Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11], Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6], Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1], Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1], Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2], Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10], Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-22], Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15], Rep. Bishop, Sanford D. [D-GA-2], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1], Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10], Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33], Rep. Kennedy, Timothy M. [D-NY-26], Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1], Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large], Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2], Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Johnson, Julie [D-TX-32], Rep. Randall, Emily [D-WA-6], Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10]
Recent Actions
- 2025-10-08: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
- 2025-10-08: Introduced in House
- 2025-10-08: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Voter Purge Protection Act — issued 2025-10-08 — PDF (6 pages)