Hiring Preference for Veterans and Americans With Disabilities Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 5734
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-10-10: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
- Last Updated
- 2025-12-08T22:01:22Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This legislation, H.R. 5734 (the "Hiring Preference for Veterans and Americans With Disabilities Act"), aims to clarify that state and local governments can prioritize hiring veterans, individuals with disabilities, and certain military family members as election workers. It ensures these preferences do not violate existing laws, promoting inclusion in election administration roles.
Key Provisions
- Short Title: The Act is named the "Hiring Preference for Veterans and Americans With Disabilities Act."
- Preferences for Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities:
- State or local jurisdictions may give hiring preference to veterans (former members of the U.S. armed forces) or individuals with a disability when selecting election workers to run elections.
- An "individual with a disability" is defined as someone with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits major life activities, such as walking, seeing, or working.
- Preferences and Residency Waivers for Military Spouses and Dependents:
- Jurisdictions may prioritize hiring nonresident spouses or dependents of military personnel.
- They cannot deny hiring solely because the person does not live in the state or local area.
- A "nonresident military spouse or dependent" refers to family members of active-duty uniformed services voters who are absent from the jurisdiction, as defined under federal voting laws for overseas and military personnel (Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- This bill introduces a clarification rather than new mandates; it explicitly permits preferences in election worker hiring that might otherwise be restricted by general anti-discrimination laws (e.g., those prohibiting favoritism in public employment).
- It builds on existing federal protections for veterans and people with disabilities in federal hiring but extends similar allowances to state and local election roles, addressing potential ambiguities in how these apply to temporary election positions.
- No outright bans or requirements are imposed—preferences remain optional for jurisdictions.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: State and local election offices may see easier recruitment of qualified workers from underrepresented groups, potentially improving efficiency and diversity in election staffing during busy periods like voting seasons.
- On Citizens: Veterans, people with disabilities, and military families gain clearer access to part-time election jobs, which could provide income, community involvement, and civic engagement opportunities. It may encourage broader participation in democracy from these groups.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses solely on domestic U.S. election administration.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- State and Local Election Officials: Gain flexibility in hiring without legal risks.
- Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities: Benefit from hiring advantages, promoting employment equity.
- Military Spouses and Dependents: Receive preferences and residency exemptions, aiding frequent movers due to military assignments.
- Election Workers and Voters: Indirectly affected through potentially more diverse and reliable staffing, which could enhance election integrity and accessibility.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Aligns with federal laws like the Veterans Preference Act and Americans with Disabilities Act by extending voluntary preferences to election roles; it avoids conflicts with equal protection principles under the U.S. Constitution by making preferences optional and targeted at public service hiring.
- Constitutional: No apparent challenges, as it supports non-discriminatory access to government jobs and does not infringe on voting rights or free speech.
- Political: Could foster bipartisan support given emphases on veteran and military family issues; may encourage states to adopt inclusive hiring practices, potentially reducing litigation over election worker qualifications.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1]
Recent Actions
- 2025-10-10: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
- 2025-10-10: Introduced in House
- 2025-10-10: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Hiring Preference for Veterans and Americans With Disabilities Act — issued 2025-10-10 — PDF (3 pages)