Voter Empowerment Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8078
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-03-25: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Oversight and Government Reform, Science, Space, and Technology, Education and Workforce, and Energy and Commerce, 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
- 2026-04-23T18:47:39Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Voter Empowerment Act of 2026 (H.R. 8078) aims to modernize voter registration processes, expand access to voting (especially for individuals with disabilities, students, and those on Indian lands), protect against deceptive practices and interference, restore voting rights for most individuals with criminal convictions, mandate secure paper ballots, require early and mail voting options, improve absentee voting for military and overseas voters, enhance poll worker training, and strengthen election enforcement and administration for federal elections. It emphasizes both enhancing voter access and maintaining election integrity and security.
Key Provisions
- Title I: Voter Registration Modernization
- Requires states to offer online voter registration and updates, with electronic signatures and confirmations.
- Mandates automatic voter registration at designated agencies (e.g., DMV, public assistance, higher education), unless individuals opt out.
- Permits same-day registration at polling places.
- Limits removals from voter rolls based on interstate checks and prohibits requiring full Social Security numbers.
- Authorizes grants for youth involvement and pilot programs for high school voter education.
- Title II: Access for Individuals with Disabilities
- Requires accessible election websites, absentee ballot processes, and polling places.
- Protects voting rights for those under guardianship unless a court rules otherwise.
- Expands grants for accessible voting tech and pilots private home registration.
- Title III: Prohibiting Voter Caging
- Bans using unreliable lists (e.g., "voter caging documents") to challenge voters without corroboration.
- Establishes best practices to prevent such challenges.
- Title IV: Prohibiting Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation
- Criminalizes false info on election dates, eligibility, or endorsements intended to suppress votes.
- Allows Attorney General corrective actions and private lawsuits.
- Title V: Democracy Restoration
- Restores federal voting rights for individuals with criminal convictions upon release from incarceration (except while serving felony sentences in prison).
- Title VI: Voter-Verified Permanent Paper Ballots
- Mandates durable, voter-verified paper ballots for all federal elections, with manual audits for recounts.
- Requires U.S.-printed ballots and accessibility for disabled voters.
- Title VII: Provisional Ballots
- Establishes uniform, statewide standards for counting provisional ballots.
- Title VIII: Early Voting
- Requires at least 15 consecutive days of early in-person voting (10+ hours/day, including evenings/weekends).
- Title IX: Voting by Mail
- Ensures no-excuse absentee/mail voting, online applications, 10-day postmark grace period, drop boxes, and tracking.
- Prepares prepaid postage on return envelopes.
- Title X: Absent Uniformed Services and Overseas Voters
- Strengthens absentee ballot transmission deadlines, single applications for multiple elections, and enforcement.
- Titles XI–XIV: Additional Measures
- Grants for poll worker recruitment/training.
- Enhanced HAVA enforcement with private rights of action.
- Prohibits chief state election officials from campaign activities.
- Requires drop boxes, curbside voting, contingency plans for emergencies, and equitable polling resources.
- Treats colleges as voter registration agencies; accommodations for tribal lands.
- Title XV: Severability
- Ensures invalid provisions do not affect the rest.
Most provisions apply to federal elections starting 2027–2028, with grants and waivers available.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends NVRA (1993), HAVA (2002), VRA (1965), UOCAVA: Adds online/automatic/same-day registration; mandates paper ballots with hand counts; expands mail/early voting; restores felon voting rights.
- New Crimes/Penalties: Bans voter caging, deception, interference (e.g., 18 U.S.C. §612–613); increases fines for intimidation.
- EAC Reauthorization: Permanent funding; new reporting/reporting requirements.
- No Preclearance Impact: Explicitly preserves VRA section 5.
Potential Impacts
- Citizens: Increases access (e.g., ~5M felons regain rights; easier registration/voting for disabled, students, rural/tribal voters), potentially boosting turnout; paper ballots enhance auditability.
- Government Agencies: States/EACs face implementation costs (grants offset some); USPS handles more election mail with postmarks/prepaid postage.
- Election Officials: More resources/training needed; uniform standards reduce discretion.
- No International Relations Impact: Domestic focus.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Voters: Disabled individuals, felons/post-incarcerated, minorities/students/youth, military/overseas, tribal/rural residents, first-time/mail voters.
- Election Administrators: States/local officials (compliance burdens/grants); EAC (expanded role).
- Others: Tribes, colleges, poll workers, USPS, DOJ (enforcement).
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Federalism: Mandates on states could prompt 10th Amendment challenges; felon voting restoration may face state law conflicts (upheld under congressional election authority per Art. I §4).
- Equal Protection/Access: Advances ADA/VRA compliance; due process for signature mismatches.
- Election Integrity: Paper ballots address DRE concerns; anti-deception/caging protects against suppression.
- Political: Balances access (Dem-leaning) with security (Rep-leaning); may increase litigation/enforcement. Severability clause limits judicial invalidation scope.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Clyburn, James E. [D-SC-6]
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Rep. Amo, Gabe [D-RI-1]
Recent Actions
- 2026-03-25: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Oversight and Government Reform, Science, Space, and Technology, Education and Workforce, and Energy and Commerce, 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.
- 2026-03-25: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Oversight and Government Reform, Science, Space, and Technology, Education and Workforce, and Energy and Commerce, 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.
- 2026-03-25: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Oversight and Government Reform, Science, Space, and Technology, Education and Workforce, and Energy and Commerce, 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.
- 2026-03-25: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Oversight and Government Reform, Science, Space, and Technology, Education and Workforce, and Energy and Commerce, 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.
- 2026-03-25: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Oversight and Government Reform, Science, Space, and Technology, Education and Workforce, and Energy and Commerce, 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.
- 2026-03-25: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Oversight and Government Reform, Science, Space, and Technology, Education and Workforce, and Energy and Commerce, 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.
- 2026-03-25: Introduced in House
- 2026-03-25: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Voter Empowerment Act of 2026 — issued 2026-03-25 — PDF (271 pages)