S 954 · 117th Congress 2021–2023, ended

Voter Empowerment Act of 2021

Introduced Mar 24, 2021 Originated Senate Sponsor Kirsten E. Gillibrand D-NY

Fact sheet Spreadsheet

Latest action · Mar 24, 2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.

Progress

Where this bill reached, and when. A stage with no date was not reached; one that failed a vote and later carried shows the date it carried.

  1. IntroducedMar 24, 2021
  2. Passed SenateNot reached
  3. Passed HouseNot reached
  4. To the PresidentNot reached
  5. Became lawNot reached

Summary

Voter Empowerment Act of 2021

This bill expands voter registration and voting access.

Specifically, the bill expands voter registration by requiring states to (1) make available online voter registration, (2) establish automatic voter registration systems, (3) permit same-day voter registration, and (4) accept voter registration applications from individuals under age 18.

Further, the bill limits removing voters from voter rolls and prohibits interference with voter registration or voting.

Next, the bill requires states to allow individuals with disabilities to use absentee registration procedures and to vote by absentee ballot in federal elections.

The bill also prohibits voter caging (the practice of sending mail to addresses on voter rolls, compiling a list of the undeliverable mail, and using the list to remove registered voters from voter rolls).

Next, the bill expands voting access by requiring states to allow early voting and voting by mail without additional conditions. It also requires states to provide secured drop boxes at which individuals may drop off their completed absentee ballots.

In addition, the bill declares that the right of a U.S. citizen to vote in any federal election shall not be denied or abridged because that individual has been convicted of a criminal offense unless, at the time of the election, such individual is serving a felony sentence.

Finally, the bill permanently reauthorizes the Election Assistance Commission (EAC). It also directs the EAC to make grants to states for specified activities, including to implement automatic voter registration systems.

Cosponsors 1

Members who signed on, in the order they did. All signed on Mar 24, 2021.

SeatCosponsorSigned on
D-GARaphael G. WarnockOriginalMar 24, 2021

Committees 1

Where it was sent and what each committee and subcommittee did with it, in order.

ChamberCommitteeWhat it did
SenateRules and Administration Committee
Referred Mar 24, 2021

Actions 2

Everything that happened, newest first.

  1. Mar 24, 2021Introduced in Senate
  2. Mar 24, 2021Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.

Research

What has been written about this bill: committee reports, cost estimates, the sponsor’s authority statement, printed hearings and the Congressional Research Service’s work.

CRS reports 7

Congressional Research Service work that CRS links to this bill or the law it became, newest first.

Cite it 7

Products on other subjects that cite it, usually among other measures.

Related bills 18

Companion bills and other measures the record links to this one.

BillTitleRelationshipLatest action
S 1For the People Act of 2021Related billAug 11, 2021
HR 1For the People Act of 2021Related billMar 11, 2021
HR 65Same Day Registration Act of 2021Related billJan 4, 2021
S 481Democracy Restoration Act of 2021Related billFeb 25, 2021
HR 576Next Generation Votes ActRelated billJan 28, 2021
HR 639Voter Registration Reporting Act of 2021Related billFeb 1, 2021
HR 640Expanding Access to Early Voting Act of 2021Related billFeb 1, 2021
HR 641Polling Change Awareness ActRelated billFeb 1, 2021
HR 775Disability Voting Rights ActRelated billFeb 3, 2021
HR 776Dropbox Access ActRelated billFeb 3, 2021
HR 827Voter Registration Promotion ActRelated billFeb 4, 2021
HR 1059America Votes Act of 2021Related billFeb 15, 2021
HR 1245Alice Paul Voter Protection ActRelated billApr 28, 2021
HR 1274Election Official Integrity Act of 2021Related billFeb 24, 2021
HR 1278Know Your Polling Place ActRelated billFeb 24, 2021
S 2093For the People Act of 2021Related billSep 15, 2021
HR 2358Voter Empowerment Act of 2021Related billOct 19, 2021
HR 3867Every Vote Counts ActRelated billJun 15, 2021

Titles 8

Every title it has carried, official and short, at each stage.

Official Title as Introduced
A bill to modernize voter registration, promote access to voting for individuals with disabilities, protect the ability of individuals to exercise the right to vote in elections for Federal office, and for other purposes.
Short Title(s) as Introduced
Voter Empowerment Act of 2021
Short Title(s) as Introduced for portions of this bill
Democracy Restoration Act of 2021
Voter Registration Modernization Act of 2021
Voter Registration Efficiency Act
Automatic Voter Registration Act of 2021
Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2021
Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2021

Subjects

Assigned by the Library of Congress. Policy area: Government Operations and Politics.

Text 1

Each version as it was printed, newest first.

  1. Mar 24, 2021Introduced in Senate

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Everything here is as published by Congress: the summary is the Congressional Research Service's, the action wording is the clerks', and the subjects are the Library of Congress's. How far it got is read from the actions themselves, taking the most recent one of each kind, so a bill that failed a vote and later passed is shown as having passed. Records come from this bill on Congress.gov and govinfo.gov; cost estimates are the Congressional Budget Office's, and the hearings are the printed hearings GovInfo publishes, which can appear months after the hearing.