For the People Act of 2021

II Calendar No. 123 117TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. 1 To expand Americans’ access to the ballot box, reduce the influence of big money in politics, strengthen ethics rules for public servants, and implement other anti-corruption measures for the purpose of fortifying our democracy, and for other purposes. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES MARCH 17 (legislative day, MARCH 16), 2021 Mr. MERKLEY (for himself, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Mr. SCHUMER, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. LEAHY, Mr. WHITEHOUSE, Mrs. GILLIBRAND, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Ms. BALDWIN, Mr. BENNET, Mr. CARDIN, Mr. CARPER, Ms. WARREN, Mr. BOOKER, Mr. MURPHY, Mr. WARNER, Mr. WYDEN, Mrs. MURRAY, Mr. MENENDEZ, Mr. PETERS, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Mr. CASEY, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mr. SANDERS, Mr. MARKEY, Ms. SMITH, Ms. STABENOW, Mr. KING, Ms. DUCKWORTH, Ms. CANTWELL, Mr. KAINE, Mr. REED, Mr. BROWN, Mr. COONS, Mr. HEINRICH, Mr. SCHATZ, Ms. CORTEZ MASTO, Ms. HIRONO, Ms. ROSEN, Ms. HASSAN, Mrs. SHAHEEN, Mr. TESTER, Ms. SINEMA, Mr. HICKENLOOPER, Mr. KELLY, Mr. LUJA´N, Mr. WARNOCK, Mr. PADILLA, and Mr. OSSOFF) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Ad- ministration AUGUST 11 (legislative day, AUGUST 10), 2021 Committee discharged pursuant to S. Res. 27, 117th Congress, and placed on the calendar A BILL To expand Americans’ access to the ballot box, reduce the influence of big money in politics, strengthen ethics rules for public servants, and implement other anti-corruption VerDate Sep 11 2014 20:51 Aug 11, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6652 E:\BILLS\S1.PCS S1 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 S 1 PCS measures for the purpose of fortifying our democracy, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘For the People Act 4 of 2021’’. 5 SEC. 2. ORGANIZATION OF ACT INTO DIVISIONS; TABLE OF 6 CONTENTS. 7 (a) DIVISIONS.—This Act is organized into divisions 8 as follows: 9 (1) Division A—Voting. 10 (2) Division B—Campaign Finance. 11 (3) Division C—Ethics. 12 (b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents of 13 this Act is as follows: 14 Sec. 1. Short title. Sec. 2. Organization of Act into divisions; table of contents. Sec. 3. Findings of general constitutional authority. Sec. 4. Standards for judicial review. DIVISION A—VOTING TITLE I—ELECTION ACCESS Sec. 1000. Short title; statement of policy. Subtitle A—Voter Registration Modernization Sec. 1000A. Short title. PART 1—PROMOTING INTERNET REGISTRATION Sec. 1001. Requiring availability of internet for voter registration. Sec. 1002. Use of internet to update registration information. Sec. 1003. Provision of election information by electronic mail to individuals registered to vote. VerDate Sep 11 2014 20:51 Aug 11, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6211 E:\BILLS\S1.PCS S1 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 S 1 PCS Sec. 1004. Clarification of requirement regarding necessary information to show eligibility to vote. Sec. 1005. Prohibiting State from requiring applicants to provide more than last 4 digits of Social Security number. Sec. 1006. Application of rules to certain exempt States. Sec. 1007. Effective date. PART 2—AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION Sec. 1011. Short title; findings and purpose. Sec. 1012. Automatic registration of eligible individuals. Sec. 1013. Contributing agency assistance in registration. Sec. 1014. One-time contributing agency assistance in registration of eligible voters in existing records. Sec. 1015. Voter protection and security in automatic registration. Sec. 1016. Registration portability and correction. Sec. 1017. Payments and grants. Sec. 1018. Treatment of exempt States. Sec. 1019. Miscellaneous provisions. Sec. 1020. Definitions. Sec. 1021. Effective date. PART 3—SAME DAY VOTER REGISTRATION Sec. 1031. Same day registration. PART 4—CONDITIONS ON REMOVAL ON BASIS OF INTERSTATE CROSS- CHECKS Sec. 1041. Conditions on removal of registrants from official list of eligible vot- ers on basis of interstate cross-checks. PART 5—OTHER INITIATIVES TO PROMOTE VOTER REGISTRATION Sec. 1051. Biennial reports on voter registration statistics. Sec. 1052. Ensuring pre-election registration deadlines are consistent with tim- ing of legal public holidays. Sec. 1053. Use of Postal Service hard copy change of address form to remind individuals to update voter registration. Sec. 1054. Grants to States for activities to encourage involvement of minors in election activities. PART 6—AVAILABILITY OF HAVA REQUIREMENTS PAYMENTS Sec. 1061. Availability of requirements payments under HAVA to cover costs of compliance with new requirements. PART 7—PROHIBITING INTERFERENCE WITH VOTER REGISTRATION Sec. 1071. Prohibiting hindering, interfering with, or preventing voter registra- tion. Sec. 1072. Establishment of best practices. PART 8—VOTER REGISTRATION EFFICIENCY ACT Sec. 1081. Short title. VerDate Sep 11 2014 20:51 Aug 11, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6211 E:\BILLS\S1.PCS S1 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 4 S 1 PCS Sec. 1082. Requiring applicants for motor vehicle driver’s licenses in new State to indicate whether State serves as residence for voter registra- tion purposes. PART 9—PROVIDING VOTER REGISTRATION INFORMATION TO SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS Sec. 1091. Pilot program for providing voter registration information to sec- ondary school students prior to graduation. Sec. 1092. Reports. Sec. 1093. Authorization of appropriations. PART 10—VOTER REGISTRATION OF MINORS Sec. 1094. Acceptance of voter registration applications from individuals under 18 years of age. Subtitle B—Access to Voting for Individuals With Disabilities Sec. 1101. Requirements for States to promote access to voter registration and voting for individuals with disabilities. Sec. 1102. Establishment and maintenance of State accessible election websites. Sec. 1103. Protections for in-person voting for individuals with disabilities and older individuals. Sec. 1104. Protections for individuals subject to guardianship. Sec. 1105. Expansion and reauthorization of grant program to assure voting access for individuals with disabilities. Sec. 1106. Appointments to EAC Board of Advisors. Sec. 1107. Funding for protection and advocacy systems. Sec. 1108. Pilot programs for enabling individuals with disabilities to register to vote privately and independently at residences. Sec. 1109. GAO analysis and report on voting access for individuals with dis- abilities. Subtitle C—Prohibiting Voter Caging Sec. 1201. Voter caging and other questionable challenges prohibited. Sec. 1202. Development and adoption of best practices for preventing voter caging. Subtitle D—Prohibiting Deceptive Practices and Preventing Voter Intimidation Sec. 1301. Short title. Sec. 1302. Prohibition on deceptive practices in Federal elections. Sec. 1303. Corrective action. Sec. 1304. Reports to Congress. Subtitle E—Democracy Restoration Sec. 1401. Short title. Sec. 1402. Findings. Sec. 1403. Rights of citizens. Sec. 1404. Enforcement. Sec. 1405. Notification of restoration of voting rights. Sec. 1406. Definitions. Sec. 1407. Relation to other laws. Sec. 1408. Federal prison funds. VerDate Sep 11 2014 20:51 Aug 11, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6211 E:\BILLS\S1.PCS S1 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 5 S 1 PCS Sec. 1409. Effective date. Subtitle F—Promoting Accuracy, Integrity, and Security Through Voter- Verified Permanent Paper Ballot Sec. 1501. Short title. Sec. 1502. Paper ballot and manual counting requirements. Sec. 1503. Accessibility and ballot verification for individuals with disabilities. Sec. 1504. Durability and readability requirements for ballots. Sec. 1505. Study and report on optimal ballot design. Sec. 1506. Paper ballot printing requirements. Sec. 1507. Effective date for new requirements. Subtitle G—Provisional Ballots Sec. 1601. Requirements for counting provisional ballots; establishment of uni- form and nondiscriminatory standards. Subtitle H—Early Voting Sec. 1611. Early voting. Subtitle I—Voting by Mail Sec. 1621. Voting by mail. Sec. 1622. Absentee ballot tracking program. Sec. 1623. Election mail and delivery improvements. Sec. 1624. Voting materials postage. Subtitle J—Absent Uniformed Services Voters and Overseas Voters Sec. 1701. Pre-election reports on availability and transmission of absentee bal- lots. Sec. 1702. Enforcement. Sec. 1703. Revisions to 45-day absentee ballot transmission rule. Sec. 1704. Use of single absentee ballot application for subsequent elections. Sec. 1705. Extending guarantee of residency for voting purposes to family members of absent military personnel. Sec. 1706. Requiring transmission of blank absentee ballots under UOCAVA to certain voters. Sec. 1707. Effective date. Subtitle K—Poll Worker Recruitment and Training Sec. 1801. Grants to States for poll worker recruitment and training. Sec. 1802. State defined. Subtitle L—Enhancement of Enforcement Sec. 1811. Enhancement of enforcement of Help America Vote Act of 2002. Subtitle M—Federal Election Integrity Sec. 1821. Prohibition on campaign activities by chief State election adminis- tration officials. Subtitle N—Promoting Voter Access Through Election Administration Improvements VerDate Sep 11 2014 20:51 Aug 11, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6211 E:\BILLS\S1.PCS S1 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 6 S 1 PCS PART 1—PROMOTING VOTER ACCESS Sec. 1901. Treatment of institutions of higher education. Sec. 1902. Minimum notification requirements for voters affected by polling place changes. Sec. 1903. Permitting use of sworn written statement to meet identification re- quirements for voting. Sec. 1904. Accommodations for voters residing in Indian lands. Sec. 1905. Ensuring equitable and efficient operation of polling places. Sec. 1906. Requiring States to provide secured drop boxes for voted absentee ballots in elections for Federal office. Sec. 1907. Prohibiting States from restricting curbside voting. PART 2—DISASTER AND EMERGENCY CONTINGENCY PLANS Sec. 1911. Requirements for Federal election contingency plans in response to natural disasters and emergencies. PART 3—IMPROVEMENTS IN OPERATION OF ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION Sec. 1921. Reauthorization of Election Assistance Commission. Sec. 1922. Requiring States to participate in post-general election surveys. Sec. 1923. Reports by National Institute of Standards and Technology on use of funds transferred from Election Assistance Commission. Sec. 1924. Recommendations to improve operations of Election Assistance Commission. Sec. 1925. Repeal of exemption of Election Assistance Commission from certain government contracting requirements. PART 4—MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS Sec. 1931. Application of laws to Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands. Sec. 1932. Definition of election for Federal office. Sec. 1933. No effect on other laws. Sec. 1934. Clarification of exemption for States without voter registration. Subtitle O—Severability Sec. 1941. Severability. TITLE II—ELECTION INTEGRITY Subtitle A—Findings Reaffirming the Commitment of Congress To Restore the Voting Rights Act of 1965 Sec. 2001. Findings reaffirming commitment of Congress to restore the Voting Rights Act. Subtitle B—Findings Relating to Native American Voting Rights Sec. 2101. Findings relating to Native American voting rights. Subtitle C—Findings Relating to District of Columbia Statehood Sec. 2201. Findings relating to District of Columbia statehood. Subtitle D—Territorial Voting Rights VerDate Sep 11 2014 20:51 Aug 11, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6211 E:\BILLS\S1.PCS S1 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 7 S 1 PCS Sec. 2301. Findings relating to territorial voting rights. Sec. 2302. Congressional Task Force on Voting Rights of United States Citizen Residents of Territories of the United States. Subtitle E—Redistricting Reform Sec. 2400. Short title; finding of constitutional authority. PART 1—REQUIREMENTS FOR CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING Sec. 2401. Requiring congressional redistricting to be conducted through plan of independent State commission. Sec. 2402. Ban on mid-decade redistricting. Sec. 2403. Criteria for redistricting. PART 2—INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING COMMISSIONS Sec. 2411. Independent redistricting commission. Sec. 2412. Establishment of selection pool of individuals eligible to serve as members of commission. Sec. 2413. Public notice and input. Sec. 2414. Establishment of related entities. Sec. 2415. Report on diversity of memberships of independent redistricting commissions. PART 3—ROLE OF COURTS IN DEVELOPMENT OF REDISTRICTING PLANS Sec. 2421. Enactment of plan developed by 3-judge court. Sec. 2422. Special rule for redistricting conducted under order of Federal court. PART 4—ADMINISTRATIVE AND MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS Sec. 2431. Payments to States for carrying out redistricting. Sec. 2432. Civil enforcement. Sec. 2433. State apportionment notice defined. Sec. 2434. No effect on elections for State and local office. Sec. 2435. Effective date. PART 5—REQUIREMENTS FOR REDISTRICTING CARRIED OUT PURSUANT TO 2020 CENSUS SUBPART A—APPLICATION OF CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS FOR REDISTRICTING CARRIED OUT PURSUANT TO 2020 CENSUS Sec. 2441. Application of certain requirements for redistricting carried out pur- suant to 2020 census. Sec. 2442. Triggering events. SUBPART B—INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING COMMISSIONS FOR REDISTRICTING CARRIED OUT PURSUANT TO 2020 CENSUS Sec. 2451. Use of independent redistricting commissions for redistricting car- ried out pursuant to 2020 census. Sec. 2452. Establishment of selection pool of individuals eligible to serve as members of commission. Sec. 2453. Criteria for redistricting plan; public notice and input. Sec. 2454. Establishment of related entities. VerDate Sep 11 2014 20:51 Aug 11, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6211 E:\BILLS\S1.PCS S1 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 8 S 1 PCS Sec. 2455. Report on diversity of memberships of independent redistricting commissions. Subtitle F—Saving Eligible Voters From Voter Purging Sec. 2501. Short title. Sec. 2502. Conditions for removal of voters from list of registered voters. Subtitle G—No Effect on Authority of States To Provide Greater Opportunities for Voting Sec. 2601. No effect on authority of States to provide greater opportunities for voting. Subtitle H—Residence of Incarcerated Individuals Sec. 2701. Residence of incarcerated individuals. Subtitle I—Findings Relating to Youth Voting Sec. 2801. Findings relating to youth voting. Subtitle J—Severability Sec. 2901. Severability. TITLE III—ELECTION SECU [Text truncated for display. Full text available on Congress.gov.]