H.R. 8078
Voter Empowerment Act of 2026
Sponsor: James E. Clyburn
3 cosponsors
Official summary
Written by the Congressional Research Service.
Voter Empowerment Act of 2026
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.
Text of the bill
I Voter Registration Modernization
A Promoting Internet Registration
B Automatic Voter Registration
C Same Day Voter Registration
D Conditions on Removal on Basis of Interstate Cross-Checks
E Other Initiatives To Promote Voter Registration
F Availability of HAVA Requirements Payments
G Prohibiting Interference With Voter Registration
H Voter Registration Efficiency Act
I Providing Voter Registration Information to Secondary School Students
J Voter Registration of Minors
II Access to Voting for Individuals With Disabilities
III Prohibiting Voter Caging
IV Prohibiting Deceptive Practices and Preventing Voter Intimidation
V Democracy Restoration
VI Promoting Accuracy, Integrity, and Security Through Voter-Verified Permanent Paper Ballot
VII Provisional Ballots
VIII Early Voting
IX Voting by Mail
X Absent Uniformed Services Voters and Overseas Voters
XI Poll Worker Recruitment and Training
XII Enhancement of Enforcement
XIII Federal Election Integrity
XIV Promoting Voter Access Through Election Administration Improvements
A Promoting Voter Access
(a) Requirement. Subtitle A of title III of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.), as amended by section 131(a), section 201(a), section 202(a), section 203(a)(1), section 204(a), section 801(a), section 901(a), section 902(a), section 903(b), section 904(a), section 1405(a), and section 1406(a), is amended—
(1) by redesignating sections 317 and 318 as sections 318 and 319, respectively; and
(2) by inserting after section 316 the following new section:
317. Prohibiting States from restricting curbside voting
(a) Prohibition. A State may not—
(1) prohibit any jurisdiction administering an election for Federal office in the State from utilizing curbside voting as a method by which individuals may cast ballots in the election; or
(2) impose any restrictions which would exclude any individual who is eligible to vote in such an election in a jurisdiction which utilizes curbside voting from casting a ballot in the election by the method of curbside voting.
(b) Effective date. This section shall apply with respect to the regularly scheduled general election for Federal office held in November 2028 and each succeeding election for Federal office.
(b) Clerical amendments. The table of contents of such Act, as amended by section 131(c), section 201(d), section 202(c), section 203(a)(3), section 204(c), section 801(c), section 901(c), section 902(c), section 903(b), section 904(a), section 1405(b), and section 1406(b), is amended—
(1) by redesignating the items relating to sections 317 and 318 as relating to sections 318 and 319, respectively; and
(2) by inserting after the item relating to section 316 the following new item:
Sec. 317. Prohibiting States from restricting curbside voting.
B Disaster and Emergency Contingency Plans
C Improvements in Operation of Election Assistance Commission
D Miscellaneous Provisions
XV Severability