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
(a) Prepayment of postage on return envelopes
(1) In general. 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), and section 903(b), is amended—
(A) by redesignating sections 314 and 315 as sections 315 and 316, respectively; and
(B) by inserting after section 313 the following new section:
314. Prepayment of postage on return envelopes for voting materials
(a) Provision of return envelopes
(1) In general. The appropriate State or local election official shall provide a self-sealing return envelope with—
(A) any voter registration application form transmitted to a registrant by mail;
(B) any application for an absentee ballot transmitted to an applicant by mail; and
(C) any blank absentee ballot transmitted to a voter by mail.
(2) Reasonable efforts. A State shall be treated as meeting the requirements of paragraph (1) if the State makes all reasonable efforts to provide self-sealing return envelopes as provided in such paragraph.
(b) Prepayment of postage. Consistent with regulations of the United States Postal Service, the State or the unit of local government responsible for the administration of the election involved shall prepay the postage on any envelope provided under subsection (a).
(c) No effect on ballots or balloting materials transmitted to absent military and overseas voters. Nothing in this section may be construed to affect the treatment of any ballot or balloting materials transmitted to an individual who is entitled to vote by absentee ballot under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20301 et seq.).
(d) Effective date. This section shall take effect on the date that is 90 days after the date of the enactment of this section, except that State and local jurisdictions shall make arrangements with the United States Postal Service to pay for all postage costs that such jurisdictions would be required to pay under this section if this section took effect on the date of enactment.
(2) 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(b), section 902(c), and section 903(b), is amended—
(A) by redesignating the items relating to sections 314 and 315 as relating to sections 315 and 316, respectively; and
(B) by inserting after the item relating to section 313 the following new item:
Sec. 314. Prepayment of postage on return envelopes for voting materials.
(b) Role of United States Postal Service
(1) In general. Chapter 34 of title 39, United States Code, as amended by section 903(a), is amended by inserting after section 3407 the following:
3408. Carriage of voting materials
(a) Treatment as first-Class mail. Any voter registration application, absentee ballot application, or absentee ballot with respect to any election for Federal office shall be carried in accordance with the service standards established for first-class mail, regardless of the class of postage prepaid.
(b) Definitions. As used in this section, the terms absentee ballot and election for Federal office have the meanings given those terms in section 3407.
(c) Rule of construction. Nothing in this section may be construed to affect the treatment of any ballot or balloting materials transmitted to an individual who is entitled to vote by absentee ballot under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20301 et seq.).
(2) Clerical amendment. The table of sections for chapter 34 of such title, as amended by section 903(a), is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 3407 the following:
3408. Carriage of voting materials.
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
B Disaster and Emergency Contingency Plans
C Improvements in Operation of Election Assistance Commission
D Miscellaneous Provisions
XV Severability