Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Voter Empowerment Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Voter Empowerment Act of 2026 aims to modernize voter registration and increase access to voting through internet-based services and automatic registration systems. The legislation introduces same-day registration, restores voting rights to citizens with certain criminal convictions, and establishes protections for individuals with disabilities and older voters. It implements sweeping changes to accessibility, including requirements for paper ballots, early voting, and mail-in voting. Additionally, the bill establishes new rules for election administration, prohibits deceptive practices and voter caging, and mandates protections for voters on Indian lands. It also requires institutions of higher education to assist with student registration and mandates that states create contingency plans for emergencies. Finally, the act includes various grants to support statewide compliance and recognize excellence in voter outreach.
Yes· 3 of 22
- Scored +10
Does this make casting a ballot easier in practice?
The bill significantly increases access via internet registration, mail-in voting protections, mandatory early voting, secure drop boxes, and curbside voting options.
- Scored +9
Would people with disabilities be better off under this?
The bill mandates comprehensive accessibility for registration, polling places, websites, drop boxes, and curbside voting.
- Scored +8
Would Native Americans be better off under this?
The bill provides significant new accommodations for voters on Indian lands, including designated pickup locations and expanded residency protections.
The opposite
- Scored -2
Does this protect people from being watched or searched?
The bill involves the electronic transfer of personal information between government agencies and election officials.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Modernized Registration Access: States would be required to provide online application services, allowing individuals to register or update their information via official websites (Section 101, Section 102).
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Automatic Registration: Eligible citizens could be registered to vote automatically through information transferred from contributing government agencies, making the process more efficient (Section 112).
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Same-Day Registration: This would allow eligible individuals to register and cast a ballot on the same day during a Federal election (Section 131).
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Improved Accessibility for Voters with Disabilities: The bill mandates accessible absentee voting systems that work with home assistive technologies and ensures polling places are accessible (Section 201, Section 202, Paragraph 1 and 2). It also creates pilot programs for private and independent voting at home (Section 207).
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Increased Protections for Vulnerable Voters: Individuals subject to guardianship cannot be deemed unable to vote unless a court finds by clear and convincing evidence that they cannot communicate a desire to participate (Section 204).
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Restoration of Voting Rights: Citizens with criminal convictions will regain their right to vote in Federal elections unless they are currently serving a felony sentence in a correctional facility (Section 503).
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Protection Against Voter Suppression: The bill prohibits "voter caging" and questionable challenges to registration based on unverified lists (Section 301). It also prohibits deceptive practices, such as spreading false information about the time, place, or manner of an election to prevent people from voting (Section 402).
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Increased Security and Verification: The bill requires voter-verified paper ballots that are durable and suitable for manual audits, which helps ensure the integrity of the vote (Section 602).
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Enhanced Mail-in Voting Protections: States are prohibited from requiring identification or notarization/witness signatures as conditions for obtaining an absentee ballot (Section 901). Additionally, if there is a signature discrepancy, officials must make a good faith effort to notify the voter so they can "cure" the issue (Section 901).
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Expanded Early Voting Opportunities: The bill requires states to provide an early voting period of consecutive days, including weekends (Section 310).
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Protection of Election Neutrality: Chief State election administration officials are prohibited from taking an active part in political management or campaigns for federal offices under their supervision, which prevents the use of official authority to interfere with elections (Sec. 1301(a)).
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Increased Student Voter Registration: Institutions of higher education are given specific responsibilities to distribute registration applications and provide guidance to students, which can increase voter participation among students (Sec. 1401(b)).
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Support for Student Enrollment Transitions: Institutions are required to provide guidance to students regarding registering in their current state or updating their registration if they have moved (Sec. 1401(b)(ii)).
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Improved Notification of Polling Changes: States must notify voters via mail, telephone, and potentially text/email if their assigned polling place has changed, ensuring voters know where to go (Sec. 1402(a)(1)).
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Flexible Identification Options: Individuals can meet identification requirements by presenting a sworn written statement or a student identification card, making it easier for those without standard photo IDs to vote (Sec. 1403(a)).
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Better Access for Indian Lands: Voters on Indian lands can use designated buildings as residential and mailing addresses to facilitate voting, and the state must provide mail-in ballots without requiring a residential address (Sec. 1404(a)(2)-(3)).
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Reduced Waiting Times: States are required to provide sufficient resources to ensure a fair and equitable waiting time, specifically aiming that no individual waits longer than 30 minutes to cast a ballot (Sec. 1405(a)(1)).
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Increased Convenience via Drop Boxes: States must provide secure, clearly labeled drop boxes for absentee ballots, which can be used for 45 days leading up to an election (Sec. 1406(a)-(b)).
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Guaranteed Curbside Voting: The bill prohibits states from restricting curbside voting, ensuring accessibility for those who cannot enter a polling place (Sec. 1407(a)).
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Emergency Preparedness: States must establish contingency plans to ensure people can still vote during natural disasters or public health emergencies (Sec. 1411(a)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Data Privacy Concerns: While the bill mandates security measures, it involves the transfer of personal information from various government agencies to election officials (Section 112 and Section 115).
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Potential for Registration Errors: The automatic registration system relies on information from contributing agencies, which could lead to errors if the initial data is incorrect (Section 112 and Section 115).
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Financial Burdens on States and Local Governments: The bill imposes various new requirements, such as establishing absentee ballot tracking programs (Section 902) and providing specific paper ballots (Section 602), which may create administrative and logistical costs for local jurisdictions.
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Potential Legal Risks for Individuals: The bill establishes criminal penalties, including fines and imprisonment, for those who knowingly challenge a person's eligibility to vote with the intent to disqualify them (Section 301). It also imposes penalties for deceptive practices and hindering the voting process (Section 402).
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Administrative Requirements for Election Officials: Election officials will face new duties, such as following specific "due process" steps to notify voters of signature discrepancies (Section 901) and adhering to new standards for processing and scanning ballots (Section 310).
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Restrictions on Official Political Participation: High-ranking state election officials are barred from holding even unpaid or honorary positions in candidate committees, which limits their political engagement (Sec. 1301(c)(1)).
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Administrative Burden on Higher Education: Institutions of higher education are tasked with significant responsibilities, such as designating a Campus Vote Coordinator and managing various registration and outreach tasks (Sec. 1401(b)(iii)).
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Complexity for First-Time Voters: The provisions allowing for sworn statements or student IDs do not apply to certain first-time voters who are required to meet specific registration requirements (Sec. 1403(c)).
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State and Local Government Mandates: States and local jurisdictions must comply with new requirements regarding polling place hours, drop box provision, and the creation of emergency contingency plans (Sec. 1405, 1406, and 1411).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — The bill mandates comprehensive accessibility for registration, polling places, websites, drop boxes, and curbside voting. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The bill provides significant new accommodations for voters on Indian lands, including designated pickup locations and expanded residency protections. Would students be better off under this? — The bill encourages voter registration through higher education institutions and provides easier identification options for college students. Would retired people be better off under this? — The bill includes accessibility protections and mail-in options tailored for older individuals. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — The bill includes specific accessibility requirements and training tailored to support older individuals in the voting process. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — The bill facilitates voter registration through higher education institutions and simplifies the process for young people. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — The bill includes measures to prevent voter caging and reduce disparities in voting access caused by criminal justice disenfranchisement. Would Asian Americans be better off under this? — The bill includes measures to prevent voter caging and improve accessibility. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — The bill includes measures to prevent voter caging and reduce disparities in voting access caused by criminal justice disenfranchisement. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill lowers barriers to voting by removing costs for materials through prepaid postage and easing identification requirements. Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — The bill strengthens protections and reporting for absent uniformed services and overseas voters. Would women be better off under this? — The bill provides broad protections for all voters, including women.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this make casting a ballot easier in practice? — The bill significantly increases access via internet registration, mail-in voting protections, mandatory early voting, secure drop boxes, and curbside voting options. Does this protect the right to vote? — The bill expands voting access through same-day registration, automatic registration, prepaid postage on return envelopes, and the restoration of rights for certain citizens with criminal convictions. Does this shorten or soften prison sentences? — The bill restores voting rights to citizens with certain criminal convictions for federal elections. Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The bill includes provisions that facilitate easier voting for voters on Indian lands through flexible residential address requirements. Does this make housing cost less? — The bill includes provisions for ballot pickup locations on Indian lands which may serve as residential addresses. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The bill restores voting rights to individuals with criminal convictions, which can aid in social reintegration.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires states to maintain public inspection of voter record changes and implement absentee ballot tracking programs. Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill establishes federal requirements for state election administration, including registration and accessibility standards. Does this protect people from being watched or searched? — The bill involves the electronic transfer of personal information between government agencies and election officials.
- Education And Technology
- Does this get reliable internet to more people? — The bill mandates states provide internet-based voter registration and promotes the use of electronic means for ballot applications. Does this make college cost less? — The bill provides competitive grants to higher education institutions for voter registration efforts.
- 3/25/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.