H.R. 7182: Voter Outreach for Transparent Elections Act

This bill, known as the Voter Outreach for Transparent Elections Act (or VOTE Act), seeks to amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002. The main focus of the bill is to establish minimum notification requirements for voters who are affected by changes to their polling places in elections for federal offices. Here are the key provisions of the bill:

Notification Requirements

• If a registered voter in a state is assigned to a new polling place that differs from where they voted in the last federal election, the state must notify the voter of the new location at least 7 days before the election.
• The notification to the voter must be done through various methods, including:
  • Mail
  • Telephone
  • Text message (if available)
  • Email (if available)
• The state election office is required to post a general notice about the polling place changes on the state's website, social media platforms, and at the previous polling location.
• If the change in polling place occurs less than 7 days before the election and the voter arrives at the old polling place, the state must make efforts to allow the individual to vote on election day.

Additional Requirements for Vote Centers

• In jurisdictions where individuals can vote at multiple polling places (not assigned to a specific one), election officials must notify eligible voters of the locations of all polling places at least 2 days before early voting begins.

Closed Polling Places Notification

• If a polling place that was used in a previous federal election is closed for the next election, the state must:
  • Post signs at the closed polling place on the election date and during early voting, informing voters that the location is no longer a polling place.
  • Provide information about the new polling locations, including directions from the old polling place and contact information for election officials.
  • Ensure this information is also available on their website and social media, if applicable.
  • Comply with linguistic preferences under the Voting Rights Act to ensure accessibility of information.

Effective Date

The provisions of this bill would take effect for elections held on or after January 1, 2026.

Conforming Amendment

The bill also includes a conforming amendment that modifies language in the relevant section of the Help America Vote Act to align with the new requirements established in this bill.

Relevant Companies