To amend the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to eliminate reliance on the change of address information provided by the United States Postal Service for the purpose of removing ineligible voters from the official list of voters in a State, and for other purposes.
Impact
The proposed changes under HB4318 are expected to have significant implications for how states manage their voter registration lists. By eliminating reliance on USPS information for identifying ineligible voters, the bill places the onus on states to implement their own programs for voter list maintenance. This could lead to a more rigorous approach to verifying voter eligibility. Proponents argue that this will help reduce voter fraud and improve the integrity of elections, while opponents express concerns that such measures could lead to disenfranchisement of eligible voters if not executed with caution.
Summary
House Bill 4318 aims to amend the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 by removing the reliance on change of address information from the United States Postal Service (USPS) for the removal of ineligible voters from state official voter lists. The bill is intended to streamline the process of maintaining accurate voter registration lists and to ensure that the removal of ineligible voters is conducted systematically and verified effectively. It mandates that states complete any program for voter removal at least 90 days before federal primary or general elections, reinforcing the importance of timely updates to voter registration records.
Contention
Notably, the bill has sparked debate among lawmakers regarding election accessibility and the potential for mistakes in the voter removal process. Critics have raised alarms over the risk of eligible voters being removed from the rolls due to errors in the verification process, thereby possibly hindering their right to vote. There is a broader concern regarding the equitable implementation of voter roll maintenance across different states, particularly those with fewer resources for managing complex voter registration systems. This situation poses a critical question: how to balance election integrity with voter accessibility.
To amend the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to require States to submit a report to the Election Assistance Commission that includes information with respect to the voter list maintenance activities of the State, and for other purposes.
To repeal the provisions of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 other than the provisions requiring States to conduct a general program that makes a reasonable effort to remove the names of ineligible voters from the official lists of eligible voters in the State and the provisions imposing criminal penalties for fraudulent voter registration or voting activities.
To amend the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to treat United States Citizenship and Immigration Services field offices as voter registration agencies, and for other purposes.
A bill to amend the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to treat United States Citizenship and Immigration Services field offices as voter registration agencies, and for other purposes.
To require the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study of the effectiveness of the Federal Government in carrying out its responsibilities under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act to promote access to voting for absent uniformed services voters and an analysis of means for improving access to voter registration information and assistance for members of the Armed Forces and their family members, and for other purposes.