Summary#
The Voter Empowerment Act of 2026 is a large, multi-title bill that changes how Americans register and vote in Federal elections. Key parts of the bill would:
- Require states to offer online voter registration, let voters update information online, and allow email or text confirmations and notices.
- Create automatic voter registration by transferring eligible people’s information from many government agencies (for example motor vehicle, Social Security-related, Medicaid, veterans, and some colleges) to state election officials unless a person declines.
- Allow same-day registration at polling places and accept registration applications from people aged 16 and older (they cannot vote until age 18).
- Require protections for people with disabilities: accessible state election websites, accessible absentee applications and ballots, pilot programs for private remote registration and ballot requests, and grants for accessibility work.
- Prohibit "voter caging" and set limits on certain challenges to voters’ registrations.
- Ban deceptive communications and voter intimidation near elections, create criminal penalties, and give the Attorney General power to correct false information.
- Restore the right to vote to citizens who were convicted of crimes unless they are serving a felony sentence in a correctional institution; require states and federal agencies to notify people when their rights are restored.
- Require voter-verified, durable paper ballots that can be hand-counted and preserved for audits; set durability and readability standards and require ballots be printed in the United States.
- Set uniform rules for provisional ballots, require early voting (a period beginning 15 days before election day) with minimum daily hours, and strengthen rules for voting by mail (including tracking, cure procedures for signature defects, and prepaid return envelopes).
- Create grants for states and programs to implement these changes, require new reporting, and update several election administration agencies and procedures.
The bill sets many effective dates in the text, including provisions taking effect in 2027, 2028, or 2029 depending on the section.
What it means for you#
- You could register to vote or update your registration online through official state websites, receive email or text notices about your registration and polling place, and get online options for absentee ballot requests.
- If you interact with certain government agencies, you may be automatically registered to vote unless you opt out.
- If you are 16 or 17 you may be able to submit a voter registration application so it is ready when you turn 18.
- Voters with disabilities would have new online resources, accessible websites, and options to request blank absentee ballots and related materials electronically; states must consider accessible in-person voting and mobile or curbside options.
- People convicted of crimes would regain the right to vote in Federal elections unless they are still serving a felony sentence in a correctional institution; states and federal agencies must notify eligible people when their voting rights are restored.
- Mail voting would include tracking so you can see if your ballot was received and whether it was accepted, and states must allow cure processes if a signature is missing or disputed.
- Ballots used in Federal elections would be voter-verified paper ballots suitable for hand recounts and audits.
Expenses#
The bill authorizes or directs specific funding in several places, including:
- Automatic registration grants: $500,000,000 authorized for fiscal year 2027, and "such sums as may be necessary" for succeeding years to help states implement automatic registration.
- Grants to encourage minors' involvement: $25,000,000 authorized to remain available until expended.
- Grants to study and develop accessible voting technology: $10,000,000 authorized to remain available until expended.
- Absentee ballot tracking reimbursement: payments to reimburse states for establishing tracking programs, limited to $3,000 multiplied by the number of jurisdictions in the state, with "such sums as may be necessary" authorized for FY2027 and later.
- The Election Assistance Commission is directed to make grants to states for many activities; other authorizations in the bill appear as "such sums as may be necessary" or unspecified continuing availability of funds.
Where the bill says only that funds are authorized or that states may receive grants but does not list dollar amounts, there is "No publicly available information." about a total program or federal cost beyond the specific figures above.
Proponents' View#
The bill itself states reasons and goals used by its supporters: it would modernize voter registration, increase access to voting for people with disabilities and other groups, improve the accuracy and integrity of voter rolls, protect voters from deceptive or intimidating practices, restore voting rights for people with prior convictions who are not incarcerated, and strengthen election procedures by requiring voter-verified paper ballots and uniform standards for provisional and absentee ballots. The bill’s findings describe burdens in existing systems and argue that electronic and administrative updates can improve accuracy, reduce costs, and increase participation.
Opponents' View#
No publicly available information.