The Voter Empowerment Act of 2026 would overhaul federal voting rules to make it easier for eligible Americans to register and cast a ballot. It would require every state to offer online voter registration, automatically register people who interact with DMVs, Medicaid offices, and Affordable Care Act enrollment agencies, and allow same-day registration at the polls for federal elections. It would restore voting rights in federal elections to citizens with past felony convictions once they are no longer in prison, and require polling places on Indian lands, accessible voting for people with disabilities, secured drop boxes, and at least 15 days of early voting. New federal crimes would punish voter caging, hindering someone from registering (up to 5 years in prison), and knowingly spreading false information about when, where, or how to vote within 60 days of an election, including content generated by artificial intelligence (up to $100,000 and 5 years). Colleges that receive federal aid would have to help enrolled students register, and chief state election officials would be barred from running political campaigns while in office. The bill authorizes hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding, including $500 million for automatic registration systems, to help states comply.
Congressional Summary
Voter Empowerment Act of 2026This 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.
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- House
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in House
- Action Date
- 2026-03-25
- Date Added
- 2026-04-24
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