The Our Homes, Our Votes Act would require housing agencies and private landlords who manage federally assisted housing to help tenants register to vote. When residents sign a lease or annual income verification form for public housing or rental assistance programs, that signature would simultaneously count as a voter registration application for federal elections unless the tenant explicitly declines. The bill applies to multiple housing programs including public housing, Section 8 vouchers, supportive housing for elderly and disabled residents, and rural housing assistance. Owners and operators of these properties would be required to include voter registration forms with lease documents, train staff on registration procedures, provide materials in languages for non-English speakers, and submit biannual compliance reports to state election officials. The requirements take effect 90 days after the bill becomes law, with enforcement handled through the Department of Housing and Urban Development and state election offices, including potential criminal penalties for landlords who fail to comply.
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