Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Oversight and Accountability, Science, Space, and Technology, Education and the Workforce, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
# Voter Empowerment Act of 2024 Summary
This comprehensive voting rights bill modernizes voter registration systems, expands voting access, and strengthens election administration across the country. The legislation takes effect at various dates, with most provisions applying to elections in 2025 or 2026.
**Voter Registration Modernization.** States must establish online voter registration by January 1, 2025, allowing citizens to register and update their information through official election websites. The bill implements automatic voter registration starting January 1, 2026, where eligible individuals are automatically registered unless they decline. States must also permit same-day voter registration and accept applications from 16-year-olds. Registration deadlines are shortened from 30 to 28 days before elections, and states cannot remove voters based on unverified interstate data matches without substantial identifying information.
**Access for People with Disabilities.** States must designate a single office to assist voters with disabilities, establish accessible election websites, provide electronic voting options, and ensure absentee ballots are available by mail and electronically. States cannot assume someone lacks voting capacity simply because they're under guardianship unless a court proves they cannot communicate a desire to vote. Strict new 45-day deadlines apply for transmitting absentee ballots to voters with disabilities.
**Voting Method Options.** Early voting must be available for at least 15 days before Election Day with at least 10 hours per day. All voters can vote by mail without restrictions or additional conditions. States must provide secured ballot drop boxes in every election jurisdiction starting in 2026 and cannot prohibit curbside voting. Absentee ballot tracking programs must be established so voters can confirm receipt and acceptance of their ballots.
**Paper Ballots and Election Security.** All voting systems must produce durable paper ballots marked by voters or ballot-marking devices. These ballots become the official record and must be hand-counted in recounts or audits. Electronic tallies that conflict with paper ballot counts are not considered official results if the paper ballots are uncompromised.
**Felon Voting Rights.** Individuals convicted of crimes can vote in federal elections unless currently incarcerated serving a felony sentence. States must notify individuals of their voting rights upon release from probation or parole.
**Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation.
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