Voter Empowerment Act of 2026

Key Points

• The bill requires every state to offer online voter registration and creates a nationwide automatic voter registration system. Eligible citizens who interact with government agencies like the DMV, Medicaid offices, or colleges would be automatically registered unless they opt out. Same-day registration on Election Day would also be required.
• States must offer at least 15 days of early voting with at least 10 hours per day, and any eligible voter can vote by mail without needing a special reason. States must provide secure drop boxes and prepaid postage on return envelopes for ballots.
• The bill creates extensive new protections for voters with disabilities, requiring accessible election websites, accessible absentee voting systems, and protections for people under guardianship. It also funds pilot programs for remote accessible voting.
• People with past criminal convictions would regain the right to vote in federal elections as long as they are not currently serving a felony sentence in prison. This could restore voting rights to millions of Americans on probation, parole, or who have completed their sentences.
• All voting systems must use voter-verified paper ballots that serve as the official record for any recount or audit. Paper ballots must be printed in the United States on American-made paper, and electronic tallies cannot override hand-counted paper results.
• The bill makes it a federal crime to knowingly spread false information about elections or to interfere with voter registration. It also bans voter caging, which uses returned mail to challenge people's eligibility, and increases penalties for voter intimidation to up to 5 years in prison and $100,000 in fines.