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Resilient Elections During Quarantines and Natural Disasters Act of 2020

USA116th CongressS-3440| Senate 
| Updated: 3/11/2020
Ron Wyden

Ron Wyden

Democratic Senator

Oregon

Rules and Administration Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Resilient Elections During Quarantines and Natural Disasters Act of 2020 This bill requires states and jurisdictions to adopt contingency plans and permit absentee voting in order to prevent the disruption of federal elections due to natural disasters or infectious diseases, including COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). Specifically, the bill requires each state and jurisdiction to, within 30 days, create and publish a plan to operate their federal elections if a significant number of voters or poll workers are quarantined due to COVID-19. Such plan must (1) permit registered voters to submit online requests for absentee ballots and vote in federal elections by mail, and (2) extend vote-by-mail deadlines if postal service is disrupted as a result of COVID-19. Additionally, when at least 25% of states have declared an emergency due to any single natural disaster or infectious disease, including COVID-19, states must allow registered voters to vote by absentee ballot, permit voters to submit online requests for absentee ballots, allow voters to receive electronic (i.e., print-at-home) ballots, accept absentee-ballot requests up to five days before an election for mailed ballots and one day before the election for print-at-home ballots, and accept ballots postmarked on or before the date of the election. The bill also provides for an emergency voting period if a state governor declares a state of emergency. States and jurisdictions must provide self-sealing return envelopes with prepaid postage for voter registration applications, absentee-ballot applications, and blank absentee ballots. The Election Assistance Commission must reimburse states for the costs of doing so.
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Timeline
Mar 11, 2020

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 116-6202
Introduced in House
Mar 11, 2020
Introduced in Senate
Mar 11, 2020
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
  • March 11, 2020

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 116-6202
    Introduced in House


  • March 11, 2020
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 11, 2020
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.

Government Operations and Politics

Related Bills

  • HR 116-6202: Resilient Elections During Quarantines and Natural Disasters Act of 2020
Cardiovascular and respiratory healthCivil actions and liabilityDisaster relief and insuranceElections, voting, political campaign regulationEmergency medical services and trauma careGovernment liabilityInfectious and parasitic diseasesIntergovernmental relationsNatural disastersPostal serviceState and local financeState and local government operations

Resilient Elections During Quarantines and Natural Disasters Act of 2020

USA116th CongressS-3440| Senate 
| Updated: 3/11/2020
Resilient Elections During Quarantines and Natural Disasters Act of 2020 This bill requires states and jurisdictions to adopt contingency plans and permit absentee voting in order to prevent the disruption of federal elections due to natural disasters or infectious diseases, including COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). Specifically, the bill requires each state and jurisdiction to, within 30 days, create and publish a plan to operate their federal elections if a significant number of voters or poll workers are quarantined due to COVID-19. Such plan must (1) permit registered voters to submit online requests for absentee ballots and vote in federal elections by mail, and (2) extend vote-by-mail deadlines if postal service is disrupted as a result of COVID-19. Additionally, when at least 25% of states have declared an emergency due to any single natural disaster or infectious disease, including COVID-19, states must allow registered voters to vote by absentee ballot, permit voters to submit online requests for absentee ballots, allow voters to receive electronic (i.e., print-at-home) ballots, accept absentee-ballot requests up to five days before an election for mailed ballots and one day before the election for print-at-home ballots, and accept ballots postmarked on or before the date of the election. The bill also provides for an emergency voting period if a state governor declares a state of emergency. States and jurisdictions must provide self-sealing return envelopes with prepaid postage for voter registration applications, absentee-ballot applications, and blank absentee ballots. The Election Assistance Commission must reimburse states for the costs of doing so.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Mar 11, 2020

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 116-6202
Introduced in House
Mar 11, 2020
Introduced in Senate
Mar 11, 2020
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
  • March 11, 2020

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 116-6202
    Introduced in House


  • March 11, 2020
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 11, 2020
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
Ron Wyden

Ron Wyden

Democratic Senator

Oregon

Rules and Administration Committee

Government Operations and Politics

Related Bills

  • HR 116-6202: Resilient Elections During Quarantines and Natural Disasters Act of 2020
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Cardiovascular and respiratory healthCivil actions and liabilityDisaster relief and insuranceElections, voting, political campaign regulationEmergency medical services and trauma careGovernment liabilityInfectious and parasitic diseasesIntergovernmental relationsNatural disastersPostal serviceState and local financeState and local government operations