Legis Daily

Natural Disaster and Emergency Ballot Act of 2020

USA116th CongressS-3529| Senate 
| Updated: 3/18/2020
Amy Klobuchar

Amy Klobuchar

Democratic Senator

Minnesota

Cosponsors (36)
Mazie K. Hirono (Democratic)Tammy Duckworth (Democratic)Tom Udall (Democratic)Dianne Feinstein (Democratic)Catherine Cortez Masto (Democratic)Patrick J. Leahy (Democratic)Richard J. Durbin (Democratic)Edward J. Markey (Democratic)Kirsten E. Gillibrand (Democratic)Elizabeth Warren (Democratic)Christopher A. Coons (Democratic)Kamala D. Harris (Democratic)Thomas R. Carper (Democratic)Mark R. Warner (Democratic)Doug Jones (Democratic)Robert P. Casey (Democratic)Tim Kaine (Democratic)Jacky Rosen (Democratic)Chris Van Hollen (Democratic)Christopher Murphy (Democratic)Debbie Stabenow (Democratic)Martin Heinrich (Democratic)Patty Murray (Democratic)Tina Smith (Democratic)Sherrod Brown (Democratic)Bernard Sanders (Independent)Brian Schatz (Democratic)Maria Cantwell (Democratic)Tammy Baldwin (Democratic)Cory A. Booker (Democratic)Benjamin L. Cardin (Democratic)Robert Menendez (Democratic)Jeff Merkley (Democratic)Gary C. Peters (Democratic)Ron Wyden (Democratic)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)

Rules and Administration Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Natural Disaster and Emergency Ballot Act of 2020 This bill revises and establishes voting procedures for federal elections. Specifically, the bill requires each state and jurisdiction to, within 30 days, establish and publish a contingency plan to enable voters to vote in federal elections during an emergency. Such plan must (1) include initiatives related to the safety and recruitment of poll workers, and (2) permit registered voters to submit online requests for absentee ballots and vote by mail or by drop-off location. Additionally, for all federal elections, a state must ensure that voters have 20 days to vote through early in-person voting or by mail; begin processing ballots cast during early voting or by mail at least 14 days before the date of the election; provide self-sealing return envelopes with prepaid postage for voter registration applications, absentee-ballot applications, and blank absentee ballots; allow voters to cure certain signature discrepancies; accept voter registration applications at least 21 days before the date of the election; and provide certain accommodations to voters residing on Indian lands. The Election Assistance Commission (EAC) must create a uniform domestic downloadable and printable absentee ballot for use in federal elections. Until the EAC creates such a ballot, states must permit certain voters to use those ballots provided to overseas and military voters. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency must create an update service to inform voters of their voter registration applications, absentee-ballot applications, and absentee ballots. States must be reimbursed for implementing the provisions of the bill.
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Timeline
Mar 18, 2020
Introduced in Senate
Mar 18, 2020
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
  • March 18, 2020
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 18, 2020
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.

Government Operations and Politics

Related Bills

  • S 116-1397: A bill to amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to provide for a national Federal write-in absentee ballot for domestic use.
  • S 116-4033: Natural Disaster and Emergency Ballot Act of 2020
Civil actions and liabilityCongressional oversightDiplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroadDisaster relief and insuranceElection Assistance CommissionElections, voting, political campaign regulationEmergency medical services and trauma careExecutive agency funding and structureForeign language and bilingual programsGovernment information and archivesIndian lands and resources rightsInfectious and parasitic diseasesIntergovernmental relationsMilitary personnel and dependentsNatural disastersPostal serviceState and local financeState and local government operationsWorker safety and health

Natural Disaster and Emergency Ballot Act of 2020

USA116th CongressS-3529| Senate 
| Updated: 3/18/2020
Natural Disaster and Emergency Ballot Act of 2020 This bill revises and establishes voting procedures for federal elections. Specifically, the bill requires each state and jurisdiction to, within 30 days, establish and publish a contingency plan to enable voters to vote in federal elections during an emergency. Such plan must (1) include initiatives related to the safety and recruitment of poll workers, and (2) permit registered voters to submit online requests for absentee ballots and vote by mail or by drop-off location. Additionally, for all federal elections, a state must ensure that voters have 20 days to vote through early in-person voting or by mail; begin processing ballots cast during early voting or by mail at least 14 days before the date of the election; provide self-sealing return envelopes with prepaid postage for voter registration applications, absentee-ballot applications, and blank absentee ballots; allow voters to cure certain signature discrepancies; accept voter registration applications at least 21 days before the date of the election; and provide certain accommodations to voters residing on Indian lands. The Election Assistance Commission (EAC) must create a uniform domestic downloadable and printable absentee ballot for use in federal elections. Until the EAC creates such a ballot, states must permit certain voters to use those ballots provided to overseas and military voters. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency must create an update service to inform voters of their voter registration applications, absentee-ballot applications, and absentee ballots. States must be reimbursed for implementing the provisions of the bill.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

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

Timeline
Mar 18, 2020
Introduced in Senate
Mar 18, 2020
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
  • March 18, 2020
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 18, 2020
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
Amy Klobuchar

Amy Klobuchar

Democratic Senator

Minnesota

Cosponsors (36)
Mazie K. Hirono (Democratic)Tammy Duckworth (Democratic)Tom Udall (Democratic)Dianne Feinstein (Democratic)Catherine Cortez Masto (Democratic)Patrick J. Leahy (Democratic)Richard J. Durbin (Democratic)Edward J. Markey (Democratic)Kirsten E. Gillibrand (Democratic)Elizabeth Warren (Democratic)Christopher A. Coons (Democratic)Kamala D. Harris (Democratic)Thomas R. Carper (Democratic)Mark R. Warner (Democratic)Doug Jones (Democratic)Robert P. Casey (Democratic)Tim Kaine (Democratic)Jacky Rosen (Democratic)Chris Van Hollen (Democratic)Christopher Murphy (Democratic)Debbie Stabenow (Democratic)Martin Heinrich (Democratic)Patty Murray (Democratic)Tina Smith (Democratic)Sherrod Brown (Democratic)Bernard Sanders (Independent)Brian Schatz (Democratic)Maria Cantwell (Democratic)Tammy Baldwin (Democratic)Cory A. Booker (Democratic)Benjamin L. Cardin (Democratic)Robert Menendez (Democratic)Jeff Merkley (Democratic)Gary C. Peters (Democratic)Ron Wyden (Democratic)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)

Rules and Administration Committee

Government Operations and Politics

Related Bills

  • S 116-1397: A bill to amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to provide for a national Federal write-in absentee ballot for domestic use.
  • S 116-4033: Natural Disaster and Emergency Ballot Act of 2020
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Civil actions and liabilityCongressional oversightDiplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroadDisaster relief and insuranceElection Assistance CommissionElections, voting, political campaign regulationEmergency medical services and trauma careExecutive agency funding and structureForeign language and bilingual programsGovernment information and archivesIndian lands and resources rightsInfectious and parasitic diseasesIntergovernmental relationsMilitary personnel and dependentsNatural disastersPostal serviceState and local financeState and local government operationsWorker safety and health