Legis Daily

Expanding the VOTE Act

USA118th CongressHR-5295| House 
| Updated: 8/25/2023
Nikema Williams

Nikema Williams

Democratic Representative

Georgia

Cosponsors (115)
Dwight Evans (Democratic)Stacey E. Plaskett (Democratic)Becca Balint (Democratic)Wiley Nickel (Democratic)Jonathan L. Jackson (Democratic)Sylvia R. Garcia (Democratic)Ruben Gallego (Democratic)Marc A. Veasey (Democratic)Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (Democratic)Adam B. Schiff (Democratic)Barbara Lee (Democratic)Gabe Amo (Democratic)Robin L. Kelly (Democratic)Raúl M. Grijalva (Democratic)Ritchie Torres (Democratic)Mark Pocan (Democratic)Jennifer L. McClellan (Democratic)David J. Trone (Democratic)Christopher R. Deluzio (Democratic)Emanuel Cleaver (Democratic)Brian Higgins (Democratic)Raul Ruiz (Democratic)Sheila Jackson Lee (Democratic)Derek Kilmer (Democratic)Patrick Ryan (Democratic)Sanford D. Bishop (Democratic)C. A. Dutch Ruppersberger (Democratic)Shontel M. Brown (Democratic)Greg Landsman (Democratic)David Scott (Democratic)Frederica S. Wilson (Democratic)Juan Vargas (Democratic)Terri A. Sewell (Democratic)Troy A. Carter (Democratic)Steven Horsford (Democratic)J. Luis Correa (Democratic)Eric Swalwell (Democratic)Dina Titus (Democratic)Maxwell Frost (Democratic)Debbie Dingell (Democratic)Melanie A. Stansbury (Democratic)Suzan K. DelBene (Democratic)Scott H. Peters (Democratic)Andrea Salinas (Democratic)Paul Tonko (Democratic)Delia C. Ramirez (Democratic)Donald M. Payne (Democratic)Donald G. Davis (Democratic)John P. Sarbanes (Democratic)Greg Casar (Democratic)Haley M. Stevens (Democratic)Adriano Espaillat (Democratic)Danny K. Davis (Democratic)Daniel T. Kildee (Democratic)Jasmine Crockett (Democratic)Henry C. "Hank" Johnson (Democratic)Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (Democratic)Al Green (Democratic)Nikki Budzinski (Democratic)André Carson (Democratic)Brendan F. Boyle (Democratic)Matt Cartwright (Democratic)Doris O. Matsui (Democratic)Hillary J. Scholten (Democratic)Sara Jacobs (Democratic)Gregory W. Meeks (Democratic)Jahana Hayes (Democratic)Raja Krishnamoorthi (Democratic)Jerrold Nadler (Democratic)Sydney Kamlager-Dove (Democratic)Pramila Jayapal (Democratic)Betty McCollum (Democratic)Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democratic)Sharice Davids (Democratic)Bonnie Watson Coleman (Democratic)Mary Gay Scanlon (Democratic)Salud O. Carbajal (Democratic)Jamie Raskin (Democratic)Jim Costa (Democratic)Sean Casten (Democratic)Diana DeGette (Democratic)Janice D. Schakowsky (Democratic)Andy Kim (Democratic)Summer L. Lee (Democratic)Nydia M. Velázquez (Democratic)William R. Keating (Democratic)Seth Magaziner (Democratic)Yvette D. Clarke (Democratic)Bennie G. Thompson (Democratic)Earl Blumenauer (Democratic)Lori Trahan (Democratic)Seth Moulton (Democratic)Suzanne Bonamici (Democratic)Jared Moskowitz (Democratic)Lizzie Fletcher (Democratic)Josh Gottheimer (Democratic)Linda T. Sánchez (Democratic)Nanette Diaz Barragán (Democratic)Kevin Mullin (Democratic)Jason Crow (Democratic)Gwen Moore (Democratic)Jimmy Gomez (Democratic)Rashida Tlaib (Democratic)Kweisi Mfume (Democratic)Ayanna Pressley (Democratic)Jamaal Bowman (Democratic)Veronica Escobar (Democratic)Lloyd Doggett (Democratic)Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Democratic)Lauren Underwood (Democratic)Grace F. Napolitano (Democratic)Katie Porter (Democratic)Susan Wild (Democratic)Cori Bush (Democratic)Judy Chu (Democratic)

Committee on House Administration, Judiciary Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Expanding the Voluntary Opportunities for Translations in Elections Act or the Expanding the VOTE Act This bill expands access to voting materials for individuals with limited proficiency in the English language. Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA) requires covered states and political subdivisions to provide voting materials and other language assistance to persons who are American Indian, Asian American, Alaskan Natives, or of Spanish heritage and whose ability to speak or understand English limits electoral participation. A state or political subdivision that is subject to Section 203 is prohibited from providing English-only voting materials in an election. Among other requirements, this bill (1) requires the Department of Justice to issue a notice of prohibition, including the trigger threshold at which the prohibition applies, to certain states and political subdivisions; and (2) requires covered states and political subdivisions to provide written translations of all voting materials, with the consent of any applicable tribal government, to election workers. Additionally, the bill requires the Election Assistance Commission to make incentive grants for states and political subdivisions to provide translated voting materials. The bill also directs the Government Accountability Office to study and report on the impact of (1) reducing the threshold requirement under Section 203 of the VRA, and (2) expanding the definition of language minorities to include native speakers of additional languages.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-8770
Expanding the VOTE Act
Aug 25, 2023
Introduced in House
Aug 25, 2023
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, 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.
Sep 27, 2023

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 118-2960
Introduced in Senate
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-8770
    Expanding the VOTE Act


  • August 25, 2023
    Introduced in House


  • August 25, 2023
    Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, 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.


  • September 27, 2023

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 118-2960
    Introduced in Senate

Government Operations and Politics

Related Bills

  • S 118-2960: Expanding the VOTE Act
Alaska Natives and HawaiiansCongressional oversightElections, voting, political campaign regulationForeign language and bilingual programsGovernment studies and investigationsState and local government operationsVoting rights

Expanding the VOTE Act

USA118th CongressHR-5295| House 
| Updated: 8/25/2023
Expanding the Voluntary Opportunities for Translations in Elections Act or the Expanding the VOTE Act This bill expands access to voting materials for individuals with limited proficiency in the English language. Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA) requires covered states and political subdivisions to provide voting materials and other language assistance to persons who are American Indian, Asian American, Alaskan Natives, or of Spanish heritage and whose ability to speak or understand English limits electoral participation. A state or political subdivision that is subject to Section 203 is prohibited from providing English-only voting materials in an election. Among other requirements, this bill (1) requires the Department of Justice to issue a notice of prohibition, including the trigger threshold at which the prohibition applies, to certain states and political subdivisions; and (2) requires covered states and political subdivisions to provide written translations of all voting materials, with the consent of any applicable tribal government, to election workers. Additionally, the bill requires the Election Assistance Commission to make incentive grants for states and political subdivisions to provide translated voting materials. The bill also directs the Government Accountability Office to study and report on the impact of (1) reducing the threshold requirement under Section 203 of the VRA, and (2) expanding the definition of language minorities to include native speakers of additional languages.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

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

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-8770
Expanding the VOTE Act
Aug 25, 2023
Introduced in House
Aug 25, 2023
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, 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.
Sep 27, 2023

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 118-2960
Introduced in Senate
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-8770
    Expanding the VOTE Act


  • August 25, 2023
    Introduced in House


  • August 25, 2023
    Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, 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.


  • September 27, 2023

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 118-2960
    Introduced in Senate
Nikema Williams

Nikema Williams

Democratic Representative

Georgia

Cosponsors (115)
Dwight Evans (Democratic)Stacey E. Plaskett (Democratic)Becca Balint (Democratic)Wiley Nickel (Democratic)Jonathan L. Jackson (Democratic)Sylvia R. Garcia (Democratic)Ruben Gallego (Democratic)Marc A. Veasey (Democratic)Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (Democratic)Adam B. Schiff (Democratic)Barbara Lee (Democratic)Gabe Amo (Democratic)Robin L. Kelly (Democratic)Raúl M. Grijalva (Democratic)Ritchie Torres (Democratic)Mark Pocan (Democratic)Jennifer L. McClellan (Democratic)David J. Trone (Democratic)Christopher R. Deluzio (Democratic)Emanuel Cleaver (Democratic)Brian Higgins (Democratic)Raul Ruiz (Democratic)Sheila Jackson Lee (Democratic)Derek Kilmer (Democratic)Patrick Ryan (Democratic)Sanford D. Bishop (Democratic)C. A. Dutch Ruppersberger (Democratic)Shontel M. Brown (Democratic)Greg Landsman (Democratic)David Scott (Democratic)Frederica S. Wilson (Democratic)Juan Vargas (Democratic)Terri A. Sewell (Democratic)Troy A. Carter (Democratic)Steven Horsford (Democratic)J. Luis Correa (Democratic)Eric Swalwell (Democratic)Dina Titus (Democratic)Maxwell Frost (Democratic)Debbie Dingell (Democratic)Melanie A. Stansbury (Democratic)Suzan K. DelBene (Democratic)Scott H. Peters (Democratic)Andrea Salinas (Democratic)Paul Tonko (Democratic)Delia C. Ramirez (Democratic)Donald M. Payne (Democratic)Donald G. Davis (Democratic)John P. Sarbanes (Democratic)Greg Casar (Democratic)Haley M. Stevens (Democratic)Adriano Espaillat (Democratic)Danny K. Davis (Democratic)Daniel T. Kildee (Democratic)Jasmine Crockett (Democratic)Henry C. "Hank" Johnson (Democratic)Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (Democratic)Al Green (Democratic)Nikki Budzinski (Democratic)André Carson (Democratic)Brendan F. Boyle (Democratic)Matt Cartwright (Democratic)Doris O. Matsui (Democratic)Hillary J. Scholten (Democratic)Sara Jacobs (Democratic)Gregory W. Meeks (Democratic)Jahana Hayes (Democratic)Raja Krishnamoorthi (Democratic)Jerrold Nadler (Democratic)Sydney Kamlager-Dove (Democratic)Pramila Jayapal (Democratic)Betty McCollum (Democratic)Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democratic)Sharice Davids (Democratic)Bonnie Watson Coleman (Democratic)Mary Gay Scanlon (Democratic)Salud O. Carbajal (Democratic)Jamie Raskin (Democratic)Jim Costa (Democratic)Sean Casten (Democratic)Diana DeGette (Democratic)Janice D. Schakowsky (Democratic)Andy Kim (Democratic)Summer L. Lee (Democratic)Nydia M. Velázquez (Democratic)William R. Keating (Democratic)Seth Magaziner (Democratic)Yvette D. Clarke (Democratic)Bennie G. Thompson (Democratic)Earl Blumenauer (Democratic)Lori Trahan (Democratic)Seth Moulton (Democratic)Suzanne Bonamici (Democratic)Jared Moskowitz (Democratic)Lizzie Fletcher (Democratic)Josh Gottheimer (Democratic)Linda T. Sánchez (Democratic)Nanette Diaz Barragán (Democratic)Kevin Mullin (Democratic)Jason Crow (Democratic)Gwen Moore (Democratic)Jimmy Gomez (Democratic)Rashida Tlaib (Democratic)Kweisi Mfume (Democratic)Ayanna Pressley (Democratic)Jamaal Bowman (Democratic)Veronica Escobar (Democratic)Lloyd Doggett (Democratic)Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Democratic)Lauren Underwood (Democratic)Grace F. Napolitano (Democratic)Katie Porter (Democratic)Susan Wild (Democratic)Cori Bush (Democratic)Judy Chu (Democratic)

Committee on House Administration, Judiciary Committee

Government Operations and Politics

Related Bills

  • S 118-2960: Expanding the VOTE Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Alaska Natives and HawaiiansCongressional oversightElections, voting, political campaign regulationForeign language and bilingual programsGovernment studies and investigationsState and local government operationsVoting rights