Disability Voting Rights Act
1/11/2023, 1:46 PMSummary of Bill HR 775
The Disability Voting Rights Act, also known as Bill 117 HR 775, is a piece of legislation introduced in the United States Congress aimed at protecting and expanding the voting rights of individuals with disabilities. The bill seeks to address barriers that prevent people with disabilities from exercising their right to vote, such as inaccessible polling places, lack of accessible voting machines, and limited access to voter registration materials.The Disability Voting Rights Act includes provisions that require polling places to be fully accessible to individuals with disabilities, including those who use wheelchairs or have visual or hearing impairments. The bill also mandates the availability of accessible voting machines that accommodate various disabilities, such as touchscreens with adjustable font sizes and audio ballots for individuals with visual impairments.
Additionally, the legislation aims to increase voter registration among individuals with disabilities by requiring voter registration materials to be available in accessible formats, such as braille or large print. The bill also includes provisions for training poll workers on how to assist voters with disabilities and ensuring that individuals with disabilities have equal access to early voting and absentee voting options. Overall, the Disability Voting Rights Act seeks to ensure that individuals with disabilities have equal access to the voting process and are able to fully participate in the democratic process. By addressing barriers to voting and increasing accessibility, the bill aims to empower individuals with disabilities to exercise their fundamental right to vote.
Congressional Summary of HR 775
Disability Voting Rights Act
This bill requires each state to allow individuals with disabilities to use absentee registration procedures and to vote by absentee ballot in federal elections.
The bill requires each state to
- accept and process any otherwise valid voter registration and absentee ballot applications from individuals with disabilities if the applications are received within the deadline for the federal election;
- establish procedures for individuals with disabilities to request, and for the state to send, voter registration and absentee ballot applications by mail and through electronic means;
- create procedures for securely transmitting blank absentee ballots by mail and through electronic means to individuals with disabilities;
- designate a single office to provide information on voter registration and absentee ballot procedures for individuals with disabilities; and
- specify a means of electronic communication for individuals with disabilities to request, and for the state to send, voter registration and absentee ballot applications.
Further, each state must transmit a validly requested absentee ballot to an individual with a disability within 45 days of an election. However, the bill establishes a procedure for a state to apply to the Department of Justice for a waiver of this requirement.
The bill also permanently reauthorizes and expands a program under which the Department of Health and Human Services makes payments to eligible states and units of local government to assure voting access for individuals with disabilities.
Read the Full Bill
Current Status of Bill HR 775
Bill HR 775 is currently in the status of Bill Introduced since February 3, 2021. Bill HR 775 was introduced during Congress 117 and was introduced to the House on February 3, 2021. Bill HR 775's most recent activity was Referred to the House Committee on House Administration. as of February 3, 2021Bipartisan Support of Bill HR 775
Total Number of Sponsors
1Democrat Sponsors
1Republican Sponsors
0Unaffiliated Sponsors
0Total Number of Cosponsors
0Democrat Cosponsors
0Republican Cosponsors
0Unaffiliated Cosponsors
0Policy Area and Potential Impact of Bill HR 775
Primary Policy Focus
Government Operations and PoliticsPotential Impact Areas
Disability and health-based discriminationDisability and paralysisElections, voting, political campaign regulationGovernment information and archivesState and local government operationsVoting rightsAlternate Title(s) of Bill HR 775
Disability Voting Rights ActTo amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require States to promote access to voter registration and voting for individuals with disabilities, and for other purposes.Disability Voting Rights ActComments
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Sponsors and Cosponsors of HR 775
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