Unhoused Voter Opportunity Through Elections Act
Sponsored By: Representative Williams (GA)
Introduced
Summary
Expand voting access for unhoused individuals. This bill would bar rules that prevent people from voting because they live in shelters, on the street, in temporary facilities, or other "nontraditional abodes" and would fund outreach and services to help them register and vote.
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- Unhoused individuals: It would let shelter addresses count for registration, allow unsheltered street locations or a written attestation under penalty of perjury to satisfy residence rules, and permit certain criminal-justice IDs to meet identification requirements.
- State and local election officials: It would require clear website links about how unhoused people can register and vote, language access where required, and notices to shelters and service agencies 60 days before registration deadlines and 30 days before federal elections. It also directs development of best practices in consultation with the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness.
- Service providers and local governments: It would create an Election Assistance Commission grant program for mobile voting centers and direct outreach, allow contracting with experienced private groups, and require documents for unhoused people be durable after exposure to the elements. The grants are authorized beginning in fiscal year 2026.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Easier ID and address for unhoused voters
If a State requires ID to vote, it would have to accept documents with a name from courts, prisons, probation, or parole. If a State requires proof of residence, a signed attestation under penalty of perjury would count. Federal and State registration forms would let unhoused applicants mark a nearby intersection and use a street location. These updates would start six months after enactment.
Grants to help unhoused voters
The Election Assistance Commission would give grants to states and local governments to help unhoused people register and vote. Funds could support mobile voting centers, outreach, and contracts with groups experienced in serving unhoused people. Applicants would submit plans and assurances, including stakeholder engagement. Any documents made for unhoused use would need to stay readable after long exposure to weather. The program would start six months after enactment. Money is authorized for fiscal year 2026 and each year after as “such sums as may be necessary.”
More outreach and shelter registration for unhoused voters
If a locality offers drop boxes, they would need to be clearly labeled, accessible, and open for in-person use. Officials would consider unhoused access needs when choosing locations and hours, after consulting service providers. States would notify shelters and agencies 60 days before registration deadlines and 30 days before Federal elections. State election websites would include a clear link on how unhoused people can register and vote, in required languages. Emergency shelters would serve as voter registration sites. These steps would start six months after enactment.
Protect voting rights for unhoused
This bill would bar states and localities from denying or limiting a person’s vote because they live in a shelter or another nontraditional place. People staying in a shelter would be allowed to use the shelter as their voting address for Federal elections in that area. It would define what counts as a nontraditional abode, including shelters and places not meant for sleeping. The Attorney General and people harmed could sue to stop violations. These protections would start six months after enactment.
Guidance and data for unhoused voters
The Election Assistance Commission would publish best practices within 180 days, with input from homelessness experts and people with lived experience. Guidance would cover outreach, disability access, training for poll workers, and safeguards so ineligible people are not denied homeless services. HUD would add questions to its homeless surveys on registering and voting in Federal elections. These steps would support better policies and service delivery.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Williams (GA)
GA • D
Cosponsors
Cleaver
MO • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Johnson (TX)
TX • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Veasey
TX • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Scott (VA)
VA • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Sewell
AL • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Mullin
CA • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Ramirez
IL • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Ansari
AZ • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Brown
OH • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Carson
IN • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Casten
IL • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Cherfilus-McCormick
FL • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Clarke (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Crockett
TX • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
DelBene
WA • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Deluzio
PA • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Doggett
TX • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Elfreth
MD • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Evans (PA)
PA • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Fields
LA • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Figures
AL • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Garcia (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Green, Al (TX)
TX • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Jackson (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Johnson (GA)
GA • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Kamlager-Dove
CA • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Kelly (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Krishnamoorthi
IL • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Larson (CT)
CT • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Lee (PA)
PA • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Lynch
MA • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
McClellan
VA • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
McIver
NJ • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Meeks
NY • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Mfume
MD • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Moore (WI)
WI • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Pressley
MA • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Salinas
OR • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Schakowsky
IL • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Simon
CA • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Strickland
WA • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Sykes
OH • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Thanedar
MI • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Thompson (MS)
MS • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Tlaib
MI • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Tonko
NY • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Magaziner
RI • D
Sponsored 10/3/2025
Bell
MO • D
Sponsored 10/3/2025
Balint
VT • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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