Register America to Vote Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Senator Amy Klobuchar
Introduced
Summary
This bill would create an automatic voter registration system that signs up eligible people for Federal elections when they complete motor vehicle or other specified transactions, while adding privacy rules and federal grants to modernize state systems.
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- Young people: Would automatically register eligible individuals who turn 18 through motor vehicle and related transactions unless they decline. States may pre-register people as young as 16 for when they become eligible.
- States and election officials: Would have to implement automatic registration, follow National Institute of Standards and Technology data, privacy, and security standards, annually certify compliance, and could get federal grants to modernize systems.
- Voters with accessibility or language needs: Would receive required accessibility services and Limited English Proficiency support when a language group meets a 3 percent threshold. The law would bar commercial use of registration data and add protections against certain prosecutions or immigration actions tied to AVR errors.
*Would authorize $3.0 billion for fiscal year 2026 and such sums as necessary thereafter, increasing federal spending.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Federal grants to set up AVR
If enacted, the Election Assistance Commission would make grants to States to help set up or expand automatic voter registration. States must apply and promise nonpartisan use of funds. The bill authorizes $3.0 billion for fiscal year 2026 and such sums as necessary for later years, with money available until spent.
Two-year state implementation waiver
The bill would take effect January 1, 2026, but a State may tell the Election Assistance Commission by that date that meeting the deadline is impracticable. If a State files that certification by January 1, 2026, the law would not take effect in that State until January 1, 2028. This gives some States two extra years to prepare but delays AVR access for residents in those States.
Automatic registration at motor offices
If enacted, State motor vehicle offices would have to offer automatic voter registration during license and related transactions starting January 1, 2026. People who do not decline would be registered or have their registration updated and the agency must send required voter data to election officials within 10 days. The bill would let States pre-register 16–17 year-olds and require that people be registered automatically on their 18th birthday for federal elections. The state must send you a written notice within 60 days after it gets your information, and AVR options must be offered on every covered transaction.
Legal protections and private enforcement
If enacted, the bill would bar prosecution, adverse immigration consequences, or use in immigration or naturalization proceedings for certain AVR-related situations, such as AVR registrations by mistake or registrations at the wrong address. It would allow private lawsuits under the same civil-enforcement rules that apply to the National Voter Registration Act. The protections would not block enforcement against people who knowingly lie or knowingly cast unlawful ballots.
Limits on voter data use
If enacted, agencies could not collect, keep, or share whether you declined registration or did not affirm citizenship, except to meet civil-rights duties. States would be barred from publicly disclosing sensitive AVR data like most of your Social Security number, driver license number, or signature, and commercial uses of AVR data would be banned. The bill would also require States to keep change logs for voter records at least two years and make those logs available to the public where feasible.
Federal standards for voter data
If enacted, the National Institute of Standards and Technology would publish uniform data-comparison, privacy, and security standards for voter registration after public notice and comment. States would have to follow those standards and file an annual certification with the Election Assistance Commission. A State that does not certify on time could lose payments under the Act, and temporary certifications of up to two years are allowed when enabling State law is pending.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Amy Klobuchar
MN • D
Cosponsors
Alex Padilla
CA • D
Sponsored 9/16/2025
Angela Alsobrooks
MD • D
Sponsored 9/16/2025
Richard Blumenthal
CT • D
Sponsored 9/16/2025
Cory Booker
NJ • D
Sponsored 9/16/2025
Richard Durbin
IL • D
Sponsored 9/16/2025
Kirsten Gillibrand
NY • D
Sponsored 9/16/2025
Mazie Hirono
HI • D
Sponsored 9/16/2025
Timothy Kaine
VA • D
Sponsored 9/16/2025
Andy Kim
NJ • D
Sponsored 9/16/2025
Edward Markey
MA • D
Sponsored 9/16/2025
Adam Schiff
CA • D
Sponsored 9/16/2025
Elizabeth Warren
MA • D
Sponsored 9/16/2025
Ron Wyden
OR • D
Sponsored 9/16/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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