Title 52 — Voting and ElectionsRelease 119-73
§20301a Duties of Secretary under Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act
Title 52 › Subtitle Subtitle II— - Voting Assistance and Election Administration › Chapter CHAPTER 203— - REGISTRATION AND VOTING BY ABSENT UNIFORMED SERVICES VOTERS AND OVERSEAS VOTERS IN ELECTIONS FOR FEDERAL OFFICE › § 20301a
Summary
The Secretary must take reasonable and practical steps so uniformed voters serving at U.S. diplomatic and consular posts abroad can receive and return ballots the same way and with the same protections as uniformed voters stationed at military bases. This rule applies to elections held on or after January 1, 2021.
Full Legal Text
Title 52, §20301a
Voting and Elections — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)In carrying out the Secretary’s duties as the Presidential designee under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20301 et seq.), the Secretary shall take such actions as may be necessary, feasible, and practical to ensure that a uniformed services voter under such Act who is absent from the United States by reason of active duty or service at a diplomatic and consular post of the United States is able to receive and transmit balloting materials in the same manner and with the same rights and protections as a uniformed services voter under such Act who is absent from the United States by reason of active duty or service at a military installation.
(b)This section shall apply with respect to elections held on or after January 1, 2021.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, referred to in subsec. (a), is Pub. L. 99–410, Aug. 28, 1986, 100 Stat. 924, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables. Codification Section was enacted as part of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, and not as part of title I of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act which comprises this chapter.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
52 U.S.C. § 20301a
Title 52 — Voting and Elections
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73