§20984 — Title 52 Voting and Elections | U.S. Code

§20984 Study and report on voters who register by mail and use of Social Security information

Title 52 › Subtitle Subtitle II— - Voting Assistance and Election Administration › Chapter CHAPTER 209— - ELECTION ADMINISTRATION IMPROVEMENT › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - COMMISSION › Part Part C— - Studies and Other Activities To Promote Effective Administration of Federal Elections › § 20984

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Commission must study how a new rule about people who register to vote by mail affects those voters. The study must look at three main things: how the rule affects first-time mail registrants who later vote in person; how it affects the accuracy of voter lists (keeping ineligible names off and making sure eligible names are included); and how it affects current state checks (like signature checks) and whether other steps (for example, extra verification or more information on the registration form) could make registration better. The Commission must send a report with any recommended administrative or legislative changes to the President and Congress within 18 months after that rule’s effective date. Also, within 18 months after a separate rule about voter registration takes effect, the Commission, working with the Commissioner of Social Security, must study and report to Congress on whether using Social Security numbers or other Social Security data could be used to set voter registration or ID rules. That study must cover matching data to individual voters, any national security issues, and whether strong enough privacy protections or waiver procedures exist.

Title 52, §20984

Voting and Elections — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)(A)The Commission shall conduct a study of the impact of section 21083(b) of this title on voters who register by mail.

(B)The study conducted under subparagraph (A) shall include—

(i)an examination of the impact of section 21083(b) of this title on first time mail registrant voters who vote in person, including the impact of such section on voter registration;

(ii)an examination of the impact of such section on the accuracy of voter rolls, including preventing ineligible names from being placed on voter rolls and ensuring that all eligible names are placed on voter rolls; and

(iii)an analysis of the impact of such section on existing State practices, such as the use of signature verification or attestation procedures to verify the identity of voters in elections for Federal office, and an analysis of other changes that may be made to improve the voter registration process, such as verification or additional information on the registration card.

(2)Not later than 18 months after the date on which section 21083(b)(2) of this title takes effect, the Commission shall submit a report to the President and Congress on the study conducted under paragraph (1)(A) together with such recommendations for administrative and legislative action as the Commission determines is appropriate.

(b)Not later than 18 months after the date on which section 21083(a)(5) of this title takes effect, the Commission, in consultation with the Commissioner of Social Security, shall study and report to Congress on the feasibility and advisability of using Social Security identification numbers or other information compiled by the Social Security Administration to establish voter registration or other election law eligibility or identification requirements, including the matching of relevant information specific to an individual voter, the impact of such use on national security issues, and whether adequate safeguards or waiver procedures exist to protect the privacy of an individual voter.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

For the

Effective Date

s of subsecs. (a)(5) and (b)(2) of section 21083 of this title, referred to in subsecs. (a)(2) and (b), see section 21083(d) of this title. Codification Section was formerly classified to section 15384 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.