§21001 — Title 52 Voting and Elections | U.S. Code

§21001 Requirements payments

Title 52 › Subtitle Subtitle II— - Voting Assistance and Election Administration › Chapter CHAPTER 209— - ELECTION ADMINISTRATION IMPROVEMENT › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - COMMISSION › Part Part D— - Election Assistance › Subpart subpart 1— - requirements payments › § 21001

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Commission must give each State that meets the law’s conditions a yearly requirements payment. The payment amount is set by the law. States must use the money to meet the election rules in that part of the law. A State may spend the money on other ways to improve federal election administration only if the State certifies either that it already put the required rules in place, or that the extra spending will not be more than the State’s minimum payment amount. Funds from a specific appropriation may be used only for absentee voting rules for military and overseas voters changed by the MOVE Act. A State can be reimbursed for voting equipment bought after the November 2000 federal general election, and for costs under multiyear contracts dated on or after January 1, 2001, but required State matching amounts must be raised by the payment. States do not have to follow voluntary voting system guidance to get the payment. The Commission must start payments within 6 months after it is fully appointed and must pay at least once a year. Payments cannot be used to pay litigation costs (except allowed legal costs) or to pay any judgment.

Title 52, §21001

Voting and Elections — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Commission shall make a requirements payment each year in an amount determined under section 21002 of this title to each State which meets the conditions described in section 21003 of this title for the year.

(b)(1)Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3), a State receiving a requirements payment shall use the payment only to meet the requirements of subchapter III.

(2)A State may use a requirements payment to carry out other activities to improve the administration of elections for Federal office if the State certifies to the Commission that—

(A)the State has implemented the requirements of subchapter III; or

(B)the amount expended with respect to such other activities does not exceed an amount equal to the minimum payment amount applicable to the State under section 21002(c) of this title.

(3)A State shall use a requirements payment made using funds appropriated pursuant to the authorization under section 21007(a)(4) of this title only to meet the requirements under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act [52 U.S.C. 20301 et seq.] imposed as a result of the provisions of and amendments made by the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act.

(c)(1)Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, including the maintenance of effort requirements of section 21004(a)(7) of this title, a State may use a requirements payment as a reimbursement for costs incurred in obtaining voting equipment which meets the requirements of section 21081 of this title if the State obtains the equipment after the regularly scheduled general election for Federal office held in November 2000.

(2)A State may use a requirements payment for any costs for voting equipment which meets the requirements of section 21081 of this title that, pursuant to a multiyear contract, were incurred on or after January 1, 2001, except that the amount that the State is otherwise required to contribute under the maintenance of effort requirements of section 21004(a)(7) of this title shall be increased by the amount of the payment made with respect to such multiyear contract.

(d)Nothing in this subpart may be construed to require a State to implement any of the voluntary voting system guidelines or any of the voluntary guidance adopted by the Commission with respect to any matter as a condition for receiving a requirements payment.

(e)As soon as practicable after the initial appointment of all members of the Commission (but in no event later than 6 months thereafter), and not less frequently than once each calendar year thereafter, the Commission shall make requirements payments to States under this subpart.

(f)A State may not use any portion of a requirements payment—

(1)to pay costs associated with any litigation, except to the extent that such costs otherwise constitute permitted uses of a requirements payment under this subpart; or

(2)for the payment of any judgment.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Subchapter III, referred to in subsec. (b)(1), (2)(A), was in the original “title III”, meaning title III of Pub. L. 107–252, Oct. 29, 2002, 116 Stat. 1704, which is classified principally to subchapter III (§ 21081 et seq.) of this chapter. For complete classification of title III to the Code, see Tables. The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(3), is Pub. L. 99–410, Aug. 28, 1986, 100 Stat. 924, which is classified principally to chapter 203 (§ 20301 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables. The Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(3), is subtitle H (§§ 575–589) of title V of div. A of Pub. L. 111–84, Oct. 28, 2009, 123 Stat. 2318. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables. Codification Section was formerly classified to section 15401 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

Amendments

2009—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 111–84, § 588(a)(1), substituted “paragraphs (2) and (3)” for “paragraph (2)”. Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 111–84, § 588(a)(2), added par. (3).