# 119-hr-4917: Expanding the VOTE Act

119-hr-4917, Expanding the VOTE Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5] (D-GA); status introduced (as of 2026-09-30).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4917
- As of: 2026-09-30
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-4917
- Congress: 119
- Title: Expanding the VOTE Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-08-05
- Sponsor: Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5] (D-GA)
- Cosponsors: 72
- Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-09-30

## Summary

**Expands federal language access for voting materials** to cover both printed and digital election materials and to boost translation support and protections for language-minority and Tribal communities. - Voters who speak covered minority languages would get ballots, registration forms, instructions, assistance, and other election materials in their language, including digital items. - American Indian and Alaska Native communities would have stronger rules for unwritten languages: oral assistance can be used when a Tribal government notifies the Attorney General, and written translations for election workers are required with Tribal consent. - Local election officials could apply for incentive grants to pay for translations for languages that do not meet current coverage thresholds; the Election Assistance Commission would be authorized $15 million to fund these grants. - Jurisdictions receiving a grant must certify they will keep providing materials in that language in later election cycles unless the group’s share drops by 0.5 percentage points. - The Comptroller General would study lowering coverage thresholds and adding languages such as Arabic, French, and Haitian Creole and must report findings within one year. *Would authorize $15 million in appropriations for incentive grants, increasing federal spending.*

## Cosponsors (72)

- Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7] (D-VA), 2026-09-28T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8] (D-MD), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Morelle, Joseph D. [D-NY-25] (D-NY), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9] (D-NY), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13] (D-NY), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6] (D-NY), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3] (D-KS), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7] (D-AL), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33] (D-TX), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3] (D-VA), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12] (D-NC), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Amo, Gabe [D-RI-1] (D-RI), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3] (D-AZ), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11] (D-OH), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13] (D-IL), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7] (D-IN), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1] (D-HI), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6] (D-IL), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20] (D-FL), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5] (D-MO), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21] (D-CA), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Crockett, Jasmine [D-TX-30] (D-TX), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1] (D-NC), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1] (D-WA), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17] (D-PA), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37] (D-TX), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Elfreth, Sarah [D-MD-3] (D-MD), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3] (D-PA), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6] (D-LA), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Figures, Shomari [D-AL-2] (D-AL), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Fletcher, Lizzie [D-TX-7] (D-TX), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4] (D-IL), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9] (D-TX), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4] (D-NV), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1] (D-IL), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4] (D-GA), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37] (D-CA), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2] (D-IL), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8] (D-IL), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1] (D-CT), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12] (D-PA), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8] (D-MA), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4] (D-VA), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10] (D-NJ), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-5] (D-NY), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Mfume, Kweisi [D-MD-7] (D-MD), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Min, Dave [D-CA-47] (D-CA), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4] (D-WI), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6] (D-MA), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15] (D-CA), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] (D-DC), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Del. Plaskett, Stacey E. [D-VI-At Large] (D-VI), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2] (D-WI), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7] (D-MA), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3] (D-IL), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6] (D-OR), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9] (D-IL), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12] (D-CA), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Stanton, Greg [D-AZ-4] (D-AZ), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10] (D-WA), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Sykes, Emilia Strong [D-OH-13] (D-OH), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13] (D-MI), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2] (D-MS), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1] (D-NV), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12] (D-MI), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20] (D-NY), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Scott, David [D-GA-13] (D-GA), 2025-08-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1] (D-CO), 2025-08-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2] (D-RI), 2025-10-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1] (D-MO), 2025-10-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pou, Nellie [D-NJ-9] (D-NJ), 2025-12-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large] (D-VT), 2026-03-25T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- More voting materials in your language: benefit, medium. If enacted, this would broaden what counts as voting materials to include digital items and ballots. Covered states and local areas would need to provide notices, forms, instructions, assistance, and other election info in the minority language as well as English. If a group’s language is not writt…
- Grants to add more voting languages: benefit, low. The Election Assistance Commission would offer grants to help states and local areas provide voting materials in more languages. Grants would pay reasonable costs for one election cycle and would require outreach to local groups that serve that community. If a place gets a grant, it would keep prov…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act
- 119-hr-2763: American Family Act
- 119-hr-17: Paycheck Fairness Act
- 119-hr-14: John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2025
- 119-hr-2550: Protect America's Workforce Act
- 119-hr-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-4917 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4917)

## Related
- [119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7973)
- [119-hr-2763: American Family Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2763)
- [119-hr-17: Paycheck Fairness Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-17)
- [119-hr-14: John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-14)
- [119-hr-2550: Protect America's Workforce Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2550)
- [119-hr-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-51)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4917 (as of 2026-09-30).