# 119-hr-8078: Voter Empowerment Act of 2026 119-hr-8078, Voter Empowerment Act of 2026, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Clyburn, James E. [D-SC-6] (D-SC); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-09-21). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-8078 - As of: 2026-09-21 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: 119-hr-8078 - Congress: 119 - Title: Voter Empowerment Act of 2026 - Status: introduced - Introduced: 2026-03-25 - Sponsor: Rep. Clyburn, James E. [D-SC-6] (D-SC) - Cosponsors: 3 - Policy area: Government Operations and Politics - Touches household money: yes - Last recorded action: 2026-09-21 ## Summary **Modernize voter registration** while expanding access and strengthening election accessibility and enforcement. The bill would require online and automatic registration, same-day registration for federal elections, uniform absentee rules, accessible voting systems, and new enforcement tools. - Voters and families: Would make registration and voting easier by requiring online registration options, an automatic registration system that registers people unless they opt out, and same-day registration for Federal elections beginning with the November 2028 general election. It shortens the pre-election registration deadline to 28 days and standardizes absentee rules like prepaid return postage and ballot tracking. - Voters with disabilities and older adults: Would require a single accessible State election website, at least one accessible voting system at each polling place that produces a voter-verified paper ballot, and authorizes $10.0 million for research into secure remote accessible voting technologies. - States, election officials, and enforcement: Would create new enforcement paths including Attorney General civil actions with civil penalties ($110,000 first violation; $220,000 subsequent) and private suits under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for certain violations, and criminal penalties for corrupt interference up to 5 years imprisonment. ## Cosponsors (3) - Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12] (D-NJ), 2026-03-26T00:00:00.000Z - Rep. Amo, Gabe [D-RI-1] (D-RI), 2026-04-14T00:00:00.000Z - Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2] (D-LA), 2026-08-31T00:00:00.000Z ## Provisions PRIA read - Attorney General enforcement powers: benefit, high. If enacted, the Attorney General could sue to fix violations of this title and send accurate corrective information to counter materially false election claims when state or local officials do not act. If enacted, private people harmed by violations could usually sue after giving notice and waiting… - Grants, standards, and EAC support: benefit, high. If enacted, the Election Assistance Commission would get a large grant program to help States modernize registration systems, with $500 million authorized for FY2027 and such sums as needed later. If enacted, NIST must publish technical standards for voter data, matching rules, and alternative abse… - More early voting and same‑day registration: benefit, high. If enacted, States would have to allow at least 15 days of early voting and keep each early site open at least 10 hours per day, with some hours before 9 a.m. and some after 5 p.m. If enacted, States would have to allow same‑day registration at polling places for Federal elections starting with the… - Online voter registration rules: benefit, high. If enacted, States would have to offer online voter registration on official election websites. If enacted, online forms must include the required attestation and an accepted electronic signature method, and officials must confirm receipt and send a decision notice within 7 days. If enacted, first-… - Stronger rules and penalties against interference: benefit, high. If enacted, the bill would make it a federal crime to knowingly spread materially false information about when, where, or how to vote within 60 days before many Federal elections. It would also criminalize intentionally obstructing voter registration or voting and impose fines and prison terms. The… - Accessible voting equipment and paper ballots: benefit, high. If enacted, States would have to make polling places and absentee materials accessible to people with disabilities. Each polling place would need at least one system that lets a voter privately verify and cast a durable paper ballot without handling it by hand. The paper ballot would be the officia… - Modernize registration and protect registrants: benefit, high. If enacted, States would be allowed to use certain federal HAVA payments to modernize voter registration and run automatic voter registration systems that transfer eligible records unless individuals decline. The bill would protect people from prosecution or immigration penalties for automatic-regi… - More in-person access: drop boxes and curbside: benefit, high. If enacted, States would have to provide secure, clearly labeled absentee ballot drop boxes from 45 days before an election until polls close, with at least one box for jurisdictions under 20,000 registered voters and at least one box per 20,000 registered voters for larger jurisdictions. The bill… - Restore voting rights and notice rules: benefit, medium. If enacted, a U.S. citizen could not be denied the right to vote in Federal elections because of a past criminal conviction unless they are serving a felony sentence in a correctional facility at the time of the election. If enacted, States must notify people about restored voting rights at probati… - More federal grants and EAC authority: benefit, medium. If enacted, the Election Assistance Commission would have ongoing authorization to receive appropriations starting in fiscal year 2026 with no $10 million per-year cap. The bill refocuses and reauthorizes HAVA accessibility payments, adds new obligation timetables, allows some grant dollars for cam… - Simpler, safer mail and overseas voting: benefit, medium. If enacted, States would have to accept mailed ballots that were postmarked or signed on or before election day if they arrive within 10 days after the election, starting with the November 2028 general election. The Postal Service would treat registration forms and absentee ballots as first-class m… - Grants for poll workers and accessibility: benefit, low. If enacted and funded by Congress, the EAC would give grants to States to recruit and train poll workers and to test accessible remote voting tools for people with disabilities. If enacted, at least three projects would get research grants for accessible remote voting, and the EAC would fund pilot… - Automatic registration from agencies: mixed, high. If enacted, each State would have to run an automatic voter registration system that registers eligible people from government agency records unless they opt out. If enacted, agencies must notify applicants, pause transactions until the applicant responds, and send specified data after a 30-day not… - Absentee voting, tracking, and postage: mixed, high. If enacted, States would have to accept online absentee‑ballot applications and, if the application arrives at least 5 business days before the election, ensure the voter gets their ballot before election day. If enacted, every State must run absentee ballot tracking that shows voters whether their… - Paper ballots and voting‑system standards: mixed, medium. If enacted, paper ballots for Federal elections would be the official record and must be printed on durable U.S.-manufactured paper. If enacted, ballots from marking devices must be readable by voters and by scanners and assistive tech, and such paper must last 22 months. If enacted, NIST must publ… - Prison funding tied to voting notice: mixed, low. If enacted, recipients of Federal funds to build or improve prisons would have to operate a program that notifies released U.S. citizen inmates about restored voting rights. States or local governments could not receive or use those construction funds unless the notice program is in effect. The req… ## Related bills - 119-hr-9877: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026 - 119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act - 119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act - 119-hr-7853: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026 - 119-hr-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act - 119-hr-20: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025 ## Sources - [119-hr-8078 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/8078) ## Related - [119-hr-9877: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9877) - [119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7973) - [119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7977) - [119-hr-7853: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7853) - [119-hr-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-51) - [119-hr-20: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-20) - [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-8078 (as of 2026-09-21).