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119-hr-9873119th Congress

Inclusive Democracy Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Representative Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7]

Introduced

Summary

The Inclusive Democracy Act of 2026 would restore federal voting rights for people with criminal convictions and set clear rules so incarcerated people, and those on probation or parole, can register, receive absentee ballots, and get accurate voting information.

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  • People with criminal convictions would be protected from denial of the right to vote in Federal elections, covering convictions before, on, or after enactment. These access rules would begin with the November 2026 Federal elections.
  • Carceral facilities and State election officials would have to offer the standard National Voter Registration Act form, transmit completed registrations within 10 days, accept electronic submissions, provide online and posted voting information, ensure timely transmission and prepaid postage for absentee ballots, and allow nonpartisan groups to register and educate incarcerated voters.
  • The Department of Justice could seek court orders and individuals could sue for violations. Remedies include a 30-day cure period and a 10-day cure when violations are close to an election, and incarcerated people could get immediate judicial relief for key denials like being blocked from registering or from receiving their ballot.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Right to vote despite conviction

If enacted, the bill would bar the United States and any State from denying or limiting a citizen's right to vote in Federal elections because of a criminal conviction. This protection would apply to convictions before, on, or after enactment and take effect upon enactment. Ambiguous parts of the Act must be read in favor of the person trying to register or vote. The bill would also prohibit prosecuting a registered incarcerated person for voting on non‑Federal items that appear on the ballot starting with November 2026 Federal elections.

Absentee mail voting for incarcerated people

If enacted, incarcerated people who are registered to vote would have the right to vote in Federal elections by absentee mail starting with the November 2026 elections. Facilities must provide absentee ballot applications on request and transmit completed applications within 2 days. Ballots to and from incarcerated voters must be treated as election mail and handled quickly, and postage on envelopes provided to incarcerated voters must be prepaid. If a ballot is missing a signature or has another defect, officials must try to notify the voter and give a 10‑day cure period; provisional absentee ballots are allowed when eligibility is disputed.

Private and federal enforcement remedies

If enacted, people harmed by violations could give written notice to the chief State election official or the Attorney General and sue if problems are not fixed. Generally a 30‑day cure period would apply, but it would be 10 days for violations within 120 days before a Federal election. Certain failures affecting incarcerated voters would allow immediate lawsuits without waiting the cure period. The Attorney General could also seek court orders to fix violations. This enforcement scheme would take effect upon enactment.

Notices and national voter outreach

If enacted, the bill would require jails, prisons, probation, and parole offices to give written notice that convictions do not block Federal voting within 90 days of enactment. The Attorney General would publish guidance within 60 days and share it with corrections and election officials. The Election Assistance Commission would run a national public service campaign within 180 days to explain the eligibility changes.

Voter registration inside jails and prisons

If enacted, heads of carceral settings would have to offer the standard mail voter registration form at booking and on request. Incarcerated people could register using their last known home address or the facility address. Facilities must send completed forms to the State election official within 10 days and use faster electronic transmission near deadlines. Nonpartisan groups and campaigns must be allowed to provide registration and voter materials inside facilities, with posting of voting information and free internet access where devices exist. These rules would start for the November 2026 Federal elections.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7]

MA • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5]

    MO • D

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

  • Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4]

    GA • D

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

  • Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12]

    PA • D

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

  • Rep. Mfume, Kweisi [D-MD-7]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

  • Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]

    DC • D

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

  • Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5]

    MN • D

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

  • Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

  • Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7]

    AL • D

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

  • Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

  • Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

  • Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

  • Rep. Casar, Greg [D-TX-35]

    TX • D

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

  • Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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