PRIA Logo™
Title 52, Voting and ElectionsRelease 119-110

§20301a Duties of Secretary Under Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act

Title 52 › Subtitle II — Voting Assistance and Election Administration › CHAPTER 203 — REGISTRATION AND VOTING BY ABSENT UNIFORMED SERVICES VOTERS AND OVERSEAS VOTERS IN ELECTIONS FOR FEDERAL OFFICE › § 20301a

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary, as the President’s designee under the law about absentee voting for military and overseas citizens, must take the necessary and practical steps so uniformed services voters at U.S. embassies and consulates overseas can receive and return ballots the same way and with the same protections as those at military installations. This rule applies to elections on or after January 1, 2021.

Full Legal Text

Title 52, §20301a

Voting and Elections, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Ensuring ability of absent uniformed services voters serving at diplomatic and consular posts to receive and transmit balloting materials
In carrying out the Secretary’s duties as the Presidential designee under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20301 et seq.), the Secretary shall take such actions as may be necessary, feasible, and practical to ensure that a uniformed services voter under such Act who is absent from the United States by reason of active duty or service at a diplomatic and consular post of the United States is able to receive and transmit balloting materials in the same manner and with the same rights and protections as a uniformed services voter under such Act who is absent from the United States by reason of active duty or service at a military installation.
(b)Effective date
This section shall apply with respect to elections held on or after January 1, 2021.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, referred to in subsec. (a), is Pub. L. 99–410, Aug. 28, 1986, 100 Stat. 924, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables. Codification Section was enacted as part of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, and not as part of title I of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act which comprises this chapter.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

52 U.S.C. § 20301a

Title 52, Voting and Elections

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110