§20505 — Title 52 Voting and Elections | U.S. Code

Summary

States must use the mail voter registration form the Federal Election Commission creates for federal elections. A State may also make its own mail form if it meets the rules in section 20508(b). Either the FEC form or a State form can be used to report a change of address. The chief State election official must make these forms available to government and private groups, especially for organized voter registration drives. A State can require a person who registered by mail and has never voted in that jurisdiction to vote in person, unless the person can vote absentee under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20301 et seq.), has a non‑in‑person voting right under section 20102(b)(2)(B)(ii), or is covered by another federal law. If a notice about a mail registration is sent by nonforwardable mail and is returned undelivered, the registrar may follow the procedure in section 20507(d).

Title 52, §20505

Voting and Elections — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)Each State shall accept and use the mail voter registration application form prescribed by the Federal Election Commission pursuant to section 20508(a)(2) of this title for the registration of voters in elections for Federal office.

(2)In addition to accepting and using the form described in paragraph (1), a State may develop and use a mail voter registration form that meets all of the criteria stated in section 20508(b) of this title for the registration of voters in elections for Federal office.

(3)A form described in paragraph (1) or (2) shall be accepted and used for notification of a registrant’s change of address.

(b)The chief State election official of a State shall make the forms described in subsection (a) available for distribution through governmental and private entities, with particular emphasis on making them available for organized voter registration programs.

(c)(1)Subject to paragraph (2), a State may by law require a person to vote in person if—

(A)the person was registered to vote in a jurisdiction by mail; and

(B)the person has not previously voted in that jurisdiction.

(2)Paragraph (1) does not apply in the case of a person—

(A)who is entitled to vote by absentee ballot under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act [52 U.S.C. 20301 et seq.];

(B)who is provided the right to vote otherwise than in person under section 20102(b)(2)(B)(ii) of this title; or

(C)who is entitled to vote otherwise than in person under any other Federal law.

(d)If a notice of the disposition of a mail voter registration application under section 20507(a)(2) of this title is sent by nonforwardable mail and is returned undelivered, the registrar may proceed in accordance with section 20507(d) of this title.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, referred to in subsec. (c)(2)(A), 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. Codification Section was formerly classified to section 1973gg–4 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

§20505 Mail Registration

Summary

Title 52, §20505

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

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