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§20984 Study and Report on Voters Who Register by Mail and Use of Social Security Information

Title 52 › Subtitle II — Voting Assistance and Election Administration › CHAPTER 209 — ELECTION ADMINISTRATION IMPROVEMENT › SUBCHAPTER II — COMMISSION › Part C — Studies and Other Activities To Promote Effective Administration of Federal Elections › § 20984

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Commission must study how a new mail-registration rule affects people who register by mail. The study must look at first-time mail registrants who later vote in person, how the rule affects the accuracy of voter lists (keeping out ineligible names and making sure eligible names are included), how it changes state practices like signature checks, and possible fixes such as extra ID checks or more information on the registration card. The Commission must send a report with recommendations to the President and Congress within 18 months after that mail rule takes effect. Within 18 months after the related Social Security rule takes effect, the Commission, working with the Social Security Commissioner, must study and report to Congress on using Social Security numbers or other Social Security data to help register voters or prove voter eligibility or identity. That study must consider matching records to individual voters, any national security effects, and whether privacy safeguards or waiver options protect voters.

Title 52, §20984

Voting and Elections, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Registration by mail

(1)Study

(A)In general

The Commission shall conduct a study of the impact of section 21083(b) of this title on voters who register by mail.

(B)Specific issues studied

The study conducted under subparagraph (A) shall include—

(i)an examination of the impact of section 21083(b) of this title on first time mail registrant voters who vote in person, including the impact of such section on voter registration;

(ii)an examination of the impact of such section on the accuracy of voter rolls, including preventing ineligible names from being placed on voter rolls and ensuring that all eligible names are placed on voter rolls; and

(iii)an analysis of the impact of such section on existing State practices, such as the use of signature verification or attestation procedures to verify the identity of voters in elections for Federal office, and an analysis of other changes that may be made to improve the voter registration process, such as verification or additional information on the registration card.

(2)Report

Not later than 18 months after the date on which section 21083(b)(2) of this title takes effect, the Commission shall submit a report to the President and Congress on the study conducted under paragraph (1)(A) together with such recommendations for administrative and legislative action as the Commission determines is appropriate.

(b)Use of Social Security information

Not later than 18 months after the date on which section 21083(a)(5) of this title takes effect, the Commission, in consultation with the Commissioner of Social Security, shall study and report to Congress on the feasibility and advisability of using Social Security identification numbers or other information compiled by the Social Security Administration to establish voter registration or other election law eligibility or identification requirements, including the matching of relevant information specific to an individual voter, the impact of such use on national security issues, and whether adequate safeguards or waiver procedures exist to protect the privacy of an individual voter.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

For the

Effective Date

s of subsecs. (a)(5) and (b)(2) of section 21083 of this title, referred to in subsecs. (a)(2) and (b), see section 21083(d) of this title. Codification Section was formerly classified to section 15384 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.