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United States · Bill · HR

H.R. 5294 (118th)

Unhoused Voter Opportunity Through Elections Act

referredUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

25 August 2023

Last action

25 August 2023 · Introduced

Status

Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Sponsors

Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5], Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5], Colin Allred, Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33], Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3], Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2], Rep. Porter, Katie [D-CA-47], Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-52], Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA], Rep. Lee, Barbara [D-CA-12], Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51], Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2], Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9], Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4], Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5], Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44], Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37], Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15], Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11], Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large], Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37], Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7], Rep. Crockett, Jasmine [D-TX-30], Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4], Rep. Grijalva, Raúl M. [D-AZ-7], Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38], Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9], Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3], Rep. Nickel, Wiley [D-NC-13], Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1], Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Bowman, Jamaal [D-NY-16], Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25], Rep. Payne, Donald M., Jr. [D-NJ-10], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8], Rep. Blumenauer, Earl [D-OR-3], Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20], Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7], Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6], Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8], Rep. Napolitano, Grace F. [D-CA-32], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Trone, David J. [D-MD-6]

Subjects

Discovery layer

Source updated

5 December 2025

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Summary

Unhoused Voter Opportunity Through Elections Act or the Unhoused VOTE Act This bill expands voter registration and voting access for unhoused individuals.  The bill specifies that no state or political subdivision may deny or abridge the right of any U.S. citizen to vote because the citizen resides at or in a nontraditional abode.  Additionally, the bill requires jurisdictions that allow for ballot drop boxes to ensure that these drop boxes are available for in-person use and are accessible and clearly labeled. If a state requires individuals to show proof of residence in order to vote in a federal election, then the state must accept the individual’s written attestation of residence. A state may not prohibit an individual who is residing in a homeless shelter from using the shelter as the individual’s residence for purposes of voting in a federal election. The bill requires chief state election officials to conduct outreach to unhoused individuals. The bill directs the Election Assistance Commission to (1) develop best practices for election officials regarding voter registration and voting access for unhoused individuals, and (2) make grants to eligible states and local governments for programs and activities to support access to voting for unhoused individuals.  The bill also revises the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, including by (1) treating emergency shelters as voter registration agencies, and (2) allowing an unhoused individual to use an unsheltered street location as the individual's place of residence for purposes of a voter registration application.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 25 August 2023

    Introduced

    Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 25 August 2023

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 25 August 2023

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

Votes

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Versions

Documents

3 official files

Introduced in House (text)

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  • Introduced in House (text)

    Introduced in House · EN · 25 August 2023

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  • Introduced in House (PDF)

    Introduced in House · EN · 25 August 2023

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  • Introduced in House

    summary · EN · 25 August 2023

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Sponsors

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Related records

Sources

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