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United States · Bill · HR

H.R. 5295 (118th)

Expanding the VOTE Act

referredUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

25 August 2023

Last action

25 August 2023 · Introduced

Status

Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, 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. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12], Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3], Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33], Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7], Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3], Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29], Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2], Rep. Boyle, Brendan F. [D-PA-2], Rep. Swalwell, Eric [D-CA-15], Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37], Sen. Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ], Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15], Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2], Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6], Rep. Porter, Katie [D-CA-47], Rep. Gomez, Jimmy [D-CA-34], Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-52], Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3], Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA], Rep. Lee, Barbara [D-CA-12], Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2], Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13], Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50], Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24], Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51], Rep. Kilmer, Derek [D-WA-6], David Scott, 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. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21], Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7], Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25], Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7], Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37], Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15], Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11], Rep. Ruppersberger, C. A. Dutch [D-MD-2], Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large], Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Rep. Wild, Susan [D-PA-7], Rep. Crockett, Jasmine [D-TX-30], Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-5], Rep. Trone, David J. [D-MD-6]

Subjects

Discovery layer

Source updated

5 December 2025

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Summary

Expanding the Voluntary Opportunities for Translations in Elections Act or the Expanding the VOTE Act This bill expands access to voting materials for individuals with limited proficiency in the English language. Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA) requires covered states and political subdivisions to provide voting materials and other language assistance to persons who are American Indian, Asian American, Alaskan Natives, or of Spanish heritage and whose ability to speak or understand English limits electoral participation. A state or political subdivision that is subject to Section 203 is prohibited from providing English-only voting materials in an election. Among other requirements, this bill (1) requires the Department of Justice to issue a notice of prohibition, including the trigger threshold at which the prohibition applies, to certain states and political subdivisions; and (2) requires covered states and political subdivisions to provide written translations of all voting materials, with the consent of any applicable tribal government, to election workers. Additionally, the bill requires the Election Assistance Commission to make incentive grants for states and political subdivisions to provide translated voting materials. The bill also directs the Government Accountability Office to study and report on the impact of (1) reducing the threshold requirement under Section 203 of the VRA, and (2) expanding the definition of  language minorities to include native speakers of additional languages.

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

Timeline

  1. 25 August 2023

    Introduced

    Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, 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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Sources

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