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    Absentee Ballot Legislation in the 109th Congress

    Published: January 26, 2009
    Bill No.Short TitleSponsorsDate IntroducedRelated BillsDescription
    S. 17Voting Opportunity and Technology Enhancement Rights Act of 2005DoddJanuary 24, 2005 Among other things, this bill would permit the use of a federal write-in absentee ballot by anyone who is eligible to vote in federal elections. The voter may designate a candidate by writing in the candidate’s name or write in the name of a political party (in which case, the ballot will be counted for the candidate of the political party). Abbreviations, misspellings, or other minor variations in candidate or political party names will not make a ballot invalid.
    S. 414Voter Protection Act of 2005McConnellFebruary 17, 2005 Among other things, this bill would prohibit states from accepting absentee ballots that arrive after the close of business on Election Day unless they are voted pursuant to the Uniform and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act. It would also prohibit states from accepting an application for absentee ballots unless it includes the driver’s license number, or if the voter does not have a driver’s license number, a copy of government-issued photo ID, the last 4 digits of the voter’s Social Security number, or the unique voter ID number.
    S. 450Count Every Vote Act of 2005ClintonFebruary 17, 2005H.R. 939This is an omnibus election reform bill that seeks to address a number of election administration problems that arose in the 2004 federal elections.  Among other things, it would require each state to allow citizens to vote by absentee ballot without showing a reason.
    S. 1867Displaced Citizens Voter Protection Act of 2005FeingoldOctober 7, 2005H.R. 3734This bill would extend the right to use absentee balloting and registration procedures available under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act to Hurricane Katrina evacuees.  Individuals seeking to use these options must submit to state election officials an affidavit stating the individual’s intention to return to their place of residence within the state.
    S. 4018Vote by Mail Act of 2006WydenSeptember 29, 2006 This bill would establish a program to provide states with funds to implement vote by mail systems administrated by the EAC. States that choose to participate in the program must develop standards and procedures for mailing ballots to voters, collecting them, and counting them.
    H.R. 533Voting Opportunity and Technology Enhancement Rights Act of 2005Conyers February 2, 2005 The provisions of this election reform bill are very similar to those in S. 17 and would address many election administration problems in the same way.
    H.R. 939Count Every Vote Act of 2005Jones February 17, 2005S. 450This omnibus election reform bill seeks to address a number of election administration problems that arose in the 2004 federal elections.  The provisions of this bill are similar to those in S. 450.
    H.R. 1835Universal Right to Vote by Mail Act of 2005Davis April 26, 2005 This bill would permit voters to vote by mail for any reason and would prohibit states from imposing additional conditions or requirements on people who want to vote by mail.
    H.R. 2104 NortonMay 4, 2005 

    Among other things, this bill would require election officials to accept absentee ballots that are sent without sufficient postage.

    H.R. 2250Valuing Our Trust in Elections ActGreen May 11, 2005H.R. 5776Among other things, this bill would prohibit anyone other than the voter or any person authorized to handle material delivered to the individuals (such as a caregiver or guardian) from handling an absentee ballot.
    H.R. 3557Voter Outreach and Turnout Expansion Act of 2005HastingsJuly 28, 2005 Among other things, this bill would permit voters to obtain absentee ballots for without providing a reason.
    H.R. 3734Displaced Citizens Voters Protection Act of 2005Davis September 13, 2005S. 1867This bill contains similar absentee ballot provisions for Hurricane Katrina evacuees as S. 1867.
    H.R. 4141 Millender-McDonaldOctober 25, 2005 This bill would permit the use of a national federal write-in absentee ballot in federal elections.  Ballots will not be disqualified if voters write in political party names where candidate names are requested or if the ballot contains any abbreviations, misspellings, or other minor variations in names.