S 958 — SAVE VOTERS Act

Summary

Stop Automatically Voiding Eligible Voters Off Their Enlisted Rolls in States Act or the SAVE VOTERS Act This bill requires verification and notice of the removal of registrants from an official list of eligible voters. Specifically, the bill requires a state or political subdivision to provide notice to individual registrants that are removed, the grounds for the removal, and information on contesting the removal. Public notice must be provided after any systematic removal of names. The bill provides conditions for the removal of names from an official list of eligible voters. A state is prohibited from removing a name unless the state verifies that the registrant is ineligible to vote. A state is prohibited from considering failure to vote in an election or failure to respond to a notice as evidence of ineligibility to vote.

Bill Text

• Introduced Introduced in Senate Current html March 28, 2019

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill strengthens protections against voter purging by requiring individualized notice and objective evidence of ineligibility before a registrant can be removed from voting rolls.

• 52 U.S.C. 20507

  (k) Individual and Public Notice of Removals From the Voting Rolls.--(1) In general.--(A) Individualized notice.--After a State or political subdivision removes the name of a registrant from the official list of eligible voters for any reason, the State or registrar shall send the former registrant notice of the removal, the grounds for the removal, and information on how to contest the removal or be reinstated, including a contact phone number. Such individualized notice is not required in instances where the State or political subdivision has received written confirmation from the registrant that the registrant is no longer eligible to vote in the jurisdiction in which the registrant is registered. (B) Public notice.--After a State or political subdivision completes any systematic program to remove the names of registrants from the official list of eligible voters for any reason, the State or registrar shall provide reasonable public notice, for example, in a newspaper of wide circulation or on the Internet website of the registrar and the chief State election official, that list maintenance is taking place and that voters should check their registration status to ensure no errors or mistakes have been made. The public notice under this subparagraph, in such publication or on the Internet, shall be in a format that is reasonably convenient and accessible to voters with disabilities, including voters who have low vision or are blind. (2) Deadline for notice.--A State or political subdivision shall provide the notice required under subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1) not later than 48 hours after the removal described in such subparagraph (A) or (B) took place.

  This change mandates states to provide individualized and public notice when voters are removed from lists, enhancing transparency and allowing voters to contest removals.

• 52 U.S.C. 20507

  SEC. 8A. CONDITIONS FOR REMOVAL OF VOTERS FROM OFFICIAL LIST OF REGISTERED VOTERS. (a) Verification on Basis of Objective and Reliable Evidence of Ineligibility.--Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, a State may not remove any registrant from the official list of voters eligible to vote in elections for Federal office in the State unless the State verifies, on the basis of objective and reliable evidence, that the registrant is ineligible to vote in such elections. (b) Sending of Notices.--A State may not send a notice described in paragraph (2) of section 8(d) unless the State first obtains objective and reliable evidence that a voter has changed residence to a place outside the registrar's jurisdiction in which the registrant is registered. (c) Factors Not Considered as Objective and Reliable Evidence of Ineligibility.--For purposes of subsection (a), the following factors, or any combination thereof, shall not be treated as objective and reliable evidence of a registrant's ineligibility to vote: (1) The failure of the registrant to vote in any election. (2) The failure of the registrant to respond to any notice sent under section 8(d), unless such notice has been returned as undeliverable. (3) The failure of the registrant to take any other action.

  This addition specifies that states must have reliable evidence before removing a voter from rolls, protecting against erroneous removals based on inactivity.

• 52 U.S.C. 20507

  provide → subject to section 8A, provide

  This change ties the provision of notice requirements to the new verification standards, ensuring compliance with the new rules.

• 52 U.S.C. 20507

  conduct → subject to section 8A, conduct

  This modification ensures that removal practices align with the new standards established for voter removals.

• 52 U.S.C. 20507

  A notice → Subject to section 8A(b), a notice

  This adjustment ensures the notice process conforms to the new requirements regarding objective evidence of ineligibility.

• 52 U.S.C. 21083

  of such Act → of such Act, and section 8A of such Act

  This change incorporates the new removal conditions into related voting administration practices.

• 52 U.S.C. 21083

  , registrants → , and subject to section 8A of such Act, registrants

  This ensures that registrants' removals are subject to the new verification standards, enhancing voter protections.

Action History

1. March 28, 2019

   Introduced in Senate

2. March 28, 2019

   Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.

Sponsors

• Jeff Merkley · Primary

Subjects