Voter ID Act

Voter ID Act

This bill establishes certain photo identification requirements for voting in federal elections.

Specifically, the bill prohibits a state or local election official from providing a ballot for a federal election to an individual who does not present valid physical photo identification.

Next, the bill outlines the availability of provisional ballots and the requirements for counting those ballots. An individual who does not present a valid photo identification must be permitted to cast a provisional ballot. However, an election official may not determine that the individual is eligible under state law to vote in the election unless, not later than three days after casting the provisional ballot, the individual presents (1) the identification required, or (2) an affidavit attesting that the individual does not possess the identification because of a religious objection to being photographed.

An election official may not allow for voting methods other than in-person voting unless the individual (1) submits the ballot with a copy of their photo identification or the last four digits of their Social Security number with an affidavit attesting that the individual is unable to obtain a copy of a valid photo identification after making reasonable efforts to obtain a copy, or (2) includes a notarization attesting that the individual has personally marked the ballot. This prohibition shall not apply to overseas military voters and certain disabled or elderly voters.

The Election Assistance Commission must make grants to states and tribal governments that provide eligible individuals with free valid photo identification.

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov