Voting Access Expansion Act (VAEA)

A national framework to ensure free, fair, and accessible voting for all eligible citizens.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

This Act may be cited as the “Voting Access Expansion Act of 2025” or “VAEA.”

SECTION 2. PURPOSE & FINDINGS

2.1 Purpose

• To modernize voter registration, remove barriers to ballot access, and ensure participation for all eligible Americans.

• To protect the fundamental right to vote and fulfill the Constitution’s promise of representative democracy.

2.2 Congressional Findings

• The right to vote is foundational to a free society and must not be restricted based on geography, race, disability, income, or language.

• Inconsistent voting laws across states have led to unequal access and voter suppression.

• Expanding early voting, vote-by-mail, and online registration improves turnout and public trust.

SECTION 3. AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION (AVR)

3.1 National Standard

• All eligible U.S. citizens shall be automatically registered to vote when interacting with designated government agencies, including:

  • DMV / state ID renewal

  • Medicaid, SNAP, and public assistance programs

  • Public universities and tribal enrollment offices

3.2 Opt-Out Provision

• Voters may decline registration during the transaction without penalty.

3.3 Secure Information Handling

• State agencies must securely transmit required data to election officials within 10 days.

SECTION 4. SAME-DAY & ONLINE REGISTRATION

4.1 Same-Day Registration

• All states shall allow same-day voter registration during early voting and on Election Day at all polling sites.

4.2 Online Registration

• States shall provide secure online registration portals available in multiple languages and accessible formats, with real-time voter eligibility verification.

SECTION 5. EARLY VOTING & VOTE-BY-MAIL

5.1 Early In-Person Voting

• States must offer a minimum of 14 consecutive days of early voting (including at least two weekends) before every federal election.

• Early voting sites must be equitably distributed across urban, suburban, and rural areas.

5.2 Vote-by-Mail (VBM) Access

• All registered voters shall be offered a no-excuse vote-by-mail option.

• VBM ballots must include:

  • Prepaid postage

  • Ballot tracking

  • Cure process for signature mismatch or ballot error

• Ballots postmarked by Election Day and received within 7 days must be counted.

SECTION 6. VOTING RIGHTS FOR FORMERLY INCARCERATED PEOPLE

6.1 Federal Guarantee

• All U.S. citizens who are not currently serving an active felony prison sentence shall have their voting rights automatically restored.

• States must notify eligible individuals of restoration and facilitate registration upon release.

SECTION 7. LANGUAGE ACCESS & DISABILITY ACCOMMODATION

7.1 Language Support

• Jurisdictions with significant limited-English populations must provide bilingual ballots, assistance, and outreach materials as required under the Voting Rights Act and expanded by this law.

7.2 Disability Access

• All in-person and remote voting systems must comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and include:

  • Tactile ballots, accessible machines, and assistive tech

  • Remote accessible VBM platforms with screen reader compatibility

  • In-person assistance without loss of ballot secrecy

SECTION 8. VOTING INFRASTRUCTURE MODERNIZATION

8.1 Federal Grants

• Authorizes $1.5 billion over 10 years to:

  • Modernize voter registration systems

  • Upgrade voting machines and cybersecurity

  • Expand polling access, staff training, and mail ballot processing

8.2 Interoperability

• States must adopt systems that ensure secure data sharing, auditability, and cross-check protection while preserving voter privacy.

SECTION 9. ELECTION DAY AS A FEDERAL HOLIDAY

9.1 Establishment

• Election Day (Tuesday after the first Monday in November of even-numbered years) is hereby declared a federal public holiday.

9.2 Workplace Protection

• Employers must provide at least 2 hours of paid voting leave if employees do not have sufficient time before or after work to vote.

SECTION 10. ENFORCEMENT

10.1 Federal Oversight

• The Department of Justice Voting Rights Division shall enforce compliance.

• Citizens and advocacy organizations may bring actions in federal court for violations.

10.2 Penalties for Noncompliance

• States refusing to implement core provisions may lose access to federal election grants and be subject to consent decrees.

SECTION 11. SEVERABILITY

If any provision is found unconstitutional or invalid, the remainder shall remain in full force.