Text of Senate Amendment 4711

Text of Senate Amendment 4711

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 51 (Friday, March 20, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 51 (Friday, March 20, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S1445-S1446] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 4711. Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 4420 proposed by Mr. Thune (for Mr. Schmitt) to the bill S. 1383, to establish the Veterans Advisory Committee on Equal Access, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the end of title I insert the following: Subtitle D--Protection Military, Military Family, and Overseas Voters SEC. __. PROTECTING MILITARY, MILITARY FAMILY, AND OVERSEAS VOTERS. (a) Requirement.-- (1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of this title or the amendments made by this Act, the provisions of and the amendments made by this title shall not apply before the date that is 2 years after the following have been submitted to Congress: (A) A certification meeting the requirement of subsection (b). (B) The findings of each member of the Election Assistance Commission with respect to the matters required to be certified under subsection (b)(1). (C) A report prepared by the Presidential designee documenting the basis for the certification under subsection (b)(1) and including a State-by State impact analysis of effects of such provisions and amendments on absent uniformed services voters (as defined in section 107(1) of the Uniformed and Absentee Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20310(1))) and overseas voters (as defined in section 107(5) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 20310(5))). (2) Extension.-- (A) Submission of request.--The chief State election official of a State may submit to the Commission a request up to a 1-year extension of the applicable date under paragraph (1) with respect to the application of any provision of this title to the State. (B) Consideration.--The Commission may grant such extension upon a finding of good cause that the State is not yet operationally ready to implement this title without materially impairing or burdening the ability of absent uniformed services voters (as defined in section 107(1) of the Uniformed and Absentee Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20310(1))) and overseas voters (as defined in section 107(5) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 20310(5))) to register, request, receive, cast, and have counted absentee ballots in elections for Federal office. (b) Certification.--A certification under subsection (a)(1)(A) meets the requirements of this subsection if such certification includes-- (1) a statement, signed by the Presidential designee under section 101 of the Uniformed and Absentee Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20301), the Attorney General, and each member of the Election Assistance Commission, that the implementation of the provisions of and amendments made by this Act will not materially impair, delay, burden, or reduce the ability of absent uniformed services voters (as defined in section 107(1) of the Uniformed and Absentee Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20310(1))) and overseas voters (as defined in section 107(5) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 20310(5))) to register, request, receive, cast, and have counted absentee ballots in elections for Federal office; (2) a statement, signed by the Presidential designee under section 101 of such Act that the chief State election official of each State has been consulted and has no unresolved objections to the certification under paragraph (1); (3) a statement, signed by the Inspector Generals for the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Defense, and the Election Assistance Commission, that plans for the implementation of this Act and the amendments made by this Act-- (A) will not conflict with the provisions of the Uniformed and Absentee Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20301) or the Military Overseas Voting Empowerment [[Page S1446]] Act, including the use of the official post card form prescribed under section 101(b)(2) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 20301(b)(2)), the use of the Federal write-in absentee ballot prescribed under section 103 of such Act (52 U.S.C. 20303), or the requirement that States timely transmit ballots before Federal elections under section 102(a)(8) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 20302(a)(8)); and (B) contain adequate safeguards to protect the rights of such voters under such Act; and (4) a determination by the Election Assistance Commission that Congress has appropriated funding specifically for State implementation of this title, including funding for election official training, voter education, and any required safeguards or accommodations. ______