Text of Senate Amendment 4735

Text of Senate Amendment 4735

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 51 (Friday, March 20, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 51 (Friday, March 20, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S1453] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 4735. Mr. RICKETTS (for himself and Mrs. Fischer) 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: On page 42, line 21, strike ``or''. On page 43, line 3, strike ``subsection (c)(4).'' and insert ``subsection (c)(4); or''. On page 43, between lines 3 and 4, insert the following: (F) is a resident of a rural county with a population of 10,000 residents or less that has been certified to conduct elections for Federal office by mail in accordance with subsection (c)(5)(B). On page 45, between lines 17 and 18, insert the following: (5) Rural counties.-- (A) Individual requirement.--An individual seeking an absentee ballot under subsection (a)(1)(F) shall submit, together with the request required under subsection (b), a sworn certification that the individual is a resident of a rural county with a population of 10,000 residents or less that has been certified to conduct elections for Federal office by mail under subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, including documentation that is reasonably sufficient to establish such residency. (B) Rural county requirements.-- (i) In general.--A rural county with a population of 10,000 residents or less may conduct elections for Federal office by mail if the chief election official of the State in which the rural county is located submits to the Election Assistance Commission-- (I) a certification that the rural county has a population of 10,000 residents or less; and (II) a written plan for the conduct of elections for Federal office by mail in the applicable rural county, certifying that the rural county shall-- (aa) maintain not fewer than 1 in-person voting locations; and (bb) provide an option for the return of ballots by the voter, in person, to an office of the appropriate election official or to a polling place or other location designated by the State for the return of absentee ballots. (ii) Responsibilities of the election assistance commission.-- (I) Review.--The Election Assistance Commission shall review each certification submitted under clause (i). (II) Guidance.--The Election Assistance Commission shall issue guidance relating to additional requirements for the conduct of elections for Federal office by mail in rural counties with populations of 10,000 residents or less under this subparagraph and certifications under clause (i). On page 45, line 18, strike ``(5)'' and insert ``(6)''. ______