To expand Americans’ access to the ballot box and reduce the influence of big money in politics, and for other purposes.
Analysis under review: This bill has generated analysis that may be too generic or incomplete. Clause-level evidence remains available below.
Summary
What This Bill Does
This legislation overhauls federal election law to expand voter access and regulate political money. It mandates automatic voter registration at DMVs, requires at least 15 days of early voting, expands mail-in voting options, and establishes same-day registration. It also creates a public financing system for congressional campaigns and requires disclosure of large political donors.
Who Benefits and How
Voters and citizens benefit through easier registration (automatic at DMV, online options), more voting opportunities (15+ days early voting, expanded mail-in), and same-day registration if they miss deadlines. Small-dollar political donors gain influence as their contributions are matched 6:1 with public funds. Candidates without wealthy backers can compete more effectively through the Small Dollar Democracy Program. Election workers receive new federal protections against harassment and intimidation.
Who Bears the Burden and How
State and local election officials face significant new compliance mandates including automatic registration systems, early voting infrastructure, ballot tracking programs, and post-election audits with 95% accuracy standards. Large political donors and dark money groups face new disclosure requirements for contributions over $10,000. Online platforms (Facebook, Google, etc.) must maintain public databases of political ads and verify purchasers are not foreign nationals. Foreign nationals face expanded prohibitions on election-related activities.
Key Provisions
- Automatic voter registration at DMVs with opt-out (not opt-in)
- Minimum 15 days of early voting required in all states
- 6:1 public matching of small-dollar contributions (under $200) for congressional campaigns
- Disclosure of donors giving over $10,000 to groups making political expenditures
- Ban on partisan gerrymandering with court-enforceable standards
- Paper ballot requirements and post-election risk-limiting audits
Evidence Chain:
This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers.
At a Glance
What This Bill Does
To expand Americans access to voting, modernize election infrastructure, reduce the influence of money in politics, establish redistricting standards, and strengthen election security
Key Policy Areas
Elections, Voting Rights, Campaign Finance, Government Ethics, Cybersecurity
Primary Purpose
To expand Americans access to voting, modernize election infrastructure, reduce the influence of money in politics, establish redistricting standards, and strengthen election security
Policy Domains
Title I - Voter Access
Identified Gains
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation- Voters with limited mobility or transportation
- Working-class voters
- Voters in rural areas
- Voters with disabilities
- Election accessibility technology vendors
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
Identified Costs
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation- State election officials
- State motor vehicle agencies
- U.S. Postal Service
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
Title V - Redistricting
Identified Gains
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation- Voters in gerrymandered districts
- Minority voters
- Political parties disadvantaged by current maps
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
Identified Costs
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation- State legislatures
- Political parties benefiting from current maps
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
Title II - Election Integrity
Identified Gains
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation- Voter registration organizations
- Voters
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
Identified Costs
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation- Individuals who interfere with voter registration
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
Title IV - Election Administration
Identified Gains
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation- U.S. voting machine manufacturers
- Voters concerned about election integrity
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
Identified Costs
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation- State election officials
- Foreign voting machine manufacturers
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
Title VI - Campaign Finance
Identified Gains
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation- Voters seeking information about political ads
- Candidates facing dark money attacks
- Journalists covering elections
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
Identified Costs
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation- Dark money organizations
- Online platforms
- Foreign nationals
- 501(c)(4) social welfare organizations
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
Title III - Election Security
Identified Gains
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation- Election workers
- Voters facing restrictions
- Voting system security vendors
- Cybersecurity firms
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
Identified Costs
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation- State legislatures seeking to restrict voting
- Local election administrators
- Voting machine manufacturers
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
Title VII - FEC Enforcement
Identified Gains
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation- FEC enforcement staff
- Complainants alleging campaign finance violations
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
Identified Costs
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation- Campaign finance violators
- Political committees
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
Title VIII - Public Financing and Democracy Programs
Identified Gains
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation- Small-dollar donors
- Candidates without wealthy networks
- Grassroots campaigns
- States receiving democracy grants
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
Identified Costs
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation- Corporate malfeasance settlements (fund source)
- Participating candidates (compliance requirements)
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
IntroducedMs. Klobuchar (for herself, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Kaine, Mr. King, …
Stakeholder Effects
cui bono?How this legislation distributes effects. Mention counts reflect frequency, not effect magnitude.
DC and territorial election agencies, Election officials, Election workers
Poll workers, State governments face effects in multiple directions
Positive-direction: DC and territorial election agencies, Election officials, Election workers, Local election administrators, State election agencies, States not collecting phone numbers, States without voter registration requirements
Negative-direction: Previously exempt states, State and local election officials, State and local governments, State and local governments receiving prison funds, State corrections departments, State election officials, State legislatures, State motor vehicle agencies, States requiring full SSN, States with line warming bans, States with strict mail voting rules, States with strict photo ID requirements
Citizens obtaining drivers licenses, Domestic violence victims, Eligible voters
Positive-direction: Citizens obtaining drivers licenses, Domestic violence victims, Eligible voters, Federally assisted housing residents, Formerly incarcerated persons, Individual voters/small donors, Mail-in voters, Military and overseas voters, Newly naturalized citizens, Non-citizens accidentally registered, Registered voters, Unregistered eligible voters, Victims of violence, Voter registration applicants, Voters, Voters at risk of improper removal, Voters in Virgin Islands and Guam, Voters in underserved areas, Voters seeking to vote by mail, Voters subject to caging, Voters subject to challenges, Voters waiting in line, Voters who missed registration deadlines, Voters with disabilities, Voters with disabilities and seniors, Voters without photo ID, Working voters, Young voters (16-17 year olds)
Negative-direction: Individuals challenging voter eligibility, Individuals doxxing election workers, Individuals harassing election workers, Individuals interfering with registration, Individuals interfering with voter registration, Individuals spreading election misinformation
Congress, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, County election boards
Election Assistance Commission, Federal Election Commission, State election offices face effects in multiple directions
Positive-direction: State and local election offices, States with more Congressional districts
Negative-direction: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, County election boards, DC District Court, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, FEC Small Dollar Democracy Division, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Federal Election Commission General Counsel, Federal Voting Assistance Program, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, Government Accountability Office, HUD and housing agencies, Redistricting commissions, State and county election boards, State and local election administrators, State election offices operating credit programs, State election officials, State legislatures, State legislatures and redistricting bodies, State redistricting commissions, United States Postal Service
Campaign finance violators, Candidates who appeal to small donors, Candidates with caregiving responsibilities
Participating candidates, Political party committees face effects in multiple directions
Positive-direction: Candidates who appeal to small donors, Candidates with caregiving responsibilities, Candidates with grassroots donor support, Candidates with grassroots fundraising support, General election candidates with grassroots support, Grassroots candidates with broad donor bases, House candidates aligned with parties, House candidates with grassroots support, National political party committees, Non-wealthy political candidates
Negative-direction: Campaign finance violators, Congressional candidates seeking public financing, Participating candidates receiving public matching funds, Past campaign finance violators, Political action committees, Super PACs, Wealthy self-funding candidates
Accessibility technology firms, Accessibility technology vendors, Accessible voting technology vendors
Positive-direction: Accessibility technology firms, Accessibility technology vendors, Accessible voting technology vendors, Cybersecurity service providers, Election technology vendors, Voting technology developers, Web accessibility firms, Web development firms
Negative-direction: Online advertising platforms (Meta, Google, etc.), Online platforms, Online platforms hosting political ads, Social media platforms (Meta, X, TikTok)
Ballot paper manufacturers, Election technology vendors, Electronic poll book manufacturers
Positive-direction: Election technology vendors, Paper ballot equipment manufacturers, Qualified election infrastructure vendors, US-based voting machine manufacturers, Voting equipment manufacturers, Voting equipment vendors
Negative-direction: Ballot paper manufacturers, Electronic poll book manufacturers, Electronic voting machine manufacturers, Foreign voting machine manufacturers, Voting machine manufacturers, Voting system vendors
Campaign finance accountants, Civil rights litigation attorneys, Corporate attorneys and incorporation agents
Positive-direction: Campaign finance accountants, Civil rights litigation attorneys, Cybersecurity training providers, Election auditing service providers, Voting rights plaintiffs
Negative-direction: Corporate attorneys and incorporation agents, Corporate formation agents, Parties challenging election laws, Political consultants
501(c)(4) organizations making political expenditures, 501(c)(4) social welfare organizations, Civic organizations providing refreshments
Positive-direction: Civic organizations providing refreshments, Voter registration organizations
Negative-direction: 501(c)(4) organizations making political expenditures, 501(c)(4) social welfare organizations, Covered organizations making political disbursements
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
- "the_secretary"
- → Secretary of Homeland Security (for naturalization provisions)
- "the_commission"
- → Election Assistance Commission
- "chief_state_election_official"
- → State official responsible for election administration
- "the_attorney_general"
- → United States Attorney General
- "the_director"
- → Director of CISA (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency)
- "the_commission"
- → Election Assistance Commission
- "the_attorney_general"
- → United States Attorney General
- "the_commission"
- → Election Assistance Commission
- "the_court"
- → Federal courts with jurisdiction over redistricting challenges
- "the_director"
- → Director of FinCEN (Financial Crimes Enforcement Network)
- "the_commission"
- → Federal Election Commission
- "the_commission"
- → Federal Election Commission
- "general_counsel"
- → General Counsel of the FEC
- "the_director"
- → Director of Office of Democracy Advancement and Innovation
- "the_commission"
- → Federal Election Commission
- "division_director"
- → Director of Small Dollar Democracy Division within FEC
Note: The Commission refers to Election Assistance Commission in Titles I, III, and IV, but refers to Federal Election Commission in Titles VI, VII, and VIII
Key Definitions
Terms defined in this bill
A candidate certified under Title V who agrees to contribution limits and receives 6:1 matching funds for qualified small dollar contributions
A contribution between $1 and $200 made directly by an individual to a candidate, not bundled or forwarded by another entity
A non-forwardable document sent to voters that if returned undelivered is used to challenge voter eligibility
A general, special, primary, or runoff election for President, Vice President, Senator, Representative, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner
An entity making campaign-related disbursements over $10,000 that must disclose donors
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology