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Proposed

Bill · 119th Congress · S 5271

A bill to amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require voters to provide photo identification.

Refreshed 3 h ago

Introduced 2026-08-05Topic: governance ethics

Summary

Summary by the Congressional Research Service

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 submits with the ballot (1) a copy of their photo identification, or (2) 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. This prohibition shall not apply to overseas military voters and certain disabled or elderly voters. States must, to the extent practicable, ensure public access to digital imaging devices for individuals to make a free copy of their valid photo identification. These requirements take effect one day after the bill's enactment.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

Recorded votes

DateChamberQuestionResultYeasNays
2026-08-08Senate roll 231On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed S. 5271Cloture on the Motion to Proceed Rejected5246

Action history

DateChamberActionStatus effect
2026-08-08SenateCloture on the motion to proceed to the measure not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 52 - 46. Record Vote Number: 231.
2026-08-08SenateCloture motion on the motion to proceed to the measure presented in Senate. (CR S4556)
2026-08-08SenateMotion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (CR S4556)
2026-08-06SenateRead the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 547.
2026-08-05SenateIntroduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
2026-08-05Introduced in Senateintroduce
Source: GovInfo Bill Status (Library of Congress), fetched 2026-10-15. Provisions and opinion polling arrive in a later release.