text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Voter Registration Modernization 
  Act''.
  
  SEC. 2. REQUIRING AVAILABILITY OF INTERNET FOR VOTER REGISTRATION.
  
      (a) Requiring Availability of Internet for Registration.--The 
  National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20501 et seq.) is 
  amended by inserting after section 6 the following new section:
  
  ``SEC. 6A. INTERNET REGISTRATION.
  
      ``(a) Requiring Availability of Internet for Online Registration.--
              ``(1) Availability of online registration.--Each State, 
          acting through the chief State election official, shall ensure 
          that the following services are available to the public at any 
          time on the official public websites of the appropriate State 
          and local election officials in the State, in the same manner 
          and subject to the same terms and conditions as the services 
          provided by voter registration agencies under section 7(a):
                      ``(A) Online application for voter registration.
                      ``(B) Online assistance to applicants in applying 
                  to register to vote.
                      ``(C) Online completion and submission by 
                  applicants of the mail voter registration application 
                  form prescribed by the Election Assistance Commission 
                  pursuant to section 9(a)(2), including assistance with 
                  providing a signature in electronic form as required 
                  under subsection (c).
                      ``(D) Online receipt of completed voter 
                  registration applications.
      ``(b) Acceptance of Completed Applications.--A State shall accept 
  an online voter registration application provided by an individual 
  under this section, and ensure that the individual is registered to 
  vote in the State, if--
              ``(1) the individual meets the same voter registration 
          requirements applicable to individuals who register to vote by 
          mail in accordance with section 6(a)(1) using the mail voter 
          registration application form prescribed by the Election 
          Assistance Commission pursuant to section 9(a)(2); and
              ``(2)(A) in the case of an individual who has a signature 
          on file with the State motor vehicle authority, the information 
          provided in the application matches the records of such State 
          motor vehicle authority; and
              ``(B) in any other case, the individual provides a 
          signature in electronic form in accordance with subsection (c).
      ``(c) Signatures in Electronic Form.--For purposes of this section, 
  an individual provides a signature in electronic form by--
              ``(1) executing a computerized mark in the signature field 
          on an online voter registration application; or
              ``(2) submitting with the application an electronic copy of 
          the individual's handwritten signature through electronic 
          means.
      ``(d) Provision of Services in Nonpartisan Manner.--The services 
  made available under subsection (a) shall be provided in a manner that 
  ensures that, consistent with section 7(a)(5)--
              ``(1) the online application does not seek to influence an 
          applicant's political preference or party registration; and
              ``(2) there is no display on the website promoting any 
          political preference or party allegiance, except that nothing 
          in this paragraph may be construed to prohibit an applicant 
          from registering to vote as a member of a political party.
      ``(e) Protection of Security of Information.--In meeting the 
  requirements of this section, the State shall establish appropriate 
  technological security measures to prevent to the greatest extent 
  practicable any unauthorized access to information provided by 
  individuals using the services made available under subsection (a).
      ``(f) Nondiscrimination Among Registered Voters Using Mail and 
  Online Registration.--In carrying out this Act, the Help America Vote 
  Act of 2002, or any other Federal, State, or local law governing the 
  treatment of registered voters in the State or the administration of 
  elections for public office in the State, a State shall treat a 
  registered voter who registered to vote online in accordance with this 
  section in the same manner as the State treats a registered voter who 
  registered to vote by mail.
      ``(g) Accessibility of Online Registration.--The services provided 
  under subsection (a) shall be provided in a manner that is accessible 
  to individuals with disabilities, including those that are blind and 
  visually impaired, in a manner that provides the same opportunity for 
  access and participation (including privacy and independence) as for 
  other voters.''.
      (b) Treatment as Individuals Registering To Vote by Mail for 
  Purposes of First-Time Voter Identification Requirements.--Section 
  303(b)(1)(A) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 
  21083(b)(1)(A)) is amended by striking ``by mail'' and inserting ``by 
  mail or online under section 6A of the National Voter Registration Act 
  of 1993''.
      (c) Conforming Amendments.--
              (1) Timing of registration.--Section 8(a)(1) of the 
          National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20507(a)(1)) 
          is amended--
                      (A) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph 
                  (C);
                      (B) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as 
                  subparagraph (E); and
                      (C) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the 
                  following new subparagraph:
                      ``(D) in the case of online registration through 
                  the official public website of an election official 
                  under section 6A, if the valid voter registration 
                  application is submitted online not later than the 
                  lesser of 30 days, or the period provided by State law, 
                  before the date of the election (as determined by 
                  treating the date on which the application is sent 
                  electronically as the date on which it is submitted); 
                  and''.
              (2) Informing applicants of eligibility requirements and 
          penalties.--Section 8(a)(5) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 20507(a)(5)) 
          is amended by striking ``and 7'' and inserting ``6A, and 7''.
  
  SEC. 3. USE OF INTERNET TO UPDATE REGISTRATION INFORMATION.
  
      (a) In General.--
              (1) Updates to information contained on computerized 
          statewide voter registration list.--Section 303(a) of the Help 
          America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21083(a)) is amended by 
          adding at the end the following new paragraph:
              ``(6) Use of internet by registered voters to update 
          information.--
                      ``(A) In general.--The appropriate State or local 
                  election official shall ensure that any registered 
                  voter on the computerized list may at any time update 
                  the voter's registration information, including the 
                  voter's address and electronic mail address, online 
                  through the official public website of the election 
                  official responsible for the maintenance of the list, 
                  so long as the voter attests to the contents of the 
                  update by providing a signature in electronic form in 
                  the same manner required under section 6A(c) of the 
                  National Voter Registration Act of 1993.
                      ``(B) Processing of updated information by election 
                  officials.--If a registered voter updates registration 
                  information under subparagraph (A), the appropriate 
                  State or local election official shall--
                              ``(i) revise any information on the 
                          computerized list to reflect the update made by 
                          the voter; and
                              ``(ii) if the updated registration 
                          information affects the voter's eligibility to 
                          vote in an election for Federal office, ensure 
                          that the information is processed with respect 
                          to the election if the voter updates the 
                          information not later than the lesser of 30 
                          days, or the period provided by State law, 
                          before the date of the election.''.
              (2) Conforming amendment relating to effective date.--
          Section 303(d)(1)(A) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 21083(d)(1)(A)) is 
          amended by striking ``subparagraph (B)'' and inserting 
          ``subparagraph (B) and subsection (a)(6)''.
      (b) Ability of Registrant To Use Online Update To Provide 
  Information on Residence.--Section 8(d)(2)(A) of the National Voter 
  Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20507(d)(2)(A)) is amended--
              (1) in the first sentence, by inserting after ``return the 
          card'' the following: ``or update the registrant's information 
          on the computerized Statewide voter registration list using the 
          online method provided under section 303(a)(6) of the Help 
          America Vote Act of 2002''; and
              (2) in the second sentence, by striking ``returned,'' and 
          inserting the following: ``returned or if the registrant does 
          not update the registrant's information on the computerized 
          Statewide voter registration list using such online method,''.
  
  SEC. 4. STUDY ON BEST PRACTICES FOR INTERNET REGISTRATION.
  
      (a) In General.--The Director of the National Institute of 
  Standards and Technology shall conduct an ongoing study on best 
  practices for implementing the requirements for Internet registration 
  under section 6A of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (as 
  added by section 2) and the requirement to permit voters to update 
  voter registration information online under section 303(a)(6) of the 
  Help America Vote Act of 2002 (as added by section 3) in a fully 
  accessible manner.
      (b) Report.--
              (1) In general.--Not later than 4 months after the date of 
          the enactment of this Act, the Director of the National 
          Institute of Standards and Technology shall make publicly 
          available a report on the study conducted under subsection (a).
              (2) Quadrennial update.--The Director of the National 
          Institute of Standards and Technology shall review and update 
          the report made under paragraph (1).
      (c) Use of Best Practices in EAC Voluntary Guidance.--Subsection 
  (a) of section 311 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 
  21101(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following new sentence: 
  ``Such voluntary guidance shall utilize the best practices developed by 
  the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
  under section 4 of the Voter Registration Modernization Act for the use 
  of the Internet in voter registration.''.
  
  SEC. 5. PROVISION OF ELECTION INFORMATION BY ELECTRONIC MAIL TO 
                INDIVIDUALS REGISTERED TO VOTE.
  
      (a) Including Option on Voter Registration Application To Provide 
  E-Mail Address and Receive Information.--
              (1) In general.--Section 9(b) of the National Voter 
          Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20508(b)) is amended--
                      (A) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph 
                  (3);
                      (B) by striking the period at the end of paragraph 
                  (4) and inserting ``; and''; and
                      (C) by adding at the end the following new 
                  paragraph:
              ``(5) shall include a space for the applicant to provide 
          (at the applicant's option) an electronic mail address, 
          together with a statement that, if the applicant so requests, 
          instead of using regular mail the appropriate State and local 
          election officials shall provide to the applicant, through 
          electronic mail sent to that address, the same voting 
          information (as defined in section 302(b)(2) of the Help 
          America Vote Act of 2002) which the officials would provide to 
          the applicant through regular mail.''.
              (2) Prohibiting use for purposes unrelated to official 
          duties of election officials.--Section 9 of such Act (52 U.S.C. 
          20508) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
          subsection:
      ``(c) Prohibiting Use of Electronic Mail Addresses for Other Than 
  Official Purposes.--The chief State election official shall ensure that 
  any electronic mail address provided by an applicant under subsection 
  (b)(5) is used only for purposes of carrying out official duties of 
  election officials and is not transmitted by any State or local 
  election official (or any agent of such an official, including a 
  contractor) to any person who does not require the address to carry out 
  such official duties and who is not under the direct supervision and 
  control of a State or local election official.''.
      (b) Requiring Provision of Information by Election Officials.--
  Section 302(b) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 
  21082(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
              ``(3) Provision of other information by electronic mail.--
          If an individual who is a registered voter has provided the 
          State or local election official with an electronic mail 
          address for the purpose of receiving voting information (as 
          described in section 9(b)(5) of the National Voter Registration 
          Act of 1993), the appropriate State or local election official, 
          through electronic mail transmitted not later than 30 days 
          before the date of the election involved, shall provide the 
          individual with information on how to obtain the following 
          information by electronic means:
                      ``(A) The name and address of the polling place at 
                  which the individual is assigned to vote in the 
                  election.
                      ``(B) The hours of operation for the polling place.
                      ``(C) A description of any identification or other 
                  information the individual may be required to present 
                  at the polling place.''.
  
  SEC. 6. CLARIFICATION OF REQUIREMENT REGARDING NECESSARY INFORMATION TO 
                SHOW ELIGIBILITY TO VOTE.
  
      Section 8 of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 
  20507) is amended--
              (1) by redesignating subsection (j) as subsection (k); and
              (2) by inserting after subsection (i) the following new 
          subsection:
      ``(j) Requirement for State To Register Applicants Providing 
  Necessary Information To Show Eligibility To Vote.--For purposes 
  meeting the requirement of subsection (a)(1) that an eligible applicant 
  is registered to vote in an election for Federal office within the 
  deadlines required under such subsection, the State shall consider an 
  applicant to have provided a `valid voter registration form' if--
              ``(1) the applicant has accurately completed the 
          application form and attested to the statement required by 
          section 9(b)(2); and
              ``(2) in the case of an applicant who registers to vote 
          online in accordance with section 6A, the applicant provides a 
          signature in accordance with subsection (c) of such section.''.
  
  SEC. 7. IMPLEMENTATION PAYMENTS.
  
      (a) In General.--The Election Assistance Commission shall make an 
  implementation payment each year in an amount determined under 
  subsection (c) to each State.
      (b) Use of Funds.--
              (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), a 
          State receiving a payment under subsection (a) shall use the 
          payment only to meet the requirements of this Act.
              (2) Other activities.--A State may use implementation 
          payments to carry out other activities to improve the 
          administration of elections for Federal office if the State 
          certifies to the Commission that--
                      (A) the State has implemented the requirements of 
                  this Act; and
                      (B) the amount expended with respect to such other 
                  activities does not exceed the an amount equal to the 
                  minimum payment amount applicable to the State under 
                  subsection (c)(3).
              (3) Limitation.--Rules similar to the rules of section 
          251(f) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 
          21001(f)) shall apply for purposes of this section.
      (c) Allocation of Funds.--
              (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (3), the amount of an 
          implementation payment made to a State for any year shall be 
          equal to--
                      (A) the total amount appropriated for 
                  implementation payments for the year pursuant to the 
                  authorization under subsection (d); and
                      (B) the State allocation percentage for the State.
              (2) State allocation percentage.--The term ``State 
          allocation percentage'' has the same meaning as given such term 
          under section 252(b) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 
          U.S.C. 21002(b)).
              (3) Minimum amount of payment; other rules.--Rules similar 
          to the rules of subsections (c), (d), and (e) of section 252 of 
          such Act (52 U.S.C. 21002) shall apply for purposes of this 
          subsection.
      (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--
              (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
          for implementation payments under this section $15,000,000 for 
          fiscal year 2015.
              (2) Availability.--Any amounts appropriated pursuant to the 
          authority of paragraph (1) shall remain available without 
          fiscal year limitation until expended.
      (e) Reports.--Not later than April 1, 2017, each State which 
  received an implementation payment under this section shall submit a 
  report to the Commission on the activities conducted with funds 
  provided under this section.
  
  SEC. 8. EFFECTIVE DATE.
  
      (a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), the 
  amendments made by this Act (other than the amendments made by section 
  5) shall take effect January 1, 2016.
      (b) Waiver.--If a State certifies to the Election Assistance 
  Commission not later than January 1, 2016, that the State will not meet 
  the deadline referred to in subsection (a) for good cause and includes 
  in the certification the reasons for the failure to meet such deadline, 
  subsection (a) shall apply to the State as if the reference in such 
  subsection to ``January 1, 2016'' were a reference to ``January 1, 
  2018''.
target: Voter Registration Modernization Act - Amends the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA) to require each state to make available official public websites for online voter registration.  Directs the appropriate state or local election official to ensure that information on the computerized statewide voter registration list may be updated through the official public website.  Directs the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to study best practices for implementing the requirements for Internet registration and the online updating of voter registration information. Authorizes the provision of election information by electronic mail to individuals registered to vote who have requested to receive it. Directs the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to make an implementation payment each year to enable each state to meet the requirements of this Act and to carry out activities to improve the administration of federal elections.
feat_title: Voter Registration Modernization Act