Sponsors (9)
The bill aims to protect and improve absentee voting for uniformed and overseas voters by directing a GAO study and encouraging better coordination, but doing so may require new spending and add administrative burdens that carry opportunity and budgetary costs.
Uniformed service members, their families, and overseas/absent voters will receive clearer, standardized information and support that reduces ballot transmission and counting errors, helping preserve their ability to vote.
Voting Assistance Officers and state/local election officials will have improved coordination, which can streamline assistance and increase the rate that absentee ballots are delivered and counted successfully.
GAO will produce an evidence-based report identifying gaps and actionable, cost-estimated steps for military Secretaries and Congress to strengthen voter registration assistance and absentee voting protections.
Taxpayers and the Department of Defense could face additional costs if recommendations to expand voter assistance are implemented, potentially requiring budget trade-offs.
State and local election offices and military departments may incur added administrative burdens to collect data and coordinate implementation, straining staff and operations during rollout.
The GAO study will consume agency resources and time, creating opportunity costs that could delay or reduce other audits and reports.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Directs GAO to analyze UOCAVA implementation for absent uniformed services voters and study ways to improve voter registration assistance for service members and their families, with a report due by Sept 30, 2027.
Official title: To require the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study of the effectiveness of the Federal Government in carrying out its responsibilities under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act to promote access to voting for absent uniformed services voters and an analysis of means for improving access to voter registration information and assistance for members of the Armed Forces and their family members, and for other purposes.
Introduced July 21, 2025 by Laurel Lee · Last progress July 21, 2025
Requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to analyze how the federal government implements the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) with respect to absentee uniformed services voters and to study ways to improve access to voter registration information and assistance for service members and their families. The GAO report must examine ballot transmission, counting and rejection rates and reasons, the effectiveness of Department of Defense Voting Assistance Officers, and awareness and delivery of statutory voter-registration assistance, include recommended actions the military departments could take, estimate costs, and be delivered to relevant congressional committees by September 30, 2027.