To establish within the legislative branch a Congressional Task Force on Voting Rights of United States Citizen Residents of Territories of the United States.

This bill creates a Congressional task force to study how to ensure full voting rights for U.S. citizens who live in the territories. It notes that people in the territories care deeply about voting, often vote at higher rates than many places on the mainland, and have long served in America’s wars. The task force will have 15 members from the House and Senate. It can hold hearings, gather information, and must work with the governments of American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Its job is to report on barriers to voting in federal elections (including President and Vice President) and barriers to full representation in the House, and to recommend changes. It will also look at how lack of voting power affects people and communities in the territories.

Key points

• Who is affected: Residents of American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
• What changes: A 15‑member task force is created to study problems and recommend ways to achieve equal voting rights and representation for territorial residents in federal elections .
• When: Members are appointed within 30 days of the law taking effect; a status update is due at 180 days; a full report is due within one year; the task force ends after issuing its report.