Unhoused Voter Opportunity Through Elections Act

This bill makes it easier for people without stable housing to register and vote in federal elections. It bans rules that block someone from voting just because they live in a shelter, on the street, or in another nontraditional place. It also lets the U.S. Attorney General or an affected person go to court to stop violations.

States would have to accept a shelter address or a specific street location as a voter’s residence, and they must accept a signed statement of where someone lives if they require proof of residence. IDs issued by courts, prisons, probation, or parole can count where ID is required. Election officials must post clear, simple instructions for unhoused voters on their websites and send notices about registration deadlines and election dates to shelters and service agencies. Ballot drop boxes must be clearly labeled, accessible for in-person use, and placed with input to improve access for people experiencing homelessness. Shelters would also serve as voter registration sites, forms would let applicants mark their location on a simple map, and applicants could use an unsheltered location as their address. The bill adds questions to HUD-funded homelessness surveys to track how well people can register and vote, and it creates grants for states and cities to run outreach and mobile voting centers, with a requirement that any documents made for unhoused voters hold up to weather.

• Who is affected: People experiencing homelessness, including those in shelters or living outside.
• What changes: Easier ways to prove residence and ID; clear info and notices from election offices; accessible drop boxes; shelters as registration sites; map-based residence option on forms; grants for outreach.
• When: Most changes take effect 6 months after the law is enacted.