Bill Overview
Title: To amend the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to eliminate reliance on the change of address information provided by the United States Postal Service for the purpose of removing ineligible voters from the official list of voters in a State, and for other purposes.
Description: This bill revises requirements related to voter removal programs. Currently, each state must conduct a general program that makes a reasonable effort to remove the names of ineligible voters from the official lists of eligible voters by reason of (1) the death of the voter, or (2) a change in the residence of the voter. A state may meet this requirement by establishing a program under which change-of-address information is provided by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). This bill removes the ability of states to rely on this change-of-address information provided by the USPS for the purpose of removing the names of ineligible voters from the official lists of eligible voters.
Sponsors: Rep. Palmer, Gary J. [R-AL-6]
Target Audience
Population: Voters affected by residence change information updates
Estimated Size: 33000000
- This bill will impact voters who might have their registration status changed or updated based on the USPS change-of-address information.
- The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 governs voter registration processes across the United States.
- This change specifically affects individuals who move residences and rely on the USPS to update their voter registration information by proxy.
- There are approximately 168 million registered voters in the United States, all of whom could potentially be impacted by voter registration processes, although only those who move frequently are directly relevant to USPS address changes.
- The country has a population of 332 million people, and voting age population is around 258 million, so within this group, people who move would be most impacted.
Reasoning
- Since about 10% of Americans move each year, the primary impact will be on those who frequently change residences and rely on USPS for voter registration updates.
- The policy's budget needs to be allocated considering the nationwide scale and the size of the potential affected population, which is approximately 33 million Americans who move annually.
- With the policy's financial constraints, priority may be given to educating voters about how to manage their registrations independently of USPS change notifications.
Simulated Interviews
Public School Teacher (Atlanta, Georgia)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm concerned about this policy change because I rely on USPS updates whenever I move. It might create more work for me to ensure my voter registration is current.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 8 |
Software Engineer (New York, New York)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Given my tech-savvy background, I always update my voter registration online, so this policy doesn't directly impact me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Retired (Phoenix, Arizona)
Age: 61 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I move around often, and relying on USPS for voter updates has been convenient. This change will add complications.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 7 |
College Student (Los Angeles, California)
Age: 22 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could lead to more voter suppression by complicating the registration process. First-time voters might find this policy challenging.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Freelance Writer (Small town, Vermont)
Age: 50 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 1/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I rely heavily on mail systems for most documentation updates. This change increases uncertainty about staying registered.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 5 |
Nurse (Chicago, Illinois)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Most healthcare workers move often, and while I rely on digital systems for updates, this change might affect those who don't.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Retired (Dallas, Texas)
Age: 68 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy won't affect me directly as I've no plans to move, but it seems like an inconvenience for movers.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Farmer (Rural Kansas)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Rural areas depend more on USPS for voter info changes. This change means more manual tracking for us.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 6 |
Bartender (Miami, Florida)
Age: 27 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Frequent moves mean I can't rely on USPS alone, so it makes sense to manually check my info.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Engineer (Seattle, Washington)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- With frequent corporate relocations, I'm seasoned in updating registrations manually. However, this adds layers for others.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $75000000 (Low: $50000000, High: $100000000)
Year 2: $75000000 (Low: $50000000, High: $100000000)
Year 3: $60000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $80000000)
Year 5: $60000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $80000000)
Year 10: $60000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $80000000)
Year 100: $60000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $80000000)
Key Considerations
- The transition from USPS reliance may require new technology and data management systems for states.
- There are implications for voter privacy and data sharing as states seek alternative address verification methods.
- Political impact considerations include potential changes in voter turnout due to address change verification processes.
- The cost will vary significantly between states typically depending on their current infrastructure and voter registration processes.