[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 122 (Tuesday, July 13, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E753]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  INTRODUCTION OF THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS VOTING ASSISTANCE ACT

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                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 13, 2021

  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Federal 
Bureau of Prisons Voting Assistance Act with Congresswoman Chellie 
Pingree and Congressman Peter Welch. This bill would require the 
Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to provide to inmates from 
jurisdictions that allow inmates to vote, like the District of 
Columbia, Vermont and Maine, information on how to register to vote and 
request an absentee ballot. It would require BOP to provide each BOP 
prison information on the criteria for voter registration, instructions 
on voter registration, voter registration forms and prepaid envelopes 
for voter registration forms, if provided by the state generally. Each 
prison would be required to post the information in the facility and 
give it to each inmate eligible to vote.
  These are essentially the practices BOP used in the most recent 
presidential election, so this bill would codify an already successful 
practice of assisting with voter enfranchisement.
  I ask my colleagues to support this bill.

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