S. 5271: A bill to amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require voters to provide photo identification.
This bill is not yet law.
It is still working its way through Congress and its contents may change.
Plain-language summary
S. 5271 is a bill introduced in the 119th Congress that seeks to amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002. The primary purpose of the legislation is to establish a federal requirement for voters to provide photo identification as a condition for casting a ballot in elections for federal office. The bill was introduced in August 2026 and failed to advance in the Senate following a cloture vote.
Potential impact: The bill would affect all individuals voting in federal elections by requiring them to present government-issued or otherwise valid photo identification to participate, potentially changing voting procedures in states that do not currently mandate photo ID.
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Bill Highlights
- Amends Title III of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to mandate photo identification for federal election voters
- Establishes a new section 303A within the Help America Vote Act to codify photo identification requirements
- Sets a federal standard requiring the presentation of valid photo identification as a condition of casting a ballot
- Applies identification requirements specifically to elections for federal office
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Positions on this bill
How tracked legislators acted.
Jon Husted
R-OH