Expanding the VOTE Act

Improved access to voting information: The bill expands the definition of "voting materials" to include digital and printed material or information related to the electoral process, such as registration, forms, instructions, and ballots (Section 2).

Better notice for jurisdictions near thresholds: The Attorney General is required to submit notice of prohibitions and thresholds to states or political subdivisions that are within 1,000 people or 0.5 percent of the required threshold (Section 2).

Support for unwritten languages: For American Indian, Alaska Native, or other minority groups with unwritten languages, the bill allows for the provision of oral instructions, assistance, and translation instead of written materials (Section 3).

Ensuring translation accuracy: The bill allows for the provision of written translations of all voting materials to election workers to ensure translations are complete, accurate, and uniform (Section 3).

Financial assistance for language minority groups: The Election Assistance Commission can provide incentive grants to states and political subdivisions to cover reasonable costs for providing voting materials in the language of a covered language minority group (Section 4).

Requirement for ongoing provision of materials: If a state or political subdivision receives an incentive grant, it must certify that it will continue to provide those voting materials in succeeding election cycles unless the group's population drops by 0.5 percent or more (Section 4).

Restriction on multiple grants: A state or political subdivision is prohibited from receiving more than one incentive grant for the same language minority group (Section 4).