Grants to establish State ballot materials tracking program

(a) In general Subtitle D of title II of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21001 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new part: 7 Balloting materials tracking programs 297. Grants for qualifying balloting materials tracking programs (a) Payments for costs of program The Commission is authorized to make grants to States to cover costs incurred in establishing and administering qualifying balloting materials tracking programs. (b) Qualifying absentee ballot tracking program (1) In general For purposes of this section, the term qualifying absentee ballot tracking program means a program established in a State— (A) under which the State or local election official responsible for the receipt of voted mail-in ballots and absentee ballots in an election for Federal office— (i) tracks and confirms the receipt of such ballots; and (ii) makes information on the receipt of such ballots available to the individual who cast the ballot; and (B) which meets the requirements of paragraphs (2), (3), and (4). (2) Information requirements A program meets the requirements of this paragraph if such program provides to a voter the following information with respect to that voter: (A) The date on which any request by the voter for an application for voter registration or an absentee ballot was received. (B) The date on which any such requested application was sent to the voter. (C) The date on which any such completed application was received from the voter and the status of such application. (D) The date on which any mail-in ballot or absentee ballot was sent to the voter. (E) The date on which any mail-in ballot or absentee ballot was out for delivery to the voter. (F) Whether such ballot was accepted and counted, and in the case of any ballot not counted, the reason why the ballot was not counted. The information described in subparagraph (F) shall be available not later than 1 day after a determination is made on whether or not to accept and count the ballot. (3) Public availability requirements A program meets the requirements of this paragraph if the information described in subparagraphs (D) and (F) of paragraph (2) is made available to political parties and voter registration organizations, at cost to cover the expense of providing such information, for use, in accordance with State guidelines and procedures, in helping to return or cure mail-in ballots during any period in which mail-in ballots may be returned. (4) Accessibility of information (A) In general Except as provided under subparagraph (B), a program meets the requirements of this paragraph if the information provided under the program is available by means of online access using the internet site of the State or local election office. (B) Use of toll-free telephone number by officials without internet site In the case of a State or local election official whose office does not have an internet site, the program meets the requirements of this paragraph if the official establishes a toll-free telephone number that may be used by an individual who cast an absentee ballot to obtain the information required under paragraph (2). (c) Authorization of appropriations (1) Authorization There are authorized to be appropriated $50,000,000 to the Commission for fiscal year 2027 for payments under this section. (2) Continuing availability of funds Any amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization under this section shall remain available until expended.. (b) Clerical amendment The table of contents of such Act is amended by adding at the end of the items relating to subtitle D of title II the following: PART 7—Balloting materials tracking programs Sec. 297. Grants for qualifying balloting materials tracking programs..