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Overview of Federal Election Laws

Wednesday, February 26, 2025

Voter Rights and Voter Registration Laws

Voting Rights Act (VRA) (1965)
Codified at 52 U.S.C. 10301-10314, 10501-10508, and 10701-10702

National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) (1993)
Codified at 52 U.S.C. 201501-20511

Help America Vote Act (HAVA) (2002)
Codified at 52 U.S.C. 20901-21145

Accessibility Laws

Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) (1968)
Codified at 42 U.S.C. 4151-4156

Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act (VAEHA) (1984)
Codified at 52 U.S.C. 20101-20107

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) (1990)
Codified at 42 U.S.C. 12101-12213

Laws Governing Military and Overseas Voters

Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) (1986)
Codified at 52 U.S.C. 20301-20311

Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act (MOVE) (2009)
The MOVE Act amended UOCAVA, changing certain new voter registration and absentee ballot procedures for federal elections.

Other Federal Laws that Impact Elections

Continuity in Representation Act (2005)
Codified at 2 U.S.C. 8(b)