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S 3961 116th Congress Senate Government Operations and Politics Cardiovascular and respiratory health Civil actions and liability Congressional elections Elections, voting, political campaign regulation Emergency medical services and trauma care Infectious and parasitic diseases Postal service State and local government operations

Pandemic Democracy for All Act

Introduced: June 15, 2020 Introduced by: Merkley, Jeff Democratic · Oregon See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 116th Congress ended
It never became law before the 116th Congress (2019–2020) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jun 15, 2020
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
Jun 15, 2020
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Pandemic Democracy for All Act

This bill requires states and local jurisdictions to allow absentee voting during the November 2020 general election for individuals impacted by COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). It also establishes grants to implement online registration systems and to increase absentee voting.

Specifically, states and local jurisdictions must allow an individual to use absentee registration procedures and to vote by absentee ballot if the individual has a reasonable concern that voting in person on the date of the election may expose them to contracting COVID-19 or if they are otherwise impacted by COVID-19. The Department of Justice may bring a civil action against a state or local jurisdiction for violations.

In addition, the bill authorizes the Election Assistance Commission to award grants to states and local jurisdictions to (1) implement online absentee registration systems for the November 2020 general election, and (2) facilitate an increase in absentee voting during such election (e.g., the costs associated with the purchase of materials and educational outreach).

What's happening now June 15, 2020

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 3961: Pandemic Democracy for All Act. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-3961/
MLA
"S. 3961: Pandemic Democracy for All Act." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-3961/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 3961, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-3961/.
Markdown link
[S. 3961: Pandemic Democracy for All Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-3961/)
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