HR 10700: Accessible Voting Act of 2026

HR 10700 in plain English: The Accessible Voting Act of 2026 would expand voting accessibility for people with disabilities and others by funding election accessibility improvements, establishing new oversight structures, and providing grants to states. The bill authorizes hundreds of millions of dollars for these purposes over several fiscal years.

Stated purpose

The bill aims to increase voting accessibility for people with disabilities and older individuals by providing states and local governments with resources to improve accessible registration, absentee voting, and in-person voting, and by expanding federal oversight and support for accessible voting systems.

Key points

• Authorizes $100,000,000 for each of fiscal year pairs 2027-2028, 2029-2030, and 2031-2032 for voting accessibility grants
• Requires state grants of at least $1,000,000 per eligible state under the grant program
• Appropriates at least $5,000,000 per year starting in fiscal year 2027 for a related accessibility program
• Funds an Office of Accessibility with $500,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 and 2028
• Authorizes $30,000,000 for an additional provision, available until expended

Arguments supporters make

• Millions of eligible voters with disabilities and older Americans face real, documented barriers — like inaccessible polling places — that prevent them from exercising a fundamental right, and this bill directly addresses those gaps.
• Federal resources and a dedicated Office of Accessibility would give states the tools and guidance they need to meet existing legal obligations they have struggled to fulfill on their own.
• Expanding no-excuse absentee voting and improving accessible options ensures that every eligible citizen, regardless of physical ability or location, has a meaningful chance to participate in democracy.

Arguments opponents make

• Creating a new federal office and imposing new mandates on states adds bureaucratic layers and costs, raising concerns about federal overreach into elections, which have traditionally been managed at the state and local level.
• Broad no-excuse absentee voting expansions may introduce election integrity risks, and critics argue accessibility goals can be achieved through more targeted, less sweeping measures.
• Federal funding tied to specific accessibility requirements could pressure states to adopt uniform systems that may not fit their unique legal frameworks, geography, or voter populations.

Tradeoffs

Expanding federal oversight and funding may improve voting access for underserved groups but requires states to meet new mandates and shifts more control over election administration to the federal level, creating tension between accessibility goals and state authority over elections.

Current status in Congress: In committee.

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