Booker Joins Call to Modernize Vote.gov, Increase Voter Access to Resources and Information

Letter

Dear Administrator Carnahan,
We write to request an update on your agency's implementation of President Biden's Executive
Order 14019 to promote voting access by modernizing Vote.gov.
The Voting Executive Order specifically instructed GSA to take steps to modernize and improve
Vote.gov, an official website of GSA, in partnership with the Election Assistance Commission,
agencies, and key stakeholders. The Executive Order's section on vote.gov modernization
requires the website (as well as the forms on it) to become accessible to people with disabilities,
accessible to people who speak non-English languages, and --to the extent possible -- fully usable
as an online experience.

The success of the administration's efforts to promote voting hinge on the success of this effort
as many federal agencies are increasing voter access by directing their users to Vote.gov.
Vote.gov serves as the primary federal resource for voters to register to vote, check their voter
registration status, and find voting information. These services are essential to the one in four
eligible voters who are not registered to vote. Vote.gov currently states it "continues to improve
the site to meet the goals in President Biden's Executive Order... [which] include improving
accessibility, translating voter tools into key languages, and enhancing search functionality on
the website."

We applaud the actions GSA has taken thus far to implement the Voting Executive Order and
expand voter registration access, such as by translating trustworthy voter information in 16
additional languages, including Chinese, Navajo, Hindi, and Tagalog. We want to underscore
the urgency and significance of swiftly continuing this progress and urge the GSA to promptly
implement needed changes to Vote.gov.

Voters continue to face challenges to access their fundamental right to vote. According to
research conducted by the Brennan Center, 14 states enacted 17 restrictive voting laws in 2023.
North Carolina's law eliminates ballot drop boxes, restricts vote by mail, and makes it more
likely that voters using same-day registration do not have their ballots counted. Idaho's law
targets students by restricting commonly-used documentation by students to register to vote.

We commend GSA for its efforts to promote voter registration and voting information access,
and ask that you provide us, no later than March 1, 2024 with (1) a complete outline of GSA's
implementation plan of the Voting Executive Order, (2) an accompanying status update and
timeline on their execution and/or implementation, and (3) the date the Administration expects
the implementation and Vote.gov modernization to be substantially complete.
We thank you for your commitment to voters and appreciate your engagement.

Source