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An Act to improve the administration and operation of the Overseas Citizens Voting Rights Act of 1975, and for other purposes.

Public Law 95-593 · S. 703 · 95th Congress · began in the Senate

Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Nov 4, 1978 · Government Operations and Politics

Sponsor: Sen. Claiborne Pell (D-RI)

Cosponsors (2): Sen. Barry Goldwater,

Passage votesYeaNay

  • HouseRecorded vote: 327 yea, 78 nay327–78
  • SenateMethod not stated
Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

Amends the Overseas Voting Rights Act of 1975 to make specified recommendations to States to facilitate voting by eligible individuals thereunder, including recommending that: (1) any official postcard which is duly executed by an eligible individual be accepted as a simultaneous application for registration and for an absentee ballot; and (2) if a special application is required for registration by mail, registration forms be sent with the absentee ballot and allowed to be returned with it.

Directs the Presidential designee under the Federal Voting Assistance Act to request each State to furnish him with information on the current absentee registration of, and voting procedures for, citizens abroad and to make such information available to Federal agencies. Directs the Secretary of State to publicize the right of such persons to vote in Federal elections and the procedures available to enforce that right.

Directs the Administrator of General Services to cause to be printed and distributed to appropriate agencies official postcards for use in accordance with the provisions of the Overseas Voting Rights Act, and instructs such agencies to deliver or make available such postcards to qualified individuals, not later than August 15, immediately before any general Federal election.

Stipulates that balloting material be sent free of postage and by the most expedited service available.

States that the exercise of any right to register or vote in Federal elections by any citizen outside the United States shall not affect the determination of such citizen's place of residence or domicile for purposes of any tax imposed under Federal, State, or local law.

Authorizes the appropriation of such sums as are necessary to carry out the purposes of such Act.

Amends the Federal Voting Assistance Act of 1955 to extend the right to vote in Federal elections to citizens covered by the 1955 Act who are not presently given that right under State law and who are members of the armed forces, the Merchant Marine, or their spouses, or dependents.

Directs the Presidential designee under such Act to request each State to inform him of any provisions of State law requiring the removal of the name of any person from such State's voter registration roll and to provide him with information relative to the number of absentee voters.

Directs the Presidential designee to design, for purposes of the Federal Voting Assistance Act and the Overseas Citizens Voting Rights Act, a single form postcard application for registration to vote and for an absentee ballot.

Requires provisions of present law (1) authorizing the appropriation of sums to the United States Postal Service for the purpose of reimbursement of revenues lost due to free postages and reduced rate mailing of specified materials; (2) adjusting the postage rate of such materials if Congress fails to appropriate the amount so authorized to include materials sent under the Overseas Citizens Voting Rights Act; and (3) allowing qualified political committees to use third-class mail matter rates.

Who voted for it

Every House member of the 95th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 326 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.

326 yea78 nay28 present or did not vote

Dimension 2
Economic left–right
More liberalMore conservative

Democrats who voted yea(223)

  • Rep. Parren MitchellD-MD-7
  • Rep. Louis StokesD-OH-21
  • Rep. Edward RoybalD-CA-25
  • Rep. Phillip BurtonD-CA-6
  • Rep. Bill ClayD-MO-1
  • Rep. Anthony BeilensonD-CA-23
  • Rep. Charlie RangelD-NY-19
  • Rep. Don EdwardsD-CA-10
  • Rep. James CormanD-CA-21
  • Rep. Frederick RichmondD-NY-14
  • Rep. Gus HawkinsD-CA-29
  • Rep. John ConyersD-MI-1
  • Rep. Robert GarciaD-NY-21
  • Rep. John MossD-CA-3
  • Rep. Richard BollingD-MO-5
  • Rep. Pete StarkD-CA-9
  • Rep. Shirley ChisholmD-NY-12
  • Rep. Benjamin RosenthalD-NY-8
  • Rep. Ronald DellumsD-CA-8
  • Rep. Robert NixD-PA-2
  • Rep. Ralph MetcalfeD-IL-1
  • Rep. Jonathan BinghamD-NY-22
  • Rep. John McFallD-CA-14
  • Rep. Frank ThompsonD-NJ-4
  • Rep. George BrownD-CA-36
  • Rep. Theodore WeissD-NY-20
  • Rep. Cardiss CollinsD-IL-7
  • Rep. George DanielsonD-CA-30
  • Rep. James OberstarD-MN-8
  • Rep. Henry GonzálezD-TX-20
  • Rep. Daniel RostenkowskiD-IL-8
  • Rep. Henry WaxmanD-CA-24
  • Rep. John SeiberlingD-OH-14
  • Rep. Paul SimonD-IL-24
  • Rep. William FordD-MI-15
  • Rep. Richard NolanD-MN-6
  • Rep. Robert KastenmeierD-WI-2
  • Rep. Barbara JordanD-TX-18
  • Rep. David BoniorD-MI-12
  • Rep. Robert EckhardtD-TX-8
  • Rep. Peter RodinoD-NJ-10
  • Rep. John BrademasD-IN-3
  • Rep. Stephen SolarzD-NY-13
  • Rep. Charles PriceD-IL-23
  • Rep. Edward PattenD-NJ-15
  • Rep. James HowardD-NJ-3
  • Rep. Harold JohnsonD-CA-1
  • Rep. Charles WilsonD-CA-31
  • Rep. Daniel AkakaD-HI-2
  • Rep. James WrightD-TX-12
  • Rep. Dante FascellD-FL-15
  • Rep. John DingellD-MI-16
  • Rep. William BrodheadD-MI-17
  • Rep. Henry ReussD-WI-5
  • Rep. Norman MinetaD-CA-13
  • Rep. Dave ObeyD-WI-7
  • Rep. Elizabeth HoltzmanD-NY-16
  • Rep. James ScheuerD-NY-11
  • Rep. Donald FraserD-MN-5
  • Rep. Ozzie MyersD-PA-1
  • Rep. William MoorheadD-PA-14
  • Rep. Bruce VentoD-MN-4
  • Rep. Daniel FloodD-PA-11
  • Rep. John FaryD-IL-5
  • Rep. Joseph AddabboD-NY-7
  • Rep. Charles CarneyD-OH-19
  • Rep. Robert LeggettD-CA-4
  • Rep. Clement ZablockiD-WI-4
  • Rep. John MurphyD-NY-17
  • Rep. Albert UllmanD-OR-2
  • Rep. Sidney YatesD-IL-9
  • Rep. Abner MikvaD-IL-10
  • Rep. Barbara MikulskiD-MD-3
  • Rep. Joshua EilbergD-PA-4
  • Rep. Raymond LedererD-PA-3
  • Rep. Alvin BaldusD-WI-3
  • Rep. Harold FordD-TN-8
  • Rep. Robert DuncanD-OR-3
  • Rep. Jerry PattersonD-CA-38
  • Rep. Harley StaggersD-WV-2
  • Rep. Lionel Van DeerlinD-CA-42
  • Rep. Morris UdallD-AZ-2
  • Rep. Joseph LeFanteD-NJ-14
  • Rep. Frank EvansD-CO-3
  • Rep. Carl PerkinsD-KY-7
  • Rep. Ed MarkeyD-MA-7
  • Rep. Frederick RooneyD-PA-15
  • Rep. Frank AnnunzioD-IL-11
  • Rep. Richard OttingerD-NY-24
  • Rep. Helen MeynerD-NJ-13
  • Rep. Gerry StuddsD-MA-12
  • Rep. James WeaverD-OR-4
  • Rep. Thomas AshleyD-OH-9
  • Rep. Gene MaguireD-NJ-7
  • Rep. John MoakleyD-MA-9
  • Rep. Bill AlexanderD-AR-1
  • Rep. Fernand St. GermainD-RI-1
  • Rep. John BurtonD-CA-5
  • Rep. Leslie AspinD-WI-1
  • Rep. Morgan MurphyD-IL-2
  • Rep. Robert GiaimoD-CT-3
  • Rep. Robert DrinanD-MA-4
  • Rep. John MurthaD-PA-12
  • Rep. Don BonkerD-WA-3
  • Rep. William LehmanD-FL-13
  • Rep. Edward BeardD-RI-2
  • Rep. John DentD-PA-21
  • Rep. Jack BrooksD-TX-9
  • Rep. Thomas DowneyD-NY-2
  • Rep. Toby MoffettD-CT-6
  • Rep. Charles VanikD-OH-22
  • Rep. Charles RoseD-NC-7
  • Rep. Bernice SiskD-CA-15
  • Rep. Christopher DoddD-CT-2
  • Rep. Lindy BoggsD-LA-2
  • Rep. Neal SmithD-IA-4
  • Rep. Norm DicksD-WA-6
  • Rep. James DelaneyD-NY-9
  • Rep. John YoungD-TX-14
  • Rep. Thomas FoleyD-WA-5
  • Rep. Leo RyanD-CA-11
  • Rep. Ray ThorntonD-AR-4
  • Rep. James TuckerD-AR-2
  • Rep. Mike McCormackD-WA-4
  • Rep. Edward PattisonD-NY-29
  • Rep. James BlanchardD-MI-18
  • Rep. Stanley LundineD-NY-39
  • Rep. Edward BolandD-MA-2
  • Rep. Lunsford PreyerD-NC-6
  • Rep. Robert MollohanD-WV-1
  • Rep. Dale KildeeD-MI-7
  • Rep. Mary OakarD-OH-20
  • Rep. Robert CornellD-WI-8
  • Rep. William NatcherD-KY-2
  • Rep. Cecil HeftelD-HI-1
  • Rep. Matthew McHughD-NY-27
  • Rep. Robert EdgarD-PA-7
  • Rep. Donald PeaseD-OH-13
  • Rep. Charles WilsonD-TX-2
  • Rep. Robert RoeD-NJ-8
  • Rep. Henry NowakD-NY-37
  • Rep. Joseph GaydosD-PA-20
  • Rep. Robert YoungD-MO-2
  • Rep. Herbert HarrisD-VA-8
  • Rep. Gladys SpellmanD-MD-5
  • Rep. Mario BiaggiD-NY-10
  • Rep. James FlorioD-NJ-1
  • Rep. Mark HannafordD-CA-34
  • Rep. James HanleyD-NY-32
  • Rep. Joseph FisherD-VA-10
  • Rep. Koln McKayD-UT-1
  • Rep. John KrebsD-CA-17
  • Rep. Michael BlouinD-IA-2
  • Rep. Albert GoreD-TN-4
  • Rep. Bob CarrD-MI-6
  • Rep. Adam BenjaminD-IN-1
  • Rep. Jerome TraxlerD-MI-8
  • Rep. Glenn AndersonD-CA-32
  • Rep. Kenneth HollandD-SC-5
  • Rep. Leo ZeferettiD-NY-15
  • Rep. Butler DerrickD-SC-3
  • Rep. Lester WolffD-NY-6
  • Rep. Joseph MinishD-NJ-11
  • Rep. Timothy WirthD-CO-2
  • Rep. Ed JonesD-TN-7
  • Rep. Douglas ApplegateD-OH-18
  • Rep. Berkley BedellD-IA-6
  • Rep. James LloydD-CA-35
  • Rep. John LaFalceD-NY-36
  • Rep. Max BaucusD-MT-1
  • Rep. Lee HamiltonD-IN-9
  • Rep. Austin MurphyD-PA-22
  • Rep. Bo GinnD-GA-1
  • Rep. George MahonD-TX-19
  • Rep. John BreckinridgeD-KY-6
  • Rep. Walter JonesD-NC-1
  • Rep. John CavanaughD-NE-2
  • Rep. Tom HarkinD-IA-5
  • Rep. Clarence LongD-MD-2
  • Rep. Douglas WalgrenD-PA-18
  • Rep. Patricia SchroederD-CO-1
  • Rep. Jake PickleD-TX-10
  • Rep. Mendel DavisD-SC-1
  • Rep. Martha KeysD-KS-2
  • Rep. Romano MazzoliD-KY-3
  • Rep. Jerome AmbroD-NY-3
  • Rep. Leon PanettaD-CA-16
  • Rep. Samuel StrattonD-NY-28
  • Rep. Jack HightowerD-TX-13
  • Rep. James MattoxD-TX-5
  • Rep. Jamie WhittenD-MS-1
  • Rep. Abraham KazenD-TX-23
  • Rep. Peter KostmayerD-PA-8
  • Rep. Les AuCoinD-OR-1
  • Rep. Philip SharpD-IN-10
  • Rep. Paul RogersD-FL-11
  • Rep. Gus YatronD-PA-6
  • Rep. Norman D’AmoursD-NH-1
  • Rep. Ike AndrewsD-NC-4
  • Rep. Bill HefnerD-NC-8
  • Rep. Floyd FithianD-IN-2
  • Rep. Vonno GudgerD-NC-11
  • Rep. Kika de la GarzaD-TX-15
  • Rep. Allen ErtelD-PA-17
  • Rep. Charles WhitleyD-NC-3
  • Rep. Richard WhiteD-TX-16
  • Rep. Martin RussoD-IL-3
  • Rep. James SantiniD-NV
  • Rep. William HughesD-NJ-2
  • Rep. David BowenD-MS-2
  • Rep. Marilyn LloydD-TN-3
  • Rep. Stephen NealD-NC-5
  • Rep. Sam GibbonsD-FL-7
  • Rep. Jack BrinkleyD-GA-3
  • Rep. Elliott LevitasD-GA-4
  • Rep. Goodloe ByronD-MD-6
  • Rep. Marvin MathisD-GA-2
  • Rep. Daniel GlickmanD-KS-4
  • Rep. John BreauxD-LA-7
  • Rep. Lawrence FountainD-NC-2
  • Rep. David EvansD-IN-6
  • Rep. Andrew JacobsD-IN-11
  • Rep. Dan DanielD-VA-5

Republicans who voted yea(103)

  • Rep. Charles WhalenR-OH-3
  • Rep. Bill GreenR-NY-18
  • Rep. Newton SteersR-MD-8
  • Rep. Silvio ConteR-MA-1
  • Rep. Pete McCloskeyR-CA-12
  • Rep. Stewart McKinneyR-CT-4
  • Rep. Frank HortonR-NY-34
  • Rep. Matthew RinaldoR-NJ-12
  • Rep. Harold HollenbeckR-NJ-9
  • Rep. Margaret HecklerR-MA-10
  • Rep. Benjamin GilmanR-NY-26
  • Rep. Joseph McDadeR-PA-10
  • Rep. Marc MarksR-PA-24
  • Rep. Tim CarterR-KY-5
  • Rep. John BuchananR-AL-6
  • Rep. Donald MitchellR-NY-31
  • Rep. William WalshR-NY-33
  • Rep. Millicent FenwickR-NJ-5
  • Rep. Thomas RailsbackR-IL-19
  • Rep. Edward MadiganR-IL-21
  • Rep. Joe SkubitzR-KS-5
  • Rep. Mark AndrewsR-ND
  • Rep. John AndersonR-IL-16
  • Rep. Jack EdwardsR-AL-1
  • Rep. Jim JohnsonR-CO-4
  • Rep. Jim JeffordsR-VT
  • Rep. Hamilton FishR-NY-25
  • Rep. William CohenR-ME-2
  • Rep. Larry PresslerR-SD-1
  • Rep. John StantonR-OH-11
  • Rep. Paul FindleyR-IL-20
  • Rep. Carl PursellR-MI-2
  • Rep. Ronald SarasinR-CT-5
  • Rep. Elwood HillisR-IN-5
  • Rep. William HarshaR-OH-6
  • Rep. David EmeryR-ME-1
  • Rep. Harold SawyerR-MI-5
  • Rep. Philip RuppeR-MI-11
  • Rep. Bruce CaputoR-NY-23
  • Rep. Elford CederbergR-MI-10
  • Rep. Ralph RegulaR-OH-16
  • Rep. Donald ClausenR-CA-2
  • Rep. George WhitehurstR-VA-2
  • Rep. Thomas EvansR-DE
  • Rep. John DuncanR-TN-2
  • Rep. John RhodesR-AZ-1
  • Rep. Robert McEwenR-NY-30
  • Rep. Charles ThoneR-NE-1
  • Rep. Chalmers WylieR-OH-15
  • Rep. Ronald MarleneeR-MT-2
  • Rep. William MooreR-LA-6
  • Rep. James QuillenR-TN-1
  • Rep. Tennyson GuyerR-OH-4
  • Rep. Paul TribleR-VA-1
  • Rep. Guy Vander JagtR-MI-9
  • Rep. Norman LentR-NY-4
  • Rep. Herbert BurkeR-FL-12
  • Rep. Clair BurgenerR-CA-43
  • Rep. Virginia SmithR-NE-3
  • Rep. Earl ColemanR-MO-6
  • Rep. Larry WinnR-KS-3
  • Rep. Edward DerwinskiR-IL-4
  • Rep. Keith SebeliusR-KS-1
  • Rep. Floyd SpenceR-SC-2
  • Rep. Robert CoughlinR-PA-13
  • Rep. Henry HydeR-IL-6
  • Rep. Manuel LujánR-NM-1
  • Rep. Robert McCloryR-IL-13
  • Rep. James AbdnorR-SD-2
  • Rep. Marion SnyderR-KY-4
  • Rep. John HammerschmidtR-AR-3
  • Rep. Robin BeardR-TN-6
  • Rep. Willis GradisonR-OH-1
  • Rep. James ClevelandR-NH-2
  • Rep. John MyersR-IN-7
  • Rep. Robert KastenR-WI-9
  • Rep. Thomas CorcoranR-IL-15
  • Rep. William BroomfieldR-MI-19
  • Rep. Thomas HagedornR-MN-2
  • Rep. William FrenzelR-MN-3
  • Rep. Bob WilsonR-CA-41
  • Rep. Skip BafalisR-FL-10
  • Rep. Arlan StangelandR-MN-7
  • Rep. David MarriottR-UT-2
  • Rep. Robert DanielR-VA-4
  • Rep. Garry BrownR-MI-3
  • Rep. Robert MichelR-IL-18
  • Rep. W. Bill YoungR-FL-6
  • Rep. Jack KempR-NY-38
  • Rep. Richard SchulzeR-PA-5
  • Rep. John WydlerR-NY-5
  • Rep. William SteigerR-WI-6
  • Rep. Barber ConableR-NY-35
  • Rep. Edwin ForsytheR-NJ-6
  • Rep. William GoodlingR-PA-19
  • Rep. David StockmanR-MI-4
  • Rep. Bud ShusterR-PA-9
  • Rep. Marjorie HoltR-MD-4
  • Rep. Robert DornanR-CA-27
  • Rep. Robert BadhamR-CA-40
  • Rep. Robert WalkerR-PA-16
  • Rep. Dan QuayleR-IN-4
  • Rep. Delwin ClawsonR-CA-33
Data notes

The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 1409 in Voteview), matched to the vote the record cites and checked against its totals. Positions are each member’s DW-NOMINATE score for that Congress, as on the Ideology page; left to right is more liberal to more conservative. Paired and announced yea votes count as yea. Lists follow the compass, most liberal first. A name links to a profile only for members of the current Congress. A law passed by voice vote or unanimous consent has no member list, and neither does a vote Voteview has not yet recorded.

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Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

Data notes

A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 13 actions.

  1. Nov 4, 1978Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  2. PresidentPresident · Public Law 95-593.
  3. Oct 27, 1978PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
  4. Oct 13, 1978Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendments.
  5. Sep 19, 1978FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, roll call #796 (327-78).House roll call 796
  6. FloorFloor · Measure called up under motion to suspend rules and pass in House.
  7. Sep 13, 1978CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Committee on House Administration
  8. May 10, 1977CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Committee on House Administration
  9. May 9, 1977FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
  10. FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in Senate.
  11. May 4, 1977CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Rules and Administration Committee
  12. Feb 10, 1977CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Rules and Administration Committee
  13. IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the Senate
Data notes

Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.

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Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.