52 USC § 20982 - Study, report, and recommendations on best practices for facilitating military and overseas voting

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t52/s20982"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "52 USC § 20982 - Study, report, and recommendations on best practices for facilitating military and overseas voting"
title_number: 52
title_name: "VOTING AND ELECTIONS"
section_number: "20982"
section_name: "Study, report, and recommendations on best practices for facilitating military and overseas voting"
chapter_number: 209
chapter_name: "ELECTION ADMINISTRATION IMPROVEMENT"
subchapter_number: "II"
subchapter_name: "COMMISSION"
part_number: "C"
part_name: "Studies and Other Activities To Promote Effective Administration of Federal Elections"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-03-26"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 107–252, title II, § 242, Oct. 29, 2002, 116 Stat. 1688.)"
---


# § 20982. Study, report, and recommendations on best practices for facilitating military and overseas voting

**(a)** **Study**

**(1)** **In general** section 20310(1) of this titlesection 20310(5) of this title

The Commission, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, shall conduct a study on the best practices for facilitating voting by absent uniformed services voters (as defined in ) and overseas voters (as defined in ).

**(2)** **Issues considered** In conducting the study under paragraph (1) the Commission shall consider the following issues:

**(A)** The rights of residence of uniformed services voters absent due to military orders.

**(B)** The rights of absent uniformed services voters and overseas voters to register to vote and cast absentee ballots, including the right of such voters to cast a secret ballot.

**(C)** The rights of absent uniformed services voters and overseas voters to submit absentee ballot applications early during an election year.

**(D)** The appropriate preelection deadline for mailing absentee ballots to absent uniformed services voters and overseas voters.

**(E)** The appropriate minimum period between the mailing of absentee ballots to absent uniformed services voters and overseas voters and the deadline for receipt of such ballots.

**(F)** The timely transmission of balloting materials to absent uniformed services voters and overseas voters.

**(G)** Security and privacy concerns in the transmission, receipt, and processing of ballots from absent uniformed services voters and overseas voters, including the need to protect against fraud.

**(H)** The use of a single application by absent uniformed services voters and overseas voters for absentee ballots for all Federal elections occurring during a year.

**(I)** The use of a single application for voter registration and absentee ballots by absent uniformed services voters and overseas voters.

**(J)** The use of facsimile machines and electronic means of transmission of absentee ballot applications and absentee ballots to absent uniformed services voters and overseas voters.

**(K)** Other issues related to the rights of absent uniformed services voters and overseas voters to participate in elections.

**(b)** **Report and recommendations** October 29, 2002

Not later than the date that is 18 months after , the Commission shall submit to the President and Congress a report on the study conducted under subsection (a)(1) together with recommendations identifying the best practices used with respect to the issues considered under subsection (a)(2).

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**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 107–252, title II, § 242, Oct. 29, 2002, 116 Stat. 1688.)

## Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was formerly classified to , The Public Health and Welfare, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.