---
kind: "section"
citation: "52 U.S.C. § 20982"
title: "52"
title_heading: "Voting and Elections"
number: "20982"
heading: "Study, report, and recommendations on best practices for facilitating military and overseas voting"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/52/20982"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Voting Assistance and Election Administration"
  - "Chapter 209 — Election Administration Improvement"
  - "Subchapter II — Commission"
  - "Part C — Studies and Other Activities To Promote Effective Administration of Federal Elections"
---

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

- (a) **Study—**
  - (1) **In general—** 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](/usc/52/20310.md?p=1) (as defined in [section 20310(1) of this title](/usc/52/20310.md?p=1)) and [overseas voters](/usc/52/20310.md?p=5) (as defined in [section 20310(5) of this title](/usc/52/20310.md?p=5)).
  - (2) **Issues considered—** In conducting the study under [paragraph (1)](#a-1) the Commission shall consider the following issues:
    - (A) The rights of residence of [uniformed services](/usc/52/20310.md?p=7) voters absent due to military orders.
    - (B) The rights of [absent uniformed services voters](/usc/52/20310.md?p=1) and [overseas voters](/usc/52/20310.md?p=5) 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](/usc/52/20310.md?p=1) and [overseas voters](/usc/52/20310.md?p=5) to submit absentee ballot applications early during an [election](/usc/52/20502.md?p=1) year.
    - (D) The appropriate preelection deadline for mailing absentee ballots to [absent uniformed services voters](/usc/52/20310.md?p=1) and [overseas voters](/usc/52/20310.md?p=5).
    - (E) The appropriate minimum period between the mailing of absentee ballots to [absent uniformed services voters](/usc/52/20310.md?p=1) and [overseas voters](/usc/52/20310.md?p=5) and the deadline for receipt of such ballots.
    - (F) The timely transmission of [balloting materials](/usc/52/20310.md?p=2) to [absent uniformed services voters](/usc/52/20310.md?p=1) and [overseas voters](/usc/52/20310.md?p=5).
    - (G) Security and privacy concerns in the transmission, receipt, and processing of ballots from [absent uniformed services voters](/usc/52/20310.md?p=1) and [overseas voters](/usc/52/20310.md?p=5), including the need to protect against fraud.
    - (H) The use of a single application by [absent uniformed services voters](/usc/52/20310.md?p=1) and [overseas voters](/usc/52/20310.md?p=5) for absentee ballots for all [Federal elections](/usc/52/20107.md?p=3) occurring during a year.
    - (I) The use of a single application for voter registration and absentee ballots by [absent uniformed services voters](/usc/52/20310.md?p=1) and [overseas voters](/usc/52/20310.md?p=5).
    - (J) The use of facsimile machines and electronic means of transmission of absentee ballot applications and absentee ballots to [absent uniformed services voters](/usc/52/20310.md?p=1) and [overseas voters](/usc/52/20310.md?p=5).
    - (K) Other issues related to the rights of [absent uniformed services voters](/usc/52/20310.md?p=1) and [overseas voters](/usc/52/20310.md?p=5) to participate in [elections](/usc/52/20502.md?p=1).
- (b) **Report and recommendations—** Not later than the date that is 18 months after October 29, 2002, the Commission shall submit to the President and Congress a report on the study conducted under [subsection (a)(1)](#a-1) together with recommendations identifying the best practices used with respect to the issues considered under [subsection (a)(2)](#a-2).

## Source credit

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

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 15382 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.