Top Legislation - View All
Latest Action: 03/01/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties. Bill TextProposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States regarding the right to vote. 2/13/2007--Introduced. Constitutional Amendment - Provides that all U.S. citizens who are eighteen years of age or older shall have the right to vote in any public election held in the jurisdiction in which the citizen resides. Allows the United States or any state to establish regulations narrowly tailored to produce efficient and honest elections. Requires each state to: (1) administer public elections in the state in accordance with election performance standards established by the Congress; and (2) provide any eligible voter the opportunity to register and vote on the day of any public election. Requires Congress to reconsider election performance standards at least once every four years to determine if higher standards should be established to reflect improvements in methods and practices regarding election administration.
Also tagged in: Accounting, Actions and defenses, Campaign funds, Congress, Congressional elections, Constitution, Constitutional law, Election candidates, Elections, Finance, Fund raising, Government information, Government paperwork, Injunctions, Judicial review, Law, Members of Congress, Parties to actions, Political action committees, Political advertising, Political parties, Politics and government, Presidential elections, Presidents, Voting
Latest Action: 01/11/2007 - Referred to the House Committee on House Administration. Bill TextTo amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to clarify when organizations described in section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 must register as political committees, and for other purposes. 1/11/2007--Introduced. 527 Reform Act of 2007 - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to subject to its requirements as a political committee any applicable 527 organization. Excludes from the meaning of 527 organization for these purposes any committee, club, association, or other group of persons organized to influence: (1) the selection, nomination, election, appointment, or confirmation of one or more candidates to non-federal or non-elected office; or (2) any state or local ballot measure. Denies exception from treatment as an applicable 527 organization to any such a committee, club, association, or other groups of persons which makes disbursements aggregating more than $1,000 for: (1) a public communication that promotes, supports, attacks,[...] show full description
Also tagged in: Absentee voting, Aged, Armed forces, Congress, Congressional districts, Congressional elections, Congressional reporting requirements, Defense policy, Disabled, District of Columbia, Election administration, Elections, Electoral college, Maryland, Members of Congress, Political representation, Politics and government, Presidential elections, Presidents, Soldier voting, State and local government, State laws, State-local relations, Voting of the disabled, Voting of the elderly, Voting rights
Latest Action: 03/19/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Post Office, and the District of Columbia. Bill TextTo restore the Federal electoral rights of the residents of the District of Columbia, and for other purposes. 1/16/2007--Introduced. District of Columbia Voting Rights Restoration Act of 2007 - Restores the right of District of Columbia residents to participate as Maryland residents in congressional elections and presidential elections. Repeals provisions of: (1) the District of Columbia Delegate Act that establishes the office of District of Columbia Delegate to the House of Representatives; and (2) the District of Columbia Statehood Constitution Convention Initiative of 1979 that provides for electing a Senator and Representative for the District.
Also tagged in: Actions and defenses, Administrative procedure, Broadcasting, Civil rights, Civil rights enforcement, Communications, Congress, Congressional elections, Congressional reporting requirements, Conspiracy, Criminal investigation, Criminal justice, Department of Justice, Election administration, Election fraud, Elections, Executive departments, Government information, Government publicity, Governmental investigations, Law, Political parties, Presidential elections, Presidents, Primaries, Prosecution, Public service advertising, Runoff elections, Sentences (Criminal procedure), Sentencing guidelines, Telecommunication, U.S. Sentencing Commission, Voting rights
Latest Action: 10/04/2007 - Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 110-191. Additional views filed. Bill TextA bill to prohibit deceptive practices in Federal elections. 10/4/2007--Reported to Senate amended. (There is 1 other summary) Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2007 - (Sec. 3) Amends the Revised Statutes and federal criminal law to prohibit any person, whether acting under color of law or otherwise, from knowingly deceiving any other person regarding: (1) the time, place, or manner of conducting any federal election; or (2) the qualifications for or restrictions on voter eligibility for any such election. Makes intent to prevent another person from exercising the right to vote, or from voting for the candidate of such other person's choice, an essential element of the offense. Prescribes a criminal penalty for such deceptive acts.Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to review and, if appropriate, amend the federal sentencing guidelines and policy statements applicable to persons convicted of any offense under [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Accounting, Actions and defenses, Campaign funds, Congress, Congressional elections, Constitution, Constitutional law, Election candidates, Elections, Finance, Fund raising, Government information, Government paperwork, Injunctions, Judicial review, Law, Members of Congress, Parties to actions, Political action committees, Political advertising, Political parties, Politics and government, Presidential elections, Presidents, Voting
Latest Action: 01/31/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1440-1441) Bill TextA bill to amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to clarify when organizations described in section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 must register as political committees, and for other purposes. 1/31/2007--Introduced. 527 Reform Act of 2007 - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to subject to its requirements as a political committee any applicable 527 organization.Excludes from the meaning of 527 organization for these purposes any committee, club, association, or other group of persons organized to influence: (1) the selection, nomination, election, appointment, or confirmation of one or more candidates to non-federal or non-elected office; or (2) any state or local ballot measure.Denies exception from treatment as an applicable 527 organization to any such a committee, club, association, or other groups of persons which makes disbursements aggregating more than $1,000 for: (1) a public communication that promotes, supports, attacks,[...] show full description
Also tagged in: Absentee voting, Administrative fees, Administrative procedure, Administrative remedies, Armed forces, Authorization, Ballots, Blind, Budgets, Business, Business records, Civil liberties, Communications, Competitive bidding, Computer software, Computers, Conflict of interests, Congress, Congressional elections, Corporation directors, Corruption in politics, Defense policy, Department of Justice, Directories, Disabled, Election administration, Election Assistance Commission, Election fraud, Elections, Evidence (Law), Executive departments, Federal Election Commission, Fines (Penalties), Freedom of information, Fund raising, Government employees, Government employees' political activities, Government ethics, Government information, Government paperwork, Government procurement, Government publicity, Governmental investigations, Grants-in-aid, Illiteracy, Independent regulatory commissions, Internet, Laboratories, Language and languages, Law, Licenses, Political action committees, Politics and government, Presidential elections, Presidents, Public contracts, Public corruption, Right of privacy, Runoff elections, Science policy, Security measures, Soldier voting, Special elections, Standards, State and local government, State officials, State politics and government, Technology, Telecommunication, Voting, Voting machines, Voting of the disabled, Voting rights, Wireless communication
Latest Action: 02/13/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1903-1904) Bill TextA bill to amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require a voter-verified permanent paper ballot under title III of such Act, and for other purposes. 2/13/2007--Introduced. Vote Integrity and Verification Act of 2007 - Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA) with respect to: (1) ballot verification and mandatory paper record audit capacity; and (2) accessibility and ballot verification of results for individuals with disabilities.Requires the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology to study, test, and develop best practices to enhance the accessibility of ballot verification mechanisms for individuals with disabilities, voters whose primary language is not English, and voters with difficulties in literacy.Requires laboratories to meet standards prohibiting conflicts of interest as a condition of accreditation for the testing of voting system hardware and software.Outlines additional voting system requirements and prohibitions.[...] show full description
Also tagged in: Administrative procedure, Congress, Congressional elections, Election administration, Election Assistance Commission, Elections, Executive departments, Independent regulatory commissions, Law, Presidential elections, Presidents, Voting machines
Latest Action: 01/31/2007 - Referred to the House Committee on House Administration. Bill TextTo amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to direct the Election Assistance Commission to develop and adopt guidelines for electronic poll books in the same manner as the Commission develops and adopts voluntary voting system guidelines under the Act, and for other purposes. 1/31/2007--Introduced. E-Poll Book Improvement Act of 2007 - Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to direct the Election Assistance Commission to develop and adopt guidelines for electronic poll books in the same manner as the Commission develops and adopts voluntary voting system guidelines. Provides that, for certification and testing purposes, electronic poll books shall be treated as part of the hardware and software of a voting system, without regard to whether or not the electronic poll book operates by integration with a voting system or independently.
Also tagged in: Absentee voting, Administrative procedure, Americans in foreign countries, Armed forces, Authorization, Ballots, Budgets, Commemorations, Communications, Congress, Congressional elections, Congressional reporting requirements, Defense policy, Election administration, Election Assistance Commission, Election Day, Elections, Executive departments, Government information, Government paperwork, Government publicity, Governmental investigations, Holidays, Identification devices, Internet, Law, Postal service, Presidential elections, Presidents, Soldier voting, Standards, State and local government, State laws, Technology, Telecommunication, Voting machines
Latest Action: 03/01/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2495-2498) Bill TextA bill to amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to protect voting rights and to improve the administration of Federal elections, and for other purposes. 3/1/2007--Introduced. Voting Opportunity and Technology Enhancement Rights Act of 2007 - Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to permit any person who is otherwise qualified to vote in a federal election in a state to use the national federal write-in absentee ballot prescribed by the Election Assistance Commission to cast a vote in such an election.Directs the Commission to prescribe a national federal write-in absentee ballot for use in elections for federal office. Requires the voting system to provide for an independent means of voter verification, allowing each voter to verify the ballot before it is cast and counted.Requires the state to: (1) count such ballot if the individual who cast it is otherwise eligible to vote; and (2) provide for the minimum required number of voting systems and poll [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Ballots, Budgets, Congress, Congressional elections, Congressional reporting requirements, Democracy, Election administration, Election Assistance Commission, Elections, Executive departments, Executive reorganization, Government information, Government paperwork, Government publicity, Grants-in-aid, Politics and government, Presidential elections, Presidents, State and local government, State politics and government, Statistics, Voting, Voting machines
Latest Action: 03/01/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2503) Bill TextA bill to amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 in order to measure, compare, and improve the quality of voter access to polls and voter services in the administration of Federal elections in the States. 3/1/2007--Introduced. Voter Advocate and Democracy Index Act of 2007 - Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to establish within the Election Assistance Commission an Office of the Voter Advocate to develop and administer a program to: (1) collect specified voter data from states with respect to each election for federal office; (2) develop, refine, and publish a Democracy Index; (3) make grants to eligible entities; and (4) make recommendations to states to improve their performance in the administration of federal elections (as determined based on a state-by-state comparison of the voter data collected under this Act.) Directs the Office to establish a Democracy Index Pilot Program for calendar year 2008 to make grants to eligible entities for the purpose of [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Absentee voting, Actions and defenses, Administrative fees, Administrative procedure, Advertising, Auditing, Authorization, Ballots, Blind, Budgets, Citizen participation, Citizenship education, Civil liberties, Communications, Competitive bidding, Computer matching, Computer software, Conflict of interests, Congress, Congressional elections, Congressional reporting requirements, Corruption in politics, Cost effectiveness, Criminal justice, Data banks, Democracy, Directories, Disabled, Disasters, Driver licenses, Education, Election administration, Election Assistance Commission, Election Day, Election fraud, Election statistics, Elections, Electoral college, Elementary and secondary education, Emergency management, Employee training, Employee vacations, Ex-offenders, Executive departments, Federal advisory bodies, Federal aid to education, Federal Election Commission, Federal employees, Federal-local relations, Federal-state relations, Fines (Penalties), Government employees, Government employees' political activities, Government ethics, Government information, Government paperwork, Government procurement, Government publicity, Governmental investigations, Grants-in-aid, Holidays, Identification devices, Illiteracy, Immigration, Independent regulatory commissions, Injunctions, Internet, Job training, Labor, Laboratories, Language and languages, Law, Local employees, Misconduct in office, Naturalization, Planning, Politics and government, Postal service, Presidential elections, Presidents, Public contracts, Public corruption, Right of privacy, Science policy, Secondary education, Security measures, Self-help devices for the disabled, Social security, Social security numbers, Social services, Standards, State and local government, State employees, State laws, State officials, Student activities, Students, Technological innovations, Technology, Technology assessment, Telecommunication, Terrorism, Transportation, Volunteer workers, Voting machines, Voting rights, Wireless communication
Latest Action: 03/07/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration. Bill TextA bill to amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to improve the administration of elections for Federal office, and for other purposes. 3/7/2007--Introduced. Count Every Vote Act of 2005 - Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 with respect to : (1) voter verification and mandatory auditing by state officials; (2) provisional ballots and requirements for casting and counting them; (3) shortening of voter wait lines; (4) equitable allocation of voting systems, poll workers, and election resources; (5) absentee balloting; (6) training of poll workers; (7) standards for purging voters; (8) an election day registration grant program; (9) standards for early voting; (10) voter registration and identification; (11) prohibition of deceptive practices and certain campaign activities; (12) voting rights of individuals convicted of criminal offenses; and (13) the Election Assistance Commission. Makes appropriations to carry out this Act. Federal Election Day Act of [...] show full description
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Latest Legislation - View All
Latest Action: 07/31/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7947) Bill TextA bill to amend the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to provide for the treatment of institutions of higher education as voter registration agencies. 7/31/2008--Introduced. Student Voter Opportunity To Encourage Registration Act of 2008 or the Student VOTER Act of 2008 - Amends the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to require states to designate federally-funded institutions of higher education as agencies for the registration of voters in federal elections. Requires such schools to provide mail voter registration application forms to students registering to enroll in their courses.
Latest Action: 08/01/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1673) Bill TextTo amend the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to provide for the treatment of institutions of higher education as voter registration agencies. 7/31/2008--Introduced. Student Voter Opportunity To Encourage Registration Act of 2008 or the Student VOTER Act of 2008 - Amends the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to require states to designate federally-funded institutions of higher education as agencies for the registration of voters in federal elections. Requires such schools to provide mail voter registration application forms to students registering to enroll in their courses.
Also tagged in: Anniversaries, Civil rights, Civil rights movements, Civil rights workers, Commemorations, Congress, Congressional tributes, Elections, Legislation, Mississippi, Murder, Voting rights
Latest Action: 06/24/2008 - Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6095-6096; text as passed Senate: CR S6095-6096; text of measure as introduced: CR S6025-6026) Bill Text A resolution commemorating the 44th anniversary of the deaths of civil rights workers Andrew Goodman, James Chaney, and Michael Schwerner in Philadelphia, Mississippi, while working in the name of American democracy to register voters and secure civil rights during the summer of 1964, which has become known as "Freedom Summer".
Also tagged in: Anniversaries, Civil rights, Civil rights movements, Civil rights workers, Commemorations, Congress, Congressional tributes, Elections, Legislation, Mississippi, Murder, Voting rights
Latest Action: 06/23/2008 - Mr. Conyers moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution. Bill TextCommemorating the 44th anniversary of the deaths of civil rights workers Andrew Goodman, James Chaney, and Michael Schwerner in Philadelphia, Mississippi, while working in the name of American democracy to register voters and secure civil rights during the summer of 1964, which has became known as "Freedom Summer". 6/20/2008--Introduced. Encourages all Americans to: (1) pause and remember Andrew Goodman, James Chaney, and Michael Schwerner and the 44th anniversary of their deaths; (2) commemorate their lives and work, and those of all other brave Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of civil rights and voting rights for all Americans; and (3) commemorate and acknowledge the legacy of the brave Americans who participated in the civil rights movement and the role that they played in changing the hearts and minds of Americans, and creating the political climate necessary to pass legislation to expand such rights.
Latest Action: 05/01/2008 - Referred to the House Committee on House Administration. Bill TextTo amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require States to provide for election day registration. 5/1/2008--Introduced. Election Day Registration Act - Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require each state with voter registration requirements relating to federal elections to permit any eligible individual on the day of a federal election to register to vote, and cast a vote, in such election.
Latest Action: 05/01/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3712-3713) Bill TextA bill to amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require States to provide for election day registration. 5/1/2008--Introduced. Election Day Registration Act - Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require each state with voter registration requirements relating to federal elections to permit any eligible individual on the day of a federal election to register to vote, and cast a vote, in such election.
Also tagged in: Civil rights, Election administration, Elections, Fines (Penalties), Government information, Government paperwork, Law, State and local government, State laws, Voting, Voting rights
Latest Action: 02/04/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties. Bill TextTo amend title 18, United States Code, to prevent the election practice known as caging, and for other purposes. 1/17/2008--Introduced. Caging Prohibition Act of 2008 - Amends the federal criminal code to prohibit state or local election officials from preventing an individual from registering or voting in any election for federal office, or from permitting a formal challenge under state law to an individual's registration status or eligibility to vote, if the basis for such decision is evidence consisting of: (1) a voter caging document or voter caging list; (2) an unverified match list; (3) an error or omission on voter application or registration documents that is not material to an individual's eligibility to vote; or (4) any other evidence so designated by the Election Assistance Commission. Defines "voter caging document" as: (1) a nonforwardable document that is returned to the sender or a third party as undelivered or undeliverable despite an attempt [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Absentee voting, Americans in foreign countries, Armed forces, Ballots, Communications, Congress, Congressional elections, Defense policy, Elections, Government information, Government publicity, Postage stamps, Postal service, Presidential elections, Presidents, Soldier voting, State and local government, State laws, Witnesses
Latest Action: 11/15/2007 - Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdi Bill TextTo amend the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act to prohibit States from refusing to accept balloting materials solely because the materials are generated through the use of a computer program, are not printed on a specific type of paper, or do not otherwise meet similar extraneous requirements which are not clearly necessary to prevent fraud in the conduct of elections, and for other purposes. 11/15/2007--Introduced. Overseas Voting Practical Amendments Act of 2007 - Amends the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) to rename the official post card form containing both an absentee voter registration application and an absentee ballot application the Federal Voter Registration and Ballot Application. Prohibits states from refusing to accept balloting materials on any of specified grounds, including that the materials are not printed on a post card, do not include certain information, are not notarized or witnessed by an authorized [...] show full description
Latest Action: 11/09/2007 - Referred to the House Committee on House Administration. Bill TextTo amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to clarify the treatment of provisional ballots cast in elections for Federal office, and for other purposes. 11/9/2007--Introduced. Provisional Ballot Fairness in Counting Act of 2007 - Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to revise requirements for the treatment of provisional ballots in federal elections. Prohibits any election recount until all provisional votes have been counted. Requires the chief state election official, in determining whether to count a provisional vote, to review not only official registered voter lists but also any information an individual voter submitted during the registration process. Requires a provisional ballot in a federal election to be treated as a voter registration application if it is rejected on the ground that the individual is not registered to vote in the election.
Also tagged in: Civil rights, Election administration, Elections, Fines (Penalties), Government information, Government paperwork, Law, State and local government, State laws, Voting, Voting rights
Latest Action: 02/27/2008 - Committee on Rules and Administration. Hearings held. Bill TextA bill to prevent voter caging. 11/5/2007--Introduced. Caging Prohibition Act of 2007 - Prohibits state or local election officials from preventing an individual from registering or voting in any election for federal office, or permitting a formal challenge under state law to an individual's registration status or eligibility to vote in a federal election, if the sole basis for such decision or challenge is evidence consisting of: (1) a voter caging document or voter caging list; (2) an unverified match list; or (3) any other evidence so designated for purposes of this Act by the Federal Election Commission.Defines "voter caging document" as: (1) any nonforwardable document that is sent to an individual at the address at which such individual is registered (or seeking to become registered) as a voter in a federal election, and that is returned to the sender or to a third party as undelivered or undeliverable; and (2) any document (other than a notice warning [...] show full description
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