118 HR 8499 IH: Clean Elections in America Act U.S. House of Representatives 2024-05-22 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I118th CONGRESS2d SessionH. R. 8499IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESMay 22, 2024Mr. Grothman introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on House AdministrationA BILLTo amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to establish requirements for voting by absentee ballot in elections for Federal office, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Clean Elections in America Act.

2.

Requirements with respect to voting by absentee ballot

(a)

Requirements

Title III of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.) is amended—(1)by redesignating sections 304 and 305 as sections 305 and 306, respectively; and(2)by inserting after section 303 the following new section:

304.

Requirements with respect to voting by absentee ballot

(a)

Individuals eligible To receive absentee ballot

(1)

Excusable reasons to receive absentee ballot

A State may not provide to an individual an absentee ballot to vote in an election for Federal office unless such individual meets the application requirements described in paragraph (2) and is unable to vote in person at the appropriate polling place in the State on the date of the election for any of the following reasons:(A)The business or occupation of the individual prevents such individual from voting in person on the date of the election.(B)The individual is unable to vote in person on the date of the election because such individual provides care to a parent, spouse, or child with an illness, disability, or injury that requires constant care. (C)The individual suffers from a physical ailment, or is an individual with a disability, that substantially limits the ability of the individual to vote in person.(D)The individual will be absent from the jurisdiction in which the individual is registered to vote on the date of the election.(E)The individual is entitled to vote by absentee ballot under any other Federal law.(2)

Application requirements

A State may not provide to an individual an absentee ballot to vote in an election for Federal office unless—(A)the individual submits an application to the appropriate State or local election official and such application is received by the official not later than noon on the Friday before the date of the election; and(B)the application includes—(i)the individual’s name and address;(ii)the reason such individual is unable to vote in person at the appropriate polling place in the State on the date of the election and such reason is an excusable reason described in paragraph (1); and(iii)a sworn written statement attesting to the individual’s identity.(b)

Effective date

This section shall apply with respect to each election for Federal office held after the date of the enactment of this section.

.(b)

Conforming amendment relating to enforcement

Section 401 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21111) is amended by striking and 303 and inserting 303, and 304.(c)

Clerical amendment

The table of contents of such Act is amended—(1)by redesignating the items relating to sections 304 and 305 as relating to sections 305 and 306; and(2)by inserting after the item relating to section 303 the following new item:Sec. 304. Requirements with respect to voting by absentee ballot..