[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3232 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3232

 To direct the President to conduct a study of issues relating to the 
    incorporation of online and Internet technologies in the voting 
                    process, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            November 5, 1999

  Mr. Jackson of Illinois (for himself, Mr. Franks of New Jersey, Mr. 
 Kennedy of Rhode Island, Ms. Lee, Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas, 
     Mrs. Christensen, Mr. Hilliard, Mr. Gutierrez, and Mr. Owens) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
                          House Administration

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To direct the President to conduct a study of issues relating to the 
    incorporation of online and Internet technologies in the voting 
                    process, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Digital Democracy Study Act of 
1999''.

SEC. 2. PRESIDENTIAL STUDY OF ISSUES RELATING TO ONLINE AND INTERNET 
              VOTING.

    (a) In General.--The President shall conduct a study of issues 
raised by the incorporation of online and Internet technologies in the 
voting process, and shall include in the study the following items:
            (1) An analysis of the use of such technologies within 
        existing voting systems and the need to collect, store, and 
        process electronically generated and transmitted digital 
        messages in order to permit individuals to register to vote and 
        vote (whether in person or through the use of absentee 
        ballots).
            (2) The development and determination of appropriate 
        security standards for voting systems that incorporate online 
        and Internet technologies, including measures for certifying 
        that the systems meet such standards.
            (3) An analysis of the potential effects of using online 
        and Internet technologies on voter participation rates, public 
        accessibility to voting systems, the influence of external 
        communications on the voting process, and other matters related 
        to the conduct and administration of elections.
    (b) Consultation With Experts.--In conducting the study under this 
section, the President shall consult with an advisory group whose 
members shall be selected by the President as follows:
            (1) One member shall be selected from among a list of 
        nominees provided by the Federal Election Commission.
            (2) One member shall be selected from among a list of 
        nominees provided by the National Association of Secretaries of 
        State.
            (3) One member shall be selected from among a list of 
        nominees provided by the International Association of Clerks, 
        Recorders, Election Officials, and Treasurers.
            (4) One member shall be an individual with expertise in the 
        administration of elections and the operation of online and 
        Internet systems.
            (5) 4 members shall be selected from among a list of 
        nominees provided jointly by the Speaker and minority leader of 
        the House of Representatives.
            (6) 4 members shall be appointed from among a list of 
        nominees provided jointly by the majority and minority leaders 
        of the Senate.

SEC. 3. REPORT TO CONGRESS.

    Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the President shall submit to Congress a report on the study 
conducted under section 2, and shall include in the report such 
legislative and other recommendations as the President considers 
appropriate to address the issues covered under the study.
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