[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1151 Introduced in House (IH)]
107th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1151
To direct the Federal Election Commission to issue voluntary standards
to promote the accessibility and effective use of voting systems,
voting equipment, and polling places, to make grants to assist States
in complying with such standards and carrying out other activities to
promote accessibility in voting, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 21, 2001
Mr. Langevin (for himself, Mrs. Maloney of New York, Mr. Brown of Ohio,
Mr. Stark, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Frank, Mr. Kennedy of Rhode Island, and
Mr. Lantos) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on House Administration
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Federal Election Commission to issue voluntary standards
to promote the accessibility and effective use of voting systems,
voting equipment, and polling places, to make grants to assist States
in complying with such standards and carrying out other activities to
promote accessibility in voting, 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 ``Voting Opportunity Through
Technology and Education Act of 2001''.
SEC. 2. VOLUNTARY ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS FOR POLLING PLACES AND VOTING
EQUIPMENT.
(a) Revision and Expansion of Current Voting System Standards.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 9 months after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Office of Election
Administration of the Federal Election Commission (hereafter in
this section referred to as the ``Office'') shall develop and
publish revisions to the most recent version of voting system
standards issued by the Office, and shall expand the scope of
such standards to include voluntary standards to promote for
all individuals, including the elderly and individuals with
disabilities, the accessibility of polling places and the
effective use of voting systems and voting equipment which
provide the opportunity for casting a secure and secret ballot.
(2) Future updates.--The Office shall update the revised
and expanded standards under paragraph (1) at such intervals as
the Office considers appropriate.
(b) Consultation.--In developing the revised and expanded standards
under subsection (a), the Office shall consult with officials of the
Federal Government and State and local governments with expertise in
assessing the accessibility of facilities and voting systems for the
elderly and individuals with disabilities, and with appropriate
organizations with expertise in developing accessibility standards for
the elderly and individuals with disabilities.
(c) Posting on Internet.--The Office shall post the revised and
expanded standards under this section on the Internet, and shall take
such other measures to disseminate the standards to the public as the
Office considers appropriate.
SEC. 3. REQUIRING OFFICE OF ELECTION ADMINISTRATION TO SERVE AS
CLEARINGHOUSE OF INFORMATION ON ACCESSIBILITY OF VOTING
SYSTEMS.
Section 311(a)(10) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2
U.S.C. 438(a)(10)) is amended by striking ``Federal elections.'' and
inserting the following: ``Federal elections (including information
regarding the accessibility of voting systems, voting equipment, and
polling places for the elderly and individuals with disabilities), and
provide information on methods to improve the administration of Federal
elections upon request to a State or unit of local government.''.
SEC. 4. GRANT PROGRAM FOR ACTIVITIES TO PROMOTE ACCESSIBILITY IN
VOTING.
(a) In General.--After the issuance of the revised voting system
standards by the Office of Election Administration of the Commission
pursuant to section 2, the Federal Election Commission shall make
grants to eligible States--
(1) to bring voting systems, voting equipment, polling
places, and voter registration facilities in the State into
compliance with such revised standards; and
(2) to carry out other activities to promote the
accessibility of voting systems, voting equipment, polling
places, and voter registration facilities for the elderly and
individuals with disabilities.
(b) Eligibility.--
(1) In general.--A State is eligible to receive a grant
under this section if it submits to the Commission (at such
time and in such form as the Commission may require) an
application containing--
(A) a description of the activities the State will
carry out with the funds provided under the grant;
(B) assurances that the State will carry out such
activities in a manner consistent with the revised
voting system standards issued pursuant to section 2;
and
(C) such other information and assurances as the
Commission may require.
(2) Use of funds for educational activities.--At the option
of the State, a State may use funds provided under a grant made
under this section to educate poll workers, election officials,
and voters on the availability and use of voting technology and
equipment which is designed to be fully accessible to the
elderly and individuals with disabilities.
(c) Report.--At such time as the Commission may require, each State
receiving a grant under this section shall submit a report to the
Commission which describes the activities carried out with the funds
provided under the grant and contains such other information as the
Commission may require.
(d) Action Through Office of Election Administration.--The
Commission shall carry out its duties under this section through its
Office of Election Administration.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Commission for each of fiscal years 2002 through
2005--
(1) $200,000,000 for grants under this section; and
(2) such sums as may be necessary for the administrative
expenses of carrying out this section, including expenses
relating to the hiring of additional personnel.
SEC. 5. REVISIONS TO VOTING ACCESSIBILITY FOR THE ELDERLY AND
HANDICAPPED ACT.
(a) Statement of Purpose.--Section 2 of the Voting Accessibility
for the Elderly and Handicapped Act (42 U.S.C. 1973ee) is amended by
striking ``to promote the fundamental right'' and all that follows and
inserting the following: ``to ensure that no citizen is denied the
right to vote because the citizen is elderly or has a disability.''.
(b) Restoration of Reporting Requirements.--
(1) In general.--Section 3(c) of such Act (42 U.S.C.
1973ee-1(c)) is amended by striking paragraph (3).
(2) Effective date.--The amendment made by paragraph (1)
shall apply with respect to years beginning with 2002.
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