[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 241 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
107th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 241
To direct the Federal Election Commission to set uniform national
standards for Federal election procedures, change the Federal election
day, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 1, 2001
Mr. Reid introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Federal Election Commission to set uniform national
standards for Federal election procedures, change the Federal election
day, 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 ``National Election Standards Act of
2001''.
SEC. 2. UNIFORM NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR FEDERAL ELECTION PROCEDURES.
(a) Uniform Standards.--Title III of the Federal Election Campaign
Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 431 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``SEC. 323. UNIFORM ELECTION PROCEDURES.
``(a) In General.--The Commission shall provide required uniform
national standards regarding procedures for elections for Federal
office that--
``(1) minimize delay, error, or confusion in voting and in
voter registration;
``(2) eliminate fraud in the voting process;
``(3) increase the accuracy and reliability of vote counts
and counting procedure;
``(4) reduce the number of uncounted and discarded ballots;
``(5) encourage voter registration and voter turnout;
``(6) ensure accessibility to registration facilities and
polling places for all voters; and
``(7) promote public confidence in the accuracy and
reliability of the election process.
``(b) Standards.--The standards under subsection (a) shall include
procedures regarding--
``(1) the type of ballots used;
``(2) vote counting;
``(3) use of counting machines;
``(4) accuracy and security of elections and vote counts;
``(5) voter registration; and
``(6) verification and maintenance of voter rolls.
``(c) Study of State Procedures.--For purposes of determining
standards under subsection (a), the Commission shall study and
periodically review (not less often than once every 6 months following
an election for Federal office) State election regulations and
procedures.
``(d) Enforcement.--Standards established under this section shall
only be enforceable under section 309(e).
``(e) Regulations.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than January 1, 2002, the
Commission shall promulgate regulations to carry out the
provisions of this section based on an initial study and
analysis of election and vote counting procedures utilized in
each State.
``(2) State compliance.--The Commission may--
``(A) prescribe a reasonable period of time for
States to comply with the uniform national standards
established under this section; and
``(B) establish a process for a State to request a
waiver of compliance with a standard or an extension of
time to comply with a standard, based on a showing that
the State cannot reasonably comply with such
standard.''.
(b) Enforcement.--
(1) Civil penalties.--
(A) In general.--Section 309 of the Federal
Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 437g) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(e) The Attorney General may bring a civil action in an
appropriate district court for such declaratory or injunctive relief as
is necessary to carry out the requirements under section 323.''.
(B) Conforming amendment.--Section 309(a)(1) of the
Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C.
437g(a)(1)) is amended by striking ``Any person'' and
inserting ``Except as provided in section 323, any
person''.
(2) Criminal penalties.--
(A) In general.--Chapter 29 of title 18, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``SEC. 612. NONCOMPLIANCE WITH UNIFORM NATIONAL ELECTION STANDARDS.
``It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly conduct an
election for Federal office (within the meaning of section 301 of the
Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 431)), or to knowingly
interfere with such election, so that the election is in violation of
the uniform national standards established by the Federal
Election Commission under section 323 of such Act. Any person who
violates this section shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not
more than 3 years, or both.''.
(B) Conforming amendment.--The table of sections
for chapter 29 of title 18, United States Code, is
amended by inserting at the end the following:
``Sec. 612. Noncompliance with uniform
national election standards.''.
(c) Compliance Grant Program.--
(1) In general.--The Federal Election Commission is
authorized to make grants to States to provide for the cost of
implementing the uniform national standards for elections
established under section 323 of the Federal Election Campaign
Act of 1971.
(2) Use of funds.--A State may use a grant received under
paragraph (1) for costs in relation to compliance with the
uniform national standards for elections established by the
Federal Election Commission.
(3) Application.--Each State that desires to receive a
grant under this subsection shall submit an application to the
Federal Election Commission, at such time, in such manner, and
accompanied by such information as reasonably required by the
regulations promulgated under paragraph (5).
(4) Approval of application.--The Federal Election
Commission shall approve an application in accordance with the
standards required under paragraph (5).
(5) Administrative regulations.--The Federal Election
Commission shall issue regulations regarding grants under this
subsection that provide for the following:
(A) The application process.
(B) The content of an application.
(C) The standard amount of each grant.
(D) The criteria for approval of an application.
(6) Authorization of appropriations.--
(A) In general.--There is authorized to be
appropriated $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2002
through 2011 to carry out the provisions of this
subsection.
(B) Availability of funds.--Such funds shall remain
available until expended.
(7) Reports.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, the Federal
Election Commission shall submit to Congress a report on the
activities under this subsection.
SEC. 3. CHANGE IN GENERAL ELECTION DATE.
(a) Electors.--Section 1 of title 3, United States Code, is amended
by striking ``on the Tuesday next after the first Monday'' and
inserting ``on the first consecutive Saturday and Sunday prior to the
first Monday''.
(b) Congressional Elections.--Section 25 of the Revised Statutes (2
U.S.C. 7) is amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 25. The first consecutive Saturday and Sunday prior to the
first Monday in November, in every even numbered year, are established
as the days for the election, in each of the States and Territories of
the United States, of Representatives and Delegates to the Congress
commencing on the 3d day of January thereafter.''.
SEC. 4. VOTER REGISTRATION IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS.
Section 4 of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (42 U.S.C.
1973gg-2) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(c) Same Day Registration.--Notwithstanding any other Federal or
State law, each State shall establish procedures to allow voters in the
State to register to vote at the polling place at the time of voting in
a general election for Federal office.''.
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