1.Short
title; table of contents
(a)This Act may be cited
as the Voter Protection Act of
2005
.
(b)The table of contents of this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of
contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
TITLE I—Voter registration and maintenance of official lists of
registered voters
Sec. 101. Requirements for voters who register other than in
person with an officer or employee of a State or local government
entity.
Sec. 102. Removal of registrants from voting rolls for failure
to vote.
Sec. 103. Use of social security numbers for voter registration
and election administration.
Sec. 104. Synchronization of State databases.
Sec. 105. Incomplete registration forms.
Sec. 106. Requirements for submission of registration forms by
third parties.
TITLE II—Voting
Sec. 201. Voter rolls.
Sec. 202. Return of absentee ballots.
Sec. 203. Identification requirement.
Sec. 204. Clarification of counting of provisional
ballots.
Sec. 205. Applications for absentee ballots.
Sec. 206. Pilot program for use of indelible ink at polling
places.
TITLE III—Criminal penalties
Sec. 301. Penalty for making expenditures to persons to
register.
Sec. 302. Penalty for conspiracy to influence
voting.
Sec. 303. Penalty for destruction of property with intent to
impede the act of voting.
2.Congress makes the following
findings:
(1)There is a need
for Congress to encourage and enable every eligible and registered American to
vote.
(2)There is a need
for Congress to protect the franchise of all Americans by rooting out the
potential for fraud in the electoral system.
(3)There is a need
for Congress to provide States the tools necessary to protect against fraud in
multiple, fictitious, and ineligible voter registrations.
(4)There is a need
for Congress to ensure completed and valid voter registration forms are
returned for processing so as to not disenfranchise voters who believe they
have been properly registered.
(5)There is a need
for Congress to provide States the tools necessary to protect against any
American casting more than one ballot and ensuring poll workers are equipped to
identify those who voted prior to election day.
(6)There is a need
for Congress to ensure the accuracy, integrity, and fairness of every American
election.
(7)There is a need
for Congress to ensure the protection of every American’s franchise is carried
out in a uniform and nondiscriminatory manner.
<enum>I</enum><header>Voter
registration and maintenance of official lists of registered voters</header>
<section id="idC42FCB2DC5194BEA86876FE1065DBA5A"><enum>101.</enum><header>Requirements
for voters who register other than in person with an officer or employee of a
State or local government entity</header>
<subsection id="ID60561fc4de3a47d59ab8c8c0a8b8b0b9"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header>
<paragraph id="IDb675a449a83c4e6e9a36155813e854e6"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Application of
requirements to voters registering other than in
person</header><text>Subparagraph (A) of section 303(b)(1) of the Help America
Vote Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 15483(b)(1)(A)) is amended to read as
follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idC6EC3303C60A46FFAD5C27F79B3F43A1" style="OLC">
<subparagraph id="ID0edf5217713941c792c0c69f4af660ac"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the individual
registered to vote in a jurisdiction in a manner other than appearing in person
before an officer or employee of a State or local government entity; and</text>
</subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID7336a0f18cf249dfa0be940436ef20d5"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Meaning of in
person</header><text>Paragraph (1) of section 303(b) of such Act is amended by
inserting at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1ABB741FFBAB4C6C996E3411244B470F" style="OLC">
<quoted-block-continuation-text quoted-block-continuation-text-level="paragraph">For
purposes of subparagraph (A), an individual shall not be considered to have
registered in person if the registration is submitted to an officer or employee
of a State or local government entity by a person other than the person whose
name appears on the voter registration
form.</quoted-block-continuation-text><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID217ba1ade332450b857922c827e77a18"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Conforming
amendments</header>
<subparagraph id="id0EA540073751484093F0C788356BDF99"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The heading for
subsection (b) of section 303 of such Act is amended by striking
<quote><header-in-text level="subsection">who register by
mail</header-in-text></quote> and inserting <quote><header-in-text level="subsection">who do not register in
person</header-in-text></quote>.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id142199B55A714CD8AD63908A7C15089C"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The heading for
section 303 of such Act is amended by striking <quote><header-in-text level="section">requirements for voters who register by
mail</header-in-text></quote> and inserting <quote><header-in-text level="section">voter registration
requirements</header-in-text></quote>.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idE44647759B824F7289BA79F42798C97E"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Effective
date</header>
<paragraph id="idFF140F2FA83248B3B6F17A9CA3E1F603"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The amendments made by this section shall apply on and
after January 1, 2006.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idE3D07BE42D1549EFA98A146E6C22BBF0"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Conforming
amendments</header>
<subparagraph id="id8E5D82C34E3447A0B90B642D9A6EFEF7"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Paragraph (2) of
section 303(d) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 15483(d)(2)) is
amended by inserting at the end the following new subparagraph:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idA04D3EA615F540A0A6BCE03166B2D9D4" style="OLC">
<subparagraph id="id0E074AECC89142E09CAA2A2881E573EC"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Applicability
with respect to individuals who register other than in
person</header><text>Notwithstanding subparagraphs (A) and (B)—</text>
<clause id="idFC28E4CD16834146A293A584CE5AEB5C"><enum>(i)</enum><text>each State and
jurisdiction shall be required to comply with the provisions of subsection (b)
with respect to individuals who register to vote in a jurisdiction in a manner
other than appearing in person before an officer or employee of a State or
local government entity on and after January 1, 2006; and</text>
</clause><clause id="id371A79AE0B174809A5D9B0857B5299E8"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the provisions
of subsection (b) shall apply to any individual who registers to vote in a
jurisdiction in a manner other than appearing in person before an officer or
employee of a State or local government on and after January 1, 2006.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idD2DA3E7781FE4E5783B5E81CF2E37E80"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The heading for
paragraph (2) of section 303(d) of such Act is amended by striking
<quote><header-in-text level="paragraph">who register by
mail</header-in-text></quote>.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id736E979384EF4DAEB1C29B0E194918C9"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Subparagraph (A)
of section 303(d)(2) of such Act is amended by inserting <quote>with respect to
individuals who register by mail</quote> after <quote>subsection
(b)</quote>.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4C1A62C1D1E641159245975B51D9FD25"><enum>(D)</enum><text>Subparagraph (B)
of section 303(d)(2) of such Act is amended by inserting <quote>by mail</quote>
after <quote>registers to vote</quote>.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id0E88FFC88801469CA46E0120724FE1AA"><enum>102.</enum><header>Removal of
registrants from voting rolls for failure to vote</header>
<subsection id="id5274718516B34778B116AC4CFE7509CB"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 8 of the National
Voter Registration Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 1973gg–6) is amended by redesignating
subsections (h), (i), and (j) as subsections (i), (j), and (k), respectively,
and by inserting after subsection (g) the following new subsection:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id87E698C72C76480CADE91F366BDE64A6" style="OLC">
<subsection id="idAFF364626AB047C28BDC20DB1FEDEE4E"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Failure to
vote</header>
<text>Except as otherwise provided in subsection (d), a State shall
not remove the name of a registrant from the official list of eligible voters
in elections for Federal office on the ground that the registrant has failed to
vote unless—</text>
<paragraph id="id338EC855CBF04D038D365369F7910E52"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the registrant
has not voted or appeared to vote in 2 consecutive general elections for
Federal office; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idCCE489C8DDFA41AD99DFB6416C0E2A28"><enum>(2)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idCD5B377ABBD1493980ABFCF9C602E603"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the registrant has not
notified the applicable registrar (in person or in writing) during the period
described in subparagraph (A) that the individual intends to remain registered
in the registrar's jurisdiction; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idFEFC97152E3040D29B306C5578A58E50" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the applicable registrar has sent a
notice which meets the requirements of paragraph (d)(2) and the notice is
undeliverable.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="ID45e088d366f643278a96c2b3557dd81c"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Conforming
amendments</header>
<paragraph id="id318E36B21EE2432D8DC3505904F358DB"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Section 8(a)(4)
of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (42 U.S.C. 1973gg–6(a)(4)) is
amended by striking <quote>or</quote> at the end of subparagraph (A), by
inserting <quote>or</quote> at the end of subparagraph (B), and by adding at
the end the following new subparagraph:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idA38B76DB0C844659B7E6A86E8FFC1163" style="OLC">
<subparagraph id="id6B2135FD5638450686EF15F1C35C53AC"><enum>(C)</enum><text>a failure to vote
in 2 consecutive general elections for Federal office, in accordance with
subsection (h) of this section;</text>
</subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2C9DEED79B6B4CEFB9F4C0426EA91131"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Section 8(b) of
the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (42 U.S.C. 1973gg–6(b)) is amended
by striking <quote>roll for elections for Federal office</quote> and all that
follows and inserting the following <quote>roll for elections for Federal
office shall be uniform, nondiscriminatory, and in compliance with the Voting
Rights Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 1973 et seq.).</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" id="idE8FCA4F5BA5B4A8F81C952B4912492AA"><enum>103.</enum><header>Use of social
security numbers for voter registration and election administration</header>
<subsection commented="no" id="ID21520d6e0e5a488696cde0a305e603ff"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Section 205(c)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
405(c)(2)) is amended by adding at the end the following new
subparagraph:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5E3E4D915C1A4E6F9394430847BD0C1C" style="OLC">
<subparagraph commented="no" id="ID139012d970024c0eb90df9028d51d860"><enum>(I)</enum><clause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id49079245AA7540D8BB27329FB0890762"><enum>(i)</enum><text>It is the policy of the
United States that any State (or political subdivision thereof) may, in the
administration of any voter registration or other election law, use the social
security account numbers issued by the Commissioner of Social Security for the
purpose of establishing the identification of individuals affected by such law,
and may require any individual who is, or appears to be, so affected to furnish
to such State (or political subdivision thereof) or any agency thereof having
administrative responsibility for the law involved, the social security account
number (or numbers, if such individual has more than one such number) issued to
such individual by the Commissioner of Social Security.</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" id="IDec73f22d91d6422c80973a055b9de8d3" indent="up1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>For purposes of clause (i), an
agency of a State (or political subdivision thereof) charged with the
administration of any voter registration or other election law that did not use
the social security account number for identification under a law or regulation
adopted before January 1, 2005, may require an individual to disclose his or
her social security number to such agency solely for the purpose of
administering the laws referred to in such clause.</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" id="ID375d7c47378b416b89fde867d5a9f3c1" indent="up1"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>If, and to the extent that, any
provision of Federal law enacted before the date of enactment of the
<short-title>Voter Protection Act of 2005</short-title> is
inconsistent with the policy set forth in clause (i), such provision shall, on
and after the date of the enactment of such Act, be null, void, and of no
effect.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="id503EE54333564350904584DC5FBCF0DB"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Construction</header><text>Nothing
in this section or the amendment made by this section may be construed to
supersede any privacy guarantee under any Federal or State law that applies
with respect to a social security number.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="idE8866858D98042728E4441EE38D89C80"><enum>104.</enum><header>Synchronization
of State databases</header>
<subsection id="idF9028893D74E4B65BF6E116607DBA0C2"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Subparagraph (A) of section 303(a)(1) of the Help America
Vote Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 15483(a)(1)(A)) is amended by adding at the end the
following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idCA410DE391AD437DB304B8A646C2B90C" style="OLC">
<clause id="id0CCE477C49BF4F6AA2773037CCDF04B9"><enum>(ix)</enum><text>The computerized
list shall be in a format which allows for sharing and synchronization with
other State computerized lists.</text>
</clause><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="idD8CC48FF254747738859EDDDA8260498"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Effective
date</header>
<paragraph id="id577A6600CDE14676A403EC976ECD45CC"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Paragraph (1) of section 303(d) of the Help America Vote
Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 15483(d)(1)) is amended by adding at the end the
following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id929413479DFA4220BB48300E4DB4C9AA" style="OLC">
<subparagraph id="idACF0343B033A4B709E0C1248342F3E45"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Synchronization
of databases</header><text>Each State and jurisdiction shall be required to
comply with the requirements of subsection (a)(1)(A)(ix) on and after January
1, 2007.</text>
</subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id63FEA350AC47415E80C8C6F71BE4AC20"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Conforming
amendment</header><text>Subparagraph (A) of section 303(d)(1) of the Help
America Vote Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 15483(d)(1)(A)) is amended by striking
<quote>subparagraph (B)</quote> and inserting <quote>subparagraphs (B) and
(C)</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id6B955EF311FE46769838EAC66672F771"><enum>105.</enum><header>Incomplete
registration forms</header>
<subsection id="idB55B765FC36B443BBCCCB4E1A98D3AFD"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Subparagraph (B) of section 303(b)(4) of the Help America
Vote Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 15483(b)(4)(B)) is amended to read as
follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5E554C7DA7B043DFAC2197A52F66617B" style="OLC">
<subparagraph id="id5F71CBBAFF404997A3159BC8BEA3BB4D"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Incomplete
forms</header><text>If an applicant for voter registration fails to answer the
question included on the mail voter registration form pursuant to subparagraph
(A)(i), the registrar shall return the incomplete voter registration form to
the applicant and provide the applicant with an opportunity to complete the
registration form.</text>
</subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="idEDF97F725D244851A2425C89D791D4DE"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Effective
date</header><text>The amendment made by this section shall apply to any
individual who registers to vote on or after January 1, 2006.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="id3EA24399D8134289B4FD0D088C962FD2"><enum>106.</enum><header>Requirements
for submission of registration forms by third parties</header>
<subsection id="idD3CE9C3506BE4D378ECEF9F82DAF456B"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Section 303 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (42
U.S.C. 15483(b)), as amended by this Act, is amended by redesignating
subsection (d) as subsection (e) and by inserting after subsection (c) the
following new subsection:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id121F8FC6574E4CA59364D8690729672A" style="OLC">
<subsection id="idA9001D22CCD348B193E3A379CE8967E4"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Requirements
for submission or registration forms by third
parties</header><text>Notwithstanding section 8(a) of the National Voter
Registration Act of 1993 (42 U.S.C. 1973gg–6(a)), no State shall register any
person to vote in an election for Federal office if the registration form is
submitted—</text>
<paragraph id="id823E453EA6944742843CDDB0AEFD2627"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by a person other
than the person whose name appears on such form; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idA86EF82D36EB4FD5A9003D3CF8233295"><enum>(2)</enum><text>more than 3 days
after the date on which such form was signed by the registrant.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="id1CBB7520EE2C4FB9BD7115ECCAB1ADDC"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Conforming
amendment</header><text>Section 906(a) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (42
U.S.C. 15545(a)) is amended by striking <quote>section 303(b)</quote> and
inserting <quote>subsections (b) and (d) of section 303</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idFF87366800D84FB2B6C64A468FD64968"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Effective
date</header><text>Subsection (e) of section 303 of the Help America Vote Act
of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 15483(d)), as redesignated by subsection (a), is amended by
adding at the end the following new paragraph:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5DC2B77D5E0C44C698AA52A6D7B3BFD7" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="idA97C9B68BE774A0E973AAD45A3A2C63B"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Requirement for
submission of registration forms by third parties</header><text>Each State
shall be required to comply with the requirements of subsection (d) on and
after January 1, 2006.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><enum>II</enum><header>Voting</header>
<section id="id18A7A6C0E3E540FC8984A71D3D6D8553"><enum>201.</enum><header>Voter
rolls</header>
<subsection id="idB185D8E6DD114E3B9F51965744356456"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header>
<text>Title III of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 15481
et seq.) is amended by redesignating sections 304 and 305 as sections 305 and
306, respectively, and by inserting after section 303 the following new
section:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3BACBDD3CA39404883CE41C03E407DB9" style="OLC">
<section id="idFFDFE2AB98ED46B7B6BDD68F8DA2DD4A"><enum>304.</enum><header>Voter
rolls</header>
<subsection id="id7B1FCD009C35495C925A96E92E7540DA"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>If a State allows early voting or absentee voting for a
Federal office, then such State shall be required to ensure that the voter
rolls at each polling location on the day of the election accurately and
affirmatively indicate—</text>
<paragraph id="idEDD73C65DE384A55A3C92F3A51EE29B0"><enum>(1)</enum><text>which individuals
have voted prior to such day; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idB055D6A41EFE417BACDFE375741C10BC"><enum>(2)</enum><text>which individuals
have requested an absentee ballot for such election.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id0451C88E435149B09F4E493D94D7C4CD"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Rule for
persons not voting in person</header><text>For purposes of subsection (a)(1), a
State shall affirmatively indicate that an individual who has not voted in
person has voted if the State has received a ballot from such individual prior
to the day of the election.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idB92E45F37F4542BC9F214DFA92CFDD1F"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Effective
date</header><text>Each State and jurisdiction shall be required to comply with
the requirements of this section on and after January 1, 2006.</text>
</subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="id2EC1E45833D14584AF65630CE2908118"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Conforming
amendment</header><text>Section 401 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (42
U.S.C. 15511) is amended by striking <quote>and 303</quote> and inserting
<quote>303, and 304</quote>.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="id15C0A6BAB894422C906E15873B2A23FD"><enum>202.</enum><header>Return of
absentee ballots</header>
<subsection id="id0F4DB4D54D3F4A59AF48355EFE313DA8"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Title III of the Help
America Vote Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 15481 et seq.), as amended by this Act, is
amended by redesignating sections 305 and 306 as sections 306 and 307,
respectively, and by inserting after section 304 the following new
section.</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idC9C6DA138BF44795B8230960CCDFA789" style="OLC">
<section id="id8969DBA4D4BB47F1A1BB4B474A1DF32A"><enum>305.</enum><header>Return of
absentee ballots</header>
<subsection id="id0B3037C59D3D4C58A520F7AD20DE86BE"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Except as provided in the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens
Absentee Voting Act, each absentee ballot cast for a Federal office must be
received by the State by the close of business on the day of the election in
order to be counted as a valid ballot.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idDB956AC3DC67435FB9E2D28FAE90CBDD"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Effective
date</header><text>Each State and jurisdiction shall be required to comply with
the requirements of subsection (a) on and after January 1, 2006.</text>
</subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="id52A0BDCA84D047CFBA591C184FC72DF8"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Conforming
amendment</header><text>Section 401 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (42
U.S.C. 15511), as amended by this Act, is amended by striking <quote>and
304</quote> and inserting <quote>304, and 305</quote>.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="id362AC45278D246A6822E78E8FFC65862"><enum>203.</enum><header>Identification
requirement</header>
<subsection id="idF61A27E3D1A8458D923E3E5CF2105299"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Requirement for
voters who register by mail and other than in person</header>
<paragraph id="idA68694B6E2714F95BBE6DEE7B4CBECB4"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Subparagraph (A) of section 303(b)(2) of the Help America
Vote Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 15483(b)(2)(A)) is amended—</text>
<subparagraph id="id969DA1202F4942DF9BBD85173FE08A9F"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in clause
(i)—</text>
<clause id="id17E6EF004DB946DC9663AD3F5B524579"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by
inserting <quote>issued by a government entity</quote> after
<quote>identification</quote> in subclause (I); and</text>
</clause><clause id="idC119FC85380942F493C4F0A27BD34E3D"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by
striking <quote>current utility bill, bank statement, government check,
paycheck, or other</quote> in subclause (II) and inserting
<quote>recent</quote>; and</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idF2D49B325E21484B8165A6363A80F5AB"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in clause (ii)
—</text>
<clause id="id826AFCCA7BC94DD4AD2CDD613232CB91"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by
inserting <quote>issued by a government entity</quote> after
<quote>identification</quote> in subclause (I); and</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idA87E9DA148DA47E6B13A5A8256DE45E6"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or
other</quote> in subclause (II) and inserting <quote>recent</quote>.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idA0DC077D19654F1B971C95BB259284EC"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Inapplicability</header><text>Paragraph
(3) of section 303(b) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C.
15483(b)(3)) is amended—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idF83FDB7179874B0396867E7522640E95"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in subparagraph
(A)—</text>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id299EE4E683AB48FEB8356D7B2ABAC6B8"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>part of such</quote> and inserting <quote>a requirement for a
valid</quote>;</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id66F9BA2ADAFB4085BB17D78DD2011C1F"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by inserting
<quote>issued by a government entity</quote> after
<quote>identification</quote> in clause (i); and</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idD2ABA435A1DE4973B6A860EB4CE5D9FD"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or
other</quote> in clause (ii) and inserting <quote>recent</quote>; and</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3560A8121CCC40B98D002E23E62CA7A7"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in subparagraph
(B)(i), by striking <quote>with such</quote> and inserting <quote>as a
requirement for a valid</quote>.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7BD08A17A535426DA29647103BE53714"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Effective
date</header><text>The amendments made by this subsection shall apply to
individuals who register to vote on and after January 1, 2006, and each State
and jurisdiction shall be required to comply with the requirements of section
303(b) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002, as amended by this section, on and
after January 1, 2006.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idD9FB80ADC42B4581A4D705EBC17F40FE"><enum>(b)</enum><header>New requirement
for individuals voting in person</header>
<paragraph id="id915C3D610C684D108E5A1DBC86B8099D"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Title III of the Help
America Vote Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 15481 et seq.), as amended by this Act, is
amended by redesignating sections 306 and 307 as sections 307 and 308,
respectively, and by inserting after section 305 the following new
section:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7F5416033E414BF79CF44C7A22E06EBE" style="OLC">
<section id="id9045F820B12B4BEF8E3083D308333281"><enum>306.</enum><header>Identification
of voters at the polls</header>
<subsection id="idF0899222B1904059984E11FB891D1ADD"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Notwithstanding the requirements of section 303(b), each
State shall require individuals casting ballots in an election for Federal
office in person to present a current valid photo identification issued by a
governmental entity before voting.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idEF5DF426714045868FA84607368AEA02"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Effective
date</header><text>Each State shall be required to comply with the requirements
of subsection (a) on and after January 1, 2006.</text>
</subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2B7681AF9FDB40BC870018A82C7AA6D3"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Conforming
amendment</header><text>Section 401 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (42
U.S.C. 15511), as amended by this Act, is amended by striking <quote>and
305</quote> and inserting <quote>305, and 306</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id67BB6A27A3C7427EAA1D48309161FDB7"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Funding for
free photo identifications</header><text>Subtitle D of title II of the Help
America Vote Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 15401 et seq.) is amended by adding at the
end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8227E9F4533C482C82FE0D967D896390" style="OLC">
<part id="id6753A73C2A2246ADAF6C45485CBE6A57"><enum>7<?LEXA-Enum 7?></enum><header>Photo identification</header>
<section id="id401BDFA28D1B4548BD76EB21B74850A1"><enum>297.<?LEXA-Enum 297.?></enum><header>Payments for free photo
identification</header>
<subsection id="id4D2E47E396A6429DB5E0EBF3F20F3CFE"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>In addition to any other payments made under this
subtitle, the Election Assistance Commission shall make payments to States to
promote the issuance to registered voters of free photo identifications for
purposes of meeting the identification requirements of sections 303(b)(2) and
306.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idD5779A998929490198DEA15318D872C1"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Eligibility</header><text>A
State is eligible to receive a grant under this part if it submits to the
Commission (at such time and in such form as the Commission may require) an
application containing—</text>
<paragraph id="id49A211F487A449ED9CBE18DEAC16917A"><enum>(1)</enum><text>a statement that
the State intends to comply with the requirements of section 303(b) and section
306; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id185E556B09724A53A5123DB82723896D"><enum>(2)</enum><text>a description of
how the State intends to use the payment under this part to provide registered
voters with free photo identifications to meet the requirements of such
sections.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id4B3BE9BB7F2B4B04A871ACFF9C5F79DB"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Use of
funds</header><text>A State receiving a payment under this part shall use the
payment only to provide free photo identification cards to registered voters
who do not have an identification card that meets the requirements of sections
303(b) and 306.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idFDF2A8E8EE124D9798AF435E8B4B02C1"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Allocation of
funds</header>
<paragraph id="id234716870D114D68BD4F883C85A23FBC"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The amount of the grant made to a State under this part
for a year shall be equal to the product of—</text>
<subparagraph id="id3E35D0B3059749C58AC554BAF3F12B6A"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the total amount
appropriated for payments under this part for the year under section 298;
and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idAD49E53E74074B7991A95C72F56828B1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>an amount equal
to—</text>
<clause id="idF3F427BD7A5B4D0BAEEFE39A0916F015"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the voting age
population of the State (as reported in the most recent decennial census);
divided by</text>
</clause><clause id="idB942403F23BB4B068EDA1605959AB2C7"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the total voting
age of all eligible States which submit an application for payments under this
part (as reported in the most recent decennial census).</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id1AE8D52825F949FEBA0FC06FFB1E73AF"><enum>298.</enum><header>Authorization
of appropriations</header>
<subsection id="id975EF0EB81BF47E8881163EDE876AF86"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In addition to any
other amounts authorized to be appropriated under this subtitle, there are
authorized to be appropriated $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2006 and such sums as
are necessary for each subsequent fiscal year for the purpose of making
payments under section 297.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id971D56A1B77A485EA0275F9CC3815E6C"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Availability</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any amounts appropriated pursuant to the
authority of this section shall remain available until expended.</text>
</subsection></section></part><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section id="id0A7FD8588C2E4776A396F562DEDC2224"><enum>204.</enum><header>Clarification
of counting of provisional ballots</header>
<subsection id="id840A0945896B45CABF9AF03BAD6BC2EE"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Paragraph (4) of
section 302(a) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 15482(a)(4)) is
amended by adding at the end the following new sentence: <quote>For purposes of
this paragraph, the determination of whether an individual is eligible under
State law to vote shall take into account any provision of State law with
respect to the polling site at which the individual is required to
vote.</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idA1115C0C7B734794B2B3AC0907172A38"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Conforming
amendment</header>
<paragraph id="id1704CF0661254530972F8A3328E280F4"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Paragraph (1) of
section 302(a) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 15482(a)(1)) is
amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9C28696B04914D6CBD110342BF31A469" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="id41A784320A4B4B7AA02161E8DD249B63"><enum>(1)</enum><text>An election
official at the polling place shall—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3B23301493F2421D9F3A74C94A1407BD"><enum>(A)</enum><text>notify the
individual that the individual may cast a provisional ballot in that election;
and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id279F7DEBAB60427F9FC5C69CA79C813F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in the case of an
individual who the election official asserts is not eligible to vote under
State law because the individual is at an incorrect polling site, direct the
individual to the appropriate polling site.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id523B4DD0151B47489E4A8EF9D1C0F684"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Paragraph (2) of
section 302(a) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 15482(a)(2)) is
amended by striking <quote>The individual</quote> and inserting
<quote>Notwithstanding the requirement of paragraph (1)(B), the
individual</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id61BB590EA25C40909516DCA889655665"><enum>205.</enum><header>Applications
for absentee ballots</header>
<subsection id="idC75164CE0BF84C0C814C8B36D09B7B48"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Title III of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C.
15481 et seq.), as amended by this Act, is amended by redesignating sections
307 and 308 as sections 308 and 309, respectively, and by inserting after
section 306 the following new section:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id02E56BC1C49C4722A90DFCB38A812F21" style="OLC">
<section id="id8767ADE1C4AB46D7944E65896F28A4BA"><enum>307.</enum><header>Applications
for absentee ballots</header>
<subsection id="id730269852DF347B1B8385491D16FE043"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>An application for an absentee ballot for an election for
Federal office may not be accepted and processed by a State unless the
application includes—</text>
<paragraph id="id5FBCAFE4B89A490DA41BDAB01DE04606"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in the case of an
applicant who has been issued a current and valid driver's license, the
applicant's driver's license number; or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id4608D54E645642C589FC9D8778FCD112"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in the case of
any other applicant—</text>
<subparagraph id="id26882B3D64B743C3B650052E356365A2"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a photo copy of a
current and valid photo identification issued by a government entity;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1161C04DD88840CD9665893B6A110D0B"><enum>(B)</enum><text>at least the last
4 digits of the applicant's social security number; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8583EB150DA5493FBBD16C37556E6092"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the number
assigned to such individual under section 303(a)(5)(A)(ii).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2520159FCA924C9BAA4DAA759C41F10C"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Effective
date</header><text>Each State shall be required to comply with the requirements
of subsection (a) on and after January 1, 2006.</text>
</subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id71C6EB860EE449DC8F815228CFC9AAA1"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Conforming
amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 401 of the
Help America Vote Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 15511), as amended by this Act, is
amended by striking <quote>and 306</quote> and inserting <quote>306, and
307</quote>.</text>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id388064D288AB4E7681650D69373502C5"><enum>206.</enum><header>Pilot program
for use of indelible ink at polling places</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Subtitle D of title II of the Help America
Vote Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 15401 et seq.), as amended by this Act, is amended
by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id80E4348E41404461B453401B47E86EFE" style="OLC">
<part id="id6ABC4A987F6A415CB1660186663F9B3B"><enum>8<?LEXA-Enum 8?></enum><header>Pilot program for use of indelible ink at polling
places</header>
<section id="id02FE71E2F95B41D9B8212767040E51E2"><enum>299.<?LEXA-Enum 299.?></enum><header>Pilot program</header>
<subsection id="id7921844DC5AC4357BE3AE8325DEEB07D"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Commission shall make grants to States to carry out
pilot programs under which each voter in an election for Federal office in a
State is marked with indelible ink after submitting a ballot.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idD745A42E983E47EAA38B541AB9E65F61"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Eligibility</header><text>A
State is eligible to receive a grant under this part if it submits to the
Commission, at such time and in such form as the Commission may require, an
application containing such information as the Commission may require.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id7005958ED3F44C16BD02D85BB94DB7E6"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Report</header>
<paragraph id="id390B2E56225241119DD0F32046B176D7"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Each State which receives a grant under this part shall
submit to the Commission a report describing the activities carried out with
the funds provided under the grant.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id4E9B7733C7DF466EA02E017E33374F0E"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Deadline</header><text>A
State shall submit the report required under paragraph (1) not later than 60
days after the end of the fiscal year for which the State received the grant
which is the subject of the report.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id92D47A30FD614117AD91DAD47FDD8725"><enum>300.</enum><header>Authorization
of appropriations</header>
<subsection id="id0D02D55441874882994FA01A45C526B0"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">There are authorized
to be appropriated for grants under this part $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2006
and such sums as are necessary for each succeeding fiscal year.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idC1E3271D5E86433CB4F7CC5D91FC7AFA"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Availability</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any amounts appropriated pursuant to the
authority of this section shall remain available, without fiscal year
limitation, until expended.</text>
</subsection></section></part><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><enum>III</enum><header>Criminal
penalties</header>
<section id="idF415429C8AB142FDA162AA86CEA1C626"><enum>301.</enum><header>Penalty for
making expenditures to persons to register</header>
<subsection id="id493EFCB0293449F7A8C834F4C83516E7"><enum></enum><text>Section 597 of
title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting <quote>to register him to
vote,</quote> after <quote>either</quote>.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="id02FC5E49A23C4B8AAE0D330BED7DFFF9"><enum>302.</enum><header>Penalty for
conspiracy to influence voting</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 597 of title 18, United States Code,
as amended by this Act, is amended by striking <quote>makes or offers to
make</quote> and inserting <quote>makes, offers to make, or conspires to
make</quote>.</text>
</section><section id="idE78F165D1FEE4DCB95D50C4EA285DAC0"><enum>303.</enum><header>Penalty for
destruction of property with intent to impede the act of voting</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 594 of title 18, United States Code,
is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="id74A0973D979C483089AACCD6294D94B2"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by inserting
<quote>(a)</quote> before <quote>Whoever</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idE1B2A73D88D341CEAF8CAD4557B745A7"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id67B23BEA26794E9E9047EBB4314F4723" style="OLC">
<subsection id="idCC8E99E45C4B4D0792C4A102FFBBBFAD"><enum>(b)</enum><text>Whoever destroys
or damages any property with the intent to prevent or impede an individual from
voting in an election for the office of President, Vice President, Presidential
elector, Member of the Senate, Member of the House of Representatives, Delegate
from the District of Columbia, or Resident Commissioner, shall be fined under
this title, imprisoned for not more than 2 years, or both.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></section>