[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1493 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1493

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that there should 
            be established a National Voter Awareness Week.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 24, 2008

 Mr. Space (for himself and Mr. Jones of North Carolina) submitted the 
  following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on House 
                             Administration

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that there should 
            be established a National Voter Awareness Week.

Whereas the Framers established the United States as a representative democracy 
        with the fundamental principle of civic engagement on the part of all 
        eligible citizens;
Whereas an essential element of an effective democracy is the ability of each 
        eligible and qualified citizen to be able to vote in fair and open 
        elections;
Whereas Congress has passed important election laws dedicated to increasing the 
        transparency of the election process, strengthening our voting systems, 
        and protecting the right of all citizens to vote, such as the Help 
        America Vote Act of 2002, the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, 
        and the Voting Rights Act of 1965;
Whereas the 26th amendment to the United States Constitution states that the 
        ``right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age 
        or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States 
        or by any State on the account of age'';
Whereas Minnesota, Maine, New Hampshire, Idaho, Wisconsin, and Wyoming allow 
        same-day registration of voters at the polls, and also experience the 
        highest voter turnout rates in the country;
 Whereas most States have 30-day voter registration deadlines, therefore the 
        public must be informed of their local and State election laws in 
        September to participate fully in the Federal elections in November;
Whereas experts estimate that more than 20 percent of voters nationwide will 
        cast their ballots before election day in November 2008 by mail or at 
        early-voting locations, a proportion of the electorate that is rising 
        with each election;
Whereas many election officials note that early voting is convenient for voters, 
        increases turnout, and reduces the strain on polling places and poll 
        workers on election day;
Whereas, according to FairVote, a nonpartisan voting and democracy resource 
        center, voter turnout in the United States is lower than in other 
        developed nations, ranking 20th out of 21 in voter turnout among such 
        nations; and
Whereas Senate bill 1901 in the 102d Congress proposed to amend section 6103 of 
        title 5, United States Code, to establish Democracy Day as a legal 
        public holiday on election day, in recognition of the need for increased 
        participation of an educated electorate to preserve the legitimacy of 
        democracy: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That--
            (1) it is the sense of the House of Representatives that--
                    (A) there should be established a National Voter 
                Awareness Week; and
                    (B) the President should issue a proclamation 
                calling on the people of the United States to observe 
                National Voter Awareness Week with appropriate programs 
                and activities including helping State and local 
                institutions deliver sample ballots, voter registration 
                forms, absentee ballots, and other education materials 
                to all eligible voters; and
            (2) the House of Representatives encourages all grassroots 
        organizations and educational, cultural, and community 
        institutions to promote voter awareness and registration 
        programs that befit local election procedure.
                                 <all>