[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3308 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 3308

 To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to permit facilities of 
     the Department of Veterans Affairs to be designated as voter 
             registration agencies, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 22, 2008

   Mrs. Feinstein (for herself, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Reid, Mr. Obama, Mr. 
     Schumer, Mr. Leahy, Mrs. Clinton, Mrs. Murray, and Mr. Wyden) 
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the 
                 Committee on Rules and Administration

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to permit facilities of 
     the Department of Veterans Affairs to be designated as voter 
             registration agencies, 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 ``Veteran Voting Support Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Veterans serving in foreign wars have performed a great 
        service to, and risked the greatest sacrifice in the name of, 
        our country, and should be supported by the people and the 
        Government of the United States.
            (2) Veterans are especially qualified to understand issues 
        of war, foreign policy, and government support for veterans, 
        and they should have the opportunity to voice that 
        understanding through voting.
            (3) The Department of Veterans Affairs should assist 
        veterans in meeting their medical, social, and civic needs, 
        including the full participation of veterans in our democracy.
            (4) The Department of Veterans Affairs should make every 
        effort to assist veterans to register to vote and to vote.

SEC. 3. USE OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FACILITIES AS VOTER 
              REGISTRATION AGENCIES.

    The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall permit a State to designate 
facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs located in such State 
as voter registration agencies under section 7 of the National Voter 
Registration Act of 1993 (42 U.S.C. 1973gg-5).

SEC. 4. ASSISTANCE WITH ABSENTEE BALLOTS.

    In addition to the duties required under section 7 of the National 
Voter Registration Act of 1993 (42 U.S.C. 1973gg-5), any facility of 
the Department of Veterans Affairs designated as a voter registration 
agency under section 3 shall--
            (1) provide information relating to the opportunity to 
        request an absentee ballot;
            (2) make available absentee ballot applications and 
        absentee ballots upon request, as well as assistance in 
        completing such applications and ballots; and
            (3) work with local election officials to ensure the proper 
        delivery of absentee ballot applications and absentee ballots.

SEC. 5. INFORMATION PROVIDED BY NONPARTISAN ORGANIZATIONS.

    The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall permit a meaningful 
opportunity for nonpartisan organizations to provide voter registration 
information and assistance at facilities of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs.

SEC. 6. ASSISTANCE PROVIDED BY ELECTION OFFICIALS AT DEPARTMENT OF 
              VETERANS AFFAIRS FACILITIES.

    (a) Distribution of Information.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
        not prohibit any election administration official, whether 
        State or local, party-affiliated or non-party affiliated, or 
        elected or appointed, from providing voting information to 
        veterans at any facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
            (2) Voting information.--In this subsection, the term 
        ``voting information'' means nonpartisan information intended 
        for the public about voting, including information about voter 
        registration, voting systems, absentee balloting, polling 
        locations, and other important resources for voters.
    (b) Voter Registration Services.--The Secretary shall provide 
reasonable access to facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
to State and local election officials for the purpose of providing 
nonpartisan voter registration services to individuals.

SEC. 7. ANNUAL REPORT ON COMPLIANCE.

    The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress an 
annual report on how the Secretary has complied with the requirements 
of this Act.
                                 <all>