I 112th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 3978 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 8, 2012 Mr. Cleaver introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit the dissemination of false information for the purpose of discouraging a student of an institution of higher education from registering to vote or voting in an election for Federal office, to require States which require individuals to present a photo identification as a condition of voting in elections for Federal office to accept a photo identification presented by a student which is issued by the school the student attends, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Equal Access to Support Youth Voting Act or the EASY Voting Act.

2.

Prohibiting dissemination of false information regarding student voting in Federal elections

(a)

In general

Chapter 29 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

612.

Dissemination of false information regarding student voting in Federal elections

(a)Whoever knowingly disseminates false information for the purpose of discouraging a student of an institution of higher education from registering to vote or voting in an election for Federal office, or from registering to vote or voting in an election for Federal office in a specific jurisdiction, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both. (b)In this section— (1)the terms election and Federal office have the meaning given such terms in section 301 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 431); and (2)the term institution of higher education has the meaning given such term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001), except that such term includes a proprietary institution of higher education described in section 102(b) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1002(b)).

. (b)

Clerical amendment

The table of sections for chapter 29 of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new item: 612. Dissemination of false information regarding student voting in Federal elections. .

3.

Requiring states to accept student identifications for purposes of meeting voter identification requirements

(a)

Acceptance of student identifications

Title III of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 15481 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 303 the following new section:

303A.

Requiring acceptance of student photo identification as current and valid photo identification

(a)

Acceptance of student identifications

A State or local election official shall accept a current and valid student photo identification issued by an institution of higher education to a student attending such institution of higher education as a current and valid photo identification for purposes of section 303(b)(2) or of any State or local law which requires an individual to produce a current and valid photo identification to obtain a ballot or vote in an election for Federal office. (b)

Definition

In this section, the term institution of higher education has the meaning given such term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001), except that such term includes a proprietary institution of higher education described in section 102(b) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1002(b)).

. (b)

Enforcement

Section 401 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 15511) is amended by striking and 303 and inserting 303, and 303A. (c)

Clerical amendment

The table of contents of such Act is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 303 the following new item: Sec. 303A. Requiring acceptance of student photo identification as current and valid photo identification. . (d)

Effective date

The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to elections occurring on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.