For the People Act of 2019

II Calendar No. 39 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 1 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES MARCH 12, 2019 Received MARCH 13, 2019 Read the first time MARCH 14, 2019 Read the second time and placed on the calendar AN ACT To expand Americans’ access to the ballot box, reduce the influence of big money in politics, and strengthen ethics rules for public servants, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘For the People Act 4 of 2019’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:09 Mar 14, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1.PCS H1 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 2 HR 1 PCS SEC. 2. ORGANIZATION OF ACT INTO DIVISIONS; TABLE OF 1 CONTENTS. 2 (a) DIVISIONS.—This Act is organized into 3 divi- 3 sions as follows: 4 (1) Division A—Voting. 5 (2) Division B—Campaign Finance. 6 (3) Division C—Ethics. 7 (b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents of 8 this Act is as follows: 9 Sec. 1. Short title. Sec. 2. Organization of Act into divisions; table of contents. DIVISION A—ELECTION ACCESS TITLE I—ELECTION ACCESS Sec. 1000. Short title; statement of policy. Subtitle A—Voter Registration Modernization Sec. 1000A. Short title. PART 1—PROMOTING INTERNET REGISTRATION Sec. 1001. Requiring availability of Internet for voter registration. Sec. 1002. Use of Internet to update registration information. Sec. 1003. Provision of election information by electronic mail to individuals registered to vote. Sec. 1004. Clarification of requirement regarding necessary information to show eligibility to vote. Sec. 1005. Effective date. PART 2—AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION Sec. 1011. Short title; findings and purpose. Sec. 1012. Automatic registration of eligible individuals. Sec. 1013. Contributing agency assistance in registration. Sec. 1014. One-time contributing agency assistance in registration of eligible voters in existing records. Sec. 1015. Voter protection and security in automatic registration. Sec. 1016. Registration portability and correction. Sec. 1017. Payments and grants. Sec. 1018. Treatment of exempt States. Sec. 1019. Miscellaneous provisions. Sec. 1020. Definitions. Sec. 1021. Effective date. VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:09 Mar 14, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6211 E:\BILLS\H1.PCS H1 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 3 HR 1 PCS PART 3—SAME DAY VOTER REGISTRATION Sec. 1031. Same day registration. PART 4—CONDITIONS ON REMOVAL ON BASIS OF INTERSTATE CROSS- CHECKS Sec. 1041. Conditions on removal of registrants from official list of eligible vot- ers on basis of interstate cross-checks. PART 5—OTHER INITIATIVES TO PROMOTE VOTER REGISTRATION Sec. 1051. Annual reports on voter registration statistics. Sec. 1052. Ensuring pre-election registration deadlines are consistent with tim- ing of legal public holidays. Sec. 1053. Use of Postal Service hard copy change of address form to remind individuals to update voter registration. Sec. 1054. Grants to States for activities to encourage involvement of minors in election activities. PART 6—AVAILABILITY OF HAVA REQUIREMENTS PAYMENTS Sec. 1061. Availability of requirements payments under HAVA to cover costs of compliance with new requirements. PART 7—PROHIBITING INTERFERENCE WITH VOTER REGISTRATION Sec. 1071. Prohibiting hindering, interfering with, or preventing voter registra- tion. Sec. 1072. Establishment of best practices. PART 8—VOTER REGISTRATION EFFICIENCY ACT Sec. 1081. Short title. Sec. 1082. Requiring applicants for motor vehicle driver’s licenses in new state to indicate whether state serves as residence for voter registra- tion purposes. PART 9—PROVIDING VOTER REGISTRATION INFORMATION TO SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS Sec. 1091. Pilot program for providing voter registration information to sec- ondary school students prior to graduation. Sec. 1092. Reports. Sec. 1093. Authorization of appropriations. PART 10—VOTER REGISTRATION OF MINORS Sec. 1094. Acceptance of voter registration applications from individuals under 18 years of age. Subtitle B—Access to Voting for Individuals With Disabilities Sec. 1101. Requirements for States to promote access to voter registration and voting for individuals with disabilities. Sec. 1102. Expansion and reauthorization of grant program to assure voting access for individuals with disabilities. Sec. 1103. Pilot programs for enabling individuals with disabilities to register to vote privately and independently at residences. VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:09 Mar 14, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6211 E:\BILLS\H1.PCS H1 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 4 HR 1 PCS Sec. 1104. GAO analysis and report on voting access for individuals with dis- abilities. Subtitle C—Prohibiting Voter Caging Sec. 1201. Voter caging and other questionable challenges prohibited. Sec. 1202. Development and adoption of best practices for preventing voter caging. Subtitle D—Prohibiting Deceptive Practices and Preventing Voter Intimidation Sec. 1301. Short title. Sec. 1302. Prohibition on deceptive practices in Federal elections. Sec. 1303. Corrective action. Sec. 1304. Reports to Congress. Subtitle E—Democracy Restoration Sec. 1401. Short title. Sec. 1402. Rights of citizens. Sec. 1403. Enforcement. Sec. 1404. Notification of restoration of voting rights. Sec. 1405. Definitions. Sec. 1406. Relation to other laws. Sec. 1407. Federal prison funds. Sec. 1408. Effective date. Subtitle F—Promoting Accuracy, Integrity, and Security Through Voter- Verified Permanent Paper Ballot Sec. 1501. Short title. Sec. 1502. Paper ballot and manual counting requirements. Sec. 1503. Accessibility and ballot verification for individuals with disabilities. Sec. 1504. Durability and readability requirements for ballots. Sec. 1505. Paper ballot printing requirements. Sec. 1506. Study and report on optimal ballot design. Sec. 1507. Paper ballot printing requirements. Sec. 1508. Effective date for new requirements. Subtitle G—Provisional Ballots Sec. 1601. Requirements for counting provisional ballots; establishment of uni- form and nondiscriminatory standards. Subtitle H—Early Voting Sec. 1611. Early voting. Subtitle I—Voting by Mail Sec. 1621. Voting by Mail. Subtitle J—Absent Uniformed Services Voters and Overseas Voters Sec. 1701. Pre-election reports on availability and transmission of absentee bal- lots. Sec. 1702. Enforcement. Sec. 1703. Revisions to 45-day absentee ballot transmission rule. VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:09 Mar 14, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6211 E:\BILLS\H1.PCS H1 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 5 HR 1 PCS Sec. 1704. Use of single absentee ballot application for subsequent elections. Sec. 1705. Extending guarantee of residency for voting purposes to family members of absent military personnel. Sec. 1706. Effective date. Subtitle K—Poll Worker Recruitment and Training Sec. 1801. Grants to States for poll worker recruitment and training. Sec. 1802. State defined. Subtitle L—Enhancement of Enforcement Sec. 1811. Enhancement of enforcement of Help America Vote Act of 2002. Subtitle M—Federal Election Integrity Sec. 1821. Prohibition on campaign activities by chief State election adminis- tration officials. Subtitle N—Promoting Voter Access Through Election Administration Improvements PART 1—PROMOTING VOTER ACCESS Sec. 1901. Treatment of institutions of higher education. Sec. 1902. Minimum notification requirements for voters affected by polling place changes. Sec. 1903. Permitting use of sworn written statement to meet identification re- quirements for voting. Sec. 1904. Postage-free ballots. Sec. 1905. Reimbursement for costs incurred by States in establishing program to track and confirm receipt of absentee ballots. Sec. 1906. Voter information response systems and hotline. Sec. 1907. Limiting variations on number of hours of operation for polling places within a State. PART 2—IMPROVEMENTS IN OPERATION OF ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION Sec. 1911. Reauthorization of Election Assistance Commission. Sec. 1913. Requiring states to participate in post-general election surveys. Sec. 1914. Reports by National Institute of Standards and Technology on use of funds transferred from Election Assistance Commission. Sec. 1915. Recommendations to improve operations of Election Assistance Commission. Sec. 1916. Repeal of exemption of Election Assistance Commission from certain government contracting requirements. PART 3—MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS Sec. 1921. Application of laws to Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands. Sec. 1922. No effect on other laws. Subtitle O—Severability Sec. 1931. Severability. TITLE II—ELECTION INTEGRITY VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:09 Mar 14, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6211 E:\BILLS\H1.PCS H1 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 6 HR 1 PCS Subtitle A—Findings Reaffirming Commitment of Congress to Restore the Voting Rights Act Sec. 2001. Findings reaffirming commitment of Congress to restore the Voting Rights Act. Subtitle B—Findings Relating to Native American Voting Rights Sec. 2101. Findings relating to Native American voting rights. Subtitle C—Findings Relating to District of Columbia Statehood Sec. 2201. Findings relating to District of Columbia statehood. Subtitle D—Territorial Voting Rights Sec. 2301. Findings relating to territorial voting rights. Sec. 2302. Congressional Task Force on Voting Rights of United States Citizen Residents of Territories of the United States. Subtitle E—Redistricting Reform Sec. 2400. Short title; finding of constitutional authority. PART 1—REQUIREMENTS FOR CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING Sec. 2401. Requiring congressional redistricting to be conducted through plan of independent State commission. Sec. 2402. Ban on mid-decade redistricting. PART 2—INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING COMMISSIONS Sec. 2411. Independent redistricting commission. Sec. 2412. Establishment of selection pool of individuals eligible to serve as members of commission. Sec. 2413. Criteria for redistricting plan by independent commission; public no- tice and input. Sec. 2414. Establishment of related entities. Sec. 2415. Report on diversity of memberships of independent redistricting commissions. PART 3—ROLE OF COURTS IN DEVELOPMENT OF REDISTRICTING PLANS Sec. 2421. Enactment of plan developed by 3-judge court. Sec. 2422. Special rule for redistricting conducted under order of Federal court. PART 4—ADMINISTRATIVE AND MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS Sec. 2431. Payments to States for carrying out redistricting. Sec. 2432. Civil enforcement. Sec. 2433. State apportionment notice defined. Sec. 2434. No effect on elections for State and local office. Sec. 2435. Effective date. Subtitle F—Saving Eligible Voters From Voter Purging Sec. 2501. Short title. Sec. 2502. Conditions for removal of voters from list of registered voters. VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:09 Mar 14, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6211 E:\BILLS\H1.PCS H1 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 7 HR 1 PCS Subtitle G—No Effect on Authority of States to Provide Greater Opportunities for Voting Sec. 2601. No effect on authority of States to provide greater opportunities for voting. Subtitle H—Residence of Incarcerated Individuals Sec. 2701. Residence of Incarcerated Individuals. Subtitle I—Severability Sec. 2801. Severability. TITLE III—ELECTION SECURITY Sec. 3000. Short title; sense of Congress. Subtitle A—Financial Support for Election Infrastructure PART 1—VOTING SYSTEM SECURITY IMPROVEMENT GRANTS Sec. 3001. Grants for obtaining compliant paper ballot voting systems and car- rying out voting system security improvements. Sec. 3002. Coordination of voting system security activities with use of require- ments payments and election administration requirements under Help America Vote Act of 2002. Sec. 3003. Incorporation of definitions. PART 2—GRANTS FOR RISK-LIMITING AUDITS OF RESULTS OF ELECTIONS Sec. 3011. Grants to States for conducting risk-limiting audits of results of elections. Sec. 3012. GAO analysis of effects of audits. PART 3—ELECTION INFRASTRUCTURE INNOVATION GRANT PROGRAM Sec. 3021. Election infrastructure innovation grant program. Subtitle B—Security Measures Sec. 3101. Election infrastructure designation. Sec. 3102. Timely threat information. Sec. 3103. Security clearance assistance for election officials. Sec. 3104. Security risk and vulnerability assessments. Sec. 3105. Annual reports. Sec. 3106. Pre-election threat assessments. Subtitle C—Enhancing Protections for United States Democratic Institutions Sec. 3201. National strategy to protect United States democratic institutions. Sec. 3202. National Commission to Protect United States Democratic Institu- tions. Subtitle D—Promoting Cybersecurity Through Improvements in Election Administration Sec. 3301. Testing of existing voting systems to ensure compliance with election cybersecurity guidelines and other guidelines. Sec. 3302. Treatment of electronic poll books as part of voting systems. VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:09 Mar 14, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6211 E:\BILLS\H1.PCS H1 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 8 HR 1 PCS Sec. 3303. Pre-election reports on voting system usage. Sec. 3304. Streamlining collection of election information. Subtitle E—Preventing Election Hacking Sec. 3401. Short title. Sec. 3402. Election Security Bug Bounty Program. Sec. 3403. Definitions. Subtitle F—Election Security Grants Advisory Committee Sec. 3501. Establishment of advisory committee. Subtitle G—Miscellaneous Provisions Sec. 3601. Definitions. Sec. 3602. Initial report on adequacy of resources available for implementation. Subtitle H—Use of Voting Machines Manufactured in the United States Sec. 3701. Use of voting machines manufactured in the United States. Subtitle I—Severability Sec. 3801. Severability. DIVISION B—CAMPAIGN FINANCE TITLE IV—CAMPAIGN FINANCE TRANSPARENCY Subtitle A—Findings Relating to Illicit Money Undermining Our Democracy Sec. 4001. Findings relating to illicit money undermining our democracy. Subtitle B—DISCLOSE Act Sec. 4100. Short title. PART 1—REGULATION OF CERTAIN POLITICAL SPENDING Sec. 4101. Clarification of prohibition on participation by foreign nationals in election-related activities. Sec. 4102. Clarification of application of foreign money ban to certain disburse- ments and activities. Sec. 4103. Audit and report on illicit foreign money in Federal elections. Sec. 4104. Prohibition on contributions and donations by foreign nationals in connections with ballot initiatives and referenda. Sec. 4105. Disbursements and activities subject to foreign money ban. PART 2—REPORTING OF CAMPAIGN-RELATED DISBURSEMENTS Sec. 4111. Rep [Text truncated for display. Full text available on Congress.gov.]