21st Century Voting Act

I 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 394 To protect, improve, and modernize the act of voting. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JANUARY 9, 2019 Ms. MENG (for herself and Mr. COHEN) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, 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 protect, improve, and modernize the act of voting. 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 ‘‘21st Century Voting 4 Act’’. 5 SEC. 2. COMMISSION ESTABLISHED. 6 There is hereby established the ‘‘Commission on Vot- 7 ing’’ (referred to in this Act as the ‘‘Commission’’). 8 VerDate Sep 11 2014 18:07 Jan 19, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H394.IH H394 pbinns on DSK79D2C42PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 394 IH SEC. 3. COMMISSION DUTIES. 1 (a) PROPOSED LEGISLATION.—The Commission 2 shall report to Congress proposed legislation that would 3 accomplish the following: 4 (1) Election Day shall be made a national holi- 5 day. 6 (2) Every American shall be automatically, and 7 permanently, registered to vote at the age of 18, or 8 upon receipt of citizenship if older than 18 years of 9 age. 10 (3) Every person released from prison who for- 11 merly held the right to vote shall have that right re- 12 stored immediately upon release. 13 (4) Voter registration shall be made portable 14 among every State and locality. 15 (5) Polling place and registration status shall 16 be made available to individual voters online. 17 (6) Voting cybersecurity protection efforts car- 18 ried out by Federal agencies shall be streamlined 19 and strengthened. 20 (7) Additional Federal resources shall be made 21 to State and local election boards and agencies. 22 (8) A quadrennial review of voting in America 23 shall be performed each year following the election 24 of the President of the United States. 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 18:07 Jan 19, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H394.IH H394 pbinns on DSK79D2C42PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 394 IH (b) DEADLINE.—The proposed legislation required by 1 subsection (a) shall be submitted to Congress not later 2 than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act. 3 (c) INTRODUCTION AND VOTE REQUIRED.—The pro- 4 posed legislation submitted to Congress pursuant to sub- 5 section (b) shall be introduced by the Speaker of the U.S. 6 House of Representatives within 14 days of receipt of the 7 proposal, and receive a vote in the House within 14 days 8 thereafter. Should the measure pass the House, it shall 9 receive consideration and a vote in the Senate within 14 10 days of passage in the House. 11 SEC. 4. COMMISSION MEMBERSHIP. 12 (a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Commission 13 shall be comprised of 15 members appointed, in equal 14 number, by the President, the Majority Leader of the Sen- 15 ate, the Minority Leader of the Senate, the Speaker of 16 the House of Representatives, and the Minority Leader 17 of the House of Representatives. 18 (b) CHAIR.—The President shall select the Chair of 19 the Commission. 20 (c) TIMING OF APPOINTMENTS.—Appointments to 21 the Commission shall be made not later than 30 days after 22 the date of enactment of this Act. 23 VerDate Sep 11 2014 18:07 Jan 19, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H394.IH H394 pbinns on DSK79D2C42PROD with BILLS 4 •HR 394 IH (d) VACANCIES.—Any vacancy in the Commission 1 shall not affect its powers and shall be filled in the manner 2 in which the original appointment was made. 3 (e) COMPENSATION.—Members of the Commission 4 shall serve without pay. 5 (f) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Each member of the Com- 6 mission shall be allowed travel expenses, including per 7 diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employ- 8 ees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 9 5, United States Code, while away from their homes or 10 regular places of business in the performance of services 11 for the Commission. 12 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 18:07 Jan 19, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H394.IH H394 pbinns on DSK79D2C42PROD with BILLS