I 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 10524 

To amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to prohibit the use of Federal 

funds for the administration of elections for Federal, State, or local 

office in States which do not have in effect laws to permit units of 

local government to hold elections for local office in odd-numbered years, 

and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

DECEMBER 19, 2024 

Mr. D’ESPOSITO (for himself and Mr. LALOTA) introduced the following bill; 

which was referred to the Committee on House Administration 

A BILL 

To amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to prohibit 

the use of Federal funds for the administration of elections for Federal, State, or local office in States which 

do not have in effect laws to permit units of local government to hold elections for local office in odd-numbered 

years, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Protecting Our Local 

5 Elections Act’’ or the ‘‘POLE Act’’. 


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•HR 10524 IH

1 SEC. 2. FINDINGS; SENSE OF CONGRESS. 

2 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 

3 (1) Holding local elections for public office in 

4 odd-numbered years provides greater focus on local 

5 candidates and issues. 

6 (2) Local elections held in odd-numbered years 

7 allow voters to make more informed decisions about 

8 their local representation. 

9 (3) Holding all elections in even-numbered 

10 years diminishes the attention given to community 

11 matters. 

12 (4) Holding all elections in even-numbered 

13 years overcrowds the ballot, hindering the decision14 making process for voters. 

15 (5) Local elected officials directly serve their 

16 immediate communities and needs. 

17 (6) Local leaders played a vital role in the 

18 founding of the United States. 

19 (7) Local governments are at the core of our 

20 Nation’s republic. 

21 (b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con22 gress that— 

23 (1) units of local governments should have the 

24 authority to conduct elections for local office in odd25 numbered years; 


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•HR 10524 IH

1 (2) local elections held in odd-numbered years 

2 ensure that local candidates and issues receive great3 er attention and allow voters to make well-informed 

4 choices; and 

5 (3) the most effective form of representation is 

6 attained through local governance. 

7 SEC. 3. PROHIBITING PROVISION OF FEDERAL FUNDS FOR 

8 ELECTION ADMINISTRATION FOR STATES 

9 NOT PERMITTING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO 

10 HOLD ELECTIONS FOR LOCAL OFFICE IN 

11 ODD-NUMBERED YEARS. 

12 (a) PROHIBITION.—Title IX of the Help America 

13 Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21141 et seq.) is amended 

14 by adding at the end the following new section: 

15 ‘‘SEC. 907. PROHIBITING PROVISION OF FEDERAL FUNDS 

16 FOR ELECTION ADMINISTRATION FOR 

17 STATES NOT PERMITTING LOCAL GOVERN18 MENTS TO HOLD ELECTIONS FOR LOCAL OF19 FICE IN ODD-NUMBERED YEARS. 

20 ‘‘Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no Fed21 eral funds may be provided under this Act or any other 

22 Act to administer an election for Federal, State, or local 

23 office held in a State which does not have in effect a law 

24 which permits units of local government in the State to 

25 hold elections for local office in odd-numbered years.’’. 


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•HR 10524 IH

1 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 

2 of such Act is amended by adding at the end of the items 

3 relating to title IX the following: 

‘‘Sec. 907. Prohibiting provision of Federal funds for election administration 

for States not permitting local governments to hold elections 

for local office in odd-numbered years’’. 

4 (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 

5 this section shall apply with respect to fiscal year 2026 

6 and each succeeding fiscal year. 

Æ 


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