I

106TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. R. 5677

To establish a Commission to study and make recommendations on the

implementation of standardized voting procedures in the Federal, State,

and local electoral process, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

DECEMBER 15, 2000

Mr. HOLT introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee

on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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 establish a Commission to study and make recommendations on the implementation of standardized voting procedures in the Federal, State, and local electoral process,

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 ‘‘Commission on Elec5 tions Procedures Act’’.
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1 SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.

2 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a com3 mission to be known as the Commission on Elections Pro4 cedures (hereafter in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Commis5 sion’’).

6 (b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the Commission shall

7 be to study Federal, State, and local electoral processes

8 and to make recommendations on the implementation of

9 standardized voting procedures, including standardized

10 technology, for Federal, State, and local elections.

11 SEC. 3. MEMBERSHIP.

12 (a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Commission

13 shall be composed of 10 members who shall be appointed

14 as follows:

15 (1) 2 shall be appointed by the President.

16 (2) 2 shall be appointed by the majority leader

17 of the Senate.

18 (3) 2 shall be appointed by the minority leader

19 of the Senate.

20 (4) 2 shall be appointed by the Speaker of the

21 House of Representatives.

22 (5) 2 shall be appointed by the minority leader

23 of the House of Representatives.

24 (b) QUALIFICATIONS OF MEMBERS.—Members shall

25 be appointed to the Commission from among individuals

26 who have expertise in election laws, the United States
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1 Constitution, and the history of the United States, or

2 other pertinent qualifications or experience.

3 (c) TERMS.—Members of the Commission shall be

4 appointed not later than 60 days after the date of enact5 ment of this Act. Appointments shall be for the life of the

6 Commission.

7 (d) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Commission shall

8 not affect its powers, but shall be filled in the same man9 ner as the original appointment.

10 (e) MEETINGS.—

11 (1) INITIAL MEETING.—Not later than 30 days

12 after the date on which all members of the Commis13 sion have been appointed, the Commission shall hold

14 its first meeting.

15 (2) ADDITIONAL MEETINGS.—The Commission

16 shall meet at the call of the Chairperson or a major17 ity of its members.

18 (f) CHAIRPERSON AND VICE CHAIRPERSON.—The

19 members of the Commission shall select a Chairperson and

20 Vice Chairperson from among its members.

21 (g) QUORUM.—A majority of the Commission shall

22 constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

23 SEC. 4. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.

24 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall examine

25 the nature and consequences of Federal, State, and local
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1 government electoral processes and make recommenda2 tions on its findings.

3 (b) SPECIFIC ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED.—Among

4 other electoral issues the Commission determines are rel5 evant, the Commission shall examine and report to the

6 President, the Congress, and the Federal Election Com7 mission on the following issues:

8 (1) Voting procedures in Federal, State, and

9 local government elections.

10 (2) Legislation and regulatory efforts that af11 fect voting procedures issues.

12 (3) The implementation of standardized voting

13 procedures, including standardized technology for

14 Federal, State and local government elections.

15 (c) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 12 months after

16 the date of the initial meeting of the Commission, the

17 Commission shall submit to the President, the Congress,

18 and the Federal Election Commission a final report which

19 includes an analysis of the matters discussed under sub20 section (b) and recommendations for addressing the prob21 lems identified as part of the Commission’s analysis.

22 (d) SEPARATE VIEWS.—Any member of the Commis23 sion may submit additional findings and recommendations

24 as part of the final report.
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1 SEC. 5. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.

2 (a) HEARINGS.—The Commission may hold such

3 hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such

4 testimony, and receive such evidence as the Commission

5 may find advisable to fulfill the requirements of this Act.

6 The Commission may administer oaths and affirmations

7 to witnesses appearing before the Commission.

8 (b) INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.—The

9 Commission may secure directly from any Federal depart10 ment or agency such information as the Commission con11 siders necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.

12 Upon request of the chairperson of the Commission, the

13 head of such department or agency shall furnish such in14 formation to the Commission.

15 (c) POSTAL SERVICES.—The Commission may use

16 the United States mails in the same manner and under

17 the same conditions as other departments and agencies of

18 the Federal Government.

19 (d) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES.—Upon

20 the request of the Chairperson of the Commission, the Ad21 ministrator of General Services shall provide to the Com22 mission, on a reimbursable basis, the administrative sup23 port services that are necessary to enable the Commission

24 to carry out its duties under this Act.
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1 SEC. 6. COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS.

2 (a) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS.—Each member of

3 the Commission who is not an officer or employee of the

4 Federal Government shall be compensated at a rate equal

5 to the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay pre6 scribed for level IV of the Executive Schedule under sec7 tion 5315 of title 5, United States Code, for each day (in8 cluding travel time) during which such member is engaged

9 in the performance of the duties of the Commission. All

10 members of the Commission who are officers or employees

11 of the United States shall serve without compensation in

12 addition to that received for their services as officers or

13 employees of the United States.

14 (b) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—The members of the Com15 mission shall be allowed travel expenses, including per

16 diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employ17 ees of agencies under subchapter 1 of chapter 57 of title

18 5, United States Code, while away from their homes or

19 regular places of business in the performance of services

20 for the Commission.

21 (c) STAFF.—(1) The chairperson of the Commission

22 may appoint and terminate staff of the Commission, re23 quest the detail of Federal employees, and accept tem24 porary and intermittent services in accordance with sec25 tion 3161 of title 5, United States Code.
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1 (2) The employment of an executive director of the

2 Commission shall be subject to the approval of the Com3 mission.

4 SEC. 7. TERMINATION OF COMMISSION.

5 The Commission shall terminate 30 days after the

6 date on which the Commission submits its report under

7 section 4.

8 SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

9 There are authorized to be appropriated $2,000,000

10 for the Commission to carry out this Act.

Æ