IV 

110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1493 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that there should 

be established a National Voter Awareness Week. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 24, 2008 

Mr. SPACE (for himself and Mr. JONES of North Carolina) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on House Administration 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that 

there should be established a National Voter Awareness 

Week. 

Whereas the Framers established the United States as a representative democracy with the fundamental principle of 

civic engagement on the part of all eligible citizens; 

Whereas an essential element of an effective democracy is the 

ability of each eligible and qualified citizen to be able to 

vote in fair and open elections; 

Whereas Congress has passed important election laws dedicated to increasing the transparency of the election process, strengthening our voting systems, and protecting the 

right of all citizens to vote, such as the Help America 


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•HRES 1493 IH 

Vote Act of 2002, the National Voter Registration Act of 

1993, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965; 

Whereas the 26th amendment to the United States Constitution states that the ‘‘right of citizens of the United 

States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote 

shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or 

by any State on the account of age’’; 

Whereas Minnesota, Maine, New Hampshire, Idaho, Wisconsin, and Wyoming allow same-day registration of voters at the polls, and also experience the highest voter 

turnout rates in the country; 

Whereas most States have 30-day voter registration deadlines, therefore the public must be informed of their local 

and State election laws in September to participate fully 

in the Federal elections in November; 

Whereas experts estimate that more than 20 percent of voters nationwide will cast their ballots before election day 

in November 2008 by mail or at early-voting locations, a 

proportion of the electorate that is rising with each election; 

Whereas many election officials note that early voting is convenient for voters, increases turnout, and reduces the 

strain on polling places and poll workers on election day; 

Whereas, according to FairVote, a nonpartisan voting and democracy resource center, voter turnout in the United 

States is lower than in other developed nations, ranking 

20th out of 21 in voter turnout among such nations; and 

Whereas Senate bill 1901 in the 102d Congress proposed to 

amend section 6103 of title 5, United States Code, to establish Democracy Day as a legal public holiday on election day, in recognition of the need for increased particiVerDate Aug 31 2005 02:29 Sep 25, 2008 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR1493.IH HR1493

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•HRES 1493 IH 

pation of an educated electorate to preserve the legitimacy of democracy: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That— 

2 (1) it is the sense of the House of Representa3 tives that— 

4 (A) there should be established a National 

5 Voter Awareness Week; and 

6 (B) the President should issue a proclama7 tion calling on the people of the United States 

8 to observe National Voter Awareness Week with 

9 appropriate programs and activities including 

10 helping State and local institutions deliver sam11 ple ballots, voter registration forms, absentee 

12 ballots, and other education materials to all eli13 gible voters; and 

14 (2) the House of Representatives encourages all 

15 grassroots organizations and educational, cultural, 

16 and community institutions to promote voter aware17 ness and registration programs that befit local elec18 tion procedure. 

Æ 


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