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. 

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 ‘‘21st Century Voting 

5 Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. COMMISSION ESTABLISHED. 

7 There is hereby established the ‘‘Commission on Vot8 ing’’ (referred to in this Act as the ‘‘Commission’’). 


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1 SEC. 3. COMMISSION DUTIES. 

2 (a) PROPOSED LEGISLATION.—The Commission 

3 shall report to Congress proposed legislation that would 

4 accomplish the following: 

5 (1) Election Day shall be made a national holi6 day. 

7 (2) Every American shall be automatically, and 

8 permanently, registered to vote at the age of 18, or 

9 upon receipt of citizenship if older than 18 years of 

10 age. 

11 (3) Every person released from prison who for12 merly held the right to vote shall have that right re13 stored immediately upon release. 

14 (4) Voter registration shall be made portable 

15 among every State and locality. 

16 (5) Polling place and registration status shall 

17 be made available to individual voters online. 

18 (6) Voting cybersecurity protection efforts car19 ried out by Federal agencies shall be streamlined 

20 and strengthened. 

21 (7) Additional Federal resources shall be made 

22 to State and local election boards and agencies. 

23 (8) A quadrennial review of voting in America 

24 shall be performed each year following the election 

25 of the President of the United States. 


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1 (b) DEADLINE.—The proposed legislation required by 

2 subsection (a) shall be submitted to Congress not later 

3 than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act. 

4 (c) INTRODUCTION AND VOTE REQUIRED.—The pro5 posed legislation submitted to Congress pursuant to sub6 section (b) shall be introduced by the Speaker of the U.S. 

7 House of Representatives within 14 days of receipt of the 

8 proposal, and receive a vote in the House within 14 days 

9 thereafter. Should the measure pass the House, it shall 

10 receive consideration and a vote in the Senate within 14 

11 days of passage in the House. 

12 SEC. 4. COMMISSION MEMBERSHIP. 

13 (a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Commission 

14 shall be comprised of 15 members appointed, in equal 

15 number, by the President, the Majority Leader of the Sen16 ate, the Minority Leader of the Senate, the Speaker of 

17 the House of Representatives, and the Minority Leader 

18 of the House of Representatives. 

19 (b) CHAIR.—The President shall select the Chair of 

20 the Commission. 

21 (c) TIMING OF APPOINTMENTS.—Appointments to 

22 the Commission shall be made not later than 30 days after 

23 the date of enactment of this Act. 


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1 (d) VACANCIES.—Any vacancy in the Commission 

2 shall not affect its powers and shall be filled in the manner 

3 in which the original appointment was made. 

4 (e) COMPENSATION.—Members of the Commission 

5 shall serve without pay. 

6 (f) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Each member of the Com7 mission shall be allowed travel expenses, including per 

8 diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employ9 ees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 

10 5, United States Code, while away from their homes or 

11 regular places of business in the performance of services 

12 for the Commission. 

Æ 


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