To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit voter caging and other questionable challenges.

To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit voter caging and other questionable challenges. 1. Voter caging and other questionable challenges prohibited (a) In General Chapter 29 612. Voter caging and other questionable challenges (a) Definitions In this section— (1) the term voter caging document (A) a nonforwardable document that is returned to the sender or a third party as undelivered or undeliverable despite an attempt to deliver such document to the address of a registered voter or applicant; or (B) any document with instructions to an addressee that the document be returned to the sender or a third party but is not so returned, despite an attempt to deliver such document to the address of a registered voter or applicant, unless at least two Federal election cycles have passed since the date of the attempted delivery; (2) the term voter caging list (3) the term unverified match list (b) Prohibition Against Voter Caging No State or local election official shall prevent an individual from registering or voting in any election for Federal office, or permit in connection with any election for Federal office a formal challenge under State law to an individual’s registration status or eligibility to vote, if the basis for such decision is evidence consisting of— (1) a voter caging document or voter caging list; (2) an unverified match list; (3) an error or omission on any record or paper relating to any application, registration, or other act requisite to voting, if such error or omission is not material to an individual’s eligibility to vote under section 2004 of the Revised Statutes, as amended ( 52 U.S.C. 10101(a)(2)(B) (4) any other evidence so designated for purposes of this section by the Election Assistance Commission, except that the election official may use such evidence if it is corroborated by independent evidence of the individual’s ineligibility to register or vote. (c) Requirements for Challenges by Persons Other Than Election Officials (1) Requirements for challenges No person, other than a State or local election official, shall submit a formal challenge to an individual’s eligibility to register to vote in an election for Federal office or to vote in an election for Federal office unless that challenge is supported by personal knowledge regarding the grounds for ineligibility which is— (A) documented in writing; and (B) subject to an oath or attestation under penalty of perjury that the challenger has a good faith factual basis to believe that the individual who is the subject of the challenge is ineligible to register to vote or vote in that election, except a challenge which is based on the race, ethnicity, or national origin of the individual who is the subject of the challenge may not be considered to have a good faith factual basis for purposes of this paragraph. (2) Prohibition on challenges on or near date of election No person, other than a State or local election official, shall be permitted— (A) to challenge an individual’s eligibility to vote in an election for Federal office on Election Day, or (B) to challenge an individual’s eligibility to register to vote in an election for Federal office or to vote in an election for Federal office less than 10 days before the election unless the individual registered to vote less than 20 days before the election. (d) Penalties for Knowing Misconduct Whoever knowingly challenges the eligibility of one or more individuals to register or vote or knowingly causes the eligibility of such individuals to be challenged in violation of this section with the intent that one or more eligible voters be disqualified, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both, for each such violation. Each violation shall be a separate offense. (e) No Effect on Related Laws Nothing in this section is intended to override the protections of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 ( 52 U.S.C. 20501 52 U.S.C. 10301 . (b) Clerical Amendment The table of sections for chapter 29 612. Voter caging and other questionable challenges. . 2. Development and adoption of best practices for preventing voter caging (a) Best practices Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Election Assistance Commission shall develop and publish for the use of States recommendations for best practices to deter and prevent violations of section 612 of title 18, United States Code, as added by section 1(a), including practices to provide for the posting of relevant information at polling places and voter registration agencies, the training of poll workers and election officials, and relevant educational measures. For purposes of this subsection, the term State (b) Inclusion in voting information requirements Section 302(b)(2) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 ( 52 U.S.C. 21082(b)(2) (1) by striking and (2) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (F) and inserting ; and (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (G) information relating to the prohibition against voter caging and other questionable challenges (as set forth in section 612 of title 18, United States Code), including information on how individuals may report allegations of violations of such prohibition. .

Summary: This bill prohibits voter caging and establishes penalties for violations. Voter caging is a practice of preventing or challenging voter registration, oftentimes by sending direct mail to individuals on the voter rolls, compiling a list of the undeliverable mail (voter caging list), and using the list to remove or challenge voter registrations. First, the bill generally prohibits state or local election officials from preventing an individual from registering or voting in any federal election, or from permitting a formal challenge under state law to an individual's registration status or eligibility to vote, if the decision is based on certain evidence. Such evidence includes (1) a voter caging document or voter caging list, (2) an unverified match list, (3) an error or omission on a voter document that is immaterial to the individual's eligibility to vote, or (4) other evidence as designated by the Election Assistance Commission (EAC). Additionally, it requires a private individual who challenges the right of another citizen to vote to set forth in writing, under penalty of perjury, a good faith factual basis for the ineligibility. Further, it prohibits certain challenges to an individual's eligibility to vote in a federal election within 10 days of the election. A violator is subject to penalties—a fine, up to one year in prison, or both. Finally, the EAC must develop and publish best practices for preventing voter caging, and include such practices in voter information materials.