I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1488 
To promote international exchanges on best election practices, cultivate more 
secure democratic institutions around the world, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 2, 2021 
Mr. CASTRO of Texas (for himself, Mrs. WAGNER, Ms. TITUS, and Mr. 
FITZPATRICK) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs 
A BILL 
To promote international exchanges on best election prac-
tices, cultivate more secure democratic institutions 
around the world, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Global Electoral Ex-
change Act of 2021’’. 
SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) recent elections globally have illustrated the 
urgent need for the promotion and exchange of 
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international best election practices, particularly in 
the areas of cybersecurity, results transmission, 
transparency of electoral data, election dispute reso-
lution, and the elimination of discriminatory reg-
istration practices and other electoral irregularities; 
(2) the advancement of democracy worldwide 
promotes United States interests, as stable democ-
racies provide new market opportunities and pro-
mote economic freedom and regional security; 
(3) credible elections are the cornerstone of a 
healthy democracy and enable all persons to exercise 
their basic human right to have a say in how they 
are governed; 
(4) inclusive elections strengthen the credibility 
and stability of democracies more broadly; 
(5) at the heart of a strong election cycle is the 
professionalism of the election management body 
and an empowered civil society; 
(6) the development of local expertise via peer- 
to-peer learning and exchanges promotes the inde-
pendence of such bodies from internal and external 
influence; and 
(7) supporting the efforts of peoples in democ-
ratizing societies to build more representative gov-
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ernments in their respective countries is in the na-
tional interest of the United States. 
SEC. 3. GLOBAL ELECTORAL EXCHANGE. 
(a) GLOBAL
ELECTORAL
EXCHANGE.—The Sec-
retary of State is authorized to establish and administer 
a Global Electoral Exchange Program to promote the utili-
zation of sound election administration practices around 
the world. 
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the Global Electoral 
Exchange Program described in subsection (a) shall in-
clude the promotion and exchange of international best 
election practices, including in the following areas: 
(1) Cybersecurity. 
(2) Results transmission. 
(3) Transparency of electoral data. 
(4) Election dispute resolution. 
(5) The elimination of discriminatory registra-
tion practices and electoral irregularities. 
(6) Equitable access to polling places, voter 
education information, and voting mechanisms (in-
cluding by persons with disabilities). 
(7) Other sound election administration prac-
tices. 
(c) EXCHANGE OF ELECTORAL AUTHORITIES.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State may, 
in consultation, as appropriate, with the Adminis-
trator of the United States Agency for International 
Development, make grants to any United States- 
based organization described in section 501(c)(3) of 
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from 
tax under section 501(a) of such Code with experi-
ence in and a primary focus on foreign comparative 
election systems or subject matter expertise in the 
administration or integrity of such systems that sub-
mits an application in such form, and satisfying 
such requirements, as the Secretary may require. 
(2) TYPES OF GRANTS.—An organization de-
scribed in paragraph (1) may receive a grant for one 
or more of the following purposes: 
(A) To design and implement programs 
bringing election administrators and officials, 
including government officials, poll workers, 
civil society representatives, members of the ju-
diciary, and others who participate in the orga-
nization and administration of public elections 
in a foreign country that faces challenges to its 
electoral process to the United States to study 
election procedures in the United States for 
educational purposes. 
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(B) To design and implement programs 
taking the United States or another country’s 
election administrators and officials, including 
government officials, poll workers, civil society 
representatives, members of the judiciary, and 
others who participate in the organization and 
administration of public elections to countries 
other than the United States to study and dis-
cuss election procedures for educational pur-
poses. 
(3) LIMITS ON ACTIVITIES.—Activities adminis-
tered under the Global Electoral Exchange Program 
may not— 
(A) include observation of an election for 
the purposes of assessing the validity or legit-
imacy of that election; 
(B) facilitate any advocacy for a certain 
electoral result by a grantee when participating 
in the Program; or 
(C) be carried out without proper consulta-
tion with State and local authorities in the 
United States that administer elections. 
(4) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of 
Congress that the Secretary of State should estab-
lish and maintain a network of Global Electoral Ex-
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change Program alumni, to promote communication 
and further exchange of information regarding 
sound election administration practices among cur-
rent and former Program participants. 
(5) FURTHER LIMITS.—A recipient of a grant 
under the Global Electoral Exchange Program may 
use such grant for only the purpose for which such 
grant was awarded, unless otherwise authorized by 
the Secretary of State. 
(6) NOT
DUPLICATIVE.—Grants made under 
this subsection may not be duplicative of any other 
grants made under any other provision of law for 
similar or related purposes. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated for $5,000,000 for each of 
fiscal years 2022 through 2026 to carry out subsections 
(a), (b), and (c). 
SEC. 4. CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT. 
Not later than one year after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act and annually thereafter for two years, 
the Secretary of State shall provide to the Committee on 
Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a briefing 
on the status of any activities carried out pursuant to this 
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Act during the immediately preceding year, which shall in-
clude, among other information, the following: 
(1) A summary of all exchanges conducted 
under the Global Electoral Exchange Program pur-
suant to section 3, including information regarding 
grantees, participants, and the locations where Pro-
gram activities were held. 
(2) A description of the criteria used to select 
grantees under the Global Electoral Exchange Pro-
gram. 
(3) Any recommendations for the improvement 
of the Global Electoral Exchange Program, based on 
the purpose specified in section 3(b). 
Æ 
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