3 shall be individuals who are not officers or employ-
ees of the Federal Government.
(2) 5 shall be appointed by the minority leader
of the House of Representatives, of whom not more
than 2 may be elected officials and not fewer than
3 shall be individuals who are not officers or employ-
ees of the Federal Government.
(3) 5 shall be appointed by the majority leader
of the Senate, of whom not more than 2 may be
elected officials and not fewer than 3 shall be indi-
viduals who are not officers or employees of the Fed-
eral Government.
(4) 5 shall be appointed by the minority leader
of the Senate, of whom not more than 2 may be
elected officials and not fewer than 3 shall be indi-
viduals who are not officers or employees of the Fed-
eral Government.
(b) QUALIFICATIONS OF MEMBERS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Members shall be appointed
from among individuals who have expertise in Fed-
eral and State election laws, the United States Con-
stitution, voting rights, voting technology or other
pertinent qualifications or experience.
(2) OTHER
CONSIDERATIONS.—In appointing
members of the Commission, every effort shall be
made to ensure that the members represent a broad
cross section of regional and demographic perspec-
tives in the United States.
(c) PERIOD
OF APPOINTMENT; VACANCIES.—(1)
Members of the Commission shall be appointed not later
than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act. Ap-
pointments shall be for the life of the Commission.
(2) Any vacancy in the Commission shall not affect
the powers of the Commission, and shall be filled in the
same manner as the original appointment.
(d) CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR.—The members of the
Commission shall elect a chair and vice chair from among
the members of the Commission, except that the chair and
vice chair may not belong to the same political party.
(e) SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS AND HEARINGS.—The
Commission shall hold meetings and hearings under such
schedule as the chair may determine in consultation with
the vice chair.
(f) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of the
Commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction
of business.
SEC. 103. DUTIES.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The duties of the Commission
shall be as follows:
(1) The Commission shall develop a uniform
ballot format for Presidential elections that is clear,
accurate, and presents candidates in a readily rec-
ognizable way. The ballot must be easy to use for all
age groups and America’s diverse population.
(2) The Commission shall evaluate existing vot-
ing technologies to determine their accuracy and ef-
fectiveness in reflecting voter’s intentions and report
back to Congress on the results with the intent of
utilizing the most effective methods in future elec-
tions.
(3) The Commission shall make recommenda-
tions to Congress about the feasibility of a Federal
matching grant program for States to implement
changes in ballot formats and to purchase new, more
accurate, and user-friendly voting machines and tab-
ulation technologies.
(4) The Commission shall make recommenda-
tions about a method of voter identification to en-
sure accurate recognition of voters, while insuring
that no voter is subject to intimidation of any kind
in casting votes.
(5) The Commission shall establish, in consulta-
tion with the Secretary of Defense and the Post-
master General of the United States, standards for
military voting that address issues of postmarks,
witnessing, and time of receipt of ballots to ensure
that the votes of members of the uniformed services
are counted on Election Day.
(6) The Commission shall establish standards
for civilian absentee ballots that address issues of
voter identification, witnessing, and time of receipt
to ensure that these ballots are counted on Election
Day.
(7) The Commission shall make recommenda-
tions to establish a uniform poll closing time.
(8) The Commission shall make recommenda-
tions on the appropriateness of changing Election
Day in Presidential election years to the first Sun-
day in November to increase voter participation.
(9) The Commission shall reassess the electoral
college and evaluate strategies to better reflect vot-
ers intentions across the country for electing the
President and Vice President in the 21st century,
whether by leaving the current provisions un-
changed, using only the direct popular vote, using
proportional electoral college votes depending on the
popular vote in each State, or by such other strate-
gies as it may consider.
(10) The Commission shall examine State laws
to determine whether or not each State has a uni-
form statewide standard for vote tabulation, pro-
tests, and contests of national, State, and local elec-
tions which would protect against equal protection
violations under the Constitution.
(11) The Commission shall make recommenda-
tions on conducting a 21st Century Voter Education
Campaign to make its recommendations and the im-
plementation of those recommendations available to
the public through a variety of media.
(b) CONSULTATION WITH OFFICIALS.—In carrying
out its duties under this section, the Commission shall
seek guidance from the governors of the States and from
State and local election officials.
SEC. 104. FINAL REPORT.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 24 months after
the date of the initial meeting of the Commission, the
Commission shall submit to the President and the Con-
gress a final report including—
(1) the findings and conclusions of the Commis-
sion with respect to each duty specified under sec-
tion 103(a); and
(2) recommendations for addressing the prob-
lems identified as part of the Commission’s analysis.
(b) SEPARATE VIEWS.—Any member of the Commis-
sion may submit additional findings and recommendations
as part of the final report.
SEC. 105. POWERS.
(a) HEARINGS.—The Commission may hold such
hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such
testimony, and receive such evidence as the Commission
may find advisable to fulfill the requirements of this Act.
(b) INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.—The
Commission may secure directly from any Federal depart-
ment or agency such information as the Commission con-
siders necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.
Upon request of the chairperson of the Commission, the
head of such department or agency shall furnish such in-
formation to the Commission.
(c) POSTAL SERVICES.—The Commission may use
the United States mails in the same manner and under
the same conditions as other departments and agencies of
the Federal Government.
SEC. 106. COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS.
(a) COMPENSATION.—Members of the Commission
shall serve without pay, but shall be allowed travel ex-
penses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates
authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I
of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away