use or sale of voting equipment which produces dis-
proportionately high error rates.
(4) POLLING PLACES.—Issues relating to the
timing of elections and the quality of services pro-
vided at polling places, including the feasibility and
effectiveness of establishing a uniform poll closing
time across the United States, establishing Election
Day as a Federal public holiday, holding elections
over a weekend or over other multiple days, ensuring
an appropriate number of accessible polling places,
ensuring that workers at polling places have suffi-
cient training, and providing education to voters in
the mechanics of voting.
(5) BALLOT ACCESS.—Issues relating to alter-
native methods of casting votes in elections, includ-
ing voting through the use of the mails or the Inter-
net, ensuring the absent military and overseas voters
are able to cast votes in an effective and timely man-
ner, and ensuring that election officials are able to
verify the legality of votes cast outside of polling
places.
(c) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 12 months after
the date of the initial meeting of the Commission, the
Commission shall submit to Congress and the President
a final report which includes an analysis of the matters
discussed under subsection (b) and recommendations for
addressing the problems identified as part of the Commis-
sion’s analysis.
(d) SEPARATE VIEWS.—Any member of the Commis-
sion may submit additional findings and recommendations
as part of the final report.
SEC. 5. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.
(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.
The Commission may administer oaths and affirmations
to witnesses appearing before the Commission.
(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 Chair of the Commission, the head
of such department or agency shall furnish such informa-
tion 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.
(d) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES.—Upon
the request of the Chair of the Commission, the Adminis-
trator of General Services shall provide to the Commis-
sion, on a reimbursable basis, the administrative support
services that are necessary to enable the Commission to
carry out its duties under this Act.
SEC. 6. COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS.
(a) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS.—Each member of
the Commission who is not an officer or employee of the
Federal Government shall be compensated at a rate equal
to the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay pre-
scribed for level IV of the Executive Schedule under sec-
tion 5315 of title 5, United States Code, for each day (in-
cluding travel time) during which such member is engaged
in the performance of the duties of the Commission. All
members of the Commission who are officers or employees
of the United States shall serve without compensation in
addition to that received for their services as officers or
employees of the United States.
(b) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—The members of the Com-
mission shall be allowed travel expenses, including per
diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employ-
ees of agencies under subchapter 1 of chapter 57 of title
5, United States Code, while away from their homes or
regular places of business in the performance of services
for the Commission.
(c) STAFF.—(1) The Chair of the Commission may
appoint and terminate staff of the Commission, request
the detail of Federal employees, and accept temporary and
intermittent services in accordance with section 3161 of
title 5, United States Code.
(2) The employment of an executive director of the
Commission shall be subject to the approval of the Com-
mission.
SEC. 7. TERMINATION OF COMMISSION.
The Commission shall terminate 30 days after the
date on which it submits its final report under section
4(c).
SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums
as may be necessary for the Commission to carry out this
Act.
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