I
107TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1151
To direct the Federal Election Commission to issue voluntary standards
to promote the accessibility and effective use of voting systems, voting
equipment, and polling places, to make grants to assist States in com-
plying with such standards and carrying out other activities to promote
accessibility in voting, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MARCH 21, 2001
Mr. LANGEVIN (for himself, Mrs. MALONEY of New York, Mr. BROWN of
Ohio, Mr. STARK, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. FRANK, Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode
Island, and Mr. LANTOS) introduced the following bill; which was referred
to the Committee on House Administration
A BILL
To direct the Federal Election Commission to issue voluntary
standards to promote the accessibility and effective use
of voting systems, voting equipment, and polling places,
to make grants to assist States in complying with such
standards and carrying out other activities to promote
accessibility in voting, 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 ‘‘Voting Opportunity
Through Technology and Education Act of 2001’’.
SEC. 2. VOLUNTARY ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS FOR
POLLING PLACES AND VOTING EQUIPMENT.
(a) REVISION AND EXPANSION OF CURRENT VOTING
SYSTEM STANDARDS.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 9 months
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Of-
fice of Election Administration of the Federal Elec-
tion Commission (hereafter in this section referred
to as the ‘‘Office’’) shall develop and publish revi-
sions to the most recent version of voting system
standards issued by the Office, and shall expand the
scope of such standards to include voluntary stand-
ards to promote for all individuals, including the el-
derly and individuals with disabilities, the accessi-
bility of polling places and the effective use of voting
systems and voting equipment which provide the op-
portunity for casting a secure and secret ballot.
(2) FUTURE UPDATES.—The Office shall up-
date the revised and expanded standards under
paragraph (1) at such intervals as the Office con-
siders appropriate.
(b) CONSULTATION.—In developing the revised and
expanded standards under subsection (a), the Office shall
consult with officials of the Federal Government and State
and local governments with expertise in assessing the ac-
cessibility of facilities and voting systems for the elderly
and individuals with disabilities, and with appropriate or-
ganizations with expertise in developing accessibility
standards for the elderly and individuals with disabilities.
(c) POSTING ON INTERNET.—The Office shall post
the revised and expanded standards under this section on
the Internet, and shall take such other measures to dis-
seminate the standards to the public as the Office con-
siders appropriate.
SEC. 3. REQUIRING OFFICE OF ELECTION ADMINISTRA-
TION TO SERVE AS CLEARINGHOUSE OF IN-
FORMATION ON ACCESSIBILITY OF VOTING
SYSTEMS.
Section 311(a)(10) of the Federal Election Campaign
Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 438(a)(10)) is amended by striking
‘‘Federal elections.’’ and inserting the following: ‘‘Federal
elections (including information regarding the accessibility
of voting systems, voting equipment, and polling places for
the elderly and individuals with disabilities), and provide
information on methods to improve the administration of
Federal elections upon request to a State or unit of local
government.’’.
SEC. 4. GRANT PROGRAM FOR ACTIVITIES TO PROMOTE
ACCESSIBILITY IN VOTING.
(a) IN GENERAL.—After the issuance of the revised
voting system standards by the Office of Election Admin-
istration of the Commission pursuant to section 2, the
Federal Election Commission shall make grants to eligible
States—
(1) to bring voting systems, voting equipment,
polling places, and voter registration facilities in the
State into compliance with such revised standards;
and
(2) to carry out other activities to promote the
accessibility of voting systems, voting equipment,
polling places, and voter registration facilities for the
elderly and individuals with disabilities.
(b) ELIGIBILITY.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—A State is eligible to receive
a grant under this section if it submits to the Com-
mission (at such time and in such form as the Com-
mission may require) an application containing—
(A) a description of the activities the State
will carry out with the funds provided under the
grant;
(B) assurances that the State will carry
out such activities in a manner consistent with
the revised voting system standards issued pur-
suant to section 2; and
(C) such other information and assurances
as the Commission may require.
(2) USE OF FUNDS FOR EDUCATIONAL ACTIVI-
TIES.—At the option of the State, a State may use
funds provided under a grant made under this sec-
tion to educate poll workers, election officials, and
voters on the availability and use of voting tech-
nology and equipment which is designed to be fully
accessible to the elderly and individuals with disabil-
ities.
(c) REPORT.—At such time as the Commission may
require, each State receiving a grant under this section
shall submit a report to the Commission which describes
the activities carried out with the funds provided under
the grant and contains such other information as the Com-
mission may require.
(d) ACTION THROUGH OFFICE OF ELECTION ADMIN-
ISTRATION.—The Commission shall carry out its duties
under this section through its Office of Election Adminis-
tration.
(e) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There
are authorized to be appropriated to the Commission for
each of fiscal years 2002 through 2005—
(1) $200,000,000 for grants under this section;
and
(2) such sums as may be necessary for the ad-
ministrative expenses of carrying out this section, in-
cluding expenses relating to the hiring of additional
personnel.
SEC. 5. REVISIONS TO VOTING ACCESSIBILITY FOR THE EL-
DERLY AND HANDICAPPED ACT.
(a) STATEMENT OF PURPOSE.—Section 2 of the Vot-
ing Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act (42
U.S.C. 1973ee) is amended by striking ‘‘to promote the
fundamental right’’ and all that follows and inserting the
following: ‘‘to ensure that no citizen is denied the right
to vote because the citizen is elderly or has a disability.’’.
(b) 
RESTORATION
OF
REPORTING
REQUIRE-
MENTS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 3(c) of such Act (42
U.S.C. 1973ee–1(c)) is amended by striking para-
graph (3).
(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made
by paragraph (1) shall apply with respect to years
beginning with 2002.
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