IV
103D CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. RES. 24
Authorizing the House Administration Committee to investigate, recount, and
report on contested elections for the House of Representatives.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JANUARY 6, 1993
Mr. SMITH of Iowa submitted the following resolution; which was referred to
the Committee on Rules
RESOLUTION
Authorizing the House Administration Committee to inves-
tigate, recount, and report on contested elections for
the House of Representatives.
Resolved, That the House Administration Committee
shall investigate and report to the House not later than
January 3 following each general election with respect to
the following matters:
SEC. 2. (a) Whenever a candidate for election to a
seat in the House of Representatives files a notice in writ-
ing with the Clerk of the House within thirty days after
an election to the House or fifteen days after the result
of the election has been determined by the officer or board
of canvassers authorized by law to determine such result,
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whichever first occurs, of his intention to contest the result
of such election and such candidate deposits the sum of
$5,000 with the Clerk, such candidate shall have a right
to such full and complete investigation and recount as is
necessary to insure that the true result of the election is
determined and it shall be the duty of the committee to
make such investigation and conduct such recount as soon
as practicable.
(b) The committee shall conduct a recount in all pre-
cincts, counties, or voting districts requested by the con-
testant or contestee and in any additional voting districts
where it deems it advisable in order to accurately reflect
the result of the election.
(c) In the event an investigation or recount, in the
opinion of the committee, alters the ultimate result of the
election, the committee shall repay the candidate the
amount deposited. In the event an investigation or recount
does not, in the opinion of the committee, alter the result
of the election, the committee shall refund to the candidate
an amount, if any, equal to the difference between $5,000
and the expenses incurred in conducting such recount.
(d) The committee shall not permit any person in-
specting ballots or the result of balloting for United States
Representative to observe or record the result of the bal-
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loting for any other office unless the consent of all can-
didates for such other office has been given in writing.
SEC. 3. (a) For the purpose of this resolution, the
committee, or any duly authorized subcommittee thereof,
is authorized to hold such public hearings, to sit and act
at such times and places during the sessions, recesses, and
adjourned periods of Congress, to employ such attorneys,
experts, clerical, and other assistants, to require by sub-
poena or otherwise the attendance of such witnesses and
the production of such correspondence, books, papers,
election returns, ballots, and other documents, to admin-
ister such oaths, and to take such testimony as it deems
advisable to conduct a recount. Subpoenas may be issued
under the signature of the chairman of the committee, or
any subcommittee, or by any member designated by such
chairman and may be served by any person designated by
any such chairman or member.
(b) Every person who, having been summoned as a
witness by authority of said committee or any subcommit-
tee thereof, willfully makes default, or who having ap-
peared, refuses to answer any question pertinent to the
investigation heretofore authorized, shall be held to the
penalties prescribed by law.
(c) The committee is authorized and directed to file
interim reports whenever in the judgment of the majority
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of the committee, or of a subcommittee conducting por-
tions of said investigation, the public interest will be best
served by the filing of said interim reports, and in no event
shall the final report of any recount conducted by said
committee be filed later than January 3 of the following
year.
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