I
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 3232
To direct the President to conduct a study of issues relating to the incorpora-
tion of online and Internet technologies in the voting process, and for
other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
NOVEMBER 5, 1999
Mr. JACKSON of Illinois (for himself, Mr. FRANKS of New Jersey, Mr. KEN-
NEDY of Rhode Island, Ms. LEE, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of
Texas, Mrs. CHRISTENSEN, Mr. HILLIARD, Mr. GUTIERREZ, and Mr.
OWENS) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on House Administration
A BILL
To direct the President to conduct a study of issues relating
to the incorporation of online and Internet technologies
in the voting process, 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 ‘‘Digital Democracy
Study Act of 1999’’.
SEC. 2. PRESIDENTIAL STUDY OF ISSUES RELATING TO ON-
LINE AND INTERNET VOTING.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The President shall conduct a
study of issues raised by the incorporation of online and
Internet technologies in the voting process, and shall in-
clude in the study the following items:
(1) An analysis of the use of such technologies
within existing voting systems and the need to col-
lect, store, and process electronically generated and
transmitted digital messages in order to permit indi-
viduals to register to vote and vote (whether in per-
son or through the use of absentee ballots).
(2) The development and determination of ap-
propriate security standards for voting systems that
incorporate online and Internet technologies, includ-
ing measures for certifying that the systems meet
such standards.
(3) An analysis of the potential effects of using
online and Internet technologies on voter participa-
tion rates, public accessibility to voting systems, the
influence of external communications on the voting
process, and other matters related to the conduct
and administration of elections.
(b) CONSULTATION WITH EXPERTS.—In conducting
the study under this section, the President shall consult
with an advisory group whose members shall be selected
by the President as follows:
(1) One member shall be selected from among
a list of nominees provided by the Federal Election
Commission.
(2) One member shall be selected from among
a list of nominees provided by the National Associa-
tion of Secretaries of State.
(3) One member shall be selected from among
a list of nominees provided by the International As-
sociation of Clerks, Recorders, Election Officials,
and Treasurers.
(4) One member shall be an individual with ex-
pertise in the administration of elections and the op-
eration of online and Internet systems.
(5) 4 members shall be selected from among a
list of nominees provided jointly by the Speaker and
minority leader of the House of Representatives.
(6) 4 members shall be appointed from among
a list of nominees provided jointly by the majority
and minority leaders of the Senate.
SEC. 3. REPORT TO CONGRESS.
Not later than 6 months after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the President shall submit to Congress
a report on the study conducted under section 2, and shall
include in the report such legislative and other rec-
ommendations as the President considers appropriate to
address the issues covered under the study.
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