IIB 
115TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5274 
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 
SEPTEMBER 6, 2018 
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 
AN ACT 
To promote international exchanges on best election prac-
tices, cultivate more secure democratic institutions 
around the world, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Global Electoral Ex-
change Act’’. 
SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) recent elections globally have illustrated the 
urgent need for the promotion and exchange of 
international best election practices, particularly in 
the areas of cybersecurity, results transmission, 
transparency of electoral data, election dispute reso-
lution, and the elimination of discriminatory reg-
istration practices and other electoral irregularities; 
(2) the advancement of democracy worldwide 
promotes American interests, as stable democracies 
provide new market opportunities, improve global 
health outcomes, and promote economic freedom and 
regional security; 
(3) credible elections are the cornerstone of a 
healthy democracy and enable all persons to exercise 
their basic human right to have a say in how they 
are governed; 
(4) inclusive elections strengthen the credibility 
and stability of democracies more broadly, as demo-
cratic institutions flourish when representative of all 
groups of society; 
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(5) at the heart of a strong election cycle is the 
professionalism of the election management body 
and an empowered civil society; and 
(6) the development of local expertise via peer- 
to-peer learning and exchanges promotes the inde-
pendence of such bodies from internal and external 
influence. 
SEC. 3. GLOBAL ELECTORAL EXCHANGE. 
(a) GLOBAL
ELECTORAL
EXCHANGE.—The Sec-
retary of State is authorized to establish and administer 
a Global Electoral Exchange Program to promote the utili-
zation of sound election administration practices around 
the world. 
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the Global Electoral 
Exchange Program described in subsection (a) shall in-
clude the promotion and exchange of international best 
election practices, including in the areas of— 
(1) cybersecurity; 
(2) results transmission; 
(3) transparency of electoral data; 
(4) election dispute resolution; 
(5) the elimination of discriminatory registra-
tion practices and electoral irregularities; 
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(6) equitable access to polling places, voter edu-
cation information, and voting mechanisms (includ-
ing by persons with disabilities); and 
(7) other sound election administration prac-
tices. 
(c) EXCHANGE OF ELECTORAL AUTHORITIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State may, 
in consultation, as appropriate, with the United 
States Agency for International Development, make 
grants to any United States-based organization de-
scribed in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986 and exempt from tax under section 
501(a) of such Code with experience in comparative 
election systems or subject matter expertise in the 
areas of election administration or electoral integrity 
that submits an application in such form, and satis-
fying such requirements, as the Secretary may re-
quire. 
(2) TYPES OF GRANTS.—An organization de-
scribed in paragraph (1) may receive a grant for one 
or more of the following purposes: 
(A) To design and implement programs 
bringing election administrators and officials, 
including government officials, poll workers, 
civil society representatives, members of the ju-
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diciary, and others who participate in the orga-
nization and administration of public elections 
in a foreign country to the United States to 
study election procedures in the United States 
for educational purposes. 
(B) To design and implement programs 
taking United States or another country’s elec-
tion administrators and officials, including gov-
ernment officials, poll workers, civil society rep-
resentatives, members of the judiciary, and oth-
ers who participate in the organization and ad-
ministration of public elections to study election 
procedures for educational purposes. 
(3) LIMITS ON ACTIVITIES.—Activities adminis-
tered under the Global Electoral Exchange Program 
may not— 
(A) include observation of an election for 
the purposes of assessing the validity or legit-
imacy of that election; or 
(B) facilitate any advocacy for a certain 
electoral result by a grantee when participating 
in the Program. 
(4) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of 
Congress that the Secretary of State should estab-
lish and maintain a network of Global Electoral Ex-
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change Program alumni, to promote communication 
and further exchange of information regarding 
sound election administration practices among cur-
rent and former program participants. 
(5) FURTHER LIMITS.—A recipient of a grant 
under the Global Electoral Exchange Program may 
use such grant for only the purpose for which such 
grant was awarded, unless otherwise authorized by 
the Secretary of State. 
(6) NOT
DUPLICATIVE.—Grants made under 
this subsection may not be duplicative of any other 
grants made under any other provision of law for 
similar or related purposes. 
SEC. 4. CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act and in each of the following 2 years thereafter, 
the Secretary of State shall provide to the Committee on 
Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a briefing 
on the status of any activities carried out pursuant to this 
Act during the preceding year, which shall include, among 
other information, the following: 
(1) A summary of all exchanges conducted 
under the Global Electoral Exchange Program, in-
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cluding information regarding grantees, participants, 
and the locations where program activities were held. 
(2) A description of the criteria used to select 
grantees under the Global Electoral Exchange Pro-
gram. 
(3) Any recommendations for the improvement 
of the Global Electoral Exchange Program, based on 
the purpose specified in section 3(b). 
SEC. 5. NO ADDITIONAL FUNDS AUTHORIZED. 
No additional funds are authorized to be appro-
priated to carry out the requirements of this Act. Such 
requirements shall be carried out using amounts otherwise 
authorized to be appropriated. 
Passed the House of Representatives September 5, 
2018. 
Attest: 
KAREN L. HAAS, 
Clerk. 
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