(1) Despite Federal efforts to increase uni-
formity in voting procedures for elections for Fed-
eral office, there remains much variation in such
procedures among the States.
(2) A major goal of the National Voter Reg-
istration Act of 1993 (commonly known as the
‘‘Motor-Voter Act’’) was the standardization of voter
registration procedures for elections for Federal of-
fice to prevent voter fraud and provide an accurate
list of eligible voters.
(3) Under the provisions of the Uniformed and
Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, absent uni-
formed services voters and overseas voters can vote
by absentee ballot in elections for Federal office and,
if a State does not provide an official State absentee
ballot in response to a timely request, can write in
the names of candidates on a Federal write-in ab-
sentee ballot.
(4) In North Dakota and in some counties in
Wisconsin, individuals may vote without registering.
(5) Individuals in Idaho, New Hampshire,
Maine, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming may
register to vote on the day of the election.
(6) The duration of the residency requirement
for voter registration varies from State to State
from 1 to 30 days.
(7) In 7 States disability or illness does not
provide sufficient grounds for registering as an ab-
sentee voter, and in 4 States disability or illness
does not provide sufficient grounds for voting as an
absentee.
(8) A few States allow any citizen who is out
of the United States or the State to register as an
absentee voter.
(9) At least 7 different types of voting equip-
ment are used to carry out Presidential elections
throughout the United States, and the type of equip-
ment used is determined on the county level.
(10) The opening time for polling places in
Federal elections varies from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00
a.m., and the closing time for such polling places
varies from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.
There is established the Commission on the Com-
prehensive Study of Voting Procedures (in this Act re-
ferred to as the ‘‘Commission’’).
SEC. 4. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.
(a) STUDY.—Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Commission shall complete a
thorough study of all issues relating to voting procedures
in Federal, State, and local elections, including the fol-
lowing:
(1) Voting procedures in Federal, State, and
local government elections.
(2) Voting procedures that represent the best
practices in Federal, State, and local government
elections.
(3) Legislation and regulatory efforts that af-
fect voting procedures issues.
(4) The implementation of standardized voting
procedures, including standardized technology and
procedures for voter registration, absentee voting,
early voting, and voting hours on the day of the elec-
tion, for Federal, State, and local government elec-
tions.
(5) The speed and timeliness of vote counts in
Federal, State and local elections.
(6) The accuracy of vote counts in Federal,
State and local elections.
(7) The security of voting procedures in Fed-
eral, State and local elections.
(b) RECOMMENDATIONS.—The Commission shall de-
velop recommendations on the matters studied under sub-
section (a).
(c) REPORTS.—
(1) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 180 days
after the expiration of the period referred to in sub-
section (a), the Commission shall submit a report
which has been approved by a majority of the mem-
bers of the Commission to the President and Con-
gress which shall contain a detailed statement of the
findings and conclusions of the Commission, to-
gether with its recommendations for such legislation
and administrative actions as it considers appro-
priate.
(2) INTERIM REPORTS.—The Commission may
submit to the President and Congress any interim
reports that are approved by a majority of the mem-
bers of the Commission.
(3) ADDITIONAL
REPORTS.—The Commission
may include in any of the reports submitted under
paragraph (1) or paragraph (2) additional reports
that contain any dissenting or minority opinions of
the members of the Commission.
SEC. 5. MEMBERSHIP.
(a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Commission
shall be composed of 5 members of whom—
(1) 1 shall be appointed by the President;
(2) 1 shall be appointed by the majority leader
of the Senate;
(3) 1 shall be appointed by the minority leader
of the Senate;
(4) 1 shall be appointed by the Speaker of the
House of Representatives; and
(5) 1 shall be appointed by the minority leader
of the House of Representatives.
(b) MEMBERS.—The Commission shall include at
least 1 member from each of the following:
(1) The National Institute of Standards and
Technology.
(2) The Department of Justice.
(3) The National Academy of Sciences.
(c) DATE OF APPOINTMENT.—The appointments of
the members of the Commission shall be made not later
than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
(d) TERMS.—Each member of the Commission shall
be appointed for the life of the Commission.
(e) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Commission shall
not affect its powers, but shall be filled in the same man-
ner in which the original appointment was made.
(f) MEETINGS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall meet
at the call of the Chairperson or a majority of its
members.
(2) INITIAL MEETING.—Not later than 30 days
after the date on which all members of the Commis-
sion have been appointed, the Commission shall hold
its first meeting.
(g) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of the
Commission shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser num-
ber of members may hold hearings.
(h) CHAIRPERSON AND VICE CHAIRPERSON.—The
Commission shall select a Chairperson and Vice Chair-
person from among its members.
SEC. 6. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.
(a) HEARINGS
AND SESSIONS.—The Commission
may hold such hearings for the purpose of carrying out
this Act, sit and act at such times and places, take such
testimony, and receive such evidence as the Commission
considers advisable to carry out this Act. The Commission
may administer oaths and affirmations to witnesses ap-
pearing 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 this Act. Upon request of
the Chairperson of the Commission, the head of such de-
partment or agency shall furnish such information to the
Commission.
(c) WEBSITE.—For purposes of conducting the study
under section 4(a), the Commission shall establish a
website to facilitate public comment and participation.
(d) 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.
(e) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES.—Upon
the request of the Chairperson of the Commission, the Ad-
ministrator of the General Services Administration shall
provide to the Commission, on a reimbursable basis, the
administrative support services that are necessary to en-
able the Commission to carry out its duties under this Act.
(f) CONTRACTS.—The Commission may contract with
and compensate persons and Federal agencies for supplies
and services without regard to section 3709 of the Revised
Statutes (41 U.S.C. 5).
(g) GIFTS AND DONATIONS.—The Commission may
accept, use, and dispose of gifts or donations of services
or property to carry out this Act.
SEC. 7. 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 I 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) IN GENERAL.—The chair of the Commission
may appoint 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, except that the
rate of pay of any staff may not exceed the annual
rate payable for level V of the Executive Schedule
under section 5316 of title 5, United States Code.
(2) SPECIAL RULE REGARDING APPOINTMENT
OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.—The employment of an
executive director shall be subject to confirmation by
the Commission.
SEC. 8. TERMINATION OF THE COMMISSION.
The Commission shall terminate 30 days after the
date on which the Commission submits its final report
under section 4(c)(1).
SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appro-
priated such sums as may be necessary to the Commission
to carry out this Act.
(b) AVAILABILITY.—Any sums appropriated under
the authorization contained in this section shall remain
available, without fiscal year limitation, until expended.
Æ