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‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—This section does not apply 
to a chief State election administration official with 
respect to an election for Federal office in which the 
official or an immediate family member of the offi-
cial is a candidate, but only if— 
‘‘(A) such official recuses himself or herself 
from all of the official’s responsibilities for the 
administration of such election; and 
‘‘(B) the official who assumes responsi-
bility for supervising the administration of the 
election does not report directly to such official. 
‘‘(2) IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBER DEFINED.— 
In paragraph (1), the term ‘immediate family mem-
ber’ means, with respect to a candidate, a father, 
mother, son, daughter, brother, sister, husband, 
wife, father-in-law, or mother-in-law.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
subsection (a) shall apply with respect to elections for 
Federal office held after December 2019. 
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Subtitle N—Promoting Voter Ac-
cess Through Election Adminis-
tration Improvements 
PART 1—PROMOTING VOTER ACCESS 
SEC. 1901. TREATMENT OF INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDU-
CATION. 
(a) TREATMENT
OF CERTAIN INSTITUTIONS
AS 
VOTER
REGISTRATION
AGENCIES
UNDER
NATIONAL 
VOTER REGISTRATION ACT OF 1993.—Section 7(a) of the 
National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 
20506(a)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of sub-
paragraph (A); 
(B) by striking the period at the end of 
subparagraph (B) and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new 
subparagraph: 
‘‘(C) each institution of higher education 
which has a program participation agreement in 
effect with the Secretary of Education under 
section 487 of the Higher Education Act of 
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1094), other than an institu-
tion which is treated as a contributing agency 
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under the Automatic Voter Registration Act of 
2019.’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (6)(A), by inserting ‘‘or, in 
the case of an institution of higher education, with 
each registration of a student for enrollment in a 
course of study, including enrollment in a program 
of distance education, as defined in section 103(7) 
of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1003(7)),’’ after ‘‘assistance,’’. 
(b) RESPONSIBILITIES
OF INSTITUTIONS UNDER 
HIGHER EDUCATION ACT OF 1965.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 487(a)(23) of the 
Higher 
Education 
Act 
of 
1965 
(20 
U.S.C. 
1094(a)(23)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(23)(A)(i) The institution will ensure that an 
appropriate staff person or office is designated pub-
licly as a ‘Campus Vote Coordinator’ and will ensure 
that such person’s or office’s contact information is 
included on the institution’s website. 
‘‘(ii) Not fewer than twice during each calendar 
year (beginning with 2020), the Campus Vote Coor-
dinator shall transmit electronically to each student 
enrolled in the institution (including students en-
rolled in distance education programs) a message 
containing the following information: 
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‘‘(I) Information on the location of polling 
places in the jurisdiction in which the institu-
tion is located, together with information on 
available methods of transportation to and from 
such polling places. 
‘‘(II) A referral to a government-affiliated 
website or online platform which provides cen-
tralized voter registration information for all 
States, including access to applicable voter reg-
istration forms and information to assist indi-
viduals who are not registered to vote in reg-
istering to vote. 
‘‘(III) Any additional voter registration 
and voting information the Coordinator con-
siders appropriate, in consultation with the ap-
propriate State election official. 
‘‘(iii) In addition to transmitting the message 
described in clause (ii) not fewer than twice during 
each calendar year, the Campus Vote Coordinator 
shall transmit the message under such clause not 
fewer than 30 days prior to the deadline for reg-
istering to vote for any election for Federal, State, 
or local office in the State. 
‘‘(B) If the institution in its normal course of 
operations requests each student registering for en-
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rollment in a course of study, including students 
registering for enrollment in a program of distance 
education, to affirm whether or not the student is a 
United States citizen, the institution will comply 
with the applicable requirements for a contributing 
agency under the Automatic Voter Registration Act 
of 2019. 
‘‘(C) If the institution is not described in sub-
paragraph (B), the institution will comply with the 
requirements for a voter registration agency in the 
State in which it is located in accordance with sec-
tion 7 of the National Voter Registration Act of 
1993 (52 U.S.C. 20506). 
‘‘(D) This paragraph applies only with respect 
to an institution which is located in a State to which 
section 4(b) of the National Voter Registration Act 
of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20503(b)) does not apply.’’. 
(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made 
by this subsection shall apply with respect to elec-
tions held on or after January 1, 2020. 
(c) GRANTS TO INSTITUTIONS DEMONSTRATING EX-
CELLENCE IN STUDENT VOTER REGISTRATION.— 
(1) GRANTS
AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary of 
Education may award competitive grants to public 
and private nonprofit institutions of higher edu-
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cation that are subject to the requirements of sec-
tion 487(a)(23) of the Higher Education Act of 
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1094(a)(23)), as amended by sub-
section (a) and that the Secretary determines have 
demonstrated excellence in registering students to 
vote in elections for public office beyond meeting the 
minimum requirements of such section. 
(2) ELIGIBILITY.—An institution of higher edu-
cation is eligible to receive a grant under this sub-
section if the institution submits to the Secretary of 
Education, at such time and in such form as the 
Secretary may require, an application containing 
such information and assurances as the Secretary 
may require to make the determination described in 
paragraph (1), including information and assurances 
that the institution carried out activities to promote 
voter registration by students, such as the following: 
(A) Sponsoring large on-campus voter mo-
bilization efforts. 
(B) Engaging the surrounding community 
in nonpartisan voter registration and get out 
the vote efforts. 
(C) Creating a website for students with 
centralized information about voter registration 
and election dates. 
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(D) Inviting candidates to speak on cam-
pus. 
(E) Offering rides to students to the polls 
to increase voter education, registration, and 
mobilization. 
(3) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There are authorized to be appropriated for fiscal 
year 2020 and each succeeding fiscal year such sums 
as may be necessary to award grants under this sub-
section. 
(d) SENSE OF CONGRESS RELATING TO OPTION OF 
STUDENTS TO REGISTER IN JURISDICTION OF INSTITU-
TION OF HIGHER EDUCATION OR JURISDICTION OF DOMI-
CILE.—It is the sense of Congress that, as provided under 
existing law, students who attend an institution of higher 
education and reside in the jurisdiction of the institution 
while attending the institution should have the option of 
registering to vote in elections for Federal office in that 
jurisdiction or in the jurisdiction of their own domicile. 
SEC. 1902. MINIMUM NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR 
VOTERS 
AFFECTED 
BY 
POLLING 
PLACE 
CHANGES. 
(a) REQUIREMENTS.—Section 302 of the Help Amer-
ica Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21082), as amended by 
section 1601(a), is amended— 
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(1) by redesignating subsection (f) as sub-
section (g); and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (e) the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
‘‘(f) MINIMUM NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR 
VOTERS AFFECTED BY POLLING PLACE CHANGES.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—If a State assigns an indi-
vidual who is a registered voter in a State to a poll-
ing place with respect to an election for Federal of-
fice which is not the same polling place to which the 
individual was previously assigned with respect to 
the most recent election for Federal office in the 
State in which the individual was eligible to vote— 
‘‘(A) the State shall notify the individual of 
the location of the polling place not later than 
7 days before the date of the election or the 
first day of an early voting period (whichever 
occurs first); or 
‘‘(B) if the State makes such an assign-
ment fewer than 7 days before the date of the 
election and the individual appears on the date 
of the election at the polling place to which the 
individual was previously assigned, the State 
shall make every reasonable effort to enable the 
individual to vote on the date of the election. 
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‘‘(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This subsection shall 
apply with respect to elections held on or after Janu-
ary 1, 2020.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 302(g) of 
such Act (52 U.S.C. 21082(g)), as redesignated by sub-
section (a) and as amended by section 1601(b), is amend-
ed by striking ‘‘(d)(2) and (e)(2)’’ and inserting ‘‘(d)(2), 
(e)(2), and (f)(2)’’. 
SEC. 1903. PERMITTING USE OF SWORN WRITTEN STATE-
MENT TO MEET IDENTIFICATION REQUIRE-
MENTS FOR VOTING. 
(a) PERMITTING USE OF STATEMENT.—Title III of 
the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081 et 
seq.) is amended by inserting after section 303 the fol-
lowing new section: 
‘‘SEC. 303A. PERMITTING USE OF SWORN WRITTEN STATE-
MENT TO MEET IDENTIFICATION REQUIRE-
MENTS. 
‘‘(a) USE OF STATEMENT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in sub-
section (c), if a State has in effect a requirement 
that an individual present identification as a condi-
tion of receiving and casting a ballot in an election 
for Federal office, the State shall permit the indi-
vidual to meet the requirement— 
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‘‘(A) in the case of an individual who de-
sires to vote in person, by presenting the appro-
priate State or local election official with a 
sworn written statement, signed by the indi-
vidual under penalty of perjury, attesting to the 
individual’s identity and attesting that the indi-
vidual is eligible to vote in the election; or 
‘‘(B) in the case of an individual who de-
sires to vote by mail, by submitting with the 
ballot the statement described in subparagraph 
(A). 
‘‘(2) DEVELOPMENT OF PRE-PRINTED VERSION 
OF STATEMENT BY COMMISSION.—The Commission 
shall develop a pre-printed version of the statement 
described in paragraph (1)(A) which includes a 
blank space for an individual to provide a name and 
signature for use by election officials in States which 
are subject to paragraph (1). 
‘‘(3) PROVIDING PRE-PRINTED COPY OF STATE-
MENT.—A State which is subject to paragraph (1) 
shall— 
‘‘(A) make copies of the pre-printed 
version of the statement described in paragraph 
(1)(A) which is prepared by the Commission 
available at polling places for election officials 
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to distribute to individuals who desire to vote in 
person; and 
‘‘(B) include a copy of such pre-printed 
version of the statement with each blank absen-
tee or other ballot transmitted to an individual 
who desires to vote by mail. 
‘‘(b) REQUIRING USE OF BALLOT IN SAME MANNER 
AS INDIVIDUALS PRESENTING IDENTIFICATION.—An in-
dividual who presents or submits a sworn written state-
ment in accordance with subsection (a)(1) shall be per-
mitted to cast a ballot in the election in the same manner 
as an individual who presents identification. 
‘‘(c) EXCEPTION
FOR FIRST-TIME VOTERS REG-
ISTERING BY MAIL.—Subsections (a) and (b) do not apply 
with respect to any individual described in paragraph (1) 
of section 303(b) who is required to meet the requirements 
of paragraph (2) of such section.’’. 
(b) REQUIRING STATES TO INCLUDE INFORMATION 
ON USE OF SWORN WRITTEN STATEMENT IN VOTING IN-
FORMATION MATERIAL POSTED AT POLLING PLACES.— 
Section 302(b)(2) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 21082(b)(2)), 
as amended by section 1072(b) and section 1202(b), is 
amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of subpara-
graph (G); 
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(2) by striking the period at the end of sub-
paragraph (H) and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraph: 
‘‘(I) in the case of a State that has in ef-
fect a requirement that an individual present 
identification as a condition of receiving and 
casting a ballot in an election for Federal office, 
information on how an individual may meet 
such requirement by presenting a sworn written 
statement in accordance with section 303A.’’. 
(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
of such Act is amended by inserting after the item relating 
to section 303 the following new item: 
‘‘Sec. 303A. Permitting use of sworn written statement to meet identification 
requirements.’’. 
(e) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall apply with respect to elections occurring 
on or after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 1904. POSTAGE-FREE BALLOTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 34 of title 39, United 
States Code, is amended by adding after section 3406 the 
following: 
‘‘§ 3407. Absentee ballots 
‘‘(a) Any absentee ballot for any election for Federal 
office shall be carried expeditiously, with postage prepaid 
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by the State or unit of local government responsible for 
the administration of the election. 
‘‘(b) As used in this section, the term ‘absentee ballot’ 
means any ballot transmitted by a voter by mail in an 
election for Federal office, but does not include any ballot 
covered by section 3406.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
for chapter 34 of such title is amended by inserting after 
the item relating to section 3406 the following: 
‘‘3407. Absentee ballots carried free of postage.’’. 
SEC. 1905. REIMBURSEMENT FOR COSTS INCURRED BY 
STATES 
IN 
ESTABLISHING 
PROGRAM 
TO 
TRACK AND CONFIRM RECEIPT OF ABSENTEE 
BALLOTS. 
(a) REIMBURSEMENT.—Subtitle D of title II of the 
Help America Vote Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 15401 et seq.) 
is amended by adding at the end the following new part: 
‘‘PART 7—PAYMENTS TO REIMBURSE STATES 
FOR COSTS INCURRED IN ESTABLISHING 
PROGRAM TO TRACK AND CONFIRM RE-
CEIPT OF ABSENTEE BALLOTS 
‘‘SEC. 297. PAYMENTS TO STATES. 
‘‘(a) PAYMENTS FOR COSTS OF ESTABLISHING PRO-
GRAM.—In accordance with this section, the Commission 
shall make a payment to a State to reimburse the State 
for the costs incurred in establishing, if the State so choos-
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es to establish, an absentee ballot tracking program with 
respect to elections for Federal office held in the State 
(including costs incurred prior to the date of the enact-
ment of this part). 
‘‘(b) ABSENTEE BALLOT TRACKING PROGRAM DE-
SCRIBED.— 
‘‘(1) PROGRAM DESCRIBED.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In this part, an ‘ab-
sentee ballot tracking program’ is a program to 
track and confirm the receipt of absentee bal-
lots in an election for Federal office under 
which the State or local election official respon-
sible for the receipt of voted absentee ballots in 
the election carries out procedures to track and 
confirm the receipt of such ballots, and makes 
information on the receipt of such ballots avail-
able to the individual who cast the ballot, by 
means of online access using the Internet site 
of the official’s office. 
‘‘(B) INFORMATION
ON
WHETHER
VOTE 
WAS
COUNTED.—The information referred to 
under subparagraph (A) with respect to the re-
ceipt of an absentee ballot shall include infor-
mation regarding whether the vote cast on the 
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ballot was counted, and, in the case of a vote 
which was not counted, the reasons therefor. 
‘‘(2) USE OF TOLL-FREE TELEPHONE NUMBER 
BY OFFICIALS WITHOUT INTERNET SITE.—A pro-
gram established by a State or local election official 
whose office does not have an Internet site may 
meet the description of a program under paragraph 
(1) if the official has established a toll-free telephone 
number that may be used by an individual who cast 
an absentee ballot to obtain the information on the 
receipt of the voted absentee ballot as provided 
under such paragraph. 
‘‘(c) CERTIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE AND COSTS.— 
‘‘(1) CERTIFICATION REQUIRED.—In order to 
receive a payment under this section, a State shall 
submit to the Commission a statement containing— 
‘‘(A) a certification that the State has es-
tablished an absentee ballot tracking program 
with respect to elections for Federal office held 
in the State; and 
‘‘(B) a statement of the costs incurred by 
the State in establishing the program. 
‘‘(2) AMOUNT OF PAYMENT.—The amount of a 
payment made to a State under this section shall be 
equal to the costs incurred by the State in estab-
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lishing the absentee ballot tracking program, as set 
forth in the statement submitted under paragraph 
(1), except that such amount may not exceed the 
product of— 
‘‘(A) the number of jurisdictions in the 
State which are responsible for operating the 
program; and 
‘‘(B) $3,000. 
‘‘(3) LIMIT
ON
NUMBER
OF
PAYMENTS
RE-
CEIVED.—A State may not receive more than one 
payment under this part. 
‘‘SEC. 297A. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
‘‘(a) AUTHORIZATION.—There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Commission for fiscal year 2020 and 
each succeeding fiscal year such sums as may be necessary 
for payments under this part. 
‘‘(b) CONTINUING AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—Any 
amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization under 
this section shall remain available until expended.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
of such Act is amended by adding at the end of the items 
relating to subtitle D of title II the following: 
‘‘PART 7—PAYMENTS TO REIMBURSE STATES FOR COSTS INCURRED IN ES-
TABLISHING PROGRAM TO TRACK AND CONFIRM RECEIPT OF ABSENTEE 
BALLOTS 
‘‘Sec. 297. Payments to States. 
‘‘Sec. 297A. Authorization of appropriations.’’. 
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SEC. 1906. VOTER INFORMATION RESPONSE SYSTEMS AND 
HOTLINE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATION OF SYSTEMS 
AND SERVICES.— 
(1) STATE-BASED
RESPONSE
SYSTEMS.—The 
Attorney General shall coordinate the establishment 
of a State-based response system for responding to 
questions and complaints from individuals voting or 
seeking to vote, or registering to vote or seeking to 
register to vote, in elections for Federal office. Such 
system shall provide— 
(A) State-specific, same-day, and imme-
diate assistance to such individuals, including 
information on how to register to vote, the loca-
tion and hours of operation of polling places, 
and how to obtain absentee ballots; and 
(B) State-specific, same-day, and imme-
diate assistance to individuals encountering 
problems with registering to vote or voting, in-
cluding individuals encountering intimidation or 
deceptive practices. 
(2) HOTLINE.—The Attorney General, in con-
sultation with State election officials, shall establish 
and operate a toll-free telephone service, using a 
telephone number that is accessible throughout the 
United States and that uses easily identifiable nu-
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merals, through which individuals throughout the 
United States— 
(A) may connect directly to the State- 
based response system described in paragraph 
(1) with respect to the State involved; 
(B) may obtain information on voting in 
elections for Federal office, including informa-
tion on how to register to vote in such elections, 
the locations and hours of operation of polling 
places, and how to obtain absentee ballots; and 
(C) may report information to the Attor-
ney General on problems encountered in reg-
istering to vote or voting, including incidences 
of voter intimidation or suppression. 
(3) COLLABORATION WITH STATE AND LOCAL 
ELECTION OFFICIALS.— 
(A) COLLECTION OF INFORMATION FROM 
STATES.—The Attorney General shall coordi-
nate the collection of information on State and 
local election laws and policies, including infor-
mation on the Statewide computerized voter 
registration lists maintained under title III of 
the Help America Vote Act of 2002, so that in-
dividuals who contact the free telephone service 
established under paragraph (2) on the date of 
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an election for Federal office may receive an 
immediate response on that day. 
(B) FORWARDING
QUESTIONS
AND
COM-
PLAINTS TO STATES.—If an individual contacts 
the free telephone service established under 
paragraph (2) on the date of an election for 
Federal office with a question or complaint with 
respect to a particular State or jurisdiction 
within a State, the Attorney General shall for-
ward the question or complaint immediately to 
the appropriate election official of the State or 
jurisdiction so that the official may answer the 
question or remedy the complaint on that date. 
(4) CONSULTATION
REQUIREMENTS
FOR
DE-
VELOPMENT OF SYSTEMS AND SERVICES.—The At-
torney General shall ensure that the State-based re-
sponse system under paragraph (1) and the free 
telephone service under paragraph (2) are each de-
veloped in consultation with civil rights organiza-
tions, voting rights groups, State and local election 
officials, voter protection groups, and other inter-
ested community organizations, especially those that 
have experience in the operation of similar systems 
and services. 
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(b) USE OF SERVICE BY INDIVIDUALS WITH DIS-
ABILITIES AND INDIVIDUALS WITH LIMITED ENGLISH 
LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY.—The Attorney General shall 
design and operate the telephone service established under 
this section in a manner that ensures that individuals with 
disabilities are fully able to use the service, and that as-
sistance is provided in any language in which the State 
(or any jurisdiction in the State) is required to provide 
election materials under section 203 of the Voting Rights 
Act of 1965. 
(c) VOTER HOTLINE TASK FORCE.— 
(1) APPOINTMENT BY ATTORNEY GENERAL.— 
The Attorney General shall appoint individuals (in 
such number as the Attorney General considers ap-
propriate but in no event fewer than 3) to serve on 
a Voter Hotline Task Force to provide ongoing anal-
ysis and assessment of the operation of the tele-
phone service established under this section, and 
shall give special consideration in making appoint-
ments to the Task Force to individuals who rep-
resent civil rights organizations. At least one mem-
ber of the Task Force shall be a representative of 
an organization promoting voting rights or civil 
rights which has experience in the operation of simi-
lar telephone services or in protecting the rights of 
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individuals to vote, especially individuals who are 
members of racial, ethnic, or linguistic minorities or 
of communities who have been adversely affected by 
efforts to suppress voting rights. 
(2) ELIGIBILITY.—An individual shall be eligi-
ble to serve on the Task Force under this subsection 
if the individual meets such criteria as the Attorney 
General may establish, except that an individual may 
not serve on the task force if the individual has been 
convicted of any criminal offense relating to voter in-
timidation or voter suppression. 
(3) TERM
OF
SERVICE.—An individual ap-
pointed to the Task Force shall serve a single term 
of 2 years, except that the initial terms of the mem-
bers first appointed to the Task Force shall be stag-
gered so that there are at least 3 individuals serving 
on the Task Force during each year. A vacancy in 
the membership of the Task Force shall be filled in 
the same manner as the original appointment. 
(4) NO COMPENSATION FOR SERVICE.—Mem-
bers of the Task Force shall serve without pay, but 
shall receive travel expenses, including per diem in 
lieu of subsistence, in accordance with applicable 
provisions under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 
5, United States Code. 
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(d) BI-ANNUAL REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later 
than March 1 of each odd-numbered year, the Attorney 
General shall submit a report to Congress on the operation 
of the telephone service established under this section dur-
ing the previous 2 years, and shall include in the report— 
(1) an enumeration of the number and type of 
calls that were received by the service; 
(2) a compilation and description of the reports 
made to the service by individuals citing instances of 
voter intimidation or suppression, together with a 
description of any actions taken in response to such 
instances of voter intimidation or suppression; 
(3) an assessment of the effectiveness of the 
service in making information available to all house-
holds in the United States with telephone service; 
(4) any recommendations developed by the 
Task Force established under subsection (c) with re-
spect to how voting systems may be maintained or 
upgraded to better accommodate voters and better 
ensure the integrity of elections, including but not 
limited to identifying how to eliminate coordinated 
voter suppression efforts and how to establish effec-
tive mechanisms for distributing updates on changes 
to voting requirements; and 
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(5) any recommendations on best practices for 
the State-based response systems established under 
subsection (a)(1). 
(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 
(1) AUTHORIZATION.—There are authorized to 
be appropriated to the Attorney General for fiscal 
year 2019 and each succeeding fiscal year such sums 
as may be necessary to carry out this section. 
(2) 
SET-ASIDE
FOR
OUTREACH.—Of 
the 
amounts appropriated to carry out this section for a 
fiscal year pursuant to the authorization under para-
graph (1), not less than 15 percent shall be used for 
outreach activities to make the public aware of the 
availability of the telephone service established under 
this section, with an emphasis on outreach to indi-
viduals with disabilities and individuals with limited 
proficiency in the English language. 
SEC. 1907. LIMITING VARIATIONS ON NUMBER OF HOURS 
OF OPERATION FOR POLLING PLACES WITH-
IN A STATE. 
(a) LIMITING VARIATIONS.—Subtitle A of title III of 
the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081 et 
seq.), as amended by section 1031(a), section 1101(a), 
section 1611(a), and section 1621(a), is amended— 
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(1) by redesignating sections 308 and 309 as 
sections 309 and 310; and 
(2) by inserting after section 307 the following 
new section: 
‘‘SEC. 308. LIMITING VARIATIONS ON NUMBER OF HOURS 
OF OPERATION OF POLLING PLACES WITH A 
STATE. 
‘‘(a) LIMITATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2) and subsection (b), each State shall estab-
lish hours of operation for all polling places in the 
State on the date of any election for Federal office 
held in the State such that the polling place with the 
greatest number of hours of operation on such date 
is not in operation for more than 2 hours longer 
than the polling place with the fewest number of 
hours of operation on such date. 
‘‘(2) PERMITTING VARIANCE ON BASIS OF POP-
ULATION.—Paragraph (1) does not apply to the ex-
tent that the State establishes variations in the 
hours of operation of polling places on the basis of 
the overall population or the voting age population 
(as the State may select) of the unit of local govern-
ment in which such polling places are located. 
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‘‘(b) EXCEPTIONS
FOR
POLLING
PLACES
WITH 
HOURS ESTABLISHED
BY UNITS
OF LOCAL GOVERN-
MENT.—Subsection (a) does not apply in the case of a 
polling place— 
‘‘(1) whose hours of operation are established, 
in accordance with State law, by the unit of local 
government in which the polling place is located; or 
‘‘(2) which is required pursuant to an order by 
a court to extend its hours of operation beyond the 
hours otherwise established.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
of such Act, as amended by section 1031(c), section 
1101(d), section 1611(c), and section 1621(c), is amend-
ed— 
(1) by redesignating the items relating to sec-
tions 308 and 309 as relating to sections 309 and 
310; and 
(2) by inserting after the item relating to sec-
tion 307 the following new item: 
‘‘Sec. 308. Limiting variations on number of hours of operation of polling 
places with a State.’’. 
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PART 2—IMPROVEMENTS IN OPERATION OF 
ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION 
SEC. 1911. REAUTHORIZATION OF ELECTION ASSISTANCE 
COMMISSION. 
Section 210 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 
(52 U.S.C. 20930) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘for each of the fiscal years 
2003 through 2005’’ and inserting ‘‘for fiscal year 
2019 and each succeeding fiscal year’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘(but not to exceed $10,000,000 
for each such year)’’. 
SEC. 1913. REQUIRING STATES TO PARTICIPATE IN POST- 
GENERAL ELECTION SURVEYS. 
(a) REQUIREMENT.—Title III of the Help America 
Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.), as amended 
by section 1903(a), is further amended by inserting after 
section 303A the following new section: 
‘‘SEC. 303B. REQUIRING PARTICIPATION IN POST-GENERAL 
ELECTION SURVEYS. 
‘‘(a) REQUIREMENT.—Each State shall furnish to the 
Commission such information as the Commission may re-
quest for purposes of conducting any post-election survey 
of the States with respect to the administration of a regu-
larly scheduled general election for Federal office. 
‘‘(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall apply 
with respect to the regularly scheduled general election for 
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Federal office held in November 2020 and any succeeding 
election.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
of such Act, as amended by section 1903(c), is further 
amended by inserting after the item relating to section 
303A the following new item: 
‘‘Sec. 303B. Requiring participation in post-general election surveys.’’. 
SEC. 1914. REPORTS BY NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STAND-
ARDS AND TECHNOLOGY ON USE OF FUNDS 
TRANSFERRED FROM ELECTION ASSISTANCE 
COMMISSION. 
(a) REQUIRING REPORTS ON USE FUNDS AS CONDI-
TION OF RECEIPT.—Section 231 of the Help America 
Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 20971) is amended by adding 
at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(e) REPORT
ON USE
OF FUNDS TRANSFERRED 
FROM COMMISSION.—To the extent that funds are trans-
ferred from the Commission to the Director of the Na-
tional Institute of Standards and Technology for purposes 
of carrying out this section during any fiscal year, the Di-
rector may not use such funds unless the Director certifies 
at the time of transfer that the Director will submit a re-
port to the Commission not later than 90 days after the 
end of the fiscal year detailing how the Director used such 
funds during the year.’’. 
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(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 
subsection (a) shall apply with respect to fiscal year 2020 
and each succeeding fiscal year. 
SEC. 1915. RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE OPERATIONS 
OF ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION. 
(a) ASSESSMENT
OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 
AND CYBERSECURITY.—Not later than December 31, 
2019, the Election Assistance Commission shall carry out 
an assessment of the security and effectiveness of the 
Commission’s information technology systems, including 
the cybersecurity of such systems. 
(b) IMPROVEMENTS TO ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT 
PROCEDURES.— 
(1) REVIEW
OF
PROCEDURES.—The Election 
Assistance Commission shall carry out a review of 
the effectiveness and efficiency of the State-based 
administrative complaint procedures established and 
maintained under section 402 of the Help America 
Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21112) for the inves-
tigation and resolution of allegations of violations of 
title III of such Act. 
(2) RECOMMENDATIONS TO STREAMLINE PRO-
CEDURES.—Not later than December 31, 2019, the 
Commission shall submit to Congress a report on 
the review carried out under paragraph (1), and 
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shall include in the report such recommendations as 
the Commission considers appropriate to streamline 
and improve the procedures which are the subject of 
the review. 
SEC. 1916. REPEAL OF EXEMPTION OF ELECTION ASSIST-
ANCE COMMISSION FROM CERTAIN GOVERN-
MENT CONTRACTING REQUIREMENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 205 of the Help America 
Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 20925) is amended by strik-
ing subsection (e). 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 
subsection (a) shall apply with respect to contracts entered 
into by the Election Assistance Commission on or after 
the date of the enactment of this Act. 
PART 3—MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 
SEC. 1921. APPLICATION OF LAWS TO COMMONWEALTH OF 
NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS. 
(a) NATIONAL
VOTER
REGISTRATION
ACT
OF 
1993.—Section 3(4) of the National Voter Registration 
Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20502(4)) is amended by striking 
‘‘States and the District of Columbia’’ and inserting 
‘‘States, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth 
of the Northern Mariana Islands’’. 
(b) HELP AMERICA VOTE ACT OF 2002.— 
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(1) COVERAGE
OF
COMMONWEALTH
OF
THE 
NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS.—Section 901 of the 
Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21141) 
is amended by striking ‘‘and the United States Vir-
gin Islands’’ and inserting ‘‘the United States Virgin 
Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern 
Mariana Islands’’. 
(2) CONFORMING
AMENDMENTS
TO
HELP 
AMERICA VOTE ACT OF 2002.—Such Act is further 
amended as follows: 
(A) The second sentence of section 
213(a)(2) (52 U.S.C. 20943(a)(2)) is amended 
by striking ‘‘and American Samoa’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘American Samoa, and the Commonwealth 
of the Northern Mariana Islands’’. 
(B) 
Section 
252(c)(2) 
(52 
U.S.C. 
21002(c)(2)) is amended by striking ‘‘or the 
United States Virgin Islands’’ and inserting 
‘‘the United States Virgin Islands, or the Com-
monwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands’’. 
(3) CONFORMING
AMENDMENT
RELATING
TO 
CONSULTATION OF HELP AMERICA VOTE FOUNDA-
TION
WITH
LOCAL
ELECTION
OFFICIALS.—Section 
90102(c) of title 36, United States Code, is amend-
ed by striking ‘‘and the United States Virgin Is-
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lands’’ and inserting ‘‘the United States Virgin Is-
lands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mar-
iana Islands’’. 
(4) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made 
by this subsection shall apply with respect to fiscal 
years beginning with the first fiscal year which be-
gins after funds are appropriated to the Common-
wealth of the Northern Mariana Islands pursuant to 
the payment under section 2. 
SEC. 1922. NO EFFECT ON OTHER LAWS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as specifically provided, 
nothing in this title may be construed to authorize or re-
quire conduct prohibited under any of the following laws, 
or to supersede, restrict, or limit the application of such 
laws: 
(1) The Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 
10301 et seq.). 
(2) The Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and 
Handicapped Act (52 U.S.C. 20101 et seq.). 
(3) The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Ab-
sentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20301 et seq.). 
(4) The National Voter Registration Act of 
1993 (52 U.S.C. 20501 et seq.). 
(5) The Americans with Disabilities Act of 
1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.). 
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(6) The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 
701 et seq.). 
(b) NO EFFECT ON PRECLEARANCE OR OTHER RE-
QUIREMENTS UNDER VOTING RIGHTS ACT.—The ap-
proval by any person of a payment or grant application 
under this title, or any other action taken by any person 
under this title, shall not be considered to have any effect 
on requirements for preclearance under section 5 of the 
Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 10304) or any other 
requirements of such Act. 
(c) NO EFFECT ON AUTHORITY OF STATES TO PRO-
VIDE GREATER OPPORTUNITIES FOR VOTING.—Nothing 
in this title or the amendments made by this title may 
be construed to prohibit any State from enacting any law 
which provides greater opportunities for individuals to reg-
ister to vote and to vote in elections for Federal office than 
are provided by this title and the amendments made by 
this title. 
Subtitle O—Severability 
SEC. 1931. SEVERABILITY. 
If any provision of this title or amendment made by 
this title, or the application of a provision or amendment 
to any person or circumstance, is held to be unconstitu-
tional, the remainder of this title and amendments made 
by this title, and the application of the provisions and 
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amendment to any person or circumstance, shall not be 
affected by the holding. 
TITLE II—ELECTION INTEGRITY 
Subtitle A—Findings Reaffirming Commitment of Congress to Restore the 
Voting Rights Act 
Sec. 2001. Findings reaffirming commitment of Congress to restore the Voting 
Rights Act. 
Subtitle B—Findings Relating to Native American Voting Rights 
Sec. 2101. Findings relating to Native American voting rights. 
Subtitle C—Findings Relating to District of Columbia Statehood 
Sec. 2201. Findings relating to District of Columbia statehood. 
Subtitle D—Territorial Voting Rights 
Sec. 2301. Findings relating to territorial voting rights. 
Sec. 2302. Congressional Task Force on Voting Rights of United States Citizen 
Residents of Territories of the United States. 
Subtitle E—Redistricting Reform 
Sec. 2400. Short title; finding of constitutional authority. 
PART 1—REQUIREMENTS FOR CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING 
Sec. 2401. Requiring congressional redistricting to be conducted through plan 
of independent State commission. 
Sec. 2402. Ban on mid-decade redistricting. 
PART 2—INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING COMMISSIONS 
Sec. 2411. Independent redistricting commission. 
Sec. 2412. Establishment of selection pool of individuals eligible to serve as 
members of commission. 
Sec. 2413. Criteria for redistricting plan by independent commission; public no-
tice and input. 
Sec. 2414. Establishment of related entities. 
Sec. 2415. Report on diversity of memberships of independent redistricting 
commissions. 
PART 3—ROLE OF COURTS IN DEVELOPMENT OF REDISTRICTING PLANS 
Sec. 2421. Enactment of plan developed by 3-judge court. 
Sec. 2422. Special rule for redistricting conducted under order of Federal 
court. 
PART 4—ADMINISTRATIVE AND MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 
Sec. 2431. Payments to States for carrying out redistricting. 
Sec. 2432. Civil enforcement. 
Sec. 2433. State apportionment notice defined. 
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Sec. 2434. No effect on elections for State and local office. 
Sec. 2435. Effective date. 
Subtitle F—Saving Eligible Voters From Voter Purging 
Sec. 2501. Short title. 
Sec. 2502. Conditions for removal of voters from list of registered voters. 
Subtitle G—No Effect on Authority of States to Provide Greater 
Opportunities for Voting 
Sec. 2601. No effect on authority of States to provide greater opportunities for 
voting. 
Subtitle H—Residence of Incarcerated Individuals 
Sec. 2701. Residence of Incarcerated Individuals. 
Subtitle I—Severability 
Sec. 2801. Severability. 
Subtitle A—Findings Reaffirming 
Commitment of Congress to Re-
store the Voting Rights Act 
SEC. 2001. FINDINGS REAFFIRMING COMMITMENT OF CON-
GRESS TO RESTORE THE VOTING RIGHTS 
ACT. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) The right to vote for all Americans is sac-
rosanct and rules for voting and election administra-
tion should protect the right to vote and promote 
voter participation. 
(2) The Voting Rights Act has empowered the 
Department of Justice and Federal courts for nearly 
a half a century to block discriminatory voting prac-
tices before their implementation in States and local-
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ities with the most troubling histories and ongoing 
records of racial discrimination. 
(3) There continues to be an alarming move-
ment to erect barriers to make it more difficult for 
Americans to participate in our Nation’s democratic 
process. The Nation has witnessed unprecedented ef-
forts to turn back the clock and erect barriers to 
voting for communities of color which have faced 
historic and continuing discrimination, as well as 
disabled, young, elderly, and low-income Americans. 
(4) The Supreme Court’s 2013 Shelby County 
v. Holder decision gutted decades-long Federal pro-
tections for communities of color that face historic 
and continuing discrimination, emboldening States 
and local jurisdictions to pass voter suppression laws 
and implement procedures, such as those requiring 
photo identification, limiting early voting hours, 
eliminating same-day registration, purging voters 
from the rolls, and reducing the number of polling 
places. Congress is committed to reversing the dev-
astating impact of this decision. 
(5) Racial discrimination in voting is a clear 
and persistent problem. The actions of States and 
localities around the country post-Shelby County, in-
cluding at least 10 findings by Federal courts of in-
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tentional discrimination, underscore the need for 
Congress to conduct investigatory and evidentiary 
hearings to determine the legislation necessary to re-
store the Voting Rights Act and combat continuing 
efforts in America that suppress the free exercise of 
the franchise in communities of color. 
(6) The 2018 midterm election provides further 
evidence that systemic voter discrimination and in-
timidation continues to occur in communities of 
color across the country, making it clear that democ-
racy reform cannot be achieved until Congress re-
stores key provisions of the Voting Rights Act. 
(7) Congress must remain vigilant in protecting 
every eligible citizen’s right to vote. Congress should 
respond by modernizing the electoral system to— 
(A) improve access to the ballot; 
(B) enhance the integrity and security of 
our voting systems; 
(C) ensure greater accountability for the 
administration of elections; 
(D) restore protections for voters against 
practices in States and localities plagued by the 
persistence of voter disenfranchisement; and 
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(E) ensure that Federal civil rights laws 
protect the rights of voters against discrimina-
tory and deceptive practices. 
Subtitle B—Findings Relating to 
Native American Voting Rights 
SEC. 2101. FINDINGS RELATING TO NATIVE AMERICAN VOT-
ING RIGHTS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) The right to vote for all Americans is sa-
cred. Congress must fulfill the Federal Government’s 
trust responsibility to protect and promote Native 
Americans’ exercise of their fundamental right to 
vote, including equal access to voter registration vot-
ing mechanisms and locations, and the ability to 
serve as election officials. 
(2) The Native American Voting Rights Coali-
tion’s four-State survey of voter discrimination 
(2016) and nine field hearings in Indian Country 
(2017-2018) revealed obstacles that Native Ameri-
cans must overcome, including a lack of accessible 
and proximate registration and polling sites, non-
traditional addresses for residents on Indian reserva-
tions, inadequate language assistance for Tribal 
members, and voter identification laws that discrimi-
nate against Native Americans. The Department of 
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Justice and courts have recognized that some juris-
dictions have been unresponsive to reasonable re-
quests from federally recognized Indian Tribes for 
more accessible and proximate voter registration 
sites and in-person voting locations. 
(3) The 2018 elections provide further evidence 
that systemic voter discrimination and intimidation 
continues to occur in communities of color and Trib-
al lands across the country, making it clear that de-
mocracy reform cannot be achieved until Congress 
restores key provisions of the Voting Rights Act and 
passes additional protections. 
(4) Congress has broad, plenary authority to 
enact legislation to safeguard the voting rights of 
Native American voters. 
(5) Congress must conduct investigatory and 
evidentiary hearings to determine the necessary leg-
islation to restore the Voting Rights Act and combat 
continuous efforts that suppress the voter franchise 
within Tribal lands, to include, but not to be limited 
to, the Native American Voting Rights Act 
(NAVRA) and the Voting Rights Advancement Act 
(VRAA). 
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Subtitle C—Findings Relating to 
District of Columbia Statehood 
SEC. 2201. FINDINGS RELATING TO DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 
STATEHOOD. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) District of Columbia residents deserve full 
congressional voting rights and self-government, 
which only statehood can provide. 
(2) The 700,000 residents of the District of Co-
lumbia pay more Federal taxes per capita than resi-
dents of any State in the country, yet do not have 
full and equal representation in Congress and self- 
government. 
(3) Since the founding of the United States, the 
residents of the District of Columbia have always 
carried all the obligations of citizenship, including 
serving in all of the Nation’s wars and paying Fed-
eral taxes, all without voting representation on the 
floor in either Chamber of Congress or freedom from 
congressional interference in purely local matters. 
(4) There are no constitutional, historical, fi-
nancial, or economic reasons why the 700,000 Amer-
icans who live in the District of Columbia should not 
be granted statehood. 
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(5) The District of Columbia has a larger popu-
lation than two States, Wyoming and Vermont, and 
is close to the population of the seven States that 
have a population of under one million fully rep-
resented residents. 
(6) The District of Columbia government has 
one of the strongest fiscal positions of any jurisdic-
tion in the United States, with a $14.6 billion budg-
et for fiscal year 2019 and a $2.8 billion general 
fund balance as of September 30, 2018. 
(7) The District of Columbia’s total personal 
income is higher than that of seven States, its per 
capita personal consumption expenditures is higher 
than those of any State, and its total personal con-
sumption expenditures is greater than those of seven 
States. 
(8) Congress has authority under article IV, 
section 3, clause 1, which gives Congress power to 
admit new states to the Union, and Article I, Sec-
tion 8, Clause 17, which grants Congress power over 
the seat of the Federal Government, to admit the 
new State carved out of the residential areas of the 
Federal seat of Government, while maintaining as 
the Federal seat of Government the United States 
Capitol Complex, the principal Federal monuments, 
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Federal buildings and grounds, the National Mall, 
the White House and other Federal property. 
Subtitle D—Territorial Voting 
Rights 
SEC. 2301. FINDINGS RELATING TO TERRITORIAL VOTING 
RIGHTS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) The right to vote is one of the most power-
ful instruments residents of the territories of the 
United States have to ensure that their voices are 
heard. 
(2) These Americans have played an important 
part in the American democracy for more than 120 
years. 
(3) Political participation and the right to vote 
are among the highest concerns of territorial resi-
dents in part because they were not always afforded 
these rights. 
(4) Voter participation in the territories consist-
ently ranks higher than many communities on the 
mainland. 
(5) Territorial residents serve and die, on a per 
capita basis, at a higher rate in every United States 
war and conflict since WWI, as an expression of 
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their commitment to American democratic principles 
and patriotism. 
SEC. 2302. CONGRESSIONAL TASK FORCE ON VOTING 
RIGHTS OF UNITED STATES CITIZEN RESI-
DENTS OF TERRITORIES OF THE UNITED 
STATES. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established within 
the legislative branch a Congressional Task Force on Vot-
ing Rights of United States Citizen Residents of Terri-
tories of the United States (in this section referred to as 
the ‘‘Task Force’’). 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.—The Task Force shall be com-
posed of 12 members as follows: 
(1) One Member of the House of Representa-
tives, who shall be appointed by the Speaker of the 
House of Representatives, in coordination with the 
Chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources of 
the House of Representatives. 
(2) One Member of the House of Representa-
tives, who shall be appointed by the Speaker of the 
House of Representatives, in coordination with the 
Chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary of the 
House of Representatives. 
(3) One Member of the House of Representa-
tives, who shall be appointed by the Speaker of the 
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House of Representatives, in coordination with the 
Chairman of the Committee on House Administra-
tion of the House of Representatives. 
(4) One Member of the House of Representa-
tives, who shall be appointed by the Minority Leader 
of the House of Representatives, in coordination 
with the ranking minority member of the Committee 
on Natural Resources of the House of Representa-
tives. 
(5) One Member of the House of Representa-
tives, who shall be appointed by the Minority Leader 
of the House of Representatives, in coordination 
with the ranking minority member of the Committee 
on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives. 
(6) One Member of the House of Representa-
tives, who shall be appointed by the Minority Leader 
of the House of Representatives, in coordination 
with the ranking minority member of the Committee 
on House Administration of the House of Represent-
atives. 
(7) One Member of the Senate, who shall be ap-
pointed by the Majority Leader of the Senate, in co-
ordination with the Chairman of the Committee on 
Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate. 
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(8) One Member of the Senate, who shall be ap-
pointed by the Majority Leader of the Senate, in co-
ordination with the Chairman of the Committee on 
the Judiciary of the Senate. 
(9) One Member of the Senate, who shall be ap-
pointed by the Majority Leader of the Senate, in co-
ordination with the Chairman of the Committee on 
Rules and Administration of the Senate. 
(10) One Member of the Senate, who shall be 
appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate, in 
coordination with the ranking minority member of 
the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of 
the Senate. 
(11) One Member of the Senate, who shall be 
appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate, in 
coordination with the ranking minority member of 
the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate. 
(12) One Member of the Senate, who shall be 
appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate, in 
coordination with the ranking minority member of 
the Committee on Rules and Administration of the 
Senate. 
(c) DEADLINE
FOR APPOINTMENT.—All appoint-
ments to the Task Force shall be made not later than 30 
days after the date of enactment of this Act. 
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(d) CHAIR.—The Speaker shall designate one Mem-
ber to serve as chair of the Task Force. 
(e) VACANCIES.—Any vacancy in the Task Force 
shall be filled in the same manner as the original appoint-
ment. 
(f) STATUS UPDATE.—Between September 1, 2019, 
and September 30, 2019, the Task Force shall provide a 
status update to the House of Representatives and the 
Senate that includes— 
(1) information the Task Force has collected; 
and 
(2) a discussion on matters that the chairman 
of the Task Force deems urgent for consideration by 
Congress. 
(g) REPORT.—Not later than December 31, 2019, 
the Task Force shall issue a report of its findings to the 
House of Representatives and the Senate regarding— 
(1) the economic and societal consequences 
(through statistical data and other metrics) that 
come with political disenfranchisement of United 
States citizens in territories of the United States; 
(2) impediments to full and equal voting rights 
for United States citizens who are residents of terri-
tories of the United States in Federal elections, in-
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cluding the election of the President and Vice Presi-
dent of the United States; 
(3) impediments to full and equal voting rep-
resentation in the House of Representatives for 
United States citizens who are residents of terri-
tories of the United States; 
(4) recommended changes that, if adopted, 
would allow for full and equal voting rights for 
United States citizens who are residents of terri-
tories of the United States in Federal elections, in-
cluding the election of the President and Vice Presi-
dent of the United States; 
(5) recommended changes that, if adopted, 
would allow for full and equal voting representation 
in the House of Representatives for United States 
citizens who are residents of territories of the United 
States; and 
(6) additional information the Task Force 
deems appropriate. 
(h) CONSENSUS VIEWS.—To the greatest extent 
practicable, the report issued under subsection (g) shall 
reflect the shared views of all 12 Members, except that 
the report may contain dissenting views. 
(i) HEARINGS AND SESSIONS.—The Task Force may, 
for the purpose of carrying out this section, hold hearings, 
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sit and act at times and places, take testimony, and re-
ceive evidence as the Task Force considers appropriate. 
(j) STAKEHOLDER PARTICIPATION.—In carrying out 
its duties, the Task Force shall consult with the govern-
ments of American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of 
the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of 
Puerto Rico, and the United States Virgin Islands. 
(k) RESOURCES.—The Task Force shall carry out its 
duties by utilizing existing facilities, services, and staff of 
the House of Representatives and the Senate. 
(l) TERMINATION.—The Task Force shall terminate 
upon issuing the report required under subsection (g). 
Subtitle E—Redistricting Reform 
SEC. 2400. SHORT TITLE; FINDING OF CONSTITUTIONAL AU-
THORITY. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This subtitle may be cited as the 
‘‘Redistricting Reform Act of 2019’’. 
(b) FINDING
OF CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY.— 
Congress finds that it has the authority to establish the 
terms and conditions States must follow in carrying out 
congressional redistricting after an apportionment of 
Members of the House of Representatives because— 
(1) the authority granted to Congress under ar-
ticle I, section 4 of the Constitution of the United 
States gives Congress the power to enact laws gov-
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erning the time, place, and manner of elections for 
Members of the House of Representatives; and 
(2) the authority granted to Congress under 
section 5 of the fourteenth amendment to the Con-
stitution gives Congress the power to enact laws to 
enforce section 2 of such amendment, which requires 
Representatives to be apportioned among the several 
States according to their number. 
PART 1—REQUIREMENTS FOR CONGRESSIONAL 
REDISTRICTING 
SEC. 2401. REQUIRING CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING 
TO BE CONDUCTED THROUGH PLAN OF INDE-
PENDENT STATE COMMISSION. 
(a) USE OF PLAN REQUIRED.—Notwithstanding any 
other provision of law, and except as provided in sub-
section (c) and subsection (d), any congressional redis-
tricting conducted by a State shall be conducted in accord-
ance with— 
(1) the redistricting plan developed and enacted 
into law by the independent redistricting commission 
established in the State, in accordance with part 2; 
or 
(2) if a plan developed by such commission is 
not enacted into law, the redistricting plan developed 
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and enacted into law by a 3-judge court, in accord-
ance with section 2421. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 22(c) of 
the Act entitled ‘‘An Act to provide for the fifteenth and 
subsequent decennial censuses and to provide for an ap-
portionment of Representatives in Congress’’, approved 
June 18, 1929 (2 U.S.C. 2a(c)), is amended by striking 
‘‘in the manner provided by the law thereof’’ and insert-
ing: ‘‘in the manner provided by the Redistricting Reform 
Act of 2019’’. 
(c) SPECIAL RULE FOR EXISTING COMMISSIONS.— 
Subsection (a) does not apply to any State in which, under 
law in effect continuously on and after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, congressional redistricting is car-
ried out in accordance with a plan developed and approved 
by an independent redistricting commission which is in 
compliance with each of the following requirements: 
(1) PUBLICLY AVAILABLE APPLICATION PROC-
ESS.—Membership on the commission is open to citi-
zens of the State through a publicly available appli-
cation process. 
(2) DISQUALIFICATIONS
FOR
GOVERNMENT 
SERVICE
AND
POLITICAL
APPOINTMENT.—Individ-
uals who, for a covered period of time as established 
by the State, hold or have held public office, individ-
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uals who are or have been candidates for elected 
public office, and individuals who serve or have 
served as an officer, employee, or paid consultant of 
a campaign committee of a candidate for public of-
fice are disqualified from serving on the commission. 
(3) SCREENING
FOR
CONFLICTS.—Individuals 
who apply to serve on the commission are screened 
through a process that excludes persons with con-
flicts of interest from the pool of potential commis-
sioners. 
(4) MULTI-PARTISAN COMPOSITION.—Member-
ship on the commission represents those who are af-
filiated with the two political parties whose can-
didates received the most votes in the most recent 
Statewide election for Federal office held in the 
State, as well as those who are unaffiliated with any 
party or who are affiliated with political parties 
other than the two political parties whose candidates 
received the most votes in the most recent Statewide 
election for Federal office held in the State. 
(5) CRITERIA FOR REDISTRICTING.—Members 
of the commission are required to meet certain cri-
teria in the map drawing process, including mini-
mizing the division of communities of interest and a 
ban on drawing maps to favor a political party. 
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tion, or concert with or at the request or sug-
gestion of a candidate, authorized committee, or 
agent of a candidate, political party, or agent of 
a political party. 
‘‘(E)(i) If the covered organization makes 
campaign-related disbursements using exclu-
sively funds in a segregated bank account con-
sisting of funds that were paid directly to such 
account by persons other than the covered orga-
nization that controls the account, for each 
such payment to the account— 
‘‘(I) the name and address of each 
person who made such payment during the 
period covered by the statement; 
‘‘(II) the date and amount of such 
payment; and 
‘‘(III) the aggregate amount of all 
such payments made by the person during 
the period beginning on the first day of the 
election reporting cycle (or, if earlier, the 
period beginning one year before the dis-
closure date) and ending on the disclosure 
date, 
but only if such payment was made by a person 
who made payments to the account in an aggre-
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