SEC. 4. PROCEDURES FOR NATIONAL VOTER OPPORTUNITY
TO INFORM CONGRESS EFFECTIVELY ON A
FLAT TAX AND REQUIRING A NATIONAL VOTE
ON TAX INCREASES NONBINDING REFEREN-
DUM.
(a) IN GENERAL.—This Act shall have the effect of
placing on the 1996 general election ballot in every con-
gressional district, and delegate and/or resident commis-
sioner district, in the United States, the District of Colum-
bia and the territories of the United States, the advisory
questions under subsection (b).
(b) ADVISORY QUESTIONS; BALLOT TITLE AND LAN-
GUAGE.—Not later than June 30, 1996, the Clerk of the
United States House of Representatives and the Secretary
of the United States Senate shall jointly certify to the ap-
propriate State election agencies for inclusion on the 1996
general election ballot in each congressional district, the
following ballot title and questions:
‘‘NATIONAL ADVISORY REFERENDUM ON A FLAT TAX ON
INCOME AND REQUIRING A NATIONAL VOTE ON TAX
INCREASES
‘‘Question #1: Should Congress adopt a simple flat
tax rate on income?
‘‘Yes
No.
‘‘Question #2: Should Congress approve a constitu-
tional amendment to require a majority vote of the Amer-
ican people to raise taxes?
‘‘Yes
No’’.
(c) PREPARATION OF BALLOTS.—
(1) PROCEDURES.—The procedures for printing
and preparation of the ballots containing the advi-
sory questions shall be the same as provided in each
State and territory for conducting the elections of
the Members of the United States House of Rep-
resentatives and Senators, and Delegates or Resi-
dent Commissioners.
(2) ADVISORY
QUESTIONS.—In each congres-
sional and delegate district, every general election
ballot shall include the advisory questions contained
in subsection (b). Should there be no general elec-
tion scheduled to be held in any particular congres-
sional or delegate district, a ballot shall nonetheless
be prepared for the voters of said district to be able
to participate in the nonbinding referendum in the
same manner as all other districts where a general
election is being held. States shall be reimbursed at
4 cents per voter, or an estimated $5,000,000 for
the costs incurred in placing the questions in sub-
section (b) on the ballots in November 1996. There-
fore, this bill authorizes $5,000,000 for these pur-
poses. All reimbursements to State election agencies
for the costs of conducting the nonbinding referen-
dum shall be made from the franking accounts of
the Congress, with equal amounts drawn from the
franking accounts of the House of Representatives
and the Senate in proportion to the total funds ap-
propriated to each House for franking, to reimburse
the States for such expenses. The Clerk of the
United States House of Representatives and the
Secretary of the United States Senate shall be re-
sponsible for ensuring the proper application for and
reimbursement of said expenses.
(d) TABULATION AND CERTIFICATION OF VOTING
RESULTS.—The State election agencies shall tabulate the
results of the voting on the advisory questions in the same
manner as is customary for tabulating the results of elec-
tions of the Members of the United States House of Rep-
resentatives and Senators. Said results shall be officially
certified pursuant to the customary laws and procedures
of each jurisdiction.
(e) TRANSMISSION OF CERTIFIED RESULTS TO THE
CONGRESS, ALL MEMBERS, AND COMMITTEES ON THE
JUDICIARY.—The official, certified election results of each
jurisdiction’s nonbinding referenda on the advisory ques-
tions shall be certified by the State election agency to the
Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and
the Secretary of the United States Senate in the same
manner and at the same time of the certification of elec-
tion of Members of the House of Representatives and Sen-
ate at the 1996 general election, said results to be certified
by county, congressional district and statewide totals. The
Clerk and the Secretary shall be responsible for transmit-
ting to each Member of the respective House of Congress
the results of the nonbinding referenda from all jurisdic-
tions. The results shall also be taken under advisement
by the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the
Senate, with recommendations for response reported back
to the full House and Senate within 6 months of the gen-
eral election.
(f) COMMENTS REGARDING PROCEDURES FOR FU-
TURE NONBINDING REFERENDA.—Within 90 days of the
date of the general election, the State election agencies
shall forward to the Clerk of the United States House of
Representatives and the Secretary of the United States
Senate their comments or suggestions regarding changes
or improvements in procedures for conducting national
nonbinding referenda in future general elections. All such
comments shall be referred to the respective committees
on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and
Senate.
SEC. 5. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Act shall take effect on the date of the enact-
ment of this Act.
Æ