IV 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 1493 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that there should 
be established a National Voter Awareness Week. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 24, 2008 
Mr. SPACE (for himself and Mr. JONES of North Carolina) submitted the fol-
lowing resolution; which was referred to the Committee on House Admin-
istration 
RESOLUTION 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that 
there should be established a National Voter Awareness 
Week. 
Whereas the Framers established the United States as a rep-
resentative democracy with the fundamental principle of 
civic engagement on the part of all eligible citizens; 
Whereas an essential element of an effective democracy is the 
ability of each eligible and qualified citizen to be able to 
vote in fair and open elections; 
Whereas Congress has passed important election laws dedi-
cated to increasing the transparency of the election proc-
ess, strengthening our voting systems, and protecting the 
right of all citizens to vote, such as the Help America 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
02:29 Sep 25, 2008
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR1493.IH
HR1493
jbell on PROD1PC69 with BILLS
•HRES 1493 IH 
Vote Act of 2002, the National Voter Registration Act of 
1993, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965; 
Whereas the 26th amendment to the United States Constitu-
tion states that the ‘‘right of citizens of the United 
States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote 
shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or 
by any State on the account of age’’; 
Whereas Minnesota, Maine, New Hampshire, Idaho, Wis-
consin, and Wyoming allow same-day registration of vot-
ers at the polls, and also experience the highest voter 
turnout rates in the country; 
Whereas most States have 30-day voter registration dead-
lines, therefore the public must be informed of their local 
and State election laws in September to participate fully 
in the Federal elections in November; 
Whereas experts estimate that more than 20 percent of vot-
ers nationwide will cast their ballots before election day 
in November 2008 by mail or at early-voting locations, a 
proportion of the electorate that is rising with each elec-
tion; 
Whereas many election officials note that early voting is con-
venient for voters, increases turnout, and reduces the 
strain on polling places and poll workers on election day; 
Whereas, according to FairVote, a nonpartisan voting and de-
mocracy resource center, voter turnout in the United 
States is lower than in other developed nations, ranking 
20th out of 21 in voter turnout among such nations; and 
Whereas Senate bill 1901 in the 102d Congress proposed to 
amend section 6103 of title 5, United States Code, to es-
tablish Democracy Day as a legal public holiday on elec-
tion day, in recognition of the need for increased partici-
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
02:29 Sep 25, 2008
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR1493.IH
HR1493
jbell on PROD1PC69 with BILLS
•HRES 1493 IH 
pation of an educated electorate to preserve the legit-
imacy of democracy: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That— 
(1) it is the sense of the House of Representa-
tives that— 
(A) there should be established a National 
Voter Awareness Week; and 
(B) the President should issue a proclama-
tion calling on the people of the United States 
to observe National Voter Awareness Week with 
appropriate programs and activities including 
helping State and local institutions deliver sam-
ple ballots, voter registration forms, absentee 
ballots, and other education materials to all eli-
gible voters; and 
(2) the House of Representatives encourages all 
grassroots organizations and educational, cultural, 
and community institutions to promote voter aware-
ness and registration programs that befit local elec-
tion procedure. 
Æ 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
02:29 Sep 25, 2008
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\HR1493.IH
HR1493
jbell on PROD1PC69 with BILLS