SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Federal Election Integ-
rity Act of 2009’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds that— 
(1) chief State election administration officials 
have served on political campaigns for Federal can-
didates whose elections those officials will supervise; 
(2) such partisan activity by the chief State elec-
tion administration official, an individual charged 
with certifying the validity of an election, represents 
a fundamental conflict of interest that may prevent 
the official from ensuring a fair and accurate elec-
tion; 
(3) this conflict impedes the legal duty of chief 
State election administration officials to supervise 
Federal elections, undermines the integrity of Federal 
elections, and diminishes the people’s confidence in 
our electoral system by casting doubt on the results of 
Federal elections; 
(4) the Supreme Court has long recognized that 
Congress’s power to regulate Congressional elections 
under Article I, Section 4, Clause 1 of the Constitu-
tion is both plenary and powerful; and 
(5) the Supreme Court and numerous appellate 
courts have recognized that the broad power given to 
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Congress over Congressional elections extends to Presi-
dential elections. 
SEC. 3. PROHIBITION ON CAMPAIGN ACTIVITIES BY CHIEF 
STATE 
ELECTION 
ADMINISTRATION 
OFFI-
CIALS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Title III of the Federal Election 
Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 431 et seq.) is amended 
by inserting after section 319 the following new section: 
‘‘CAMPAIGN ACTIVITIES BY CHIEF STATE ELECTION 
ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS 
‘‘SEC. 319A. (a) PROHIBITION.—It shall be unlawful 
for a chief State election administration official to take an 
active part in political management or in a political cam-
paign with respect to any election for Federal office over 
which such official has supervisory authority. 
‘‘(b) CHIEF STATE ELECTION ADMINISTRATION OFFI-
CIAL.—The term ‘chief State election administration offi-
cial’ means the highest State official with responsibility for 
the administration of Federal elections under State law. 
‘‘(c) ACTIVE PART IN POLITICAL MANAGEMENT OR IN 
A POLITICAL CAMPAIGN.—The term ‘active part in political 
management or in a political campaign’ means— 
‘‘(1) serving as a member of an authorized com-
mittee of a candidate for Federal office; 
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‘‘(2) the use of official authority or influence for 
the purpose of interfering with or affecting the result 
of an election for Federal office; 
‘‘(3) the solicitation, acceptance, or receipt of a 
contribution from any person on behalf of a candidate 
for Federal office; and 
‘‘(4) any other act which would be prohibited 
under paragraph (2) or (3) of section 7323(b) of title 
5, United States Code, if taken by an individual to 
whom such paragraph applies (other than any prohi-
bition on running for public office). 
‘‘(d) EXCEPTION FOR CAMPAIGNS OF OFFICIAL OR IM-
MEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERS.— 
‘‘(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 official 
is a candidate. 
‘‘(2) IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBER DEFINED.—In 
paragraph (1), the term ‘immediate family member’ 
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 sub-
section (a) shall apply with respect to the regularly sched-
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uled general election for Federal office held in November 
2010 and each succeeding election for Federal office. 
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Union Calendar No. 215 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 512 
[Report No. 111–363] 
A BILL 
To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 
1971 to prohibit certain State election adminis-
tration officials from actively participating in 
electoral campaigns. 
DECEMBER 8, 2009 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Com-
mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 
and ordered to be printed 
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