(c) 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.
(d) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES.—Upon
the request of the Chair of the Commission, the Adminis-
trator of General Services shall provide to the Commis-
sion, on a reimbursable basis, the administrative support
services that are necessary to enable the Commission to
carry out its duties under this Act.
(e) 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 of the United States (41 U.S.C. 5).
SEC. 206. LIMITATION ON RULEMAKING AUTHORITY.
The Commission shall not have any authority to issue
any rule, promulgate any regulation, or take any other ac-
tion which imposes any requirement on any State or unit
of local government, except to the extent permitted under
the National Voter Registration Act of 1993.
SEC. 207. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
In addition to the amounts authorized for payments
and grants under subtitle C and the amounts authorized
to be appropriated for the program under section 303,
there are authorized to be appropriated for each of the
fiscal years 2002 through 2004 such sums as may be nec-
essary (but not to exceed $10,000,000 for each such year)
for the Commission to carry out its duties under this title.
PART 2—ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION
STANDARDS BOARD AND BOARD OF ADVISORS
SEC. 211. ESTABLISHMENT.
There are hereby established the Election Assistance
Commission Standards Board (hereafter in this title re-
ferred to as the ‘‘Standards Board’’) and the Election As-
sistance Commission Board of Advisors (hereafter in this
title referred to as the ‘‘Board of Advisors’’).
SEC. 212. DUTIES.
The Standards Board and the Board of Advisors
shall each, in accordance with the procedures described in
section 223, review any of the voluntary engineering and
procedural performance standards described in section
221(a)(1), any of the voluntary standards described in sec-
tion 221(a)(4), and any of the voluntary election manage-
ment practice standards described in section 221(a)(6)
(and any modifications to such standards) which are rec-
ommended by the Commission under subtitle B.
SEC. 213. MEMBERSHIP OF STANDARDS BOARD.
(a) COMPOSITION.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to certification by
the chair of the Federal Election Commission under
subsection (b), the Standards Board shall be com-
posed of 110 members as follows:
(A) 55 shall be State election officials se-
lected by the chief State election officials of
each State.
(B) 55 shall be local election officials se-
lected in accordance with paragraph (2).
(2) LIST
OF
LOCAL
ELECTION
OFFICIALS.—
Each State’s local election officials shall select
(under a process supervised by the chief election of-
ficial of the State) a representative local election of-
ficial from the State for purposes of paragraph
(1)(B). In the case of the District of Columbia,
Guam, and American Samoa, the chief election offi-
cial shall establish a procedure for selecting an indi-
vidual to serve as a local election official for pur-
poses of such paragraph, except that under such a
procedure the individual selected may not be a mem-
ber of the same political party as the chief election
official.
(3) REQUIRING
MIX
OF
POLITICAL
PARTIES
REPRESENTED.—The 2 members of the Standards
Board who represent the same State may not be
members of the same political party.
(b) PROCEDURES FOR NOTICE AND CERTIFICATION
OF APPOINTMENT.—
(1) NOTICE TO CHAIR OF FEDERAL ELECTION
COMMISSION.—Not later than 90 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the chief State election
official of the State shall transmit a notice to chair
of the Federal Election Commission containing—
(A) a statement that the selected State
election official agrees to serve on the Stand-
ards Board under this title; and
(B) the name of the representative local
election official from the State selected under
subsection (a)(2) who will serve on the Stand-
ards Board under this title.
(2) CERTIFICATION.—Upon receiving a notice
from a State under paragraph (1), the chair of the
Federal Election Commission shall publish a certifi-
cation that the selected State election official and
the representative local election official are ap-
pointed as members of the Standards Board under
this title.
(3) EFFECT
OF
FAILURE
TO
PROVIDE
NO-
TICE.—If a State does not transmit a notice to the
chair of the Federal Election Commission under
paragraph (1) within the deadline described in such
paragraph, no representative from the State may
participate in the selection of the Executive Board
under subsection (c).
(4) ROLE OF COMMISSION.—Upon the appoint-
ment of the members of the Election Assistance
Commission, the Election Assistance Commission
shall carry out the duties of the Federal Election
Commission under this subsection.
(c) EXECUTIVE BOARD.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after
the last day on which the appointment of any of its
members may be certified under subsection (b), the
Standards Board shall select 9 of its members to
serve as the Executive Board of the Standards
Board, of whom—
(A) not more than 5 may be State election
officials;
(B) not more than 5 may be local election
officials; and
(C) not more than 5 may be members of
the same political party.
(2) TERMS.—Except as provided in paragraph
(3), members of the Executive Board of the Stand-
ards Board shall serve for a term of 2 years and
may not serve for more than 3 consecutive terms.
(3) STAGGERING OF INITIAL TERMS.—Of the
members first selected to serve on the Executive
Board of the Standards Board—
(A) 3 shall serve for one term;
(B) 3 shall serve for 2 consecutive terms;
and
(C) 3 shall serve for 3 consecutive terms,
as determined by lot at the time the members are
first appointed.
(4) DUTIES.—In addition to any other duties
assigned under this title, the Executive Board of the
Standards Board may carry out such duties of the
Standards Board as the Standards Board may dele-
gate.
SEC. 214. MEMBERSHIP OF BOARD OF ADVISORS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Board of Advisors shall be
composed of 25 members appointed as follows:
(1) 2 members appointed by the United States
Commission on Civil Rights.
(2) 2 members appointed by the Architectural
and Transportation Barrier Compliance Board
under section 502 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
(29 U.S.C. 792).
(3) 2 members appointed by the National Gov-
ernors Association.
(4) 2 members appointed by the National Con-
ference of State Legislatures.
(5) 2 members appointed by the National Asso-
ciation of Secretaries of State.
(6) 2 members appointed by the National Asso-
ciation of State Election Directors.
(7) 2 members appointed by the National Asso-
ciation of Counties.
(8) 2 members appointed by the National Asso-
ciation of County Recorders, Election Administra-
tors, and Clerks.
(9) 2 members appointed by the United States
Conference of Mayors.
(10) 2 members appointed by the Election Cen-
ter.
(11) 2 members appointed by the International
Association of County Recorders, Election Officials,
and Treasurers.
(12) 2 members representing professionals in
the field of science and technology, of whom 1 shall
be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Rep-
resentatives and 1 shall be appointed by the majority
leader of the Senate (or, if the majority leader is a
member of the same political party as the Speaker,
by the minority leader of the Senate).
(13) The chief of the Office of Public Integrity
of the Department of Justice, or the chief’s des-
ignee.
(b) DIVERSITY
IN APPOINTMENTS.—Appointments
shall be made to the Board of Advisors under subsection
(a) in a manner which ensures that the Board of Advisors
will be bipartisan in nature and will reflect the various
geographic regions of the United States.
(c) TERM OF SERVICE; VACANCY.—Members of the
Board of Advisors shall serve for a term of 2 years, and
may be reappointed. Any vacancy in the Board of Advisors
shall be filled in the manner in which the original appoint-
ment was made.
(d) CHAIR.—The Board of Advisors shall elect a
Chair from among its members.
SEC. 215. POWERS OF BOARDS; NO COMPENSATION FOR
SERVICE.
(a) HEARINGS AND SESSIONS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—To the extent that funds are
made available by the Commission, the Standards
Board (acting through the Executive Board) and the
Board of Advisors may each hold such hearings for
the purpose of carrying out this Act, sit and act at
such times and places, take such testimony, and re-
ceive such evidence as each such Board considers ad-
visable to carry out this title, except that the Boards
may not issue subpoenas requiring the attendance
and testimony of witnesses or the production of any
evidence.
(2) MEETINGS.—The Standards Board and the
Board of Advisors shall each hold a meeting of its
members—
(A) not less frequently than once every
year for purposes of voting on the standards re-
ferred to it under section 223;
(B) in the case of the Standards Board,
not less frequently than once every 2 years for
purposes of selecting the Executive Board; and
(C) at such other times as it considers ap-
propriate for purposes of conducting such other
business as it considers appropriate consistent
with this title.
(b) INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.—The
Standards Board and the Board of Advisors may each se-
cure directly from any Federal department or agency such
information as the Board considers necessary to carry out
this Act. Upon request of the Executive Board (in the case
of the Standards Board) or the Chair (in the case of the
Board of Advisors), the head of such department or agen-
cy shall furnish such information to the Board.
(c) POSTAL SERVICES.—The Standards Board and
the Board of Advisors may use the United States mails
in the same manner and under the same conditions as a
department or agency of the Federal Government.
(d) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES.—Upon
the request of the Executive Board (in the case of the
Standards Board) or the Chair (in the case of the Board
of Advisors), the Administrator of the General Services
Administration shall provide to the Board, on a reimburs-
able basis, the administrative support services that are
necessary to enable the Board to carry out its duties under
this title.
(e) NO COMPENSATION FOR SERVICE.—Members of
the Standards Board and members of the Board of Advi-
sors shall not receive any compensation for their service,
but shall be paid travel expenses, including per diem in
lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of
agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5,
United States Code, while away from their homes or reg-
ular places of business in the performance of services for
the Board.
SEC. 216. STATUS OF BOARDS AND MEMBERS FOR PUR-
POSES OF CLAIMS AGAINST BOARD.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The provisions of chapters 161
and 171 of title 28, United States Code, shall apply with
respect to the liability of the Standards Board, the Board
of Advisors, and their members for acts or omissions per-
formed pursuant to and in the course of the duties and
responsibilities of the Board.
(b) EXCEPTION FOR CRIMINAL ACTS AND OTHER
WILLFUL CONDUCT.—Subsection (a) may not be con-
strued to limit personal liability for criminal acts or omis-
sions, willful or malicious misconduct, acts or omissions
for private gain, or any other act or omission outside the
scope of the service of a member of the Standards Board
or the Board of Advisors.
Subtitle B—Voluntary Election
Standards
SEC. 
221. 
DEVELOPMENT 
OF 
VOLUNTARY 
ELECTION
STANDARDS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall:
(1) In accordance with section 223, develop
(through the Executive Director of the Commission),
adopt, and update (not less often than every 4 years
thereafter) voluntary engineering and procedural
performance standards for voting systems used in
Federal elections which shall meet the following re-
quirements:
(A) The scope of the standards should in-
clude security (including a documentary audit
for non-ballot systems), the procedures for cer-
tification and decertification of software and
hardware, the assessment of usability, and oper-
ational guidelines for the proper use and main-
tenance of equipment.
(B) The standards should provide that vot-
ers have the opportunity to correct errors at the
precinct or other polling place, either within the
voting equipment itself or in the operational
guidelines to administrators for using the
equipment, under conditions which assure pri-
vacy to the voter.
(C) Each voting tally system certified for
use should include as part of the certification a
proposed statement of what constitutes a prop-
er vote in the design and operation of the sys-
tem.
(D) New voting equipment systems cer-
tified either by the Federal government or by
any State should provide a practical and effec-
tive means for voters with physical disabilities
(including blindness) to cast a secret ballot.
(2) Maintain a clearinghouse of information on
the experiences of State and local governments in
implementing the voluntary standards described in
paragraph (1) and in operating voting systems in
general.
(3) In accordance with section 224, provide for
the voluntary testing, certification, decertification,
and recertification of voting systems.
(4) Advise States and units of local government
regarding compliance with the requirements of the
Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handi-
capped Act (42 U.S.C. 1973ee et seq.) and compli-
ance with other Federal laws regarding accessibility
of registration facilities and polling places. Addition-
ally, in accordance with section 223, the Commission
shall develop (through the Executive Director of the
Commission), adopt, and update (not less often than
every 4 years thereafter) voluntary standards for
maintaining and enhancing the accessibility and pri-
vacy of registration facilities, polling places, and vot-
ing methods with the goal of promoting for all indi-
viduals, including the elderly and individuals with
disabilities (including blindness), the accessibility of
polling places and the effective use of voting systems
and voting equipment which provide the opportunity
for casting a secure and secret ballot, and shall in-
clude in such standards voluntary guidelines regard-
ing accessibility and ease-of-use for States and units
of local government to use when obtaining voting
equipment and selecting polling places. In carrying
out this paragraph, the Commission shall consult
with the Architectural and Transportation Barrier
Compliance Board under section 502 of the Reha-
bilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 792) and other in-
dividuals and entities with expertise in the accessi-
bility of facilities for individuals with disabilities.
(5) Make periodic studies available to the public
regarding the election administration issues de-
scribed in subsection (b), with the goal of promoting
methods of voting and administering elections
which—
(A) will be the most convenient, accessible,
and easy to use for voters, including members
of the uniformed services, blind and disabled
voters, and voters with limited English pro-
ficiency;
(B) will yield the most accurate, secure,
and expeditious system for voting and tab-
ulating election results;
(C) will be nondiscriminatory and afford
each registered and eligible voter an equal op-
portunity to vote; and
(D) will be efficient and cost-effective for
use.
(6) In accordance with section 223, develop
(through the Executive Director of the Commission),
adopt, and update (not less often than every 4
years) voluntary election management practice
standards for State and local election officials to
maintain and enhance the administration of Federal
elections, including standards developed in consulta-
tion with the Secretary of Defense to govern the
treatment of absent uniformed services voters (as
defined in section 107(1) of the Uniformed and
Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act) and overseas
voters (as defined in section 107(5) of such Act)
which will include provisions to address each of the
following:
(A) The rights of residence of uniformed
services voters absent due to military orders.
(B) The rights of absent uniformed serv-
ices voters and overseas voters to register to
vote and cast absentee ballots.
(C) The rights of absent uniformed serv-
ices voters and overseas voters to submit absen-
tee ballot applications early during an election
year.
(D) The appropriate pre-election deadline
for mailing absentee ballots to absent uniformed
services voters and overseas voters.
(E) The appropriate minimum period be-
tween the mailing of absentee ballots to absent
uniformed services voters and overseas voters
and the deadline for receipt of such ballots.
(F) The timely transmission of balloting
materials to absent uniformed services voters
and overseas voters.
(G) Security and privacy concerns in the
transmission, receipt, and processing of ballots
from absent uniformed services voters and over-
seas voters, including the need to protect
against fraud.
(H) The use of a single application by ab-
sent uniformed services voters and overseas vot-
ers for absentee ballots for all Federal elections
occurring during a year.
(I) The use of a single application for voter
registration and absentee ballots by absent uni-
formed services voters and overseas voters.
(J) The use of facsimile machines and elec-
tronic means of transmission of absentee ballot
applications and absentee ballots to absent uni-
formed services voters and overseas voters.
(K) Other issues related to the rights of
absent uniformed services voters and overseas
voters to participate in elections.
(7) Carry out the provisions of section 9 of the
National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (42 U.S.C.
1973gg–7) regarding mail voter registration.
(8) Make information on the Federal election
system available to the public and the media.
(9) At the request of State officials, assist such
officials in the review of election or vote counting
procedures in Federal elections, through bipartisan
panels of election professionals assembled by the
Commission for such purpose.
(10) Compile and make available to the public
the official certified results of general elections for
Federal office and reports comparing the rates of
voter registration, voter turnout, voting system func-
tions, and ballot errors among jurisdictions in the
United States.
(11) Gather information and serve as a clear-
inghouse concerning issues relating to Federal,
State, and local elections.
voters receive timely ballots that will be properly and
expeditiously handled and counted.
(7) Current and alternate methods of recruiting
and improving the performance of poll workers.
(8) Federal and State laws governing the eligi-
bility of persons to vote.
(9) Current and alternate methods of educating
voters about the process of registering to vote and
voting, the operation of voting mechanisms, the loca-
tion of polling places, and all other aspects of par-
ticipating in elections.
(10) Matters particularly relevant to voting and
administering elections in rural and urban areas.
(11) Conducting elections for Federal office on
different days, at different places, and during dif-
ferent hours, including the advisability of estab-
lishing a uniform poll closing time.
(12) The ways that the Federal Government
can best assist State and local authorities to improve
the administration of elections for Federal office and
what levels of funding would be necessary to provide
such assistance.
(c) CONSULTATION WITH STANDARDS BOARD AND
BOARD OF ADVISORS.—The Commission shall carry out
its duties under this subtitle in consultation with the
Standards Board and the Board of Advisors.
SEC. 222. TECHNICAL STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT COM-
MITTEE.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is hereby established
the Technical Standards Development Committee (here-
after in this subtitle referred to as the ‘‘Development Com-
mittee’’).
(b) DUTIES.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Development Committee
shall assist the Executive Director of the Commis-
sion in the development of voluntary standards
under this subtitle by recommending standards (and
modifications to standards) to ensure the usability,
accuracy, security, accessibility, and integrity of vot-
ing systems and voting equipment.
(2) DEADLINE
FOR
INITIAL
SET
OF
REC-
OMMENDATIONS.—The 
Development 
Committee
shall provide its first set of recommendations under
this section to the Executive Director of the Com-
mission not later than 9 months after all of its mem-
bers have been appointed.
(c) MEMBERSHIP.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Development Committee
shall be composed of the Director of the National
Institute of Standards and Technology (who shall
serve as its chair), together with a group of 14 other
individuals appointed jointly by the Commission and
the Director of the National Institute of Standards
and Technology, consisting of the following:
(A) An equal number of each of the fol-
lowing:
(i) Members of the Standards Board.
(ii) Members of the Board of Advi-
sors.
(iii) Members of the Architectural and
Transportation Barrier Compliance Board
under section 502 of the Rehabilitation Act
of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 792).
(B) A representative of the American Na-
tional Standards Institute.
(C) Other individuals with technical and
scientific expertise relating to voting systems
and voting equipment.
(2) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of
the Development Committee shall constitute a
quorum, except that the Development Committee
may not conduct any business prior to the appoint-
ment of all of its members.
(d) NO COMPENSATION FOR SERVICE.—Members of
the Development Committee shall not receive any com-
pensation for their service, but shall be paid travel ex-
penses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates
authorized for employees 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 per-
formance of services for the Development Committee.
(e) TECHNICAL SUPPORT FROM NATIONAL INSTI-
TUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY.—At the request
of the Development Committee, the Director of the Na-
tional Institute of Standards and Technology shall provide
the Development Committee with technical support nec-
essary for the Development Committee to carry out its du-
ties under this subtitle.
(f) PUBLICATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS IN FED-
ERAL REGISTER.—At the time the Commission adopts any
standard pursuant to section 223, the Development Com-
mittee shall cause to have published in the Federal Reg-
ister the recommendations it provided under this section
to the Executive Director of the Commission concerning
the standard adopted.
SEC. 223. PROCESS FOR ADOPTION OF VOLUNTARY STAND-
ARDS.
(a) CONSIDERATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS OF DE-
VELOPMENT COMMITTEE; SUBMISSION
OF PROPOSED
VOLUNTARY STANDARDS TO BOARD OF ADVISORS AND
STANDARDS BOARD.—
(1) CONSIDERATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS OF
DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE.—In developing stand-
ards and modifications for purposes of this section,
the Executive Director of the Commission shall take
into consideration the recommendations provided by
the Technical Standards Development Committee
under section 222.
(2) BOARD OF ADVISORS.—The Executive Di-
rector of the Commission shall submit each of the
voluntary engineering and procedural performance
standards (described in section 221(a)(1)), each of
the 
voluntary 
standards 
described 
in 
section
221(a)(4), and each of the voluntary election man-
agement practice standards (described in section
221(a)(6)) developed by the Executive Director (or
any modifications to such standards) to the Board
of Advisors.
(3) STANDARDS BOARD.—The Executive Direc-
tor of the Commission shall submit each of the vol-
untary engineering and procedural performance
standards (described in section 221(a)(1)), each of
the 
voluntary 
standards 
described 
in 
section
221(a)(4), and each of the voluntary election man-
agement practice standards (described in section
221(a)(6)) developed by the Executive Director (or
any modifications to such standards) to the Execu-
tive Board of the Standards Board, who shall review
the standard (or modification) and forward its rec-
ommendations to the Standards Board.
(b) REVIEW.—Upon receipt of a voluntary standard
described in subsection (a) (or modification of such a
standard) from the Executive Director of the Commission,
the Board of Advisors and the Standards Board shall each
review and submit comments and recommendations re-
garding the standard (or modification) to the Commission.
(c) FINAL APPROVAL.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—A voluntary standard de-
scribed in subsection (a) (or modification of such a
standard) shall not be considered to be finally adopt-
ed by the Commission unless the majority of the
members of the Commission vote to approve the
final adoption of the standard (or modification), tak-
ing into consideration the comments and rec-
ommendations submitted by the Board of Advisors
and the Standards Board under subsection (b).
(2) MINIMUM PERIOD FOR CONSIDERATION OF
COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.—The Commis-
sion may not vote on the final adoption of a vol-
untary standard described in subsection (a) (or
modification of such a standard) until the expiration
of the 90-day period which begins on the date the
Executive Director of the Commission submits the
standard (or modification) to the Board of Advisors
and the Standards Board under subsection (a).
SEC. 224. CERTIFICATION AND TESTING OF VOTING SYS-
TEMS.
(a) CERTIFICATION AND TESTING.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall pro-
vide for the testing, certification, decertification, and
recertification of voting system hardware and soft-
ware by accredited laboratories.
(2) OPTIONAL USE BY STATES.—At the option
of a State, the State may provide for the testing,
certification, decertification, or recertification of its
voting system hardware and software by the labora-
tories accredited by the Commission under this sec-
tion.
(b) LABORATORY ACCREDITATION.—
(1) RECOMMENDATIONS
BY
NATIONAL
INSTI-
TUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY.—Not later
than 6 months after the Commission first adopts
voluntary engineering and procedural performance
standards under this subtitle, the Director of the
National Institute of Standards and Technology
shall conduct an evaluation of independent, non-Fed-
eral laboratories and shall submit to the Commission
a list of those laboratories the Director proposes to
be accredited to carry out the testing, certification,
decertification, and recertification provided for under
this section.
(2) APPROVAL BY COMMISSION.—The Commis-
sion shall vote on the proposed accreditation of each
laboratory on the list submitted under paragraph
(1), and no laboratory may be accredited for pur-
poses of this section unless its accreditation is ap-
proved by a majority vote of the members of the
Commission.
(c) CONTINUING REVIEW BY NATIONAL INSTITUTE
OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—In cooperation with the
Commission and in consultation with the Standards
Board and the Board of Advisors, the Director of
the National Institute of Standards and Technology
shall monitor and review, on an ongoing basis, the
performance of the laboratories accredited by the
Commission under this section, and shall make such
recommendations to the Commission as it considers
appropriate with respect to the continuing accredita-
tion of such laboratories, including recommendations
to revoke the accreditation of any such laboratory.
(2) APPROVAL BY COMMISSION REQUIRED FOR
REVOCATION.—The accreditation of a laboratory for
purposes of this section may not be revoked unless
the revocation is approved by a majority vote of the
members of the Commission.
SEC. 225. DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION.
On an ongoing basis, the Commission shall dissemi-
nate to the public (through the Internet, published re-
ports, and such other methods as the Commission con-
siders appropriate) information on the activities carried
out under this subtitle, including—
(1) the voluntary election standards adopted by
the Commission, together with guidelines for apply-
ing the standards and other information to assist in
their implementation;
(2) the list of laboratories accredited to carry
out testing, certification, decertification, and recer-
tification of voting system hardware and software
under section 224; and
(3) a list of voting system hardware and soft-
ware products which have been certified pursuant to
section 224 as meeting the applicable voluntary
standards adopted by the Commission under this
subtitle.
Subtitle C—Election Assistance
PART 1—ELECTION FUND PAYMENTS TO STATES
FOR VOTING SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS
SEC. 231. ELECTION FUND PAYMENTS TO STATES FOR VOT-
ING SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall make an
Election Fund payment each year in an amount deter-
mined under section 232 to each State which meets the
requirements described in section 233 for the year.
(b) USE OF FUNDS.—A State receiving an Election
Fund payment shall use the payment for any or all of the
following activities:
(1) Establishing and maintaining accurate lists
of eligible voters.
(2) Encouraging eligible voters to vote.
(3) Improving verification and identification of
voters at the polling place.
(4) Improving equipment and methods for cast-
ing and counting votes.
(5) Recruiting and training election official and
poll workers.
(6) Improving the quantity and quality of avail-
able polling places.
(7) Educating voters about their rights and re-
sponsibilities.
(8) Assuring access for voters with physical dis-
abilities (including blindness).
(9) Carrying out other activities to improve the
administration of elections in the State.
(c) ADOPTION OF COMMISSION STANDARDS NOT RE-
QUIRED TO RECEIVE PAYMENT.—Nothing in this part
may be construed to require a State to implement any of
the voluntary standards adopted by the Commission with
respect to any matter as a condition for receiving an Elec-
tion Fund payment.
(d) SCHEDULE OF PAYMENTS.—As soon as prac-
ticable after all members of the Commission are appointed
(but in no event later than 6 months thereafter), and not
less frequently than once each calendar year thereafter,
the Commission shall make Election Fund payments to
States under this part.
products and systems, including methods to improve ac-
cess for individuals with disabilities (including blindness)
and to reduce voter error and the number of spoiled ballots
in elections.
SEC. 263. AUDIT.
(a) IN GENERAL.—As a condition of receiving funds
under this subtitle, a State or entity described in part 2
or part 3 shall agree that such funds shall be subject to
audit if 2 or more members of the Commission vote to
require an audit.
(b) MANDATORY AUDIT.—In addition to audits con-
ducted pursuant to subsection (a), all funds provided
under this subtitle shall be subject to mandatory audit at
least once during the lifetime of the programs under this
subtitle.
TITLE III—HELP AMERICA VOTE
COLLEGE PROGRAM
SEC. 301. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the
appointment of its members, the Election Assistance Com-
mission shall develop a program to be known as the ‘‘Help
America Vote College Program’’ (hereafter in this title re-
ferred to as the ‘‘Program’’).
(b) PURPOSES OF PROGRAM.—The purpose of the
Program shall be—