I
106TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 5647
To establish the Federal Elections Review Commission to study the nature
and consequences of the Federal electoral process and make recommenda-
tions to ensure the integrity of, and public confidence in, Federal elec-
tions.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
DECEMBER 8, 2000
Mr. LAMPSON (for himself, Mrs. MORELLA, and Mr. RODRIGUEZ) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on House Admin-
istration
A BILL
To establish the Federal Elections Review Commission to
study the nature and consequences of the Federal elec-
toral process and make recommendations to ensure the
integrity of, and public confidence in, Federal elections.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘21st Century Election
Rules and Technology Act’’.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION; MEMBERSHIP.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established the Fed-
eral Elections Review Commission (hereafter in this Act
referred to as the ‘‘Commission’’).
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the Commission shall
be to study the nature and consequences of the Federal
electoral process and make recommendations to ensure the
integrity of, and public confidence in, Federal elections.
(c) MEMBERSHIP.—The Commission shall be com-
posed of 12 members, who shall be appointed as follows:
(1) Three members shall be appointed by the
President pro tempore of the Senate based on rec-
ommendations by the majority leader of the Senate.
(2) Three members shall be appointed by the
President pro tempore of the Senate based on rec-
ommendations of the minority leader of the Senate.
(3) Three members shall be appointed by the
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(4) Three members shall be appointed by the
minority leader of the House of Representatives.
(d) QUALIFICATIONS OF MEMBERS.—Members shall
be appointed to the Commission from among individuals
who—
(1) have expertise in Federal election laws, elec-
tion and information technology, the United States
Constitution, and the history of the United States,
or other pertinent qualifications or experience; and
(2) are not officers or employees of the United
States.
(e) OTHER CONSIDERATIONS.—In appointing mem-
bers of the Commission, every effort shall be made to en-
sure that the members—
(1) represent a broad cross section of regional
and political perspectives in the United States; and
(2) are individuals who will provide fresh in-
sights to analyzing the Federal electoral process in
order to maintain the integrity and accuracy of, and
public confidence in, such process.
(f) PERIOD
OF
APPOINTMENT; VACANCIES.—(1)
Members of the Commission shall be appointed not later
than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act. Ap-
pointments shall be for the life of the Commission.
(2) Any vacancy in the Commission shall not affect
the powers of the Commission, and shall be filled in the
same manner as the original appointment.
(g) INITIAL MEETING.—Not later than 30 days after
the date on which all members of the Commission have
been appointed, the Commission shall hold its first meet-
ing.
(h) CHAIRPERSON AND VICE CHAIRPERSON.—The
members of the Commission shall elect a chairperson and
vice chairperson from among the members of the Commis-
sion.
(i) ADDITIONAL MEETINGS.—The Commission shall
meet at the call of the chairperson.
(j) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of the
Commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction
of business.
(k) VOTING.—A vote of a member of the Commission
with respect to the duties of the Commission shall have
the same weight as the vote of any other member of the
Commission.
SEC. 3. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall examine
and report on the nature and consequences of the Federal
electoral process, and shall include in its report rec-
ommendations to ensure the integrity of, and public con-
fidence in, Federal elections.
(b) SPECIFIC ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED.—In con-
ducting its examination and preparing its report under
this Act, the Commission shall address (at a minimum)
the following issues:
(1) The current election technology used by
States and local governments across the Nation, the
current best practices of election technology, and the
need for research and development regarding new
election technologies.
(2) The need for new practices and technologies
to aid voters with disabilities.
(3) Voter registration issues, including same-
day registration, universal registration, the impact of
the voter registration requirements of the National
Voter Registration Act of 1993 (commonly known as
the ‘‘Motor Voter Act’’), and the accuracy of voter
registration rolls.
(4) Ballot access issues, including the role of
mail-in balloting in Federal elections, the distinction
between mail-in and absentee balloting, the uni-
formity or lack of uniformity in the deadlines estab-
lished for the receipt of such ballots, and the possi-
bility of fraud associated with the use of such bal-
lots.
(5) The financial, training, and resource needs
of State and local election agencies.
(6) The feasibility and advisability of voting
through the Internet.
(7) The impact of polling place closing times
(including an analysis of the feasibility and advis-
ability of establishing a uniform national poll closing
time for Presidential elections), the number and ac-
cessibility of polling places, and training of poll
workers.
(8) The impact of the physical ballot design, in-
cluding the technology used to cast and count votes
and the uniformity of such technology and a consid-
eration of a uniform design standard, and the im-
pact of the language used on ballots, including the
need for simplicity of language and the feasibility
and advisability of using foreign language.
(9) The adequacy of the options available to
voters and candidates to seek redress for electoral
irregularities.
SEC. 4. FINAL REPORT.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 12 months after
the date of the initial meeting of the Commission, the
Commission shall submit to the President, the Federal
Election Commission, and the Congress a final report
including—
(1) the findings and conclusions of the Commis-
sion; and
(2) recommendations of the Commission for ad-
dressing the problems identified by its analysis.
(b) SEPARATE VIEWS.—Any member of the Commis-
sion may submit additional findings and recommendations
as part of the final report.
SEC. 5. POWERS.
(a) HEARINGS.—The Commission may hold such
hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such
testimony, and receive such evidence as the Commission
may find advisable to fulfill the requirements of this Act.
The Commission shall hold at least one hearing in the Dis-
trict of Columbia, and at least four hearings in other re-
gions of the United States.
(b) INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.—The
Commission may secure directly from any Federal depart-
ment or agency such information as the Commission con-
siders necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.
Upon request of the chairperson of the Commission, the
head of such department or agency shall furnish such in-
formation to the Commission.
(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.
SEC. 6. COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS.
(a) COMPENSATION.—Each member of the Commis-
sion shall be compensated at a rate equal to the daily
equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for
level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of
title 5, United States Code, for each day (including travel
time) during which the member is engaged in the perform-
ance of the duties of the Commission.
(b) STAFF.—(1) The chairperson of the Commission
may appoint staff of the Commission, request the detail
of Federal employees, and accept temporary and intermit-
tent services in accordance with section 3161 of title 5,
United States Code.
(2) The employment of an executive director of the
Commission shall be subject to the approval of the Com-
mission.
(3) The rate of pay for the executive director and
other personnel of the Commission may not exceed the
rate payable for level V of the Executive Schedule under
section 5316 of such title.
SEC. 7. SUPPORT SERVICES.
The Administrator of General Services shall provide
to the Commission on a reimbursable basis such adminis-
trative support services as the Commission may request.
SEC. 8. TERMINATION.
The Commission shall terminate not later than the
date that is 30 days after the date the Commission sub-
mits its final report under section 4.
SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated $2,000,000
for the Commission to carry out this Act.
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