I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7905 
To amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to direct the Election Assist-
ance Commission to make payments to States to assist in administering 
elections during the COVID–19 Pandemic, to direct the Election Assist-
ance Commission to adopt voluntary guidelines for use of nonvoting 
election technology, to prohibit payments under such Act to States which 
do not prohibit ballot harvesting, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 31, 2020 
Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois (for himself, Mr. YOUNG, Mr. GARCIA of Cali-
fornia, Mr. CHABOT, Ms. STEFANIK, Mr. MEUSER, Mr. NUNES, Mr. 
MCCAUL, Mr. CALVERT, Mr. GUTHRIE, and Mr. DIAZ-BALART) intro-
duced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on House 
Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and 
Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, 
in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the juris-
diction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to direct 
the Election Assistance Commission to make payments 
to States to assist in administering elections during the 
COVID–19 Pandemic, to direct the Election Assistance 
Commission to adopt voluntary guidelines for use of non-
voting election technology, to prohibit payments under 
such Act to States which do not prohibit ballot har-
vesting, and for other purposes. 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Emergency Assistance for Safe Elections Act’’ or the 
‘‘EASE Act’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents of 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
TITLE I—FUNDING FOR ELECTION ADMINISTRATION 
Sec. 101. Payments to States to assist in administering elections during 
COVID–19 Pandemic. 
‘‘PART 7—ASSISTANCE IN ADMINISTERING ELECTIONS DURING COVID–19 
PANDEMIC 
‘‘Sec. 297. Student loan repayments on behalf of volunteer poll workers 
and absentee ballot tabulators in 2020 general elections. 
‘‘Sec. 297A. Voter registration list maintenance. 
‘‘Sec. 297B. Protection from COVID–19. 
‘‘Sec. 297C. General provisions. 
Sec. 102. Sense of Congress regarding exclusion of poll worker income from de-
termination of eligibility for unemployment insurance. 
TITLE II—VOTING TECHNOLOGY 
Sec. 201. Voluntary guidelines for use of nonvoting election technology. 
‘‘Subtitle E—Voluntary Guidelines for Use of Nonvoting Election Technology 
‘‘Sec. 298. Adoption of voluntary guidelines by Commission. 
‘‘Sec. 298A. Emerging Election Technology Committee. 
‘‘Sec. 298B. Nonvoting election technology defined. 
Sec. 202. Status reports by National Institute of Standards and Technology. 
Sec. 203. Establishment of Election Cyber Assistance Unit in Election Assist-
ance Commission. 
Sec. 204. Certification program in election administration or cybersecurity. 
TITLE III—ELECTION FRAUD PREVENTION 
Sec. 301. Findings. 
Sec. 302. Prohibition on payments to States allowing collection and trans-
mission of ballots by certain third parties. 
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TITLE I—FUNDING FOR 
ELECTION ADMINISTRATION 
SEC. 101. PAYMENTS TO STATES TO ASSIST IN ADMIN-
ISTERING ELECTIONS DURING COVID–19 PAN-
DEMIC. 
(a) PAYMENTS.—Subtitle D of title II of the Help 
America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21001 et seq.) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new part: 
‘‘PART 7—ASSISTANCE IN ADMINISTERING 
ELECTIONS DURING COVID–19 PANDEMIC 
‘‘SEC. 297. STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENTS ON BEHALF OF 
VOLUNTEER POLL WORKERS AND ABSENTEE 
BALLOT 
TABULATORS 
IN 
2020 
GENERAL 
ELECTIONS. 
‘‘(a) REPAYMENTS BY ELECTION ASSISTANCE COM-
MISSION.—The Commission shall make a payment to each 
eligible State for the costs incurred by the State in repay-
ing (by direct payments on behalf of a qualified student 
volunteer) a portion of a student loan previously taken out 
by an individual who serves as a qualified student volun-
teer with respect to a regularly scheduled general election 
for Federal office held in the State in November 2020. 
‘‘(b) ELIGIBILITY.—A State is eligible to receive a 
payment under this section if the State submits to the 
Commission, at such time and in such form as the Com-
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‘‘(A) in the case of any of the several 
States or the District of Columbia, one-half of 
1 percent of the total amount appropriated for 
such payments; or 
‘‘(B) in the case of the Commonwealth of 
Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the 
United States Virgin Islands, and the Common-
wealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, one- 
tenth of 1 percent of such total amount. 
‘‘(3) PRO
RATA
REDUCTIONS.—The Commis-
sion shall make such pro rata reductions to the allo-
cations determined under paragraph (1) as are nec-
essary to comply with the requirements of paragraph 
(2). 
‘‘(e) QUALIFIED STUDENT VOLUNTEER DEFINED.— 
In this section, a ‘qualified student volunteer’ means an 
individual— 
‘‘(1) who, as certified to the Commission by the 
appropriate State or local election official, serves— 
‘‘(A) as a volunteer poll worker at a polling 
place, including any location at which voters 
may cast ballots prior to the date of the elec-
tion, or 
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‘‘(B) as a volunteer absentee ballot tab-
ulator, as certified to the Commission by the 
appropriate State or local election official; and 
‘‘(2) at the time of serving as a volunteer poll 
worker or volunteer absentee ballot tabulator, is en-
rolled at an institution of higher education (as de-
fined in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002)). 
‘‘(f) APPLICATION OF REGULATIONS UNDER STU-
DENT LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM FOR FEDERAL EM-
PLOYEES.—In carrying out the program under this sec-
tion, the Commission may make applicable such provisions 
of section 5379 of title 5, United States Code, as the Com-
mission considers appropriate. 
‘‘(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated $100,000,000 for pay-
ments under this section. 
‘‘SEC. 297A. VOTER REGISTRATION LIST MAINTENANCE. 
‘‘(a) PAYMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Commission shall 
make a payment to each eligible State for carrying 
out maintenance of the computerized Statewide 
voter registration list under section 303 and car-
rying out programs under section 8 of the National 
Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20507) 
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to ensure the accuracy of voter registration lists in 
the State. 
‘‘(2) AVAILABILITY OF PAYMENTS TO STATES 
WITHOUT VOTER REGISTRATION.—In the case of an 
eligible State in which, under a State law in effect 
continuously on and after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, there is no voter registration require-
ment for individuals in the State with respect to 
elections for Federal office, an eligible State shall 
use the payment under this section for carrying out 
activities to protect polling places in the State, and 
individuals present in such polling places, from expo-
sure to SARS–CoV–2 or COVID–19 (as described in 
section 297B). 
‘‘(b) ELIGIBILITY.—A State is eligible to receive a 
payment under this section if the State submits to the 
Commission, at such time and in such form as the Com-
mission may require, an application containing such infor-
mation and assurances as the Commission may require. 
‘‘(c) AMOUNT OF PAYMENT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), 
the amount of a payment made to a State under this 
section shall be equal to the product of— 
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‘‘(A) the total amount appropriated for 
such payments pursuant to the authorization 
under subsection (d); and 
‘‘(B) the State allocation percentage for 
the State. 
‘‘(2) MINIMUM
AMOUNT
OF
PAYMENT.—The 
amount of a payment made to a State under this 
section may not be less than— 
‘‘(A) in the case of any of the several 
States or the District of Columbia, one-half of 
1 percent of the total amount appropriated for 
such payments; or 
‘‘(B) in the case of the Commonwealth of 
Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the 
United States Virgin Islands, and the Common-
wealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, one- 
tenth of 1 percent of such total amount. 
‘‘(3) PRO
RATA
REDUCTIONS.—The Commis-
sion shall make such pro rata reductions to the allo-
cations determined under paragraph (1) as are nec-
essary to comply with the requirements of paragraph 
(2). 
‘‘(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated $100,000,000 for pay-
ments under this section. 
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‘‘SEC. 297B. PROTECTION FROM COVID–19. 
‘‘(a) PAYMENTS.—The Commission shall make the 
following payments to each eligible State: 
‘‘(1) A payment for the chief State election offi-
cial to for carrying out Statewide activities to pro-
tect polling places in the State, and individuals 
present in such polling places, from exposure to 
SARS–CoV–2 or COVID–19. 
‘‘(2) A payment for the chief State election offi-
cial to pass through to local jurisdictions in the 
State for carrying out a plan prepared by the chief 
State election official and approved by the Commis-
sion to protect polling places in the jurisdiction, and 
individuals present in such polling places, from expo-
sure to SARS–CoV–2 or COVID–19. 
‘‘(b) ELIGIBILITY.—A State is eligible to receive a 
payment under this section if the State submits to the 
Commission, at such time and in such form as the Com-
mission may require, an application containing such infor-
mation and assurances as the Commission may require. 
‘‘(c) AMOUNT OF PAYMENT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), 
the amount of a payment made to a State under 
paragraph (1) or paragraph (2) of subsection (a) 
shall be equal to the product of— 
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‘‘(A) the total amount appropriated for 
payments under such paragraph pursuant to 
the authorization under subsection (d); and 
‘‘(B) the State allocation percentage for 
the State. 
‘‘(2) MINIMUM
AMOUNT
OF
PAYMENT.—The 
amount of a payment made to a State under para-
graph (1) or paragraph (2) of subsection (a) may 
not be less than— 
‘‘(A) in the case of any of the several 
States or the District of Columbia, one-half of 
1 percent of the total amount appropriated for 
payments under such paragraph; or 
‘‘(B) in the case of the Commonwealth of 
Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the 
United States Virgin Islands, and the Common-
wealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, one- 
tenth of 1 percent of such total amount. 
‘‘(3) PRO
RATA
REDUCTIONS.—The Commis-
sion shall make such pro rata reductions to the allo-
cations determined under paragraph (1) as are nec-
essary to comply with the requirements of paragraph 
(2). 
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‘‘(B) the total voting age population of all 
States (as reported in the most recent decennial 
census). 
‘‘(b) CONTINUING AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS AFTER 
APPROPRIATION.—A payment made to a State under this 
part shall be available to the State without fiscal year limi-
tation.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
of such Act is amended by adding at the end of the items 
relating to subtitle D of title II the following: 
‘‘PART 7—ASSISTANCE IN ADMINISTERING ELECTIONS DURING COVID–19 
PANDEMIC 
‘‘Sec. 297. Student loan repayments on behalf of volunteer poll workers and ab-
sentee ballot tabulators in 2020 general elections. 
‘‘Sec. 297A. Voter registration list maintenance. 
‘‘Sec. 297B. Protection from COVID–19. 
‘‘Sec. 297C. General provisions.’’. 
SEC. 102. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING EXCLUSION OF 
POLL WORKER INCOME FROM DETERMINA-
TION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR UNEMPLOYMENT 
INSURANCE. 
Because the Nation is in an unprecedented battle 
against COVID–19, it is the Sense of Congress that State 
legislatures should be encouraged to revisit their unem-
ployment insurance systems to ensure that any volunteer 
who receives compensation for services as a poll worker 
does not fail to qualify for such unemployment insurance 
solely on the basis of service as a poll worker. 
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TITLE II—VOTING TECHNOLOGY 
SEC. 201. VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES FOR USE OF NON-
VOTING ELECTION TECHNOLOGY. 
(a) ADOPTION
OF
VOLUNTARY
GUIDELINES
BY 
ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION.—Title II of the 
Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 20921 et seq.) 
is amended by adding at the end the following new sub-
title: 
‘‘Subtitle E—Voluntary Guidelines 
for Use of Nonvoting Election 
Technology 
‘‘SEC. 298. ADOPTION OF VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES BY COM-
MISSION. 
‘‘(a) ADOPTION.—The Commission shall adopt vol-
untary guidelines for election officials on the use of non-
voting election technology, taking into account the rec-
ommendations of the Emerging Election Technology Com-
mittee under section 298A. 
‘‘(b) REVIEW.—The Commission shall review and up-
date the guidelines adopted under this subtitle not less fre-
quently than once every 2 years. 
‘‘(c) PROCESS FOR ADOPTION.—The adoption of the 
voluntary guidelines under this subtitle shall be carried 
out by the Commission in a manner that provides for each 
of the following: 
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‘‘(1) Publication of notice of the proposed 
guidelines in the Federal Register. 
‘‘(2) An opportunity for public comment on the 
proposed guidelines. 
‘‘(3) An opportunity for a public hearing on the 
record. 
‘‘(4) Publication of the final recommendations 
in the Federal Register. 
‘‘(d) DEADLINE FOR INITIAL SET OF GUIDELINES.— 
The Commission shall adopt the initial set of voluntary 
guidelines under this section not later than June 1, 2021. 
‘‘SEC. 298A. EMERGING ELECTION TECHNOLOGY COM-
MITTEE. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the 
Commission the Emerging Election Technology Com-
mittee (hereafter in this section referred to as the ‘Tech-
nology Committee’). 
‘‘(b) DUTIES.—The Technology Committee shall as-
sist the Commission in the adoption of voluntary guide-
lines under section 298, including by providing the Com-
mission with recommendations on appropriate standards 
for the use of nonvoting election technology, including 
standards to ensure the security and promote the usability 
of such technology. 
‘‘(c) MEMBERSHIP.— 
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‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Technology Committee 
shall be composed of members appointed by the 
Commission as follows: 
‘‘(A) Each member shall have expertise in 
the operation of nonvoting election technology. 
‘‘(B) At least three of the members shall 
be State or local election officials. 
‘‘(C) At least four of the members shall be 
individuals who are not employees of the Com-
mission. 
‘‘(2) NUMBER.—The number of members of the 
Technology Committee shall be determined by the 
Commission. 
‘‘(3) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of 
the Technology Committee shall constitute a 
quorum, except that the Technology Committee may 
not conduct any business prior to the appointment 
of all of its members. 
‘‘(d) CHAIR.—The members of the Technology Com-
mittee shall select one of the members to serve as chair 
of the Committee. 
‘‘(e) NO COMPENSATION FOR SERVICE.—Members of 
the Technology Committee shall not receive any compensa-
tion for their service, but shall be paid travel expenses, 
including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates author-
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ized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of chap-
ter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from 
their homes or regular places of business in the perform-
ance of services for the Committee. 
‘‘SEC. 298B. NONVOTING ELECTION TECHNOLOGY DEFINED. 
‘‘In this subtitle, the term ‘nonvoting election tech-
nology’ means technology used in the administration of 
elections for Federal office which is not used directly in 
the casting, counting, tabulating, or collecting of ballots 
or votes, including each of the following: 
‘‘(1) Electronic pollbooks. 
‘‘(2) Election result reporting systems. 
‘‘(3) Electronic ballot delivery systems. 
‘‘(4) Online voter registration systems. 
‘‘(5) Polling place location search systems. 
‘‘(6) Sample ballot portals. 
‘‘(7) Such other technology as may be rec-
ommended for treatment as nonvoting election tech-
nology as the Emerging Election Technology Com-
mittee may recommend.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
of such Act is amended by adding at the end of the items 
relating to title II the following: 
‘‘Subtitle E—Voluntary Guidelines for Use of Nonvoting Election Technology 
‘‘Sec. 298. Adoption of voluntary guidelines by Commission. 
‘‘Sec. 298A. Emerging Election Technology Committee. 
‘‘Sec. 298B. Nonvoting election technology defined.’’. 
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SEC. 202. STATUS REPORTS BY NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF 
STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY. 
Section 231 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 
(52 U.S.C. 20971) is amended by adding at the end the 
following new subsection: 
‘‘(e) STATUS REPORTS BY NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF 
STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY.—Not later than 60 days 
after the end of each fiscal year (beginning with 2020), 
the Director of the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology shall submit to Congress a status report de-
scribing— 
‘‘(1) the extent to which the Director carried 
out the Director’s responsibilities under this Act 
during the fiscal year, including the responsibilities 
imposed under this section and the responsibilities 
imposed with respect to the Technical Guidelines 
Development Committee under section 222, together 
with the Director’s best estimate of when the Direc-
tor will completely carry out any responsibility which 
was not carried out completely during the fiscal 
year; and 
‘‘(2) the extent to which the Director carried 
out any projects requested by the Commission dur-
ing the fiscal year, together with the Director’s best 
estimate of when the Director will complete any such 
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project which the Director did not complete during 
the fiscal year.’’. 
SEC. 203. ESTABLISHMENT OF ELECTION CYBER ASSIST-
ANCE UNIT IN ELECTION ASSISTANCE COM-
MISSION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subtitle A of title II of the Help 
America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 20921 et seq.) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new part: 
‘‘PART 4—ELECTION CYBER ASSISTANCE UNIT 
‘‘SEC. 225. ELECTION CYBER ASSISTANCE UNIT. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the 
Commission the Election Cyber Assistance Unit (hereafter 
in this part referred to as the ‘Unit’). 
‘‘(b) DUTIES.—The Unit will provide State and local 
election officials in various geographic regions of the 
United States with access to risk-management, resiliency, 
and technical support services provided by election admin-
istration and cybersecurity experts who will be based in 
such regions and who may provide such services in person, 
by telephone, or online.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
of such Act is amended by adding at the end of the items 
relating to subtitle A of title II the following: 
‘‘PART 4—ELECTION CYBER ASSISTANCE UNIT 
‘‘Sec. 225. Election Cyber Assistance Unit.’’. 
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SEC. 204. CERTIFICATION PROGRAM IN ELECTION ADMIN-
ISTRATION OR CYBERSECURITY. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.—Subtitle C of 
title II of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 
20981 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new section: 
‘‘SEC. 248. CERTIFICATION PROGRAM IN ELECTION ADMIN-
ISTRATION OR CYBERSECURITY. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Commission shall es-
tablish and operate a program to provide a certification 
in election administration or election cybersecurity to elec-
tion officials and their employees who meet standards and 
criteria established by the Commission. 
‘‘(b) USE OF PARTNERSHIPS.—The Commission may 
carry out the program under this section in partnership 
with qualified entities, including institutions of higher edu-
cation (as defined under section 101 of the Higher Edu-
cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)) and nonprofit and 
for-profit organizations with expertise in election adminis-
tration and election cybersecurity. 
‘‘(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this sec-
tion— 
‘‘(1) $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2021; and 
‘‘(2) such sums as may be necessary for fiscal 
years 2022 through 2028.’’. 
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(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
of such Act is amended by adding at the end of the items 
relating to subtitle C of title II the following: 
‘‘Sec. 248. Certification program in election administration or cybersecurity.’’. 
TITLE III—ELECTION FRAUD 
PREVENTION 
SEC. 301. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds that— 
(1) the right to vote is a fundamental right of 
citizens of the United States; 
(2) it is the responsibility of the State and Fed-
eral Governments to ensure that elections are con-
ducted with integrity; 
(3) the Committee on House Administration of 
the House of Representatives, which is charged with 
investigating election irregularities, received reports 
through its official Election Observer Program for 
the 2018 general election that individuals other than 
voters themselves were depositing large amounts of 
absentee ballots at polling places throughout Cali-
fornia, a practice colloquially known as ‘‘ballot har-
vesting’’; 
(4) the practice of ballot harvesting in Cali-
fornia creates significant vulnerabilities in the chain- 
of-custody of ballots because individuals collecting 
ballots are not required to be registered voters and 
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are not required to identify themselves at a voter’s 
home, and the State does not track how many bal-
lots are harvested in an election; 
(5) in North Carolina, a congressional election 
was invalidated due to fraud associated with ballot 
harvesting committed by a political operative, and it 
is unlikely such activity would have been detected 
were it not for the prohibition against ballot har-
vesting in the State; and 
(6) ballot harvesting invites electioneering activ-
ity at home and creates the possibility of undue in-
fluence over voters by political operatives. 
SEC. 302. PROHIBITION ON PAYMENTS TO STATES ALLOW-
ING COLLECTION AND TRANSMISSION OF 
BALLOTS BY CERTAIN THIRD PARTIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Title IX of the Help America Vote 
Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21141 et seq.) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating section 906 as section 907; 
and 
(2) by inserting after section 905 the following 
new section: 
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‘‘SEC. 906. PROHIBITION ON PAYMENTS TO STATES ALLOW-
ING COLLECTION AND TRANSMISSION OF 
BALLOTS BY CERTAIN THIRD PARTIES. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—A State (including the Common-
wealth of the Northern Mariana Islands) is not eligible 
to receive funds under this Act unless the State has in 
effect a law that prohibits an individual from the knowing 
collection and transmission of a ballot in an election for 
Federal office that was mailed to another person, other 
than an individual described as follows: 
‘‘(1) An election official while engaged in offi-
cial duties as authorized by law. 
‘‘(2) An employee of the United States Postal 
Service while engaged in official duties as authorized 
by law. 
‘‘(3) Any other individual who is allowed by law 
to collect and transmit United States mail, while en-
gaged in official duties as authorized by law. 
‘‘(4) A family member, household member, or 
caregiver of the person to whom the ballot was 
mailed. 
‘‘(b) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this section, 
with respect to a person to whom the ballot was mailed: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘caregiver’ means an individual 
who provides medical or health care assistance to 
such person in a residence, nursing care institution, 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:31 Aug 22, 2020
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