Open Our Democracy Act of 2014

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Open Our Democracy Act of 2014''.

SEC. 2. ELECTION OF MEMBERS OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THROUGH OPEN 
              PRIMARIES.

    (a) Rules for Election of House Members.--A candidate for election 
for the office of Member of the House of Representatives shall be 
elected to such office pursuant to the following elections held by the 
State in which the candidate seeks election:
            (1) A single open primary election for such office held in 
        accordance with subsection (b).
            (2) A single general election for such office held in 
        accordance with subsection (c).
    (b) Open Primaries.--Each State shall hold a single open primary 
election for each office of Member of the House of Representatives in 
the State under which--
            (1) each candidate for such office, regardless of the 
        candidate's political party preference, shall appear on a 
        single ballot; and
            (2) each voter in the State who is eligible to vote in 
        elections for Federal office in the Congressional district 
        involved may cast a ballot in the election, regardless of the 
        voter's political party preference.
    (c) General Election.--Each State shall hold a general election for 
each office of Member of the House of Representatives in the State 
under which the 2 candidates receiving the greatest number of votes in 
the single open primary election for such office (as described in 
subsection (b)), without regard to the political party preference of 
such candidates, shall be the only candidates appearing on the ballot.

SEC. 3. ABILITY OF CANDIDATES TO DISCLOSE POLITICAL PARTY PREFERENCES.

    (a) Option of Candidates To Declare Political Party Preference.--At 
the time a candidate for the office of Member of the House of 
Representatives files to run for such office, the candidate shall have 
the option of declaring a political party preference, and the 
preference chosen (if any) shall accompany the candidate's name on the 
ballot for the election for such office.
    (b) Designation for Candidates Not Declaring Preference.--If a 
candidate does not declare a political party preference under 
subsection (a), the designation ``No Party Preference'' shall accompany 
the candidate's name on the ballot for the election for such office.
    (c) No Party Endorsement Implied.--The selection of a party 
preference by a candidate under subsection (a) shall not constitute or 
imply endorsement of the candidate by the party designated, and no 
candidate in a general election shall be deemed the official candidate 
of any party by virtue of his or her selection in the primary.

SEC. 4. PROTECTION OF RIGHTS OF POLITICAL PARTIES.

    Nothing in this Act shall restrict the right of individuals to join 
or organize into political parties or in any way restrict the right of 
private association of political parties. Nothing in this Act shall 
restrict a party's right to contribute to, endorse, or otherwise 
support a candidate for the office of Member of the House of 
Representatives. A political party may establish such procedures as it 
sees fit to endorse or support candidates or otherwise participate in 
all elections, and may informally designate candidates for election to 
such an office at a party convention or by whatever lawful mechanism 
the party may choose, other than pursuant to a primary election held by 
a State. A political party may also adopt such rules as it sees fit for 
the selection of party officials (including central committee members, 
presidential electors, and party officers), including rules restricting 
participation in elections for party officials to those who disclose a 
preference for that party at the time of registering to vote.

SEC. 5. TREATMENT OF ELECTION DAY IN SAME MANNER AS LEGAL PUBLIC 
              HOLIDAY FOR PURPOSES OF FEDERAL EMPLOYMENT.

    (a) In General.--For purposes of any law relating to Federal 
employment, the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November in 2016 
and each even-numbered year thereafter shall be treated in the same 
manner as a legal public holiday described in section 6103 of title 5, 
United States Code.
    (b) Sense of Congress Regarding Treatment of Day by Private 
Employers.--It is the sense of Congress that private employers in the 
United States should give their employees a day off on the Tuesday next 
after the first Monday in November in 2016 and each even-numbered year 
thereafter to enable the employees to cast votes in the elections held 
on that day.

SEC. 6. STUDY OF NATIONAL STANDARDS AND CRITERIA FOR CONGRESSIONAL 
              REDISTRICTING.

    (a) Study.--The Comptroller General shall conduct a study of the 
feasibility and desirability of enacting national standards and 
criteria for Congressional redistricting.
    (b) Report to Congress.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit a 
report to Congress on the study conducted under subsection (a).


 
 
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7.5..........................................  Before January 1, 1999.
 7.75........................................  January 1, 1999, to December 31, 1999.
 7.9.........................................  January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2000.
 7.55........................................  After January 11, 2003.
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SEC. 7. MEMBER DEFINED.

    In this Act, the term ``Member of the House of Representatives'' 
included a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to the Congress.

SEC. 8. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    Except as provided in sections 5(a) and 6(b), this Act shall apply 
with respect to elections occurring during 2016 or any succeeding year.

Summary: Open Our Democracy Act of 2014 - Requires all candidates for election to the House of Representatives to run in a single open primary, regardless of political party preference. Limits the ensuing general election to the two candidates receiving the greatest number of votes in the single open primary. Gives candidates the option, at the time of filing to run for office, to declare a political party preference, which does not constitute or imply endorsement of the candidate by the party designated. Treats the general election day in the same manner as a legal public holiday for purposes of federal employment. Expresses the sense of Congress that private employers should give their employees a day off on the general election day in November 2016 and each even-numbered year thereafter to enable them to cast votes in elections held on that day. Requires the Comptroller General (GAO) to study the feasibility and desirability of enacting national standards and criteria for congressional redistricting.