Alice Paul Voter Protection Act
Bill: H.R.1245 | Sponsor: Rep. Kim, Andy (D-NJ)
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics

Summary:
Alice Paul Voter Protection Act
This bill establishes a new criminal offense for conduct (or attempted conduct) to corruptly hinder, interfere with, or prevent another person from registering to vote or helping someone register to vote. A violator is subject to criminal penalties—a fine, a prison term of not more than five years, or both.
The Election Assistance Commission must develop best practices for states to deter and prevent unlawful interference with voter registration.

To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit interfering with 
              voter registration, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Alice Paul Voter Protection Act''.

SEC. 2. PROHIBITING HINDERING, INTERFERING WITH, OR PREVENTING VOTER 
              REGISTRATION.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 29 of title 18, United States Code is 
amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 612. Hindering, interfering with, or preventing registering to 
              vote
    ``(a) Prohibition.--It shall be unlawful for any person, whether 
acting under color of law or otherwise, to corruptly hinder, interfere 
with, or prevent another person from registering to vote or to 
corruptly hinder, interfere with, or prevent another person from aiding 
another person in registering to vote.
    ``(b) Attempt.--Any person who attempts to commit any offense 
described in subsection (a) shall be subject to the same penalties as 
those prescribed for the offense that the person attempted to commit.
    ``(c) Penalty.--Any person who violates subsection (a) shall be 
fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 29 of 
title 18, United States Code is amended by adding at the end the 
following new item:

``612. Hindering, interfering with, or preventing registering to 
                            vote.''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply with respect to elections held on or after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, except that no person may be found to have 
violated section 612 of title 18, United States Code (as added by 
subsection (a)), on the basis of any act occurring prior to the date of 
the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF BEST PRACTICES.

    (a) Best Practices.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Election Assistance Commission shall develop 
and publish recommendations for best practices for States to use to 
deter and prevent violations of section 612 of title 18, United States 
Code (as added by section 2), and section 12 of the National Voter 
Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20511) (relating to the unlawful 
interference with registering to vote, or voting, or attempting to 
register to vote or vote), including practices to provide for the 
posting of relevant information at polling places and voter 
registration agencies under such Act, the training of poll workers and 
election officials, and relevant educational materials. For purposes of 
this subsection, the term ``State'' includes the District of Columbia, 
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the United 
States Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
Islands.
    (b) Inclusion in Voter Information Requirements.--Section 302(b)(2) 
of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21082(b)(2)) is 
amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (E);
            (2) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (F) 
        and inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
                    ``(G) information relating to the prohibitions of 
                section 612 of title 18, United States Code, and 
                section 12 of the National Voter Registration Act of 
                1993 (52 U.S.C. 20511) (relating to the unlawful 
                interference with registering to vote, or voting, or 
                attempting to register to vote or vote), including 
                information on how individuals may report allegations 
                of violations of such prohibitions.''.
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