Voter Outreach and Turnout Expansion Act of 2003

Bill: 108-hr-1510
Sponsor: Rep. Hastings, Alcee L. [D-FL-23]
Introduced: 2003-03-31 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Absentee voting
Architecture and the disabled
Armed Forces and National Security
Authorization
Ballots
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Commemorations
Congress
Congressional elections
Disabled
Disciplining of employees
Discrimination in employment
Dismissal of employees
Economics and Public Finance
Election Day
Election administration
Federal employees
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Governmental investigations
Holidays
Labor and Employment
Leave of absence
Presidential elections
State employees
Veterans Day
Voter registration
Voting
Voting rights
Whistle blowing

Summary:
action_date: 2003-03-31
text: Voter Outreach and Turnout Expansion Act of 2003 - Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to: (1) permit an individual to register to vote on the date of the election at each polling place in a State at which ballots are cast in an election for Federal office; and (2) require each jurisdiction in a State which administers an election for Federal office to designate early voting sites to serve as polling places for the election prior to the election date, and to permit any registered voter to cast a ballot at the site.
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) many Americans do not vote on Election Day because of conflicting work schedules; (2) Federal, State, and local governments should share the responsibility for increasing voter turnout; (3) States should establish Election Day as a legal public holiday and provide full paid leave for State government employees; and (4) the treatment of Election Day in the same manner as Veterans Day for purposes of law relating to Federal employment will lead to increased voter turnout and will increase the availability of poll workers and suitable polling places.
Sets out requirements for employee voting leave.
Expresses the sense of Congress encouraging State and other jurisdictions to distribute sample ballots, information on voting, and other voter education materials as an aid to preventing errors by voters at the polls and reducing the rates of spoiled ballots.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-04-16
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Civil Service and Agency Organization.
action_date: 2003-04-14
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.
action_date: 2003-03-31
text: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on Government Reform, and Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2003-03-31
text: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on Government Reform, and Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2003-03-31
text: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on Government Reform, and Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2003-03-31
text: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on Government Reform, and Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2003-03-31
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E621-622)
action_date: 2003-03-31
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-03-31
text: Introduced in House