Pandemic Democracy for All Act

Bill: 116-s-3961
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced: 2020-06-15
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health

Civil actions and liability

Congressional elections

Elections, voting, political campaign regulation

Emergency medical services and trauma care

Infectious and parasitic diseases

Postal service

State and local government operations
Latest action: action_date: 2020-06-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-06-15
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Pandemic Democracy for All Act</b></p> <p>This bill requires states and local jurisdictions to allow absentee voting during the November 2020 general election for individuals impacted by COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). It also establishes grants to implement online registration systems and to increase absentee voting.</p> <p>Specifically, states and local jurisdictions must allow an individual to use absentee registration procedures and to vote by absentee ballot if the individual has a reasonable concern that voting in person on the date of the election may expose them to contracting COVID-19 or if&nbsp;they are otherwise impacted by COVID-19. The Department of Justice may bring a civil action against a state or local jurisdiction for violations.</p> <p>In addition, the bill authorizes the Election Assistance Commission to award grants to states and local jurisdictions to (1) implement online absentee registration systems for the November 2020 general election, and (2) facilitate an increase in absentee voting during such election (e.g., the costs associated with the purchase of materials and educational outreach). </p>

tv_txt: II 116th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3961 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 15, 2020 Mr. Merkley introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration A BILL To require States and local jurisdictions to allow absentee voting in the November 2020 general election for Federal office for individuals impacted by coronavirus disease 2019, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Pandemic Democracy for All Act . 2. Requirement to provide absentee ballots for 2020 elections to individuals impacted by COVID–19 (a) In general In the case of the regularly scheduled general election for Federal office occurring in November 2020, each State and local jurisdiction shall permit eligible voters to use absentee registration procedures and to vote by absentee ballot individuals if such eligible voter has a reasonable concern that voting in person on the day of the election may expose the voter to contracting coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID–19) or is otherwise impacted by COVID–19. (b) Enforcement The Attorney General may bring a civil action against any State or local jurisdiction in an appropriate United States District Court for such declaratory and injunctive relief (including a temporary restraining order, a permanent or temporary injunction, or other order) as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of subsection (a). 3. Grants for online registration systems (a) Purpose The purpose of this section is to encourage State and local jurisdictions with paper-based absentee ballot request systems to provide for online absentee ballot request systems. (b) Grants The Election Assistance Commission may award grants to States and local jurisdictions to enable States and local jurisdictions to implement online absentee registration systems for the regularly scheduled election for Federal office in November 2020. (c) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated for payments under this section $16,700,000 for fiscal year 2020. 4. Grants for increased absentee voting (a) In general The Election Assistance Commission may award grants to States and local jurisdictions to facilitate an increase in absentee voting during the regularly scheduled election for Federal office in November 2020. (b) Use of grants Grants provided under this section may be used for— (1) the purchase of materials (including the costs of postage, envelopes, ballot printing, drop boxes, and processing equipment) to facilitate absentee voting; (2) educational outreach to the public with respect to casting absentee ballots and the amount of time it will take to process such ballots and certify election results; and (3) such other purposes as the Commission may determine appropriate. (c) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated for payments under this section $700,000,000 for fiscal year 2020, of which not less than $200,000,000 shall be authorized for grants used for purposes described in subsection (b)(2). 5. State defined In this Act, the term State means the 50 States and the District of Columbia.