zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
Streamlined and Improved Methods at Polling Locations and Early (SIMPLE) Voting Act of 2015

 Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA) to require each state to allow individuals to vote in a federal election on each day during the 15-day period ending on the second day immediately preceding the election date in the same manner as voting is allowed on election day.

Requires a state to ensure that each polling place that allows early voting in a federal election is located within reasonable walking distance of a stop on a public transportation route.

Requires the Election Assistance Commission to issue standards for the administration of early voting in a federal election.

Requires each state to provide a sufficient number of voting systems, poll workers, and other election resources (including physical resources) at a polling place used in a federal election to ensure: (1) a fair and equitable waiting time for all voters in the state, and (2) that no individual will be required to wait longer than one hour to cast a ballot at the polling place.

Requires each state to develop, and implement to the greatest extent practicable, a contingency plan under which it shall provide any polling place on a federal election day whose waiting times exceed one hour with additional poll workers, machines, ballots, and other equipment and supplies, including a polling place at which individuals may cast ballots before the election date.

Requires the Commission to report to Congress biennially on the impact of this Act's early voting and waiting time provisions on the administration of elections for federal office.

Prescribes requirements for the counting of provisional ballots that will be treated as votes.

Allows civil money penalties, intervention by aggrieved parties, and private actions to address HAVA violations by a state or jurisdiction.

Date: 2015-01-20
Topic: Civil Rights (Voting Rights)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Formerly Incarcerated Voter Registration Act of 2015

This bill amends the federal criminal code to direct the Bureau of Prisons to include among reentry planning procedures the provision to federal prisoners of information about: (1) the laws and regulations governing the right of an individual convicted of a felony who has been released from prison to vote in each state, and (2) any voter registration or application forms the prisoner will need to complete in order to vote in the state in which the prisoner will reside upon release.

The term "state" includes the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the United States Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Date: 2015-02-11
Topic: Civil Rights (Voting Rights)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2015 

 Amends the Voting Rights Act of 1965 with respect to the requirement that a federal court retain jurisdiction for an appropriate period to prevent commencement of new devices to deny or abridge the right to vote. Expands the types of violations triggering the authority of a court to retain such jurisdiction to include certain violations of the Act as well as violations of any federal voting rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or membership in a language minority group.

Excludes from the list of violations triggering jurisdiction retention authority any voting qualification or prerequisite which results in a denial or abridgement of the right to vote that is based on the imposition of a requirement that an individual provide a photo identification as a condition of receiving a ballot for voting in a federal, state, or local election.

Revises requirements for determining which states and political subdivisions are covered or not covered by criteria for declaratory judgments that they have not used devices to deny or abridge the right to vote.

Subjects to the requirements for making such a determination any state (and all of its political subdivisions) during a calendar if five or more voting rights violations occurred in the state during the previous 15 years, at least one of which was committed by the state itself (as opposed to a political subdivision within it).

Specifies application of such new coverage requirements to any specific political subdivision if: (1) three or more voting rights violations occurred in it during the previous 15 calendar years; or (2) one or more voting rights violations occurred in it during the previous 15 calendar years and the subdivision had persistent, extremely low minority turnout during that period.

Provides that, if a state obtains a declaratory judgment that it has not used a device to deny or abridge the right to vote, the requirements for a new declaratory judgment generally will not apply, unless the new coverage requirements of this Act apply to the state solely on the basis of voting rights violations occurring after the declaratory judgment was issued.

Prescribes transparency requirements, including reasonable public notice, regarding any changes to: (1) voting prerequisites, standards, or procedures; (2) polling place resources; or (3) demographics and electoral districts.

Modifies authority to assign observers, including authorizing the assignment of observers to enforce bilingual election requirements.

Revises requirements for injunctive relief, including its scope and the persons authorized to seek relief as well as the grounds for granting it.

Date: 2015-02-11
Topic: Civil Rights (Voting Rights)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Redistricting and Voter Protection Act of 2015 

 Requires a state that enacts a congressional redistricting plan prior to the next decennial census and apportionment of Representatives to obtain a declaratory judgment or preclearance from the Attorney General that such plan does not have the purpose or effect of denying or abridging the right to vote on account of race or color or in contravention of the guarantees of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Date: 2015-02-12
Topic: Civil Rights (Voting Rights)
Subject: Civil rights and liberties, minority issues
State Sovereignty in Voting Act

 Amends the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to permit a state to require an applicant for voter registration who uses the federal mail voter registration application form developed by the Election Assistance Commission to provide documentary evidence of citizenship as a condition of the state's acceptance of the form.

Date: 2015-02-12
Topic: Civil Rights (Voting Rights)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Democracy Restoration Act of 2015

 Declares that the right of a U.S. citizen to vote in any election for federal office shall not be denied or abridged because that individual has been convicted of a criminal offense unless, at the time of the election, such individual is serving a felony sentence in a correctional institution or facility. Provides for enforcement of, and remedies for violations of, this Act.

Prohibits this Act from being construed to prohibit a state from enacting any state law that affords the right to vote in any election for federal office on terms less restrictive than those terms established by this Act. Declares that the rights and remedies established by this Act shall be in addition to all other rights and remedies provided by law and shall not supersede, restrict, or limit the application of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 or the National Voter Registration Act of 1993. Sets forth requirements for state and federal notification of individuals of the restoration of their voting rights. Prohibits any state, local government, or other person from receiving or using any federal funds to construct or improve a place of incarceration unless that person has in effect a program to notify each U.S. citizen incarcerated in that person's jurisdiction, upon release from such incarceration, of that individual's rights under this Act.

Date: 2015-03-19
Topic: Civil Rights (Voting Rights)
Subject: Civil rights and liberties, minority issues
Civil Rights Voting Restoration Act of 2015

 Declares that the right of a U.S. citizen to vote in any election for federal office shall not be denied or abridged because the individual has been convicted of a non-violent criminal offense, unless, at the time of the election, the individual is serving a sentence in a correctional facility or a term of probation.

Restores the right to vote of an individual on probation: (1) on the date the term of probation ends, if such term is less than one year; or (2) one year after the date the individual begins serving the term of probation, if such term is one year or longer.

Directs the Attorney General to determine and establish a list of the criminal offenses under federal and state law that are non-violent criminal offenses.

Provides for enforcement of, and remedies for violations of, this Act.

Sets forth requirements for state and federal notification of individuals of their voting rights pursuant to this Act.

Prohibits a state, local government, or other person from receiving or using federal grant amounts to construct or improve a place of incarceration unless that person has in effect a program under which each incarcerated individual is notified, upon release, of his or her rights under this Act.

Date: 2015-03-23
Topic: Civil Rights (Voting Rights)
Subject: Civil rights and liberties, minority issues
Universal Right to Vote by Mail Act of 2015 

Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to prohibit a state from imposing additional conditions or requirements on the eligibility of an individual to cast a vote in federal elections by mail, except to the extent that it imposes a deadline for requesting the ballot and returning it to the appropriate state or local election official.

Date: 2015-03-25
Topic: Civil Rights (Voting Rights)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Restoring Important Voter Eligibility Requirements to States Act of 2014 [sic]

 Amends the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to require an applicant for voter registration for federal elections to state affirmatively in the application form provided along with an application for a motor vehicle driver's license (as well as in other voter registration forms) that the applicant meets the eligibility requirements for voting in such elections as a condition of the application's acceptance.

Requires all such forms to include a statement specifying the penalty for perjury in an application for voter registration.

Prohibits states from registering an individual to vote in federal elections unless they verify that the information provided in the individual's application is correct.

Requires the head of an office of the federal government, upon request, to enter into an agreement with the chief state election official to enable the official to verify the eligibility of such an applicant.

Date: 2015-05-18
Topic: Civil Rights (Voting Rights)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Automatic Voter Registration Act

This bill amends the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to require state motor vehicle authorities (MVAs), upon receiving certain identifying information with respect to any individual requesting MVA services, to transmit it to the appropriate state election official.

The appropriate state election official shall then notify the individual that unless he or she notifies the official, before 21 calendar days elapse after issuance of the notification, that the individual declines to be registered to vote in federal elections in the state, the individual shall be considered to have submitted a completed voter registration application and be considered automatically registered unless:

 the official determines that the individual does not meet voter registration eligibility requirements, or the individual is already registered to vote. A state may not use any identifying information regarding an individual's citizenship status for any purpose other than determining whether the individual is eligible to vote in federal elections.

 

Date: 2015-06-09
Topic: Civil Rights (Voting Rights)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2015

This bill amends the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to allow a representative official of an Indian tribe, with authorization from the governing body of the tribe, to request one or more polling places to be located on tribal lands. The state or political subdivision shall provide each requested polling place at no expense to the Indian tribe if certain criteria are met.

A federal court shall retain jurisdiction to enforce constitutional voting guarantees, but also certain violations of the Act as well as of any federal prohibition against discrimination on the basis of race, color, or membership in a language minority group, for an appropriate period to prevent commencement of new devices to deny or abridge the right to vote.

Requirements are revised for determining which states and political subdivisions are or are not covered by criteria for declaratory judgments that they have not used devices to deny or abridge the right to vote.

Any state (and all of its political subdivisions) shall be subject to such requirements for a 10-year period if:

 15 or more voting rights violations occurred there during the previous 25 years; or 10 or more violations occurred during the previous 25 years, at least one of which was committed by the state itself (as opposed to a political subdivision within it). Any specific political subdivision of a state shall also be subject to those requirements for a 10-year period if 3 or more violations occurred in it during the previous 25 calendar years.

A state or political subdivision that obtains a declaratory judgment that it has not used a device to deny or abridge the right to vote shall be exempt from such requirements unless new violations occur after the declaratory judgment was issued.

Each state and each political subdivision shall: (1) identify any newly enacted or adopted law, regulation, or policy that includes a voting qualification or prerequisite to voting, or a voting-related standard, practice, or procedure (covered practice); and (2) ensure that no such covered practice is implemented unless or until the state or political subdivision complies with certain preclearance requirements.

This bill prescribes transparency requirements, including reasonable public notice, regarding any changes to: (1) voting prerequisites, standards, or procedures; (2) polling place resources; or (3) demographics and electoral districts. Department of Justice authority to assign observers receives new extensions, including authority to assign observers to enforce bilingual election requirements.

Courts shall grant preliminary injunctive relief if a complainant raises a serious question whether the challenged covered practice violates the Act or the Constitution and, on balance, the hardship imposed upon the defendant by the relief will be less than the hardship on the plaintiff if the relief were not granted.

Date: 2015-06-24
Topic: Civil Rights (Voting Rights)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Time Off to Vote Act 

 Entitles an employee to two hours of paid leave on the day of any federal election in order to vote.

Gives the employer the right to determine the two-hour-period, excluding any lunch break or other break.

Prohibits the loss of benefits for any employee taking such leave under this Act.

Makes it unlawful for any employer to interfere with, restrain, or deny the exercise of or the attempt to exercise, the right to take leave under this Act, or to discriminate against an employee in any manner for taking leave under this Act.

Makes it unlawful for any employer to discharge or in any other manner discriminate against any individual for: (1) opposing any practice made unlawful by this Act; (2) filing any charge, or instituting or causing to be instituted any proceeding, under or related to this Act; or (3) testifying or preparing to testifying in any inquiry or proceeding relating to any leave provided under this Act.

Specifies the penalties for any employer who violates this Act.

Date: 2015-06-25
Topic: Civil Rights (Voting Rights)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Same Day Registration Act of 2015

This bill amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require states with a voter registration requirement to make same-day voter registration available at the polling place on the date of election itself (or on the day of voting under early voting).

Date: 2015-07-29
Topic: Civil Rights (Voting Rights)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Voter Access Protection Act of 2015 

Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to prohibit a state or local election official from requiring an individual to: (1) present a photo identification (or a copy if voting by mail) as a condition for receiving or casting a ballot in any election for federal office, or (2) cast a provisional ballot solely on the grounds that the individual does not present a photo identification at the polling place.

Prohibits a state or local election election official from requiring an individual to provide a photo identification (or a copy if registering by mail) as a condition of registering to vote in an election for federal office.

Date: 2015-07-29
Topic: Civil Rights (Voting Rights)
Subject: Government operations and politics
America Votes Act of 2015

This bill amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to permit an individual required to present identification as a condition for voting in a federal election to meet the requirement by presenting the appropriate state or local election official with a sworn written statement, signed by the individual under penalty of perjury, attesting to the individual's identification and that he or she is registered to vote in the election. Allows an individual desiring to vote by mail to submit such a statement with the ballot.

Requires any state subject to this identification requirement to: (1) prepare a pre-printed version of the statement which includes a blank space for an individual to provide a name and signature, (2) make copies of the pre-printed version available at polling places for election officials to distribute to individuals who desire to vote in person, and (3) include a copy of the pre-printed version with each blank absentee or other ballot transmitted to an individual who desires to vote by mail.

Prohibits a state from requiring an individual who presents or submits such a sworn written statement to cast a provisional ballot in the election.

Excepts first-time voters registering by mail from application of this Act.

Requires states requiring an individual to present identification as a condition of receiving and casting a ballot in a federal election to include the use of a sworn written statement in voting information posted at polling places.

Date: 2015-07-29
Topic: Civil Rights (Voting Rights)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Pre-Registration of Voters Everywhere Act or the PROVE Act

This bill amends the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to require each state to implement a pre-registration process under which individuals age 16 may apply to register to vote in federal elections in the state, which shall ensure that the individual is registered to vote in elections held on or after the date the individual turns age 18.

The Election Assistance Commission shall make grants to enable eligible states to carry out a plan to increase the involvement of individuals under age 18 in public election activities in the state.

Date: 2015-09-16
Topic: Civil Rights (Voting Rights)
Subject: Government operations and politics
People Before Party Act of 2016

This bill amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to prohibit a state from providing a voter, in a federal election, with the opportunity to indicate the selection of a political party as a representation of the selection of an individual candidate. (Thus prohibits voting for a party instead of an individual or "straight-party voting.")

Date: 2016-03-03
Topic: Civil Rights (Voting Rights)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Verifying Optimal Tools for Elections Act of 2016 or the VOTE Act of 2016

This bill amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to direct the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to make a payment to each eligible state in which a precinct used at least one outdated voting machine to administer the regularly scheduled federal general election held in November 2012.

A state shall use the funds from such a payment to replace outdated voting machines in qualifying precincts with voting machines that: (1) have never been used in any federal general election and are not outdated voting machines, or have been used only with respect to federal general elections held after November 2012; and (2) are auditable and meet specified requirements.

A state receiving such a payment shall ensure that all the outdated voting machines in its qualifying precincts have been replaced in time for the regularly scheduled federal general election in November 2018.

The EAC shall make grants to states for the education and training, through webinars or other appropriate means, of election officials and poll workers on matters including voting machine maintenance, pre- and post-election voting machine testing, and the development of contingency plans.

The EAC shall also make grants to state or local governments to conduct pilot testing with respect to, and carry out the implementation of, voting systems that use: (1) non-proprietary open source software, and (2) commercial or custom firmware and hardware.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) shall develop, or fund the development of, a common data format allowing for voting-equipment device interoperability.

A voting system used in a federal election in a state may not at any time during the election contain or use any election-dedicated voting system technology that is not deposited by the state with the NIST National Software Reference Library before the election.

Date: 2016-04-29
Topic: Civil Rights (Voting Rights)
Subject: Government operations and politics
No One Can Take Away Your Right to Vote Act of 2016

This bill amends the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to prohibit states from disqualifying individuals convicted of criminal offenses, but not incarcerated, except those convicted of murder, manslaughter, or sex crimes, from registering to vote or voting in elections for federal office.

Date: 2016-05-26
Topic: Civil Rights (Voting Rights)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Voting Access Act

This bill amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require each state to comply with national standards established by the Election Assistance Commission for the location and operation of polling places used in elections for federal office.

The Commission shall establish such standards and study instances of the misidentification by election officials of the political party registration of individuals attempting to vote in primary elections for federal office.

Date: 2016-06-15
Topic: Civil Rights (Voting Rights)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Poll Tax Prohibition Act of 2016

This bill amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 and the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to prohibit requiring:

 an individual to present a piece of information that has an associated cost as a condition of voting in a federal election, or an individual wishing to vote by mail to include a piece of identification (or a copy of one) that has an associated cost.

Date: 2016-06-22
Topic: Civil Rights (Voting Rights)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Automatic Voter Registration Act of 2016

This bill requires the chief state election official of each state to establish and operate a system of automatic registration for the registration of eligible individuals to vote for elections for federal office in the state.

The chief state election official shall ensure that all individuals who are eligible to be, but are not currently, registered to vote in federal elections in the state is promptly registered to vote, unless the individual declines registration by providing appropriate notice.

Each contributing agency in a state, including the state motor vehicle authority, shall assist the state's chief election official in registering to vote all eligible individuals the agency serves.

For each individual already listed in a contributing agency's records, and for whom the agency retains specified personal information, the agency shall promptly transmit that information to the appropriate state election official.

 No individual shall be prosecuted under any federal law, or adversely affected in any civil adjudication concerning immigration status or naturalization, or by an allegation in any legal proceeding that an individual who is not a U.S. citizen is removable or inadmissible: for notifying an election official of the individual's automatic registration; on the grounds that the individual is not an eligible voter and has been automatically registered to vote under this bill; or because the individual has been automatically registered to vote at the incorrect address. The bill allows correction of registration information at the polling place.

Each state shall ensure that application for or any update to voter registration can be done online.

The Election Assistance Commission shall make grants to each eligible state to assist it in implementing this bill.

Date: 2016-07-14
Topic: Civil Rights (Voting Rights)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Citizenship Empowerment Act

This bill amends the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to direct the chief election official of a state to distribute mail voter registration application forms to each person who becomes a U.S. citizen at a naturalization ceremony in that state at the ceremony's conclusion.

The Department of Homeland Security shall implement procedures necessary to enable state chief election officers to carry out this requirement.

Date: 2016-07-14
Topic: Civil Rights (Voting Rights)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Vote by Mail Act of 2017

This bill amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require states to allow voting in federal elections to be by mail without additional conditions or requirements, except a deadline for returning the ballot.

States must mail ballots to individuals registered to vote in a federal election not later than two weeks before the election. The U.S. Postal Service must carry ballots mailed by a state expeditiously and free of postage.

The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 is amended to authorize automatic voter registration of individuals through state motor vehicle authorities.

Date: 2016-07-14
Topic: Civil Rights (Voting Rights)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Election Integrity Act of 2016

This bill amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to: (1) prohibit states or jurisdictions from purchasing or otherwise acquiring for use in an election for federal office a direct recording electronic voting system or other electronic voting system that does not produce a voter-verified paper record; (2) prohibit imposition of conditions on voting by mail; (3) make mandatory the availability of early voting; and (4) require sufficient polling places, equipment, and resources to facilitate voting.

The Director of the National Science Foundation shall make grants to eligible entities to study, test, and develop accessible ballot voting, verification, and casting mechanisms and devices and best practices to enhance the accessibility of paper ballot voting and verification mechanisms for individuals with disabilities, for voters whose primary language is not English, and for voters with difficulties in literacy.

Each state shall, except when the winning candidate had no opponent or received 80% or more of the votes, administer audits of federal election results, without advance notice to the precincts selected, consisting of random hand counts of the voter-verified paper ballots.

This bill amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to make it unlawful for a chief state election administration official, unless he or she or a family member is a candidate, to take an active part in political management or in a political campaign for federal office over which such official has supervisory authority.

Mandatory response by the Attorney General is required to allegations of voter intimidation or suppression by law enforcement officers and other government officials.

The Election Assistance Commission shall study and, on the basis of the findings of the study, issue standards for states to follow in establishing an appropriate number and geographic distribution of voting sites in elections for federal office.

Date: 2016-09-20
Topic: Civil Rights (Voting Rights)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Election Infrastructure and Security Promotion Act of 2016

This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to: (1) designate voting systems used in the United States as critical infrastructure; (2) include threats of compromise, disruption, or destruction of voting systems in national planning scenarios; and (3) conduct a campaign to proactively educate local election officials about the designation of voting systems as critical infrastructure and election officials at all levels of government of voting system threats.

In furtherance of local election official preparedness and response, DHS shall conduct research and development to mitigate the consequences of voting systems threats.

DHS shall prepare and submit to Congress a comprehensive plan to protect and prepare the critical infrastructure of the voting systems used in the United States against threats, including from acts of terrorism.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) shall develop standards for ensuring the operational security of the voting systems used in elections for federal office.

This bill amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require a state, in operating the voting system, to comply with applicable standards for ensuring the operational security of voting systems.

The testing and certification of voting systems hardware and software shall test whether voting systems are in compliance with applicable standards developed by NIST for ensuring the operational security of voting systems.

NIST shall develop standards for ensuring that the process by which ballots are counted in elections for federal office is transparent and permits voters to verify that votes in such elections are counted correctly.

States shall comply with applicable standards, in operating the voting system, for ensuring that the process by which ballots are counted in elections for federal office is transparent and permits voters to verify that votes in such elections are counted correctly.

The National Science Foundation shall establish an election technology innovation research and development program.

Date: 2016-09-20
Topic: Civil Rights (Voting Rights)
Subject: Government operations and politics
All Ballots Count Act of 2016

This bill amends the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 and the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to prohibit an election official from enforcing any requirement that an individual produce a photo identification as a condition of registering to vote, or of voting, in an election for federal office, except to the extent that the requirement was in effect as of June 25, 2013.

Date: 2016-09-27
Topic: Civil Rights (Voting Rights)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Postage Free Ballot Act

Any absentee ballot for any election shall be carried through the mail expeditiously and free of charge.

This bill amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to direct a state to use a requirements payment to reimburse the U.S. Postal Service for revenue it would have obtained from the mailing of absentee ballots but for the requirement that such ballots be mailed for free.

Date: 2016-12-08
Topic: Civil Rights (Voting Rights)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Voter Integrity Protection Act 

 Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to make voting in a federal election (unless otherwise provided for under the federal criminal code) by an alien who is unlawfully in the United States an aggravated felony and a deportable offense.

Date: 2015-01-07
Topic: Civil Rights (Voting Rights)
Subject: Immigration
Lines Interfere with National Elections Act of 2015 or the LINE Act of 2015

 Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require each jurisdiction where a substantial number of voters waited more than 30 minutes to cast a vote in the federal election held on November 6, 2012, or any federal election held after that date, to comply with a state remedial plan to minimize voter waiting times.

Date: 2015-01-21
Topic: Civil Rights (Voting Rights)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Civil Rights Voting Restoration Act of 2015

 Declares that the right of a U.S. citizen to vote in any election for federal office shall not be denied or abridged because the individual has been convicted of a non-violent criminal offense, unless, at the time of the election, the individual is serving a sentence in a correctional facility or a term of probation.

Restores the right to vote of an individual on probation: (1) on the date the term of probation ends, if such term is less than one year; or (2) one year after the date the individual begins serving the term of probation, if such term is one year or longer.

Directs the Attorney General to determine and establish a list of the criminal offenses under federal and state law that are non-violent criminal offenses.

Provides for enforcement of, and remedies for violations of, this Act.

Sets forth requirements for state and federal notification of individuals of their voting rights pursuant to this Act.

Prohibits a state, local government, or other person from receiving or using federal grant amounts to construct or improve a place of incarceration unless that person has in effect a program under which each incarcerated individual is notified, upon release, of his or her rights under this Act.

Date: 2015-02-11
Topic: Civil Rights (Voting Rights)
Subject: Civil rights and liberties, minority issues
Democracy Restoration Act of 2015

 Declares that the right of a U.S. citizen to vote in any election for federal office shall not be denied or abridged because that individual has been convicted of a criminal offense unless, at the time of the election, such individual is serving a felony sentence in a correctional institution or facility. Provides for enforcement of, and remedies for violations of, this Act.

Prohibits this Act from being construed to prohibit a state from enacting any state law that affords the right to vote in any election for federal office on terms less restrictive than those terms established by this Act. Declares that the rights and remedies established by this Act shall be in addition to all other rights and remedies provided by law and shall not supersede, restrict, or limit the application of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 or the National Voter Registration Act. Sets forth requirements for state and federal notification of individuals of the restoration of their voting rights. Prohibits any state, local government, or other person from receiving or using any federal funds to construct or improve a place of incarceration unless that person has in effect a program to notify each U.S. citizen incarcerated in that person's jurisdiction, upon release from such incarceration, of that individual's rights under this Act.

Date: 2015-03-18
Topic: Civil Rights (Voting Rights)
Subject: Civil rights and liberties, minority issues
Voter Registration Modernization Act 

 Amends the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to require each state to make available official public websites for online voter registration.

Directs the appropriate state or local election official to ensure that information on the computerized statewide voter registration list may be updated through the official public website.

Directs the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology to study best practices for implementing the requirements for Internet registration and the online updating of voter registration information.

Authorizes the provision of election information by electronic mail to individuals registered to vote who have requested to receive it.

Directs the Election Assistance Commission to make an implementation payment each year to enable each state to meet the requirements of this Act and to carry out activities to improve the administration of federal elections.

Date: 2015-04-27
Topic: Civil Rights (Voting Rights)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Same Day Registration Act

 Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require states with a voter registration requirement to make same-day voter registration available at the polling place on the date of election itself (or on the day of voting under early voting).

Date: 2015-04-30
Topic: Civil Rights (Voting Rights)
Subject: Government operations and politics
This bill amends the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to direct the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to: (1) develop an online voter registration application platform; and (2) forward automatically completed online voter registration application forms and cancellation requests to the appropriate chief state election officials and, acting through such officials, to appropriate state and local election officials in the state.

The EAC shall automatically connect registration applicants to the state platform in lieu of the federal platform in any state that has developed one meeting the requirements of this Act.

A state may require a first-time voter registered online to vote in person.

The Postmaster General shall ensure that the U.S. Postal Service Online Change of Address process incorporates the online voter registration platform and allows individuals to register to vote during the process.

The Act is amended with respect to administration of voter registration to change the voter registration application deadline from the lesser of 30 days or the period provided by state law before the date of election to the lesser of 28 days or the period provided by state law.

Date: 2015-08-05
Topic: Civil Rights (Voting Rights)
Subject: Government operations and politics
This bill amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require each state to: (1) allow individuals to vote in a federal election before the date of the election through early voting or voting by mail, and (2) publicize the details of such voting.

Date: 2015-08-05
Topic: Civil Rights (Voting Rights)
Subject: Government operations and politics
This bill amends the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to revise requirements for notifying a voting registrar of a change of address before the date of an election.

If a registrant has failed to notify the registrar of a change of address within a state before an election day, the registrant shall nevertheless, upon an oral or written affirmation before an election official, be permitted to vote at either the polling place of the registrant's current address or a central location within the same registrar's jurisdiction.

Date: 2015-08-05
Topic: Civil Rights (Voting Rights)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Raising Enrollment with a Government Initiated System for Timely Electoral Registration (REGISTER) Act of 2015

This bill requires each state to designate agencies (including motor vehicle authorities) to transfer electronically to state or local election officials source information on individuals for automatic voter registration for federal elections, unless an individual disclosing information to the agency opts out of automatic registration.

Such information must be transferred in a format that can be reviewed by state or local election officials and uploaded into a computerized statewide voter registration database.

Registration of eligible voters not previously registered, and who have not opted out, is mandatory.

A state must publish and enforce privacy and information security standards meeting specified requirements.

Date: 2015-08-05
Topic: Civil Rights (Voting Rights)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Louis L. Redding Fair, Accurate, Secure, and Timely Voting Act of 2016 or the FAST Voting Act of 2016 

 This bill directs the Department of Justice (DOJ) to award grants, on a competitive basis, to enable states to: (1) invest in practices and technology designed to expedite voting at the polls, and (2) simplify voter registration.

 The grant application shall include a comprehensive and coherent plan for using funds to improve the applicant's performance on specified measures with respect to: (1) flexible registration opportunities, (2) early and absentee voting, (3) assistance to non-English speaking and disabled voters, and (4) other related matters. Each grantee shall establish performance measures and targets, approved by DOJ , that track its progress in implementing its plan and expediting voting at the polls or simplifying voter registration, as applicable.

Date: 2016-12-08
Topic: Civil Rights (Voting Rights)
Subject: Government operations and politics
R.S. 2477 Rights-Of-Way Recognition Act - Expresses congressional intent with respect to the nature of authorized rights-of-way granted and accepted for the construction of highways (routes over which the public has a right of passage, including routes used for travel, such as roads for motorized vehicles, carriage ways, navigable rivers, trails, and footpaths) over public lands not reserved for public uses under former section 2477 of the Revised Statutes. Describes the protocols that shall apply with respect to maintenance, repairs, and improvements of R.S. 2477 highways. Acknowledges and recognizes public rights-of-way over federal land (or any federal-land portion of a public right-of-way over both federal and non-federal land) for highways shown in certain official governmental maps and aerial photographs as having validly vested under R.S. 2477 and disclaims all right, title, and interest with respect thereto.

Date: 2007-01-05
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Amends federal highway law to direct the Secretary of Transportation (Secretary) to establish: (1) a national highway tunnel inspection program, including standards for the proper safety inspection and evaluation of all highway tunnels; (2) a training and certification program for highway tunnel inspectors; and (3) a national inventory of highway tunnels. Provides for funding. Includes tunnel construction, rehabilitation, and operational improvements (including safety inspection of such tunnels) as eligible projects under the federal surface transportation program.

Date: 2007-01-11
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Authorizes states to place supplemental guide signs relating to veterans cemeteries on federal-aid highways.

Date: 2007-01-24
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Transportation and public works
States that for the purpose of constructing, operating, and maintaining a connector road known as the Lemay Connector Road (St. Louis County Arterial Road 1151) in the city and county of St. Louis, Missouri, no provision of federal law that requires a deed restriction shall apply to parcels of real property depicted on a specified map filed with the St. Louis County department of highways and traffic and available for public inspection.

Date: 2007-02-08
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Damaged Vehicle Information Act - Amends federal transportation law to direct the Secretary of Transportation to issue a regulation to require persons who terminate a motor vehicle contract due to flood or water damage, collision, fire damage, theft and recovery, or any circumstance that adversely affects the fair market value of the vehicle to disclose information of such vehicle damage to the public.

Date: 2007-02-13
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Commerce
California State Route 91 Congestion Relief Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to carry out certain transportation projects to relieve congestion on State Route 91, California. Sets the federal share of project costs at 80%.

Date: 2007-02-14
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Professional Driver Background Check Efficiency Act of 2007 - Amends federal transportation law to revise background records check requirements with respect to the issuance of a motor vehicle license for the transportation of hazardous materials to: (1) impose a fee of not more than $50 upon the applicant to cover the costs of the background check; and (2) authorize the costs for such background checks be reimbursed to the state.

Date: 2007-02-15
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act of 2007 or the K.T. Safety Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Transportation to initiate a rulemaking for motor vehicles to require: (1) automatic reversal of direction by power windows and panels when they detect an obstruction; (2) an expanded rearward field of view to prevent backing incidents; and (3) automatic transmissions to have an anti-rollaway system that requires the service brake to be depressed before the transmission can be shifted out of park, which shall function in any starting system key position in which the transmission can be shifted out of park. Requires the Secretary, if it is determined that no additional safety standards are reasonable and appropriate, to: (1) report to Congress the reason such standards were not prescribed; and (2) make available to the public information on which vehicles are or are not equipped with automatic reversal of direction by power windows and panels when they detect an obstruction. Provides a phase-in period for the power window and rearward visibility provisions. Requires: (1) motor vehicle manufacturers for each year through 2010 to transmit to the Secretary the make and model of motor vehicles with automatic transmissions that do not have an anti-rollaway system; and (2) the Secretary to make such information available to the public. Requires the Secretary to: (1) establish and maintain a database of injuries and deaths in nontraffic, noncrash motor vehicle events; (2) supplement an existing consumer information program on child safety or create a new program with information about hazards to children in nontraffic, noncrash incident situations; and (3) make such information available to the public.

Date: 2007-02-27
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Transportation and public works
NAFTA Trucking Safety Act of 2007 - Prohibits a Mexico-domiciled motor carrier from being granted authority to operate beyond U.S. municipalities and commercial zones on the U.S.-Mexico border until one or more of the following officials as specified (the Secretaries of Transportation and of Homeland Security and the Department of Transportation Inspector General) certify to Congress that they have met conditions pertaining to: (1) the identification of federal motor carrier safety regulations and acceptance of compliance with Mexican safety regulations; (2) safety enforcement tools; (3) effective and regular monitoring and enforcement of immigration and customs regulations regarding international traffic under the North American Free Trade Agreement; (4) penalties for violation of immigration and customs laws or regulations concerning transportation by Mexico-domiciled carriers; (5) driver records databases used in Mexico; (6) compliance with conditions listed in the Department of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2002 concerning cross-border trucking safety; and (7) English language proficiency requirements applicable to drivers.

Date: 2007-03-29
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Transportation and public works