Kentucky: State Board of Elections - 2005 Federal Legislation

Last Updated:
October 9, 2006

Topic	Bills and Sponsors	Congressional Action
Appropriations for Election Assistance Commission for FY 2006. Funding will be in the Treasury-Transportation FY 2006 Appropriations bill. The President's budget provides EAC $18 million in operating expenses, an increase of about $4 million from this year.	J. Knollenberg, R-Mich not yet assigned a # R. Shelby, R-Ala. not yet assigned a #	The House Appopriations Committee, Transportation and Treasury Subcommittee and the Senate Treasury and General Government Subcommittee will consider EAC appropriations. No funds are likely to be made available for the states to meet HAVA mandates.
Know You Vote Count Act. Requires a voter-verifiable paper trail for all electronic voting systems used in federal elections.	Steve King, R-Iowa H.R. 278 Rush Holt, D- NJ H.R. 550 John Ensign, R-Nev. S. 330	King and Holt's bills referred to House Administration Committee. Holt's bill has 219 cosponsors. The House Administration Committee held a hearing on electronic voting machines, verification, security and paper records September 28, 2006.
Consitutional Amendment to Repeal the Electoral College Method of electing the president and vice president.	G. Green, D-Texas, H.J.R. 8	Referred to House Judiciary Committee. Several proposals are expected to be introduced and referred to the House Judiciary Committee and/or the Senate Judiciary Committee.

"Voting Opportunity and Technology Enhancement Rights Act of 2005." Comprehensive election reform legislation that includes voter-verifiable ballots, election day registration, and many other mandates.	Chris Dodd, D-Conn. S. 17 John Conyers, D- Mich. H.R. 533	The Senate Rules Committee held a hearing on voter verification in federal elections on June 21, 2005. Dodd's comprehensive bill includes provisions on voter-verifiable ballots.
Count Every Vote Act. Requires voter-verifiable paper audit trails for voting systems, mandates election day registration, early voting, national standards for many aspects of election administration	H. Clinton, D-NY S. 450	Referred to Senate Rules Committee. Clinton's bill requires voter-verifiable paper audit trails. The Senate Rules Committeee held its first hearing on voter verification in federal elections on June 21, 2005.

Voter Protection Act. Voter registration reforms allowing use of social security numbers and requiring state voter registration systems to be in a format that can be synchronized with other states. Also requires use of photo ID at polls.	M. McConnell, R-KY S. 414	Senate Rules Committee may consider this bill but no hearing on election reform issues has yet been scheduled. Bill faces strong Democratic opposition as well as opposition from members who want to give original HAVA a chance to work.
Continuity of Representation Act. Requires States to hold special elections to fill vacancies in the House of Representatives within 49 days after Speaker certifies that more than 100 vacancies exist.	Sensenbrenner, R-Wis. H.R. 841	Passed by a vote of 329-68 in the House on March 3, 2005. Similar bill passed House last year but Senate did not act.

The 527 Fairness Act.
Make it easier for state and local political parties to make certain expenditures that are permitted to other political committees. Permits state and local parties to use non-federal funds for voter registration, sample ballots.

Mike Pence, R-Ind
Albert Wynn, D-MD
H.R. 1316

Chris Shays, R-Conn.
Marty Meehan, D-Mass.
H.R.513

Trent Lott, R-Miss.
S.2349

This measure, as amended is now Title X of S.2340, passed by the Senate. The bill, which covers lobbying activities as well as amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, is headed for a conference committee. Senate has named its conferees.

Secure America's Vote Act.
Provides uniform standards for counting provisional ballots, requires disclosure of identity and any criminal record for authors of election software, requires state publication of election laws and procedures biennially

Steny Hoyer, D-MD
H.R. 3094

Introduced June 28, 2005. Refreed to the House Administration Committee. The bill reflects concerns about the election process expressed by some Democrats. No indication that this bill or any bill amending HAVA will be passed this year.

Displaced Citizens Voter Protection Act. Extends to individuals displaced by Hurricane Katrina the right to use absentee balloting and registration procedures available to military.

Artur Davis, D.-Ala.
H.R. 3764
R. Feingold, D-Wis.
S. 1867

Referred to the House Administration Committee. The House bill currently has 38 cosponsors, all Democrats. Prospects for passage depend upon picking up at least some Republican support.

Hurricane Election Relief Act.
Directs the EAC to make grants to states to restore and replace election equipment and supplies damaged or destroyed by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Authorizes $50 million for this purpose.

Trent Lott, R-MIss.
Chris Dodd, D-Conn.
S. 2166

Bill referred to Senate Rules Committee Dec. 21. Passed by the Senate Feb. 9 by unanimous consent. Many Members recognize need to provide additional aid to states affected by hurricans. House may consider alternative funding via supplementary appropriations bill.

Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments.
Thies bipartisan bill extends the preclearance provision (Sec. 5) and the minority language provisions of the Voting Rightss Act for another 25 years. Other provisions attempt to clarify the law in response to Supreme Court decisions.

J. Sensenbrenner, R-WI
J. Conyers, D-MI
H.R. 9

A.Specter, R-PA
S.2703

Passed by the House July 13 by a vote of 390-33 after four major amendments were defeated. The Senate, by a vote of 98-0 passed the bill July 20 without making any amendments to the House version. President Bush signed the bill into law.

National Voter
Registration Act
Amendments.
Would require that persons registering or reregistering to vote must provide proof of citizenship and voters must provide photo ID when voting.

Henry Hyde, R-Ill.
H.R. 4844

Referred to the House Administration Committee. The House passed an amendment as a substitute bill 229-196 on a mostly party-line. Senate Democrats are opposed to the measure and are poised to block it if the Republicans try to pass it in the Senate.

Federal Administration Act of 2006.
This legislation would replace the Federal Election Commission (FEC) with a three member body to enforce campaign finance regulations. The Election Assistance Commission (EAC) is not affected.

Chris Shays, R-Conn.
M.Meehan, D-Mass.
H.R. 5676

John McCain, R-Ariz.
S.3560

Bills introduced June 22, 2006 and referred to House Administration Committee and Senate Rules Committee. The legislation is intended among other purposes to create a rule making body that will avoid the deadlocks that have occurred in the FEC.

Information above was obtained from the "Election Administration Reports". Additional information can be found on the Library of Congress web site: http://Thomas.loc.gov .

2006 Federal Election Legislation