,i #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #gije ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,july #ca1 #bjbj,mr4 ,rodney ,davis of ,illinois 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,young1 ,mr4 ,garcia of ,california1 ,mr4 ,chabot1 ,ms4 ,stefanik1 ,mr4 ,meuser1 ,mr4 ,nunes1 ,mr4 ,mc,caul1 ,mr4 ,calvert1 ,mr4 ,guthrie1 and ,mr4 ,diaz-,balart7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,house ,administration1 and in addition to the ,committee on ,science1 ,space1 and ,technology1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,help ,america ,vote ,act of #bjjb to direct the ,election ,assistance ,commission to make payments to ,states to assist in administering elections during the ,,covid-#ai ,pandemic1 to direct the ,election ,assistance ,commission to adopt voluntary guidelines for use of nonvoting election technology1 to prohibit payments under such ,act to ,states which do not prohibit ballot harvesting1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title2 table of contents 7a7 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,emergency ,assistance for ,safe ,elections ,act or the ,,ease ,act4 7b7 ,table of contents ,the table of contents of this ,act is as follows3 ,sec4 #a4 ,short title2 table of contents4,title ,i--,funding for ,election ,administration,sec4 #aja4 ,payments to ,states to assist in administering elections during ,,covid-#ai ,pandemic4,part #g--;,assistance in ,administering ,elections ,during ,,covid-#ai ,pandemic,sec4 #big4 ,student loan repayments on behalf of volunteer poll workers and absentee ballot tabulators in #bjbj general elections4,sec4 #big;,a4 ,voter registration list maintenance4,sec4 #big;,b4 ,protection from ,,covid-#ai4,sec4 #big;,c4 ,general provisions4,sec4 #ajb4 ,sense of ,congress regarding exclusion of poll worker income from determination of eligibility for unemployment insurance4,title ,,ii--,voting ,technology,sec4 #bja4 ,voluntary guidelines for use of nonvoting election technology4,subtitle ,e--,voluntary ,guidelines for ,use of ,nonvoting ,election ,technology,sec4 #bih4 ,adoption of voluntary guidelines by ,commission4,sec4 #bih;,a4 ,emerging ,election ,technology ,committee4,sec4 #bih;,b4 ,nonvoting election technology defined4,sec4 #bjb4 ,status reports by ,national ,institute of ,standards and ,technology4,sec4 #bjc4 ,establishment of ,election ,cyber ,assistance ,unit in ,election ,assistance ,commission4,sec4 #bjd4 ,certification program in election administration or cybersecurity4,title ,,iii--,election ,fraud ,prevention,sec4 #cja4 ,findings4,sec4 #cjb4 ,prohibition on payments to ,states allowing collection and transmission of ballots by certain third parties4 ,i ,funding for ,election ,administration #aja4 ,payments to ,states to assist in administering elections during ,,covid-#ai ,pandemic 7a7 ,payments ,subtitle ,d of title ,,ii of the ,help ,america ,vote ,act of #bjjb 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #bajja et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following new part3 #g ,assistance in ,administering ,elections ,during ,,covid-#ai ,pandemic #big4 ,student loan repayments on behalf of volunteer poll workers and absentee ballot tabulators in #bjbj general elections 7a7 ,repayments by ,election ,assistance ,commission ,the ,commission shall make a payment to each eligible ,state for the costs incurred by the ,state in repaying 7by direct payments on behalf of a qualified student volunteer7 a portion of a student loan previously taken out by an individual who serves as a qualified student volunteer with respect to a regularly scheduled general election for ,federal office held in the ,state in ,november #bjbj4 7b7 ,eligibility ,a ,state is eligible to receive a payment under this section if the ,state submits to the ,commission1 at such time and in such form as the ,commission may require1 an application containing such information and assurances as the ,commission may require4 7c7 ,amount of repayment ,subject to the amount of the payment made to the ,state under subsection 7d71 the amount of the costs the ,state incurs on behalf of a qualified student volunteer for purposes of subsection 7a7 shall be equal to the product of-- 7#a7 a repayment rate established by the ,commission2 and 7#b7 the number of hours the volunteer serves as a volunteer poll worker or as a volunteer absentee ballot tabulator1 as certified to the ,commission by the appropriate ,state or local election official4 7d7 ,amount of payment 7#a7 ,in general ,subject to paragraph 7#b71 the amount of a payment made to a ,state under this section shall be equal to the product of-- 7,a7 the total amount appropriated for such payments pursuant to the authorization under subsection 7e72 and 7,b7 the ,state allocation percentage for the ,state4 7#b7 ,minimum amount of payment ,the amount of a payment made to a ,state under this section may not be less than-- 7,a7 in the case of any of the several ,states or the ,district of ,columbia1 one-half of #a percent of the total amount appropriated for such payments2 or 7,b7 in the case of the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico1 ,guam1 ,american ,samoa1 the ,united ,states ,virgin ,islands1 and the ,commonwealth of the ,northern ,mariana ,islands1 one-tenth of #a percent of such total amount4 7#c7 ,pro rata reductions ,the ,commission shall make such pro rata reductions to the allocations determined under paragraph 7#a7 as are necessary to comply with the requirements of paragraph 7#b74 7e7 ,qualified student volunteer defined ,in this section1 a qualified student volunteer means an individual-- 7#a7 who1 as certified to the ,commission by the appropriate ,state or local election official1 serves-- 7,a7 as a volunteer poll worker at a polling place1 including any location at which voters may cast ballots prior to the date of the election1 or 7,b7 as a volunteer absentee ballot tabulator1 as certified to the ,commission by the appropriate ,state or local election official2 and 7#b7 at the time of serving as a volunteer poll worker or volunteer absentee ballot tabulator1 is enrolled at an institution of higher education 7as defined in section #ajb of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajjb774 7f7 ,application of regulations under student loan repayment program for ,federal employees ,in carrying out the program under this section1 the ,commission may make applicable such provisions of section #ecgi of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 as the ,commission considers appropriate4 7g7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated #ajj1jjj1jjj for payments under this section4 #big;,a4 ,voter registration list maintenance 7a7 ,payments 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,commission shall make a payment to each eligible ,state for carrying out maintenance of the computerized ,statewide voter registration list under section #cjc and carrying out programs under section #h of the ,national ,voter ,registration ,act of #aiic 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #bjejg7 to ensure the accuracy of voter registration lists in the ,state4 7#b7 ,availability of payments to ,states without voter registration ,in the case of an eligible ,state in which1 under a ,state law in effect continuously on and after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 there is no voter registration requirement for individuals in the ,state with respect to elections for ,federal office1 an eligible ,state shall use the payment under this section for carrying out activities to protect polling places in the ,state1 and individuals present in such polling places1 from exposure to ,,sars-,co,v-#b or ,,covid-#ai 7as described in section #big;,b74 7b7 ,eligibility ,a ,state is eligible to receive a payment under this section if the ,state submits to the ,commission1 at such time and in such form as the ,commission may require1 an application containing such information and assurances as the ,commission may require4 7c7 ,amount of payment 7#a7 ,in general ,subject to paragraph 7#b71 the amount of a payment made to a ,state under this section shall be equal to the product of-- 7,a7 the total amount appropriated for such payments pursuant to the authorization under subsection 7d72 and 7,b7 the ,state allocation percentage for the ,state4 7#b7 ,minimum amount of payment ,the amount of a payment made to a ,state under this section may not be less than-- 7,a7 in the case of any of the several ,states or the ,district of ,columbia1 one-half of #a percent of the total amount appropriated for such payments2 or 7,b7 in the case of the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico1 ,guam1 ,american ,samoa1 the ,united ,states ,virgin ,islands1 and the ,commonwealth of the ,northern ,mariana ,islands1 one-tenth of #a percent of such total amount4 7#c7 ,pro rata reductions ,the ,commission shall make such pro rata reductions to the allocations determined under paragraph 7#a7 as are necessary to comply with the requirements of paragraph 7#b74 7d7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated #ajj1jjj1jjj for payments under this section4 #big;,b4 ,protection from ,,covid-#ai 7a7 ,payments ,the ,commission shall make the following payments to each eligible ,state3 7#a7 ,a payment for the chief ,state election official to for carrying out ,statewide activities to protect polling places in the ,state1 and individuals present in such polling places1 from exposure to ,,sars-,co,v-#b or ,,covid-#ai4 7#b7 ,a payment for the chief ,state election official to pass through to local jurisdictions in the ,state for carrying out a plan prepared by the chief ,state election official and approved by the ,commission to protect polling places in the jurisdiction1 and individuals present in such polling places1 from exposure to ,,sars-,co,v-#b or ,,covid-#ai4 7b7 ,eligibility ,a ,state is eligible to receive a payment under this section if the ,state submits to the ,commission1 at such time and in such form as the ,commission may require1 an application containing such information and assurances as the ,commission may require4 7c7 ,amount of payment 7#a7 ,in general ,subject to paragraph 7#b71 the amount of a payment made to a ,state under paragraph 7#a7 or paragraph 7#b7 of subsection 7a7 shall be equal to the product of-- 7,a7 the total amount appropriated for payments under such paragraph pursuant to the authorization under subsection 7d72 and 7,b7 the ,state allocation percentage for the ,state4 7#b7 ,minimum amount of payment ,the amount of a payment made to a ,state under paragraph 7#a7 or paragraph 7#b7 of subsection 7a7 may not be less than-- 7,a7 in the case of any of the several ,states or the ,district of ,columbia1 one-half of #a percent of the total amount appropriated for payments under such paragraph2 or 7,b7 in the case of the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico1 ,guam1 ,american ,samoa1 the ,united ,states ,virgin ,islands1 and the ,commonwealth of the ,northern ,mariana ,islands1 one-tenth of #a percent of such total amount4 7#c7 ,pro rata reductions ,the ,commission shall make such pro rata reductions to the allocations determined under paragraph 7#a7 as are necessary to comply with the requirements of paragraph 7#b74 7d7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated #bjj1jjj1jjj for payments under this section1 of which-- 7#a7 #ajj1jjj1jjj is authorized to be appropriated for payments under paragraph 7#a7 of subsection 7a72 and 7#b7 #ajj1jjj1jjj is authorized to be appropriated for payments under paragraph 7#b7 of subsection 7a74 #big;,c4 ,general provisions 7a7 ,definitions 7#a7 ,state ,in this part1 the term ,state means each ,state1 the ,district of ,columbia1 the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico1 ,american ,samoa1 ,guam1 the ,united ,states ,virgin ,islands1 and the ,commonwealth of the ,northern ,mariana ,islands4 7#b7 ,state allocation percentage ,in this part1 the term ,state allocation percentage means1 with respect to a ,state1 the amount 7expressed as a percentage7 equal to the quotient of-- 7,a7 the voting age population of the ,state 7as reported in the most recent decennial census72 and 7,b7 the total voting age population of all ,states 7as reported in the most recent decennial census74 7b7 ,continuing availability of funds after appropriation ,a payment made to a ,state under this part shall be available to the ,state without fiscal year limitation4 4 7b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of contents of such ,act is amended by adding at the end of the items relating to subtitle ,d of title ,,ii the following3 ,part #g--;,assistance in ,administering ,elections ,during ,,covid-#ai ,pandemic ,sec4 #big4 ,student loan repayments on behalf of volunteer poll workers and absentee ballot tabulators in #bjbj general elections4 ,sec4 #big;,a4 ,voter registration list maintenance4 ,sec4 #big;,b4 ,protection from ,,covid-#ai4 ,sec4 #big;,c4 ,general provisions4 4 #ajb4 ,sense of ,congress regarding exclusion of poll worker income from determination of eligibility for unemployment insurance ,because the ,nation is in an unprecedented battle against ,,covid-#ai1 it is the ,sense of ,congress that ,state legislatures should be encouraged to revisit their unemployment insurance systems to ensure that any volunteer who receives compensation for services as a poll worker does not fail to qualify for such unemployment insurance solely on the basis of service as a poll worker4 ,,ii ,voting ,technology #bja4 ,voluntary guidelines for use of nonvoting election technology 7a7 ,adoption of voluntary guidelines by ,election ,assistance ,commission ,title ,,ii of the ,help ,america ,vote ,act of #bjjb 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #bjiba et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following new subtitle3 ,e ,voluntary ,guidelines for ,use of ,nonvoting ,election ,technology #bih4 ,adoption of voluntary guidelines by ,commission 7a7 ,adoption ,the ,commission shall adopt voluntary guidelines for election officials on the use of nonvoting election technology1 taking into account the recommendations of the ,emerging ,election ,technology ,committee under section #bih;,a4 7b7 ,review ,the ,commission shall review and update the guidelines adopted under this subtitle not less frequently than once every #b years4 7c7 ,process for adoption ,the adoption of the voluntary guidelines under this subtitle shall be carried out by the ,commission in a manner that provides for each of the following3 7#a7 ,publication of notice of the proposed guidelines in the ,federal ,register4 7#b7 ,an opportunity for public comment on the proposed guidelines4 7#c7 ,an opportunity for a public hearing on the record4 7#d7 ,publication of the final recommendations in the ,federal ,register4 7d7 ,deadline for initial set of guidelines ,the ,commission shall adopt the initial set of voluntary guidelines under this section not later than ,june #a1 #bjba4 #bih;,a4 ,emerging ,election ,technology ,committee 7a7 ,establishment ,there is established in the ,commission the ,emerging ,election ,technology ,committee 7hereafter in this section referred to as the ,technology ,committee74 7b7 ,duties ,the ,technology ,committee shall assist the ,commission in the adoption of voluntary guidelines under section #bih1 including by providing the ,commission with recommendations on appropriate standards for the use of nonvoting election technology1 including standards to ensure the security and promote the usability of such technology4 7c7 ,membership 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,technology ,committee shall be composed of members appointed by the ,commission as follows3 7,a7 ,each member shall have expertise in the operation of nonvoting election technology4 7,b7 ,at least three of the members shall be ,state or local election officials4 7,c7 ,at least four of the members shall be individuals who are not employees of the ,commission4 7#b7 ,number ,the number of members of the ,technology ,committee shall be determined by the ,commission4 7#c7 ,quorum ,a majority of the members of the ,technology ,committee shall constitute a quorum1 except that the ,technology ,committee may not conduct any business prior to the appointment of all of its members4 7d7 ,chair ,the members of the ,technology ,committee shall select one of the members to serve as chair of the ,committee4 7e7 ,no compensation for service ,members of the ,technology ,committee shall not receive any compensation for their service1 but shall be paid travel expenses1 including per diem in lieu of subsistence1 at rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter ,i of chapter #eg of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 while away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of services for the ,committee4 #bih;,b4 ,nonvoting election technology defined ,in this subtitle1 the term nonvoting election technology means technology used in the administration of elections for ,federal office which is not used directly in the casting1 counting1 tabulating1 or collecting of ballots or votes1 including each of the following3 7#a7 ,electronic pollbooks4 7#b7 ,election result reporting systems4 7#c7 ,electronic ballot delivery systems4 7#d7 ,online voter registration systems4 7#e7 ,polling place location search systems4 7#f7 ,sample ballot portals4 7#g7 ,such other technology as may be recommended for treatment as nonvoting election technology as the ,emerging ,election ,technology ,committee may recommend4 4 7b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of contents of such ,act is amended by adding at the end of the items relating to title ,,ii the following3 ,subtitle ,e--,voluntary ,guidelines for ,use of ,nonvoting ,election ,technology ,sec4 #bih4 ,adoption of voluntary guidelines by ,commission4 ,sec4 #bih;,a4 ,emerging ,election ,technology ,committee4 ,sec4 #bih;,b4 ,nonvoting election technology defined4 4 #bjb4 ,status reports by ,national ,institute of ,standards and ,technology ,section #bca of the ,help ,america ,vote ,act of #bjjb 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #bjiga7 is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection3 7e7 ,status reports by ,national ,institute of ,standards and ,technology ,not later than #fj days after the end of each fiscal year 7beginning with #bjbj71 the ,director of the ,national ,institute of ,standards and ,technology shall submit to ,congress a status report describing-- 7#a7 the extent to which the ,director carried out the ,director's responsibilities under this ,act during the fiscal year1 including the responsibilities imposed under this section and the responsibilities imposed with respect to the ,technical ,guidelines ,development ,committee under section #bbb1 together with the ,director's best estimate of when the ,director will completely carry out any responsibility which was not carried out completely during the fiscal year2 and 7#b7 the extent to which the ,director carried out any projects requested by the ,commission during the fiscal year1 together with the ,director's best estimate of when the ,director will complete any such project which the ,director did not complete during the fiscal year4 4 #bjc4 ,establishment of ,election ,cyber ,assistance ,unit in ,election ,assistance ,commission 7a7 ,in general ,subtitle ,a of title ,,ii of the ,help ,america ,vote ,act of #bjjb 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #bjiba et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following new part3 #d ,election ,cyber ,assistance ,unit #bbe4 ,election ,cyber ,assistance ,unit 7a7 ,establishment ,there is established in the ,commission the ,election ,cyber ,assistance ,unit 7hereafter in this part referred to as the ,unit74 7b7 ,duties ,the ,unit will provide ,state and local election officials in various geographic regions of the ,united ,states with access to risk-management1 resiliency1 and technical support services provided by election administration and cybersecurity experts who will be based in such regions and who may provide such services in person1 by telephone1 or online4 4 7b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of contents of such ,act is amended by adding at the end of the items relating to subtitle ,a of title ,,ii the following3 ,part #d--;,election ,cyber ,assistance ,unit ,sec4 #bbe4 ,election ,cyber ,assistance ,unit4 4 #bjd4 ,certification program in election administration or cybersecurity 7a7 ,establishment of program ,subtitle ,c of title ,,ii of the ,help ,america ,vote ,act of #bjjb 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #bjiha et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following new section3 #bdh4 ,certification program in election administration or cybersecurity 7a7 ,establishment ,the ,commission shall establish and operate a program to provide a certification in election administration or election cybersecurity to election officials and their employees who meet standards and criteria established by the ,commission4 7b7 ,use of partnerships ,the ,commission may carry out the program under this section in partnership with qualified entities1 including institutions of higher education 7as defined under section #aja of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja77 and nonprofit and for-profit organizations with expertise in election administration and election cybersecurity4 7c7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section-- 7#a7 #a1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjba2 and 7#b7 such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years #bjbb through #bjbh4 4 7b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of contents of such ,act is amended by adding at the end of the items relating to subtitle ,c of title ,,ii the following3 ,sec4 #bdh4 ,certification program in election administration or cybersecurity4 4 ,,iii ,election ,fraud ,prevention #cja4 ,findings ,congress finds that-- 7#a7 the right to vote is a fundamental right of citizens of the ,united ,states2 7#b7 it is the responsibility of the ,state and ,federal ,governments to ensure that elections are conducted with integrity2 7#c7 the ,committee on ,house ,administration of the ,house of ,representatives1 which is charged with investigating election irregularities1 received reports through its official ,election ,observer ,program for the #bjah general election that individuals other than voters themselves were depositing large amounts of absentee ballots at polling places throughout ,california1 a practice colloquially known as ballot harvesting2 7#d7 the practice of ballot harvesting in ,california creates significant vulnerabilities in the chain-of-custody of ballots because individuals collecting ballots are not required to be registered voters and are not required to identify themselves at a voter's home1 and the ,state does not track how many ballots are harvested in an election2 7#e7 in ,north ,carolina1 a congressional election was invalidated due to fraud associated with ballot harvesting committed by a political operative1 and it is unlikely such activity would have been detected were it not for the prohibition against ballot harvesting in the ,state2 and 7#f7 ballot harvesting invites electioneering activity at home and creates the possibility of undue influence over voters by political operatives4 #cjb4 ,prohibition on payments to ,states allowing collection and transmission of ballots by certain third parties 7a7 ,in general ,title ,,ix of the ,help ,america ,vote ,act of #bjjb 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #baada et seq47 is amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating section #ijf as section #ijg2 and 7#b7 by inserting after section #ije the following new section3 #ijf4 ,prohibition on payments to ,states allowing collection and transmission of ballots by certain third parties 7a7 ,in general ,a ,state 7including the ,commonwealth of the ,northern ,mariana ,islands7 is not eligible to receive funds under this ,act unless the ,state has in effect a law that prohibits an individual from the knowing collection and transmission of a ballot in an election for ,federal office that was mailed to another person1 other than an individual described as follows3 7#a7 ,an election official while engaged in official duties as authorized by law4 7#b7 ,an employee of the ,united ,states ,postal ,service while engaged in official duties as authorized by law4 7#c7 ,any other individual who is allowed by law to collect and transmit ,united ,states mail1 while engaged in official duties as authorized by law4 7#d7 ,a family member1 household member1 or caregiver of the person to whom the ballot was mailed4 7b7 ,definitions ,for purposes of this section1 with respect to a person to whom the ballot was mailed3 7#a7 ,the term caregiver means an individual who provides medical or health care assistance to such person in a residence1 nursing care institution1 hospice facility1 assisted living center1 assisted living facility1 assisted living home1 residential care institution1 adult day health care facility1 or adult foster care home4 7#b7 ,the term family member means an individual who is related to such person by blood1 marriage1 adoption or legal guardianship4 7#c7 ,the term household member means an individual who resides at the same residence as such person4 4 7b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of contents of such ,act is amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating the item relating to section #ijf as relating to section #ijg2 and 7#b7 by inserting after the item relating to section #ije the following3 ,sec4 #ijf4 ,prohibition on payments to ,states allowing collection and transmission of ballots by certain third parties4 4