,,ii #aag? ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #degd ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,! ,,unit$ ,,/ates ,july #bj1 #bjbb,ms4 ,coll9s 7= h]self1 ,mr4 ,man*91 ,mr4 ,portman1 ,ms4 ,s9ema1 ,mr4 ,romney1 ,mrs4 ,%ahe51 ,ms4 ,murk[ski1 ,mr4 ,w>n]1 ,mr4 ,tillis1 ,mr4 ,murphy1 ,mr4 ,c>d91 & ,mr4 ,coons7 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,homel& ,security & ,gov]nm5tal ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to am5d title #ah1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 to increase p5alties = crimes aga9/ f$]ally protect$ activities relat+ to vot+ & ! conduct ( elections1 & = o!r purposes4 #a4 ,%ort title2 table ( cont5ts 7a7 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! ,enhanc$ ,election ,security & ,protection ,act4 7b7 ,table ( cont5ts ,! table ( cont5ts ( ?is ,act is z foll[s3 ,sec4 #a4 ,%ort title2 table ( cont5ts4,,title ,i--,enhanc$ ,p5alties to ,protect our ,elections ,act,sec4 #aja4 ,%ort title4,sec4 #ajb4 ,enhanc$ p5alties = crimes aga9/ f$]ally protect$ activities relat+ to vot+ & ! conduct ( elections4,,title ,,ii--,po/al ,s]vice ,election ,improvem5t ,act,sec4 #bja4 ,%ort title4,sec4 #bjb4 ,def9itions4,sec4 #bjc4 ,be/ practices guidance = ,f$]al election mail4,sec4 #bjd4 ,election mail s]vices f ! ,po/al ,s]vice4,sec4 #bje4 ,creation ( /&>diz$ ,f$]al ballot mail p>amet]s & features4,sec4 #bjf4 ,ballot se>* & c]tification4,sec4 #bjg4 ,f$]al election mail process+4,sec4 #bjh4 ,po/m>k requir$ on all ,f$]al ballots4,sec4 #bji4 ,no cause ( action4,,title ,,iii--,reau?orization ( ,election ,assi/ance ,commission,sec4 #cja4 ,reau?orization ( ,election ,assi/ance ,commission4,sec4 #cjb4 ,requir+ p5etration te/+ z "p ( ! te/+ & c]tification ( vot+ sy/ems4,,title ,,iv--,protections = election records1 pap]s1 & vot+ systems,sec4 #dja4 ,%ort title4,sec4 #djb4 ,protection = election records1 pap]s1 & vot+ sy/ems4 ,i ,enhanc$ ,p5alties to ,protect our ,elections ,act #aja4 ,%ort title ,?is title may be cit$ z ! ,enhanc$ ,p5alties to ,protect ,our ,elections ,act4 #ajb4 ,enhanc$ p5alties = crimes aga9/ ,f$]ally protect$ activities relat+ to vot+ & ! conduct ( elections ,section #bde7;b7 ( title #ah1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$ 9 ! matt] foll[+ p>agraph 7#e7 by ins]t+ 87or1 9 ! case ( a violation ( p>agraph 7#a77;,a71 two ye>s70 aft] 8"o ye>04 ,,ii ,po/al ,s]vice ,election ,improvem5t ,act #bja4 ,%ort title ,?is title may be cit$ z ! ,po/al ,s]vice ,election ,improvem5t ,act4 #bjb4 ,def9itions ,9 ?is title3 7#a7 ,cov]$ election ,! t]m cov]$ election means an election = ,f$]al (fice4 7#b7 ,election ,mail ,advisor ,! t]m ,election ,mail ,advisor means an individual designat$ "u section #bjd7;b74 7#c7 ,election (ficial ,! t]m election (ficial means an individual responsible = ov]see+ vot+ 9 a cov]$ election 9 a ,/ate1 locality1 or ,tribal t]ritory4 7#d7 ,f$]al election mail ,! t]m ,f$]al election mail-- 7,a7 means any item mail$ to or f an au?oriz$ election (ficial t enables citiz5s to p>ticipate 9 ! vot+ process ) respect to a cov]$ election2 & 7,b7 includes a ballot1 vot] regi/ration c>d1 abs5tee vot+ application1 & poll+ place notification4 7#e7 ,f$]al (fice ,! t]m ,f$]al (fice has ! mean+ giv5 t t]m 9 section #cja ( ! ,f$]al ,election ,campaign ,act ( #aiga 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #cjaja74 7#f7 ,po/al ,s]vice ,! t]m ,po/al ,s]vice means ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,po/al ,s]vice4 7#g7 ,/ate ,! t]m ,/ate has ! mean+ giv5 t t]m 9 section #ija ( ! ,help ,am]ica ,vote ,act ( #bjjb 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #baada74 #bjc4 ,be/ practices guidance = ,f$]al election mail 7a7 ,9 g5]al ,n lat] ?an ,septemb] #cj ( ea* odd-numb]$ ye>1 ! ,po/al ,s]vice %all issue be/ practices = ,/ate1 local1 & ,tribal gov]nm5ts1 9 light ( ! capabilities ( ! ,po/al ,s]vice1 reg>d+-- 7#a7 optimal tim+ = vot]s to reque/ & return abs5tee or mail-9 ballots ?r\gh ! mail = cov]$ elections1 bas$ on ! e/abli%$ s]vice /&>ds ( ! ,po/al ,s]vice2 7#b7 ! design1 physical /&>ds1 & =mat ( ! envelopes conta9+ physical vot+ mat]ials = cov]$ elections t may be process$ ?r\gh ! mail1 su* z ballot envelopes2 7#c7 ! use ( id5tify+ in=mation to designate ,f$]al election mail = m effici5t process+2 & 7#d7 o!r topics ! ,po/al ,s]vice may id5tify to improve ! effici5cy ( ,f$]al election mail4 7b7 ,po/al ,s]vice au?ority ,no?+ 9 subsection 7a7 %all prev5t ! ,po/al ,s]vice f updat+ ! be/ practices issu$ "u t subsection z appropriate foll[+ ! date ( issuance4 7c7 ,recipi5ts ,! ,po/al ,s]vice %all make publicly available ! be/ practices issu$ "u subsection 7a71 & %all provide specific notice ( ! be/ practices to-- 7#a7 ,/ate1 local1 & ,tribal election (ficials2 7#b7 ! *ief executive (fic] ( ea* ,/ate2 & 7#c7 majority & m9ority lead]%ip ( ea* ,/ate legislature4 #bjd4 ,election mail s]vices f ! ,po/al ,s]vice 7a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,po/al ,s]vice %all coord9ate ,f$]al election mail s]vices to include ! foll[+3 7#a7 ,designation ( employees to coord9ate ) relevant process+ plants1 po/ (fices1 retail units1 deliv]y units1 manag]s1 sup]visors1 & o!r po/al employees to-- 7,a7 ensure all ,f$]al election mail is h&l$ 9 an appropriate mann]2 7,b7 develop metrics & int]nal report+ requirem5ts1 z necess>y1 to ensure ,f$]al election mail process+ & h&l+ comply ) applicable regulations & guidel9es ( ! ,po/al ,s]vice2 & 7,c7 ensure any extraord9>y measures to process ,f$]al election mail are appropriately c>ri$ out accord+ to ! regulations & guidel9es ( ! ,po/al ,s]vice4 7#b7 ,assi/ance ( election (ficials by ,election ,mail ,advisors f ! appropriate geographic (fices ( ! ,po/al ,s]vice ) facilitat+ ,f$]al election mail4 7#c7 ,advice = election (ficials by mailpiece design analy/s1 9 coord9ation ) ! relevant ,election ,mail ,advisor1 on-- 7,a7 h[ to improve ! track+ & visibility ( mail-9 ballots = cov]$ elections2 & 7,b7 v]ification t ballot mail envelope designs are consi/5t ) ! /&>diz$ p>amet]s & features creat$ "u section #bje4 7b7 ,election ,mail ,advisors 7#a7 ,numb] ( ,election ,mail ,advisors 7,a7 ,m9imum numb] ( ,election ,mail ,advisors p] ,/ate ,! ,po/al ,s]vice %all designate n less ?an #a d$icat$ ,election ,mail ,advisor = ea* ,/ate4 7,b7 ,det]m9ation ( numb] ( ,election ,mail ,advisors p] ,/ate ,9 det]m9+ ! numb] ( ,election ,mail ,advisors to designate = a ,/ate1 ! ,po/al ,s]vice %all take into acc\nt ! population & ! organization ( ! election adm9i/ration ( ! ,/ate to ensure t a suffici5t numb] ( ,election ,mail ,advisors are designat$4 7#b7 ,duties ( ,election ,mail ,advisor ,an ,election ,mail ,advisor %all provide in=mation1 guidance1 & coord9ation to assi/ election (ficials 9 manag+ ! use ( ,f$]al election mail 9 ! applicable jurisdiction1 includ+-- 7,a7 provid+ ! election (ficials ) detail$ in=mation on-- 7i7 s]vice /&>ds & o!r relevant s]vice-relat$ in=mation = ! region relat+ to ! process+ ( ,f$]al election mail t w\ld assi/ election (ficials 9 manag+ cov]$ elections2 7ii7 be/ practices issu$ "u section #bjc2 & 7iii7 ,po/al ,s]vice regulations1 guidel9es1 & processes = h&l+ ,f$]al election mail2 & 7,b7 p]=m+ any o!r duties assign$ by ! ,po/al ,s]vice to improve ! ability ( election (ficials to manage cov]$ elections 9 _! respective jurisdictions4 #bje4 ,creation ( /&>diz$ ,f$]al ballot mail p>amet]s & features 7a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,po/al ,s]vice %all create /&>diz$ ballot envelope design p>amet]s & features = blank outb\nd ballots & = return+ inb\nd ballots t a ,/ate may *oose to use 9 cov]$ elections4 7b7 ,track+ = /&>diz$ ballot envelope ,! /&>diz$ ballot envelope design p>amet]s "u subsection 7a7 %all include ! ability to incorporate track+ te*nology4 #bjf4 ,ballot se>* & c]tification 7a7 ,ballot id5tification ,dur+ ! p]iod beg9n+ n lat] ?an #ad days be=e ! date ( a cov]$ election & end+ n e>li] ?an #g days aft] ! la/ date on :i* ! ,/ate accepts ballots ca/ 9 t cov]$ election1 ! ,po/al ,s]vice %all conduct daily inspections = ballots 9 ea* ,po/al ,s]vice facility t processes ,f$]al election mail 9 any ,po/al ,s]vice di/rict 9 :i* ! cov]$ election is be+ held to ensure t ea* ballot s*$ul$ to dep>t ! facility t day has dep>t$ ! facility4 7b7 ,c]tification ,ea* day dur+ a p]iod describ$ 9 subsection 7a71 ! manag] or sup]visor 9 *>ge ( a ,po/al ,s]vice facility describ$ 9 t subsection %all c]tify 9 a record ma9ta9$ by ! ,po/al ,s]vice t ea* ballot s*$ul$ to dep>t ! facility t day has dep>t$ ! facility4 #bjg4 ,f$]al election mail process+ 7a7 ,process+ prec$+ elections = ,f$]al (fice ,dur+ ! #ij-;day p]iod prec$+ a g5]al election = ,f$]al (fice1 ! ,po/al ,s]vice may n-- 7#a7 implem5t any s]vice /&>d *anges t w\ld sl[ ! deliv]y ( ,f$]al election mail2 7#b7 take any /eps t w\ld mean+fully int]f]e ) ! ability ( ! ,po/al ,s]vice to a*ieve its s]vice /&>ds2 or 7#c7 engage 9 activity t w\ld mean+fully int]f]e ) ! ability ( ! ,po/al ,s]vice to prioritize monitor+ & timely deliv]y ( ,f$]al election mail4 7b7 ,sunday process+ ,! ,po/al ,s]vice %all collect & process ! mail 9 a ,po/al ,s]vice di/rict on ! ,sunday be=e a g5]al election is held 9 t di/rict4 7c7 ,ext5d$ h\rs ,! ,po/al ,s]vice %all coord9ate ) election (ficials & may op]ate on ext5d$ h\rs1 z necess>y1 to process ,f$]al election mail 9 advance ( a cov]$ election4 #bjh4 ,po/m>k requir$ on all ,f$]al ballots ,! ,po/al ,s]vice %all implem5t proc$ures design$ to apply a physical po/m>k or o!r physical indicia be>+ a legible date to ea* id5tifiable envelope conta9+ a ballot :5 return$ by mail = a cov]$ election to ! maximum ext5t practicable4 #bji4 ,no cause ( action ,no provision ( ?is title %all-- 7#a7 be b9d+ on any ,/ate1 local1 or ,tribal gov]nm5t2 or 7#b7 be con/ru$ to create any "r or b5efit1 sub/antive or proc$ural1 en=ceable at law or 9 equity by any p>ty aga9/ ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 ! ,po/al ,s]vice1 or a ,/ate1 local1 or ,tribal gov]nm5t1 a dep>tm5t1 ag5cy1 entity1 (fic]1 employee1 or ag5t !re(1 or any o!r p]son4 ,,iii ,reau?orization ( ,election ,assi/ance ,commission #cja4 ,reau?orization ( ,election ,assi/ance ,commission ,section #baj ( ! ,help ,am]ica ,vote ,act ( #bjjb 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #bjicj7 is am5d$-- 7#a7 by ins]t+ 1 & = ea* ( ! fiscal ye>s #bjbc ?r\gh #bjbg1 aft] #bjje2 & 7#b7 by /rik+ 7b n to exce$ #aj1jjj1jjj = ea* su* ye>74 #cjb4 ,requir+ p5etration te/+ z "p ( ! te/+ & c]tification ( vot+ sy/ems ,section #bca7;a7 ( ! ,help ,am]ica ,vote ,act ( #bjjb 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #bjiga7;a77 is am5d$ by add+ at ! end ! foll[+ new p>agraph3 7#c7 ,requir$ p5etration te/+ ,! ,commission %all provide = ! conduct ( p5etration te/+ z "p ( ! te/+1 c]tification1 dec]tification1 & rec]tification ( vot+ sy/em h>dw>e & s(tw>e by accr$it$ laboratories "u ?is section4 4 ,,iv ,protections = election records1 pap]s1 & vot+ sy/ems #dja4 ,%ort title ,?is title may be cit$ z ! ,election ,records ,protection ,act4 #djb4 ,protection = election records1 pap]s1 & vot+ sy/ems 7a7 ,9 g5]al 7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,title ,,iii ( ! ,civil ,rights ,act ( #aifj 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #bjgja et seq47 is am5d$ by add+ at ! end ! foll[+ new section3 #cjg4 ,records ,z us$ 9 ?is title1 ! t]m record includes any electronic record4 4 7#b7 ,guidance ,n lat] ?an #ahj days aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,attorney ,g5]al1 9 consultation ) ! ,director ( ! ,cyb]security & ,infra/ructure ,security ,ag5cy ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,homel& ,security1 %all issue in=mal guidance reg>d+ compliance ) section #cja ( ! ,civil ,rights ,act ( #aifj 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #bjgja71 includ+ recomm5dations = reta9+ & pres]v+ records 7includ+ electronic records7 & pap]s4 7b7 ,increas$ p5alty = willful failure ,to reta9 & pres]ve election records ,section #cjb ( ! ,civil ,rights ,act ( #aifj 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #bjgjb7 is am5d$-- 7#a7 by /rik+ #a1jjj & ins]t+ #aj1jjj2 & 7#b7 by /rik+ "o ye> & ins]t+ two ye>s4 7c7 ,p5alty = !ft1 de/ruction1 concealm5t1 mutilation1 or alt]ation ( vot+ sy/ems ,section #ab7b7 ( ! ,national ,vot] ,regi/ration ,act ( #aiic 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #bjeaa7 is am5d$-- 7#a7 by /rik+ or at ! end ( subp>agraph 7,a72 7#b7 by /rik+ ! comma at ! end ( subp>agraph 7,b7 & ins]t+ 2 or2 & 7#c7 by add+ at ! end ! foll[+ new subp>agraph3 7,c7 ! !ft1 de/ruction1 concealm5t1 mutilation1 or alt]ation ( vot+ sy/ems2 4