,,ii  #aah? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #bege  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,july #bg1 #bjbc,mr4   
,w>nock 7= himself1 ,ms4 ,klobu*>1 ,ms4 
,baldw91 ,mr4 ,m]kley1 ,mr4 ,fett]man1  
,mr4 ,wel*1 ,ms4 ,hirono1 ,mr4 ,wyd51   
,mr4 ,w>n]1 ,mr4 ,durb91 & ,mrs4        
,fe9/e97 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 
read twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on  
,rules & ,adm9i/ration  ,a ,,bill  ,to  
am5d ! ,help ,am]ica ,vote ,act ( #bjjb 
to provide increas$ protections =       
election work]s & vot]s 9 elections =   
,f$]al (fice1 & = o!r purposes4  #a4    
,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z !   
,prev5t+ ,election ,subv]sion ,act (    
#bjbc4  #b4 ,re/rictions on removal (   
local election adm9i/rators 9           
adm9i/ration ( elections = ,f$]al (fice 
7a7 ,f9d+s ,congress makes ! foll[+     
f9d+s3 7#a7 ,congress has explicit &    
broad au?ority to regulate ! "t1 place1 
& mann] ( ,f$]al elections "u !         
,elections ,clause "u article ,i1       
section #d1 clause #a ( ! ,con/itution (

 ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 includ+ by e/abli%+   
/&>ds = ! fair1 imp>tial1 & uni=m       
adm9i/ration ( ,f$]al elections by ,/ate
 & local (ficials4  7#b7 ,! ,elections  
,clause 0 und]/ood f ! fram+ ( !        
,con/itution ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates to conta9
 8words ( great latitude10 grant+       
,congress broad p[] ov] ,f$]al elections
 & a pl5>y "r to preempt ,/ate          
regulation 9 ?is area4 ,z made cle> at !
 ,con/itutional ,conv5tion & ! ,/ate    
ratification debates t foll[$1 ?is grant
 ( congressional au?ority 0 meant to    
8insure free & fair elections10 promote 
! uni=m adm9i/ration ( ,f$]al elections1
 & 8pres]ve & re/ore to ! p _! equal &  
sacr$ rights ( election404  7#c7 ,9 !   
f\nd+ debates on ! ,elections ,clause1  
_m delegates also argu$ t a broad grant 
( au?ority to ,congress ov] ,f$]al      
elections 0 necess>y to *eck any 8abuses
 t might be made ( ! discretion>y p[]0  
to regulate ! "t1 place1 & mann] (      
elections grant$ ! ,/ates1 includ+      
attempts at p>tisan entr5*m5t1          

malapportionm5t1 & ! exclusion (        
political m9orities4 ,z ! ,supreme ,c\rt
 has recogniz$1 ! ,elections ,clause    
emp[]s ,congress to 8protect ! elections
 on :i* its exi/5ce dep5ds10 ,ex p>te   
,y>br\gh1 #aaj ,u4,s4 #fea1 #feh        
7#ahhd71 & 8protect ! citiz5 9 ! ex]cise
 ( rights conf]r$ by ! ,con/itution ( ! 
,unit$ ,/ates ess5tial to ! heal?y      
organization ( ! gov]nm5t itself10 id4  
at #fff4  7#d7 ,! ,elections ,clause    
grants ,congress 8pl5>y & p>am\nt       
jurisdiction ov] ! :ole subject0 (      
,f$]al elections1 ,ex p>te ,siebold1    
#ajj ,u4,s4 #cga1 #chh 7#ahgi71 all[+   
,congress to implem5t 8a complete code =
 congressional elections40 ,smiley v4   
,holm1 #bhe ,u4,s4 #cee1 #cff 7#aicb74  
,! ,elections ,clause1 unlike1 =        
example1 ! ,comm]ce ,clause1 has be5    
f\nd to grant ,congress ! au?ority to   
compel ,/ates to alt] _! regulations z  
to ,f$]al elections1 id4 at #cff-fg1 ev5
 if ^! alt]ations w\ld impose additional
 co/s on ! ,/ates to execute or en=ce4  

,association ( ,community ,organizations
 = ,re=m ,n[ v4 ,mill]1 #abi ,f4#c;d    
#hcc 7#f? ,cir4 #aiig74  7#e7 ,! phrase 
8mann] ( hold+ elections0 9 ! ,elections
 ,clause has be5 int]pret$ by ! ,supreme
 ,c\rt to au?orize ,congress to regulate
 all aspects ( ! ,f$]al election        
process1 includ+ 8notices1 regi/ration1 
sup]vision ( vot+1 protection ( vot]s1  
prev5tion ( fraud & corrupt practices1  
c\nt+ ( votes1 duties ( inspectors &    
canvass]s1 & ! mak+ & publication (     
election returns40 ,smiley v4 ,holm1    
#bhe ,u4,s4 #cee1 #cff 7#aicb74  7#f7 ,!
 ,supreme ,c\rt has recogniz$ ! broad   
8sub/antive scope0 ( ! ,elections       
,clause & upheld ,f$]al laws promulgat$ 
!reund] regulat+ r$i/rict+1 vot]        
regi/ration1 campaign f9ance1 prim>y    
elections1 rec\nts1 p>ty affiliation    
rules1 & ballot+4  7#g7 ,! au?ority (   
,congress "u ! ,elections ,clause also  
entails ! p[] to ensure en=cem5t ( its  
laws regulat+ ,f$]al elections4 8,if    
,congress has ! p[] to make regulations1

 x mu/ h ! p[] to en=ce !m40 ,ex p>te   
,siebold1 #ajj ,u4,s4 #cga1 #chg        
7#ahgi74 ,! ,supreme ,c\rt has not$ t   
!re c be no "q t ,congress may impose   
additional p5alties = (f5ses committ$ by
 ,/ate (fic]s 9 connection ) ,f$]al     
elections ev5 if !y diff] f ! p5alties  
prescrib$ by ,/ate law = ! same acts4   
id4 at #chg-hh4  7#h7 ,! fair & imp>tial
 adm9i/ration ( ,f$]al elections by     
,/ate & local (ficials is c5tral to 8!  
successful work+ ( ?is gov]nm5t10 ,ex   
p>te ,y>br\gh1 #aaj ,u4,s4 #fea1 #fff   
7#ahhd71 & to 8protect ! act ( vot+ 4 4 
4 & ! election itself f corruption or   
fraud10 id4 at #ffa-fb4  7#i7 ,!        
,elections ,clause ?us grants ,congress 
! au?ority to ensure t ! adm9i/ration ( 
,f$]al elections is free ( political    
bias or discrim9ation & t election      
(ficials are insulat$ f political       
influ5ce or o!r =ms ( co]cion 9 dis*>g+ 
_! duties 9 connection ) ,f$]al         
elections4  7#aj7 ,9 "s ,/ates1 ov]sight
 ( local election adm9i/rators has be5  

allocat$ to ,/ate ,election ,bo>ds1 or  
special commissions =m$ by ^? bo>ds1 t  
are appo9t$ by ! prevail+ political p>ty
 9 a ,/ate1 z oppos$ to nonp>tisan or   
elect$ (fice hold]s4  7#aa7 ,9 c]ta9    
newly enact$ ,/ate policies1 ^! appo9t$ 
/atewide election adm9i/rators h be5    
grant$ wide latitude to susp5d or remove
 local election adm9i/rators 9 cases :]e
 ! /atewide election adm9i/rators       
id5tify :atev] ! ,/ate deems to be a    
violation4 ,!re is no requirem5t t !re  
be a f9d+ ( int5t by ! local election   
adm9i/rator to commit ! violation4      
7#ab7 ,local election adm9i/rators      
across ! c\ntry c be susp5d$ or remov$  
accord+ to diff]5t /&>ds1 pot5tially    
expos+ !m to diff]5t political pressures
 or biases t c\ld result 9 unev5        
adm9i/ration ( ,f$]al elections4  7#ac7 
,! ,elections ,clause grants ,congress !
 ultimate au?ority to ensure t ov]sight 
( ,/ate & local election adm9i/rators is
 fair & imp>tial 9 ord] to ensure       
equitable & uni=m adm9i/ration ( ,f$]al 

elections4  7b7 ,re/riction  7#a7 ,/&>d 
= removal ( a local election adm9i/rator
 ,a /atewide election adm9i/rator may   
only susp5d1 remove1 or relieve ! duties
 ( a local election adm9i/rator 9 !     
,/ate ) respect to ! adm9i/ration ( an  
election = ,f$]al (fice = ineffici5cy1  
neglect ( duty1 or malfeasance 9 (fice4 
7#b7 ,private "r ( action  7,a7 ,9 g5]al
 ,any local election adm9i/rator        
susp5d$1 remov$1 or o!rwise reliev$ (   
duties 9 violation ( p>agraph 7#a7 )    
respect to ! adm9i/ration ( an election 
= ,f$]al (fice or aga9/ :om any proce$+ 
= susp5sion1 removal1 or relief f duty 9
 violation ( p>agraph 7#a7 ) respect to 
! adm9i/ration ( an election = ,f$]al   
(fice may be p5d+1 may br+ an action 9  
an appropriate di/rict c\rt ( ! ,unit$  
,/ates = decl>atory or injunctive relief
 ) respect to ! violation4 ,any su*     
action %all "n z ! def5dant ! /atewide  
election adm9i/rator responsible = !    
adv]se action4 ,! di/rict c\rt %all1 to 
! ext5t practicable1 exp$ite any su*    

proce$+4  7,b7 ,/atute ( limitations    
,any action br\ght "u ?is subsection mu/
 be comm5c$ n lat] ?an #a ye> aft] !    
date ( ! susp5sion1 removal1 relief f   
duties1 or comm5cem5t ( ! proce$+ to    
remove1 susp5d1 or relieve ! duties ( a 
local election adm9i/rator ) respect to 
! adm9i/ration ( an election = ,f$]al   
(fice4  7#c7 ,attorney's fees ,9 any    
action or proce$+ "u ?is subsection1 !  
c\rt may all[ a prevail+ pla9tiff1 o!r  
?an ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 reasonable         
attorney's fees z "p ( ! co/s1 & may    
include exp]t fees z "p ( ! attorney's  
fee4 ,! t]m prevail+ pla9tiff means a   
pla9tiff t sub/antially prevails        
pursuant to a judicial or adm9i/rative  
judgm5t or ord]1 or an en=ceable writt5 
agreem5t4  7#d7 ,removal ( ,/ate        
proce$+s to ,f$]al c\rt ,a local        
election adm9i/rator :o is subject to an
 adm9i/rative or judicial proce$+ =     
susp5sion1 removal1 or relief f duty by 
a /atewide election adm9i/rator )       
respect to ! adm9i/ration ( an election 

= ,f$]al (fice may remove ! proce$+ to  
an appropriate di/rict c\rt ( ! ,unit$  
,/ates4 ,any ord] rem&+ a case to !     
,/ate c\rt or ag5cy f :i* x 0 remov$ "u 
?is subsection %all be reviewable by    
appeal or o!rwise4  7#e7 ,"r ( ,unit$   
,/ates to int]v5e  7,a7 ,notice to      
,attorney ,g5]al ,:5ev] any adm9i/rative
 or judicial proce$+ is br\ght to       
susp5d1 remove1 or relieve ! duties (   
any local election adm9i/rator by a     
/atewide election adm9i/rator ) respect 
to ! adm9i/ration ( an election = ,f$]al
 (fice1 ! /atewide election adm9i/rator 
:o initiat$ su* proce$+ %all deliv] a   
copy ( ! plead+s in/itut+ ! proce$+ to !
 ,assi/ant ,attorney ,g5]al = ! ,civil  
,rights ,division ( ! ,dep>tm5t (       
,ju/ice4 ,! local election adm9i/rator  
aga9/ :om su* proce$+ is br\ght may also
 deliv] su* plead+s to ! ,assi/ant      
,attorney ,g5]al4  7,b7 ,"r to int]v5e  
,! ,unit$ ,/ates may int]v5e 9 any      
adm9i/rative or judicial proce$+ br\ght 
to susp5d1 remove1 or relieve ! duties (

 any local election adm9i/rator by a    
/atewide election adm9i/rator ) respect 
to ! adm9i/ration ( an election = ,f$]al
 (fice & 9 any action initiat$ pursuant 
to p>agraph 7#b7 or 9 any removal       
pursuant to p>agraph 7#d74  7#f7 ,review
 ,9 review+ any action br\ght "u ?is    
section1 a c\rt ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates %all n
 af=d any def]5ce to any ,/ate (ficial1 
adm9i/rator1 or tribunal t initiat$1    
approv$1 adjudicat$1 or review$ any     
adm9i/rative or judicial proce$+ to     
susp5d1 remove1 or o!rwise relieve !    
duties ( a local election adm9i/rator4  
7c7 ,reports to ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,ju/ice   
7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,n lat] ?an #cj days aft] 
! susp5sion1 removal1 or relief ( !     
duties ( a local election adm9i/rator by
 a /atewide election adm9i/rator1 !     
,/atewide election adm9i/rator %all     
submit to ! ,assi/ant ,attorney ,g5]al =
 ! ,civil ,rights ,divisions ( !        
,dep>tm5t ( ,ju/ice a report t includes 
! foll[+ in=mation3 7,a7 ,a /atem5t t a 
local election adm9i/rator 0 susp5d$1   

remov$1 or reliev$ ( _! duties4  7,b7   
,in=mation on :e!r ! local election     
adm9i/rator 0 det]m9$ to be ineffici5t  
or to h engag$ 9 neglect ( duty or      
malfeasance 9 (fice4  7,c7 ,a           
description ( ! effect t ! susp5sion1   
removal1 or relief ( ! duties ( ! local 
election adm9i/rator w h on-- 7i7 !     
adm9i/ration ( elections & vot]s 9 !    
election jurisdictions = :i* ! local    
election (ficial provid$ su* duties2 &  
7ii7 ! adm9i/ration ( elections & vot]s 
9 ! ,/ate at l>ge4  7,d7 ,demographic   
in=mation ab\t ! local election (ficial 
susp5d$1 remov$1 or reliev$ & !         
jurisdictions = :i* su* election (ficial
 0 provid+ ! duties susp5d$1 remov$1 or 
reliev$4  7,e7 ,su* o!r in=mation z     
reque/$ by ! ,assi/ant ,attorney ,g5]al 
= ! purposes ( det]m9+-- 7i7 :e!r su*   
susp5sion1 removal1 or relief ( duties 0
 bas$ on unlawful discrim9ation2 &  7ii7
 :e!r su* susp5sion1 removal1 or relief 
( duties 0 due to ineffici5cy1 neglect (
 duty1 or malfeasance 9 (fice4  7#b7    

,exp$it$ report+ = actions )9 #cj days (
 an election  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,if a       
susp5sion1 removal1 or relief ( duties (
 a local adm9i/rator describ$ 9 p>agraph
 7#a7 occurs dur+ ! p]iod describ$ 9    
subp>agraph 7,b71 ! report requir$ "u   
p>agraph 7#a7 %all be submitt$ n lat]   
?an #dh h\rs aft] su* susp5sion1        
removal1 or relief ( duties4  7,b7      
,p]iod describ$ ,! p]iod describ$ 9 ?is 
subp>agraph is any p]iod :i* beg9s #fj  
days be=e ! date ( an election = ,f$]al 
(fice & :i* ends #fj days aft] su*      
election4  7d7 ,def9itions ,9 ?is       
section1 ! foll[+ def9itions apply3 7#a7
 ,election ,! t]m election has ! mean+  
giv5 ! t]m 9 section #cja7a7 ( ! ,f$]al 
,election ,campaign ,act ( #aiga 7#eb   
,u4,s4,c4 #cjaja7a774  7#b7 ,f$]al (fice
 ,! t]m ,f$]al (fice has ! mean+ giv5 ! 
t]m 9 section #cja7c7 ( ! ,f$]al        
,election ,campaign ,act ( #aiga 7#eb   
,u4,s4,c4 #cjaja7c774  7#c7 ,local      
election adm9i/rator ,! t]m local       
election adm9i/rator means1 ) respect to

 a local jurisdiction 9 a ,/ate1 !      
individual or entity responsible = !    
adm9i/ration ( elections = ,f$]al (fice 
9 ! local jurisdiction4  7#d7 ,/atewide 
election adm9i/rator ,! t]m /atewide    
election adm9i/rator means1 ) respect to
 a ,/ate-- 7,a7 ! individual or entity1 
includ+ a ,/ate elections bo>d1         
responsible = ! adm9i/ration ( elections
 = ,f$]al (fice 9 ! ,/ate on a /atewide 
basis2 or  7,b7 a /atewide legislative  
or executive entity ) ! au?ority to     
susp5d1 remove1 or relieve a local      
election adm9i/rator4  7e7 ,rule (      
con/ruction ,no?+ 9 ?is section %all be 
con/ru$ to grant any additional au?ority
 to remove a local elections adm9i/rator
 beyond any au?ority provid$ "u ! law ( 
! ,/ate4  #c4 ,protections = vot]s on   
,election ,day  7a7 ,requirem5ts        
,subtitle ,a ( title ,,iii ( ! ,help    
,am]ica ,vote ,act ( #bjjb 7#eb         
,u4,s4,c4 #bajha et seq47 is am5d$ by   
ins]t+ aft] section #cjc ! foll[+ new   
section3  #cjc;,a4 ,vot] protection     

requirem5ts  7a7 ,requirem5ts = *all5ges
 by p]sons o!r ?an election (ficials    
7#a7 ,requirem5ts = *all5ges ,no p]son1 
o!r ?an a ,/ate or local election       
(ficial1 %all submit a =mal *all5ge to  
an individual's eligibility to regi/] to
 vote 9 an election = ,f$]al (fice or to
 vote 9 an election = ,f$]al (fice      
unless t *all5ge is support$ by p]sonal 
k ) respect to ea* individual *all5g$   
reg>d+ ! gr\nds = ineligibility :i* is--
 7,a7 docum5t$ 9 writ+2 &  7,b7 subject 
to an oa? or atte/ation "u p5alty (     
p]jury t ! *all5g] has a good fai?      
factual basis to believe t ! individual 
:o is ! subject ( ! *all5ge is          
ineligible to regi/] to vote or vote 9 t
 election1 except a *all5ge t is bas$ on
 ! race1 color1 e?nicity1 national      
orig91 or memb]%ip 9 a language m9ority 
gr\p 7z def9$ 9 section #ad ( ! ,vot+   
,rights ,act ( #aife 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4     
#ajcaj77 ( ! individual :o is ! subject 
( ! *all5ge may n be consid]$ to h a    
good fai? factual basis = purposes ( ?is

 p>agraph4  7#b7 ,prohibition on        
*all5ges on or ne> date ( election ,no  
p]son1 o!r ?an a ,/ate or local election
 (ficial1 %all be p]mitt$-- 7,a7 to     
*all5ge an individual's eligibility to  
vote 9 an election = ,f$]al (fice on !  
date ( ! election on gr\nds t c\ld h be5
 made 9 advance ( su* date2 or  7,b7 to 
*all5ge an individual's eligibility to  
regi/] to vote 9 an election = ,f$]al   
(fice or to vote 9 an election = ,f$]al 
(fice less ?an #aj days be=e ! election 
unless ! individual regi/]$ to vote less
 ?an #bj days be=e ! election4  7b7     
,effective date ,?is section %all apply 
) respect to elections = ,f$]al (fice   
occurr+ on & aft] ,janu>y #a1 #bjbd4  4 
7b7 ,con=m+ am5dm5t relat+ to en=cem5t  
,section #dja ( su* ,act 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 
#baaaa7 is am5d$ by /rik+ & #cjc &      
ins]t+ #cjc1 & #cjc;,a4  7c7 ,cl]ical   
am5dm5t ,! table ( cont5ts ( su* ,act is
 am5d$ by ins]t+ aft] ! item relat+ to  
section #cjc ! foll[+3  ,sec4 #cjc;,a4  
,vot] protection requirem5ts4  4