S 2024
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2024
To provide for interregional primary elections and caucuses for
the selection of delegates to political party Presidential nominating conventions.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 6, 2007
Mr. NELSON of Florida (for himself and Mr. LEVIN) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration
A BILL
To provide for interregional primary elections and caucuses for
the selection of delegates to political party Presidential nominating conventions.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Fair and Representative Presidential Primaries
Act of 2007'.
SEC. 2. INTERREGIONAL PRIMARY ELECTIONS AND CAUCUSES.
(a) Selection of Delegates to Conventions- The delegates to each national
convention for the nomination of candidates of a political party for the
offices of President and Vice President shall be selected by primary election
or by caucus, as provided by State law. Such State law shall conform to
the requirements of the national political executive committee and the national
nominating convention of the political party involved.
(b) Timing of Primary Elections and Caucuses-
(1) IN GENERAL- In each region described in subsection (c), the primary
elections and caucuses (as the case may be) in a subregion (comprised
of a State or a group of States) shall be conducted on each of the following
days of each Presidential election year: the second Tuesday in March,
the first Tuesday in April, the fourth Tuesday in April, the second Tuesday
in May, the fourth Tuesday in May, and the second Tuesday in June.
(2) INITIAL ORDER OF PRIMARIES AND CAUCUSES- For the first Presidential
election with respect to which this Act applies, the Election Assistance
Commission shall determine by lot the order of subregions in each region
for conduct of primary elections and caucuses by the States under paragraph
(1).
(3) ORDER OF PRIMARIES AND CAUCUSES FOR SUBSEQUENT ELECTIONS- The subregions
determined under paragraph (2) to be first in order for the first Presidential
election to which this Act applies shall be last in order with respect
to the next such election, and the other subregions shall advance in the
order accordingly. The order shall change with respect to subsequent elections
in a like manner.
(4) SPECIAL RULES FOR DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, PUERTO RICO, AND TERRITORIES-
Any primary election or caucus for the District of Columbia shall be conducted
on the same day as a primary election or caucus for the State of Maryland.
Any primary election or caucus for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico shall
be conducted on the same day as a primary election or caucus for the State
of Florida. Any primary election or caucus for any other territory, possession,
or other entity entitled under the rules of a political party to delegate
representation at the national convention of that party shall be conducted
on the same day as a primary election or caucus for the States of Alaska
and Hawaii.
(c) Establishment of Regions- The regions (designated by number) and the
subregions (designated by letter) referred to in subsection (b) are as follows:
(1) Region 1: (A) Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont; (B) Massachusetts; (C)
Connecticut, Rhode Island; (D) Delaware, New Jersey; (E) New York; (F)
Pennsylvania.
(2) Region 2: (A) Maryland; (B) West Virginia; (C) Missouri; (D) Indiana;
(E) Kentucky; (F) Tennessee.
(3) Region 3: (A) Ohio; (B) Illinois; (C) Michigan; (D) Wisconsin; (E)
Iowa; (F) Minnesota.
(4) Region 4: (A) Texas; (B) Louisiana; (C) Arkansas, Oklahoma; (D) Colorado;
(E) Kansas, Nebraska; (F) Arizona, New Mexico.
(5) Region 5: (A) Virginia; (B) North Carolina; (C) South Carolina; (D)
Florida; (E) Georgia; (F) Mississippi, Alabama.
(6) Region 6: (A) California; (B) Washington; (C) Oregon; (D) Idaho, Nevada,
Utah; (E) Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming; (F) Hawaii, Alaska.
SEC. 3. ENFORCEMENT.
The Attorney General may bring a civil action in any appropriate United
States district court for such declaratory or injunctive relief as may be
necessary to carry out this Act.
SEC. 4. REGULATIONS.
The Election Assistance Commission shall prescribe such regulations as may
be necessary to carry out this Act.
SEC. 5. DEFINITION.
As used in this Act, the term `State law' means the law of a State, the
District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory or
possession of the United States.
SEC. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Act shall apply with respect to Presidential elections taking place
more than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.
END
