To establish a grant program to provide assistance to States for modernizing and enhancing voting procedures and administration, and for other purposes.

June 28, 2001

Ms. MCCARTHY of Missouri (for herself and Mr. DREIER) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on House Administration

To establish a grant program to provide assistance to States for modernizing and enhancing voting procedures and administration, and for other purposes.

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 `State Voting Procedures and Administration Modernization Act of 2001'.

SEC. 2. GRANTS TO STATES FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO VOTING PROCEDURES AND ELECTION ADMINISTRATION.

(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM- There is established a program under which the Office of Election Administration of the Federal Election Commission (hereafter in this Act referred to as the `Office') shall make grants to eligible States during the first 5 fiscal years which begin after the date of the enactment of this Act for carrying out any of the activities described in subsection (b).

(b) ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT WITH GRANT FUNDS- The activities described in this subsection are as follows:

(1) Improving election technologies, systems, and designs.

(2) Facilitating voter registration and improving the verification and maintenance of the rolls of eligible and registered voters.

(3) Improving the accuracy and security of election procedures and vote counts.

(4) Promoting greater understanding among the public of the system of government and election procedures.

(5) Providing greater access to voter registration sites and polling places for individuals with disabilities, individuals residing in rural areas, and others.

(6) Providing training and related education for poll workers and other election personnel.

(c) AMOUNT OF GRANT-

(1) IN GENERAL- Subsection to paragraph (2) and subsection (e)(1), the amount of a grant made to a State under the program under this Act for a fiscal year shall be equal to the product of--

(A) the total amount of funds appropriated for grants under the program for the fiscal year; and

(B) the allotment percentage for the State (as defined in paragraph (2)) or 1/2 of 1 percent, whichever is greater.

(2) ALLOTMENT PERCENTAGE DEFINED- In paragraph (1)(B), the `allotment percentage' for a State is an amount (expressed as a percentage) equal to the quotient of--

(A) the population of the State, and

(B) the total population of all States receiving grants under the program under this Act for the year.

(d) ELIGIBILITY OF STATES- A State is eligible to receive a grant under the program under this Act for a fiscal year if it submits to the Office (at such time prior to the beginning of the fiscal year as the Office may require) an application containing such information and assurances as the Office may require, including assurances that the State will give priority in distributing funds under the grant to those jurisdictions with the greatest need to improve voting systems and procedures.

(e) OTHER REQUIREMENTS FOR STATES RECEIVING GRANTS-

(1) MATCHING- The amount of a grant provided to a State under the program under this Act may not exceed 75 percent of the total cost of carrying out the activities funded with the grant.

(2) REPORTS- Not later than 6 months after the end of any fiscal year for which a State received a grant under the program under this Act, the State shall submit a report to the Office describing the activities carried out during the year with the funds provided under the grant, and shall make such report available to any person who requests it.

(3) AUDIT- Each State receiving a grant under the program under this Act for a fiscal year shall arrange for an independent auditor to conduct an audit of the activities carried out with the funds provided under the grant.

(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act $500,000,000 for each of the first 5 fiscal years which begin after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(g) TERMINATION OF PROGRAM- No grants may be made under the program under this Act after the expiration of the 5th fiscal year which begins after the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 3. STATE DEFINED.

In this Act, the term `State' means each of the several States and the District of Columbia.

END