summary
Introduced
In Committee
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
112th Congress
Bill Summary
Election Support Consolidation and Efficiency Act - (Sec. 2) Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to terminate the Election Assistance Commission (EAC), the EAC Standards Board, and the EAC Board of Advisors 61 days after enactment of this Act. Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to perform EAC functions with respect to certain existing contracts and agreements during the transition period for winding up EAC affairs. Transfers specified election administration functions of the EAC to the Federal Election Commission (FEC). (Sec. 3) Replaces the Standards Board and the Board of Advisors with a Guidelines Review Board to review voluntary voting system guidelines proposed by the Technical Guidelines Development Committee. (Sec. 4) Sets forth special requirements relating to the transfer of certain EAC authorities to the FEC with respect to development of such guidelines. Transfers to the FEC the EAC Office of Voting System Testing and Certification. (Sec. 7) Directs the Comptroller General to: (1) study the procedures used to adopt and modify the voluntary voting system guidelines applicable to the administration of elections for federal office, and (2) develop recommendations on methods to improve such procedures. Requires the FEC to: (1) study the procedures for the testing, certification, decertification, and recertification of voting system hardware and software used in federal elections, and (2) develop a recommendation on the entity best suited to oversee and carry out such procedures. Requires the recommendations in both studies to take into account the needs of persons affected by such guidelines, including state and local election officials, voters with disabilities, absent military and overseas voters, and the manufacturers of voting systems.
AI Summary
This bill, the Election Support Consolidation and Efficiency Act, proposes to terminate the Election Assistance Commission (EAC), an independent federal commission established by the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to serve as a clearinghouse for election administration information and to develop voluntary voting system guidelines. The bill mandates that the EAC, along with its Standards Board and Board of Advisors, will cease to exist 61 days after the bill's enactment. During this transition period, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will oversee the winding down of the EAC's affairs and manage existing contracts. Key election administration functions currently handled by the EAC, including the development of voluntary voting system guidelines and the testing and certification of voting equipment, will be transferred to the Federal Election Commission (FEC). The bill also replaces the EAC's advisory boards with a new Guidelines Review Board, composed of various stakeholders like state and local election officials, to review proposed voting system guidelines. Finally, the bill directs the Comptroller General and the FEC to conduct studies on improving the procedures for developing and implementing voting system guidelines and for testing and certifying voting equipment, respectively, ensuring that the needs of various affected parties, such as voters with disabilities and overseas voters, are considered.
Committee Categories
Business and Industry, Government Affairs
Sponsors (22)
Roscoe Bartlett (R),
Dan Benishek (R),
Mo Brooks (R),
John Campbell (R),
Mike Coffman (R),
Stephen Fincher (R),
John Fleming (R),
Phil Gingrey (R),
Louie Gohmert (R),
Gregg Harper (R),
Andy Harris (R),
Wally Herger (R),
Daniel Lungren (R),
Kenny Marchant (R),
Jeff Miller (R),
Richard Nugent (R),
Bill Posey (R),
E. Scott Rigell (R),
Todd Rokita (R),
John Sullivan (R),
G.T. Thompson (R),
Lynn Westmoreland (R),
Last Action
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 235 - 187 (Roll no. 466). (on 06/22/2011)
Official Document
bill text
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bill summary
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bill summary
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