To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit voter caging and other questionable challenges.
Bill journey · stage 2 of 5
Under committee review
What it doesSummary introduced in house (Feb 28, 2019)
This bill prohibits voter caging and establishes penalties for violations. Voter caging is a practice of preventing or challenging voter registration, oftentimes by sending direct mail to individuals on the voter rolls, compiling a list of the undeliverable mail (voter caging list), and using the list to remove or challenge voter registrations.
First, the bill generally prohibits state or local election officials from preventing an individual from registering or voting in any federal election, or from permitting a formal challenge under state law to an individual's registration status or eligibility to vote, if the decision is based on certain evidence. Such evidence includes (1) a voter caging document or voter caging list, (2) an unverified match list, (3) an error or omission on a voter document that is immaterial to the individual's eligibility to vote, or (4) other evidence as designated by the Election Assistance Commission (EAC).
Additionally, it requires a private individual who challenges the right of another citizen to vote to set forth in writing, under penalty of perjury, a good faith factual basis for the ineligibility.
Further, it prohibits certain challenges to an individual's eligibility to vote in a federal election within 10 days of the election.
A violator is subject to penalties—a fine, up to one year in prison, or both.
Finally, the EAC must develop and publish best practices for preventing voter caging, and include such practices in voter information materials.
What just happenedApr 8, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
Who’s behind it
- Introduced in HouseFeb 28, 2019
- Apr 8, 2019Committee
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
Constitution and Limited Government Subcommittee - Apr 8, 2019Committee
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
Crime and Federal Government Surveillance Subcommittee - Feb 28, 2019IntroReferralH11100
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Committee on House Administration - Feb 28, 2019IntroReferralH11100
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Judiciary Committee - Feb 28, 2019IntroReferralIntro-H
Introduced in House
- Feb 28, 2019IntroReferral1000
Introduced in House