[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7536 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7536
To require each eligible citizen to appear to vote in each regularly
scheduled general election for Federal office, and for other purposes.
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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 18, 2022
Mr. Larson of Connecticut introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on House Administration
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A BILL
To require each eligible citizen to appear to vote in each regularly
scheduled general election for Federal office, 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 ``Civic Duty to Vote Act''.
SEC. 2. REQUIREMENTS WITH RESPECT TO VOTING BY CITIZENS.
(a) Requirement To Appear To Vote.--
(1) Requirement.--Each eligible citizen shall appear to
vote in each regularly scheduled general election for Federal
office as described in paragraph (2).
(2) Appearing to vote described.--An eligible citizen shall
be deemed to appear to vote in a regularly scheduled general
election for Federal office if such citizen returns a ballot to
vote in such election to an appropriate State election official
in the State in which such citizen is eligible to vote by any
method authorized by the laws of the State in which such
election is held.
(3) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this subsection may
be construed to require an eligible citizen to cast a vote for
any candidate in an election for Federal office.
(b) Civil Money Penalty for Violation.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (4), a
civil money penalty in the amount of $20 shall be assessed
against any individual found to be in violation of the
requirements under subsection (a) unless the individual
certifies to an appropriate State election official that the
individual has a valid and sufficient reason for not appearing
to vote in any such election described in subsection (a)(1).
(2) Valid and sufficient reason described.--The following
shall be deemed to be a valid and sufficient reason for not
appearing to vote in a regularly scheduled general election for
Federal office:
(A) An individual is unable to receive or return a
ballot in such an election because the individual is
not registered to vote in the election in the State
after a good faith attempt by the individual to
register to vote in such election.
(B) An individual is unable to appear to vote as a
result of an emergency.
(C) An individual is unable to comply with the
requirements of subsection (a) due to sincerely held
religious or personal beliefs.
(D) An individual was unaware of the individual's
eligibility to vote in any such election.
(3) Waiver.--The appropriate State election official shall
grant a waiver of the civil money penalty under paragraph (1)
with respect to any individual found to be in violation of the
requirement under subsection (a)(1) who--
(A) certifies to the election official that the
individual cannot afford to pay such civil money
penalty; or
(B) attests that such individual will complete one
hour of community service.
(4) Exception.--In the case of an individual's first
violation of the requirements under subsection (a)--
(A) the civil money penalty under paragraph (1)
shall not apply; and
(B) the appropriate State election official of the
State in which such citizen is eligible to vote shall
send the individual a notice that informs the
individual of the violation and the civil money penalty
that will be assessed against the individual with
respect to any subsequent violation.
(5) No additional penalties for failure to pay civil money
penalty.--In the case of an individual found to be in violation
of the requirement under subsection (a)(1) who fails to pay a
civil money penalty assessed under paragraph (1), such
individual shall not, as a result of such failure to pay the
civil money penalty, be subject to any additional civil or
criminal penalties or any denial of government benefits.
(c) Prohibition Against Certain Uses of Information.--
(1) Prohibition against information sharing with law
enforcement.--A State election official may not share any
information provided by an individual for the purposes of
certifying a valid and sufficient reason that the individual
did not appear to vote under subsection (b)(2) or receiving a
waiver of the civil money penalty under subsection (b)(3) with
any Federal, State, or local law enforcement agency.
(2) Prohibition against law enforcement use of
information.--No Federal, State, or local law enforcement
agency may use any information provided by an individual for
the purposes of certifying a valid and sufficient reason that
the individual did not appear to vote under subsection (b)(2)
to subject such individual to any additional penalties or
criminal investigation.
(d) Effective Date.--This section shall apply with respect to the
regularly scheduled general election for Federal office held in
November 2024 and each succeeding election for Federal office.
SEC. 3. ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION PUBLICATION OF BEST PRACTICES.
Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act,
the Election Assistance Commission shall develop and publish
recommendations for best practices for States to implement the
requirements of this Act, including practices for States to provide
individuals with an option on a ballot in an election for Federal
office to affirmatively decline to vote for any candidate with respect
to each office in any such election.
SEC. 4. ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION GRANTS TO STATES.
(a) Grants to States.--The Election Assistance Commission shall
make grants to each eligible State to assist the State in implementing
the requirements of this Act.
(b) Eligibility.--A State is eligible to receive a grant under this
section if the State submits to the Commission, at such time and in
such form as the Commission may require, an application containing such
information as the Commission determines appropriate.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.
SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act, the following definitions apply:
(1) Eligible citizen.--The term ``eligible citizen'' means
a citizen who is eligible to vote in a regularly scheduled
general election for Federal office in a State pursuant to the
laws of the State in which the citizen resides.
(2) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the several
States and the District of Columbia.
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