| Bill No. | Short Title | Sponsors | Date Introduced | Related Bills | Description |
| S. 450 | Count Every Vote Act of 2005 | Clinton | February 17, 2005 | H.R. 939 |
This is an omnibus
election reform bill that seeks to address a number of election
administration problems that arose in the 2004 federal elections. Among
other things, it provides for the following reforms:
Voting Systems: The bill contains a number of provisions to increase the security of voting systems. Its requirements are similar to those in H.R. 550, described below. Provisional Ballots: The bill would require states to count provisional ballots cast in the wrong polling place or cast by voters without ID. It would also require provisional ballots to be counted in time for recounts and contest proceedings. Allocation of Election Resources: The bill would require each state to provide for a minimum number of voting systems, poll workers and other resources at each polling place, pursuant to a formula developed by the EAC, with the goal of ensuring equal waiting times of no longer than one hour. Election Day Registration: The bill would require each state to permit individuals to register and vote at their polling places on Election Day. No Excuse Absentee Balloting: The bill would require each state to allow citizens to vote by absentee ballot without showing a reason. Early Voting: The bill would require each state to provide for early voting no less than 15 days before any federal election. Impartial Election Administration: The bill would prohibit chief election officials and top officers at voting system manufacturers from participating in any political activities in federal campaigns. It would also require states to publish all their laws and procedures for administering federal elections at the beginning of each election year. Poll Worker Training: This bill would establish minimum requirement of training for poll workers on a number of topics. Purges: The bill would require states to make the processes by which they purge their voter rolls more transparent and to provide notice to voters before purging their names from the rolls. Processing Voter Registration Applications: The bill would require states to accept and process voter registration applications regardless of technical mistakes or omissions, so long as there is no material omission or information to suggest that a registrant is ineligible to vote. Voter ID: The bill would allow first-time voters who registered by mail to vote regardless of whether they show ID so long as they execute an affidavit of eligibility. It also would provide funds for states to distribute free photo IDs to those who do not have them. Deceptive Practices: This bill’s deceptive practices provisions are similar to those in Senator Obama’s bill, discussed below. Past Criminal Convictions: The bill would guarantee the right to vote of all citizens with past criminal convictions unless they are incarcerated, on probation, or on parole. Election Day Holiday: The bill would make Election Day a federal holiday. |
| H.R. 663 | Ex-Offenders Voting Rights Act of 2005 | Rangel | February 8, 2005 | H.R. 4762 | This bill would restore voting rights to eligible people with criminal convictions who have completed incarceration time, probation, and parole. |
| H.R. 939 | Count Every Vote Act of 2005 | Jones | February 17, 2005 | S. 450 | This omnibus election reform bill seeks to address a number of election administration problems that arose in the 2004 federal elections. The provisions of this bill are similar to those in S. 450. |
| H.R. 1300 | Civic Participation and Rehabilitation Act of 2005 | Conyers | March 15, 2005 | This bill would restore voting rights to eligible people with criminal convictions post-incarceration. Correctional institutions would be required to inform eligible people of their right to vote when they are released from incarceration. | |
| H.R. 2398 | Constitutional Protection of the Right to Vote Act | Davis | May 17, 2005 | This bill would restore voting rights to eligible people with criminal convictions post-incarceration and post-supervision. Correctional institutions would be required to inform eligible people of their right to vote when they are released from incarceration. | |
| H.R. 4762 | Second Chance Voting Rights Act of 2006 | Millender- McDonald | February 15, 2006 | H.R. 663 | This bill would restore voting rights to eligible people with criminal convictions upon completion of incarceration and sentencing, including parole. States would be entitled afford the right to vote to people with criminal convictions on less restrictive terms than in this Act. |
