Equal Protection of Voting Rights Act

The National Association of State Public Interest Research Groups ("PIRG's") urges you to support the Equal Protection of Voting Rights Act of 2001, H.R. 1170, and opposes the weaker substitute offered by Reps. Ney and Hoyer, H.R. 3295.  Click on Voters Decide.
 Click on letter from the League of Women Voters

The Dodd-Daschle-Conyers  "Equal Protection of Voting Right Act of 2001" is facing strong opposition. A massive effort is needed to pressure your Senator and Representative to support this much needed legislation. We do not want another Election 2000.

    "The legislation would meet the three principal goals of election reform --
uniformity, accuracy and accessibility --
and provide the money to help state and local governments fund necessary improvements.
    The bill represents the most  comprehensive response to the widespread problem of voting inequality  that went largely ignored prior to the November 2000 election. The Dodd/Daschle measure would:

       1. set uniform performance standards for voting equipment;

       2. promote accuracy by upgrading technology and allow voters to correct any balloting errors; and,

       3. ensure accessibility for all voters,  including language minorities and people with disabilities.

   
S.565  Bill Summary & Status for the 107th Congress:

Sponsor: Sen Dodd, Christopher J. (introduced 3/19/2001)
Latest Major Action: 3/19/2001 Referred to Senate committee
Title: A bill to establish the Commission on Voting Rights and Procedures to study and make recommendations regarding election technology, voting, and election administration, to establish a grant program under which the Office of Justice Programs and the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice shall provide assistance to States and localities in improving election technology and the administration of Federal elections, to require States to meet uniform and nondiscriminatory election technology and administration requirements for the 2004 Federal elections, and for other purposes.

H.R.1170 - Equal protection of Voting Rights Act of 2001

The Help America Vote Act of 2001, H.R. 3295

HR 3295 establishes a program to provide funds to States to replace punch card voting systems, to establish the Election Assistance Commission to assist in the administration of Federal elections and to otherwise provide assistance with the administration of certain Federal election laws and programs, to establish minimum election administration standards for States and units of local government with responsibility for the administration of Federal elections.
Sponsor: Rep Conyers, John, Jr. (introduced 3/22/2001)
Latest Major Action: 3/22/2001 Referred to House committee
Title: To protect voting rights, and for other purposes.
Equal Protection of Voting Rights Act of 2001 - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to outline requirements for equal protection of voting rights in Federal elections and voting rights in State and local elections.
Establishes a grant program to provide equal protection of voting rights with regard to States and localities.

Creates the Commission on Voting Rights and Procedures to study and report to the President and Congress on specified issues with respect to elections for Federal, State, and local office, including alternative voting methods, ballot designs, ballot uniformity, and absentee voting, in order to develop specific recommendations of best practices in voting and election administration.  (See full text below)

For the full text of the Equal Protection of Voting Rights Act, click on Voting Rights Act

H.R.2275   Voting Technology Standards Act of 2001

Sponsor: Rep Ehlers, Vernon J. (introduced 6/21/2001)
Latest Major Action: 6/26/2001 Referred to House subcommittee
Title: To amend the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act to ensure the usability, accuracy, integrity, and security of United States voting products and systems through the development of voluntary consensus standards, the provision of technical assistance, and laboratory accreditation, and for other purposes.
 

SHAYS-MEEHAN BIPARTISAN CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM ACT OF 2001

The House of Representatives is expected to bring the Shays-Meehan Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2001 to the floor during the week of July 9, 2001. The Shays-Meehan bill, H.R. 2356, will ban soft money and close the " issue" ad loophole that allows campaign spending to escape from disclosure. This legislation is similar to the McCain-Feingold bill that we passed in the Senate in April.

Strong grassroots action helped push the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform bill to victory in the Senate. We now need a very strong effort in the House. With President Bush indicating that he would sign a reform bill, we are very close to enacting legislation to reduce the role of special interests in politics.

The House of Representatives is split almost evenly down the middle on whether or not to pass the Shays-Meehan bill. We need EACH and EVERY Representative to hear from his/her constituents. Please make sure that you contact your Representative in support of REAL campaign finance reform, especially if you live in one of these targeted districts at the following link: http://capwiz.com/lwv/issues/alert/?alertid=41965 .

THE MESSAGE

-Vote for H.R. 2356, the Shays-Meehan campaign finance reform bill. This bill will ban soft money and close the sham "issue" ad loophole that allows campaign spending to escape from disclosure.

-Do NOT vote for the alternative bill sponsored by Rep. Ney. It is a bill created for the sole purpose of derailing REAL campaign finance reform.

-Oppose "poison pill" and other weakening amendments to the Shays-Meehan bill.

 Summary of Other Proposed Legislation