Summary:  The Senate Rules and Administration Committee approved, by vote of 10 yeas to 0 nays, S. 565, Equal Protection of Voting Rights Act of 2001.

S. 565 would establish the Commission on Voting Rights and Procedures to study voting rights and procedures and would require states to meet uniform election standards before the 2004 elections.  The bill would require the Commission to study voter registration and election technology including ballot design and uniformity; ballot and polling place access; voting systems capacity and election administration efficiency; voter registration and maintenance of voter rolls; and the accuracy of voting election procedures and election technology.  Also Members would study the possibility of making Election Day a state or Federal holiday.  The Commission would report to the President and Congress within a year and would include recommendations for best practices in voting, how to best allocate Federal money to state and local authorities to improve administration of Federal elections, how to get all legal voters to participate and how to improve election personnel.  S. 565 would create minimum uniform requirements for Federal elections and would establish a grant program for election technology and administration improvements.

Chairman Dodd spoke on the fundamental importance of the right to vote.  He agrees with the statements in the Carter/Ford report regarding voting is an American birthright and that no American should be turned away.   He said that the report takes no position on grants.  He believes it is insufficient to leave to states whether reforms should occur.  We need to improve the election process.  He is inclined to support grants.  Senator Schumer said he had no problem with placing mandates on states.

Prepared by: Relda Nacos

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