Senators McConnell, Torricelli, and Feinstein Introduced Election Reform Legislation
December 15, 2000

Washington, DC – Senate Rules Committee Chairman Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Senators Robert Torricelli (D-NJ) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today introduced legislation to reform the nation’s voting system.

The McConnell-Torricelli-Feinstein “Election Reform Act,” to be introduced at the beginning of the new Congress, would establish a permanent, federal commission that studies how elections are administered, makes recommendations on how to improve them, and provides federal funds to enable local jurisdictions to implement their recommendations.

“I am pleased to join Senators McConnell and Torricelli in this legislation, which will hopefully be a fulcrum for hearings before the Rules Committee and play an important role in improving elections in the United States,” Senator Feinstein said. “The situation in Florida with different counties using different equipment, different standards and different methodologies in the conduct of the election is a clear indication that reform is needed. Although elections are within the purview of the states, if the Federal government can provide incentives and financial assistance to update equipment and administration to ensure that every vote counts, that would be a giant step forward.”

The legislation would combine the Federal Election Commission’s (FEC) Office of Electoral Administration (OEC) with the office that administers ballots to Americans overseas and establish a permanent, federal commission that brings focused expertise to bear on election administration.

This Commission would consist of four Commissioners appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Commissioners will serve four-year terms, with not more than two Commissioners affiliated with the same political party. Specifically, the Commission would do the following:

1. Continually study various aspects of election administration and make periodic recommendations on such topics as ballot design, accuracy, security, and technological advances in voting equipment;
2. Develop and update voluntary standards for voting systems at least every four years.
3. Study accessibility to polling places and recommend voluntary guidelines to increase access to polling places.
4. Allocate $100 million in matching funds to States and localities that improve their voting systems in a manner consistent with voluntary recommendations developed by the Commission.

This legislation has already gained the support of the Voting Integrity Project, the Committee for the Study of the American Electorate, and the National Organization on Disability.