Bill Sponsor
House Bill 1460
116th Congress(2019-2020)
To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit voter caging and other questionable challenges.
Introduced
Introduced
Introduced in House on Feb 28, 2019
Overview
Text
Introduced
Feb 28, 2019
Latest Action
Apr 8, 2019
Origin Chamber
House
Type
Bill
Bill
The primary form of legislative measure used to propose law. Depending on the chamber of origin, bills begin with a designation of either H.R. or S. Joint resolution is another form of legislative measure used to propose law.
Bill Number
1460
Congress
116
Policy Area
Crime and Law Enforcement
Crime and Law Enforcement
Primary focus of measure is criminal offenses, investigation and prosecution, procedure and sentencing; corrections and imprisonment; juvenile crime; law enforcement administration. Measures concerning terrorism may fall under Emergency Management or International Affairs policy areas.
Sponsorship by Party
House Votes (0)
Senate Votes (0)
No House votes have been held for this bill.
Summary

This bill prohibits voter caging and establishes penalties for violations. Voter caging is a practice of preventing or challenging voter registration, oftentimes by sending direct mail to individuals on the voter rolls, compiling a list of the undeliverable mail (voter caging list), and using the list to remove or challenge voter registrations.

First, the bill generally prohibits state or local election officials from preventing an individual from registering or voting in any federal election, or from permitting a formal challenge under state law to an individual's registration status or eligibility to vote, if the decision is based on certain evidence. Such evidence includes (1) a voter caging document or voter caging list, (2) an unverified match list, (3) an error or omission on a voter document that is immaterial to the individual's eligibility to vote, or (4) other evidence as designated by the Election Assistance Commission (EAC).

Additionally, it requires a private individual who challenges the right of another citizen to vote to set forth in writing, under penalty of perjury, a good faith factual basis for the ineligibility.

Further, it prohibits certain challenges to an individual's eligibility to vote in a federal election within 10 days of the election.

A violator is subject to penalties—a fine, up to one year in prison, or both.

Finally, the EAC must develop and publish best practices for preventing voter caging, and include such practices in voter information materials.

Text (1)
February 28, 2019
Actions (4)
04/08/2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
04/08/2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
02/28/2019
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
02/28/2019
Introduced in House
Public Record
Record Updated
Nov 1, 2022 5:03:31 PM