Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2007

To amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require a voter-verified permanent paper ballot under title III of such Act, and for other purposes.

5/16/2007--Reported to House amended. Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2007 -
(Sec. 2) Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA) to revise requirements for the audit capacity of voting systems, particularly those for a permanent paper record. Requires the voting system to require the use of or produce an individual, durable, voter-verified paper ballot of the voter's vote, created by or made available for inspection and verification by the voter before the voter's vote is cast and counted. Requires the voting system to provide the voter with an opportunity to correct any system-made error in the voter-verified paper ballot before it is permanently preserved. Requires each ballot produced to be:
(1) suitable for a manual audit equivalent to that of a paper ballot voting system; and
(2) counted by hand in any recount or audit conducted with respect to any federal election. Sets forth a special rule for treatment of disputes when paper ballots have been shown to be compromised. Revises the requirements for accessibility and ballot verification for individuals with disabilities. Requires a system that:
(1) allows the voter to privately and independently verify the individual, durable paper ballot through the conversion of the human-readable printed or market vote selections into accessible form;
(2) ensures that the entire process of ballot verification and vote casting is equipped for individuals with disabilities; and
(3) does not preclude the supplementary use of Braille or tactile ballots. Requires the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology to study, test, and develop best practices to enhance the accessibility of ballot verification mechanisms for individuals with disabilities, voters whose primary language is not English, and voters with difficulties in literacy. Authorizes appropriations. Outlines additional voting system requirements and prohibitions. Requires a notice in a prominent location in the polling place advising voters that:
(1) the paper ballots representing their votes shall serve as the vote of record in all audits and recounts in federal elections; and
(2) they should not leave the voting booth until confirming that such paper ballots accurately recorded their vote. Prohibits the use of uncertified election dedicated voting system technologies. Requires an accredited laboratory with which such technology has been deposited to hold it in escrow and disclose it, along with related information, to qualified persons (including governmental entities and parties to litigation challenging election administration or results) who have entered certain non-disclosure agreements or to whom state law requires the laboratory to disclose it. Prohibits a voting system from containing, using, or being accessible by any wireless, power-line, or concealed communication device, except state-certified enclosed infrared communications devices which cannot be used:
(1) for any remote or wide area communications; or
(2) without the knowledge of poll workers. Prohibits connection to the Internet at any time of any component of any voting device upon which ballots are programmed or votes are cast or tabulated. Specifies security standards for voting systems used in federal elections. Directs the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to develop and publish best practices on the documentation of the secure chain of custody for the handling of all software, hardware, vote storage media, ballots, and voter-verified ballots. Prescribes durability, readability, and polling place availability requirements for paper ballots. Requires laboratories to meet standards prohibiting conflicts of interest as a condition of accreditation for the testing of voting system hardware and software. Prescribes testing procedures. Authorizes appropriations. Prescribes requirements for special certification to the EAC of ballot durability for states not currently using durable paper ballots. Requires the Director of the National Science Foundation to make grants to up to three eligible entities to conduct research on the development of election-dedicated voting system software. Authorizes appropriations for FY2007-FY2008. Makes available additional funding to enable states to meet the costs of the requirements imposed by this Act.
(Sec. 3) Provides for complaints to the Attorney General by persons aggrieved by violations of HAVA.
(Sec. 4) Requires each state to administer audits of federal election results, without advance notice to the precincts selected, consisting of random hand counts of the voter-verified paper ballots. Makes an exception from this requirement for elections in which the winning candidate had no opponent or received 80% or more of the vote total. Prescribes requirements for determination of the number of ballots counted under the audit. Outlines the process for administering audits. Requires the Election Auditor of a state, as soon as practicable after the completion of an audit, to submit the results to EAC for publication. Prohibits certification of the results of any election until completion of audits.
Provides for payments to states for costs of conducting audits. Authorizes appropriations. Exempts from this Act any election for which a recount under state law will commence before certification of the election results.
(Sec. 5) Repeals the EAC's exemption from certain federal government contracting requirements.


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Sponsor

• Rep. Rush Holt [D, NJ-12]
• and 216 Co-Sponsors
  • Rep. Neil Abercrombie [D, HI-1]
  • Rep. Gary Ackerman [D, NY-5]
  • Rep. Thomas Allen [D, ME-1]
  • Rep. Jason Altmire [D, PA-4]
  • Rep. Tammy Baldwin [D, WI-2]
  • Rep. John Barrow [D, GA-12]
  • Rep. Melissa Bean [D, IL-8]
  • Rep. Xavier Becerra [D, CA-31]
  • Rep. Shelley Berkley [D, NV-1]
  • Rep. Howard Berman [D, CA-28]
  • Rep. Robert Berry [D, AR-1]
  • Rep. Judy Biggert [R, IL-13]
  • Rep. Sanford Bishop [D, GA-2]
  • Rep. Timothy Bishop [D, NY-1]
  • Rep. Earl Blumenauer [D, OR-3]
  • Rep. Mary Bono Mack [R, CA-45]
  • Rep. Dan Boren [D, OK-2]
  • Rep. Leonard Boswell [D, IA-3]
  • Rep. Frederick Boucher [D, VA-9]
  • Rep. F. Allen Boyd [D, FL-2]
  • Rep. Robert Brady [D, PA-1]
  • Rep. Bruce Braley [D, IA-1]
  • Rep. Corrine Brown [D, FL-3]
  • Rep. George Butterfield [D, NC-1]
  • Rep. Lois Capps [D, CA-23]
  • Rep. Russ Carnahan [D, MO-3]
  • Rep. Christopher Carney [D, PA-10]
  • Rep. Julia Carson [D, IN-7]
  • Rep. Michael Castle [R, DE-0]
  • Rep. Kathy Castor [D, FL-11]
  • Rep. Ben Chandler [D, KY-6]
  • Rep. William Clay [D, MO-1]
  • Rep. Emanuel Cleaver [D, MO-5]
  • Rep. Steve Cohen [D, TN-9]
  • Rep. Jim Cooper [D, TN-5]
  • Rep. Jim Costa [D, CA-20]
  • Rep. Jerry Costello [D, IL-12]
  • Rep. Joe Courtney [D, CT-2]
  • Rep. Joseph Crowley [D, NY-7]
  • Rep. Henry Cuellar [D, TX-28]
  • Rep. Elijah Cummings [D, MD-7]
  • Rep. Danny Davis [D, IL-7]
  • Rep. Lincoln Davis [D, TN-4]
  • Rep. Susan Davis [D, CA-53]
  • Rep. Thomas Davis [R, VA-11]
  • Rep. Artur Davis [D, AL-7]
  • Rep. Peter DeFazio [D, OR-4]
  • Rep. Diana DeGette [D, CO-1]
  • Rep. William Delahunt [D, MA-10]
  • Rep. Rosa DeLauro [D, CT-3]
  • Rep. Norman Dicks [D, WA-6]
  • Rep. John Dingell [D, MI-15]
  • Rep. Lloyd Doggett [D, TX-25]
  • Rep. Joe Donnelly [D, IN-2]
  • Rep. Michael Doyle [D, PA-14]
  • Rep. Thomas Edwards [D, TX-17]
  • Rep. Keith Ellison [D, MN-5]
  • Rep. Rahm Emanuel [D, IL-5]
  • Rep. Eliot Engel [D, NY-17]
  • Rep. Philip English [R, PA-3]
  • Rep. Anna Eshoo [D, CA-14]
  • Rep. Bob Etheridge [D, NC-2]
  • Rep. Sam Farr [D, CA-17]
  • Rep. Chaka Fattah [D, PA-2]
  • Rep. Bob Filner [D, CA-51]
  • Rep. Luis Fortuno [R, PR-0]
  • Rep. Barney Frank [D, MA-4]
  • Rep. Jim Gerlach [R, PA-6]
  • Rep. Gabrielle Giffords [D, AZ-8]
  • Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand [D, NY-20]
  • Rep. Charles Gonzalez [D, TX-20]
  • Rep. Barton Gordon [D, TN-6]
  • Rep. Raymond Green [D, TX-29]
  • Rep. Al Green [D, TX-9]
  • Rep. Raul Grijalva [D, AZ-7]
  • Rep. Luis Gutierrez [D, IL-4]
  • Rep. John Hall [D, NY-19]
  • Rep. Phil Hare [D, IL-17]
  • Rep. Jane Harman [D, CA-36]
  • Rep. Alcee Hastings [D, FL-23]
  • Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin [D, SD-0]
  • Rep. Brian Higgins [D, NY-27]
  • Rep. Baron Hill [D, IN-9]
  • Rep. Maurice Hinchey [D, NY-22]
  • Rep. Rubén Hinojosa [D, TX-15]
  • Rep. Mazie Hirono [D, HI-2]
  • Rep. Paul Hodes [D, NH-2]
  • Rep. Tim Holden [D, PA-17]
  • Rep. Michael Honda [D, CA-15]
  • Rep. Darlene Hooley [D, OR-5]
  • Rep. Jay Inslee [D, WA-1]
  • Rep. Steve Israel [D, NY-2]
  • Rep. Darrell Issa [R, CA-49]
  • Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee [D, TX-18]
  • Rep. William Jefferson [D, LA-2]
  • Rep. Eddie Johnson [D, TX-30]
  • Rep. Henry Johnson [D, GA-4]
  • Rep. Stephanie Jones [D, OH-11]
  • Rep. Steve Kagen [D, WI-8]
  • Rep. Paul Kanjorski [D, PA-11]
  • Rep. Marcy Kaptur [D, OH-9]
  • Rep. Patrick Kennedy [D, RI-1]
  • Rep. Dale Kildee [D, MI-5]
  • Rep. Carolyn Kilpatrick [D, MI-13]
  • Rep. Ronald Kind [D, WI-3]
  • Rep. Ron Klein [D, FL-22]
  • Rep. Dennis Kucinich [D, OH-10]
  • Rep. John Kuhl [R, NY-29]
  • Rep. Ray LaHood [R, IL-18]
  • Rep. James Langevin [D, RI-2]
  • Rep. Tom Lantos [D, CA-12]
  • Rep. Rick Larsen [D, WA-2]
  • Rep. Barbara Lee [D, CA-9]
  • Rep. Sander Levin [D, MI-12]
  • Rep. John Lewis [D, GA-5]
  • Rep. Daniel Lipinski [D, IL-3]
  • Rep. Frank LoBiondo [R, NJ-2]
  • Rep. David Loebsack [D, IA-2]
  • Rep. Zoe Lofgren [D, CA-16]
  • Rep. Nita Lowey [D, NY-18]
  • Rep. Connie Mack [R, FL-14]
  • Rep. Carolyn Maloney [D, NY-14]
  • Rep. Edward Markey [D, MA-7]
  • Rep. James Marshall [D, GA-8]
  • Rep. Jim Matheson [D, UT-2]
  • Rep. Doris Matsui [D, CA-5]
  • Rep. Carolyn McCarthy [D, NY-4]
  • Rep. Betty McCollum [D, MN-4]
  • Rep. James McDermott [D, WA-7]
  • Rep. James McGovern [D, MA-3]
  • Rep. Mike McIntyre [D, NC-7]
  • Rep. Michael McNulty [D, NY-21]
  • Rep. Martin Meehan [D, MA-5]
  • Rep. Kendrick Meek [D, FL-17]
  • Rep. Charles Melancon [D, LA-3]
  • Rep. Michael Michaud [D, ME-2]
  • Rep. R. Bradley Miller [D, NC-13]
  • Rep. George Miller [D, CA-7]
  • Rep. Harry Mitchell [D, AZ-5]
  • Rep. Alan Mollohan [D, WV-1]
  • Rep. Dennis Moore [D, KS-3]
  • Rep. Gwen Moore [D, WI-4]
  • Rep. James Moran [D, VA-8]
  • Rep. Patrick Murphy [D, PA-8]
  • Rep. Tim Murphy [R, PA-18]
  • Rep. Christopher Murphy [D, CT-5]
  • Rep. John Murtha [D, PA-12]
  • Rep. Jerrold Nadler [D, NY-8]
  • Rep. Grace Napolitano [D, CA-38]
  • Rep. Eleanor Norton [D, DC-0]
  • Rep. James Oberstar [D, MN-8]
  • Rep. David Obey [D, WI-7]
  • Rep. John Olver [D, MA-1]
  • Rep. Solomon Ortiz [D, TX-27]
  • Rep. Frank Pallone [D, NJ-6]
  • Rep. Edward Pastor [D, AZ-4]
  • Rep. Donald Payne [D, NJ-10]
  • Rep. Collin Peterson [D, MN-7]
  • Rep. Thomas Petri [R, WI-6]
  • Rep. David Price [D, NC-4]
  • Rep. Nick Rahall [D, WV-3]
  • Rep. James Ramstad [R, MN-3]
  • Rep. Charles Rangel [D, NY-15]
  • Rep. Silvestre Reyes [D, TX-16]
  • Rep. Ciro Rodriguez [D, TX-23]
  • Rep. Mike Ross [D, AR-4]
  • Rep. Steven Rothman [D, NJ-9]
  • Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard [D, CA-34]
  • Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger [D, MD-2]
  • Rep. John Salazar [D, CO-3]
  • Rep. Linda Sanchez [D, CA-39]
  • Rep. Loretta Sanchez [D, CA-47]
  • Rep. John Sarbanes [D, MD-3]
  • Rep. H. James Saxton [R, NJ-3]
  • Rep. Janice Schakowsky [D, IL-9]
  • Rep. Adam Schiff [D, CA-29]
  • Rep. Allyson Schwartz [D, PA-13]
  • Rep. David Scott [D, GA-13]
  • Rep. Robert Scott [D, VA-3]
  • Rep. José Serrano [D, NY-16]
  • Rep. Christopher Shays [R, CT-4]
  • Rep. Brad Sherman [D, CA-27]
  • Rep. Heath Shuler [D, NC-11]
  • Rep. Albio Sires [D, NJ-13]
  • Rep. Louise Slaughter [D, NY-28]
  • Rep. Adam Smith [D, WA-9]
  • Rep. Victor Snyder [D, AR-2]
  • Rep. Hilda Solis [D, CA-32]
  • Rep. John Spratt [D, SC-5]
  • Rep. Fortney Stark [D, CA-13]
  • Rep. Bart Stupak [D, MI-1]
  • Rep. Betty Sutton [D, OH-13]
  • Rep. John Tanner [D, TN-8]
  • Rep. Ellen Tauscher [D, CA-10]
  • Rep. Gene Taylor [D, MS-4]
  • Rep. C. Michael Thompson [D, CA-1]
  • Rep. John Tierney [D, MA-6]
  • Rep. Edolphus Towns [D, NY-10]
  • Rep. Mark Udall [D, CO-2]
  • Rep. Tom Udall [D, NM-3]
  • Rep. Christopher Van Hollen [D, MD-8]
  • Rep. Nydia Velazquez [D, NY-12]
  • Rep. Greg Walden [R, OR-2]
  • Rep. Timothy Walz [D, MN-1]
  • Rep. Zach Wamp [R, TN-3]
  • Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz [D, FL-20]
  • Rep. Maxine Waters [D, CA-35]
  • Rep. Diane Watson [D, CA-33]
  • Rep. Henry Waxman [D, CA-30]
  • Rep. Anthony Weiner [D, NY-9]
  • Rep. Robert Wexler [D, FL-19]
  • Rep. Frank Wolf [R, VA-10]
  • Rep. Lynn Woolsey [D, CA-6]
  • Rep. David Wu [D, OR-1]
  • Rep. Albert Wynn [D, MD-4]
  • Rep. John Yarmuth [D, KY-3]
  close

Committees

• House Administration
• 1 more
  • House Administration
  close

Amendments

This bill has no amendments.

Amendments to H.R.811

Number	Status	Purpose

Bill Status

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Introduced		Voted on by House		Voted on by Senate		Considered By President		Bill Becomes Law
February 05, 2007

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All Bill Actions

• Added to calendar on May 16, 2007: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 91..
• May 16, 2007: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on House Administration. H. Rept. 110-154.
• Added to calendar on May 08, 2007: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 6 - 3..
• May 08, 2007: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
• May 08, 2007: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 6 - 3.
• May 08, 2007: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
• May 02, 2007: Subcommittee on Elections Discharged.
• Mar 29, 2007: Committee Hearings Held.
• Mar 23, 2007: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
• Mar 23, 2007: Referred to the Subcommittee on Elections.
• Feb 05, 2007: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
• Introduced on Feb 05, 2007.

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Related Bills:

• S.559
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In the News

October 04, 2007 Commentary: Easy solutions to touch screen voting machines

By Ann Frisch State and local governments are aggressively lobbying against HR 811, the federal Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2007, ...

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Source: Oshkosh Northwestern, WI

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September 27, 2007 E-Vote: States, Local Governments Unite to Pull Elections Bill

The groups sent House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer a letter today urging them "to resist bringing HR 811, the Voter Confidence ...

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Source: Government Technology, CA

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September 26, 2007 Election Vaporware

By David L. Dill, VerifiedVoting.org Huffington Post blogger Robert D. Atkinson recently posted a column opposing HR 811, Rep. Rush Holt's bill to require a ...

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Source: VoteTrustUSA, CA

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Blog Coverage

July 16, 2008 Election Truth, GOP wants to steal election again

Update on HR 811: Dangerous Election Bill Legalizes Secret Vote Counting * Why doesn't the GOP want Ohio's voting machines tested? * Will the GOP election theft machine do it again in 2008? * Dan Rather Reports: The Trouble with ...

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Source: Bushit

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May 21, 2008 Pink Women's Power Skinsuit Racing: BB#2

... 400 1.00% 18% 27% 40% 66% 400 1.75% 31% 43% 61% 86% 400 2.00% 34% 46% 65% 88% 400 5.00% 66% 80% 94% 99.6% The letter rightly points out that the HR811 audits yield much higher probabilities than an across-the-board 2% audit would. ...

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Source: best texts

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May 04, 2008 Comment on HR 811 Up For House Vote Tomorrow by eq2 plat

we highlight the fact that cryptographers have come up with universally verifiable voting protocols whereby every voter and election observer can independently verify the results of the election. I think this is where we should be ...

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