United States 116th Congress Status: Died 1 D cosponsors

HR 4990 — Election Technology Research Act of 2020

Last action — Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed House
  4. Died in session

This bill died with 116th Congress. It reached “Passed House” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

The bill requires the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) to conduct research on voting systems to enhance their security and modernization. NIST must establish a Center of Excellence and provide technical assistance to election officials, while NSF is tasked with awarding grants for research and education related to election security and technology.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

6 added · 1 removed

Plain-language change summary

The changes indicate that H.R. 4990 has been received in the Senate, read twice, and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration. Additionally, the reference to the bill being "Engrossed in House" has been removed. This matters because it signals the bill's progression from the House to the Senate for further consideration.

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4990 Engrossed in House (EH)] <DOC> 116th CONGRESS 2d Session H.
4990 Referred in Senate (RFS)] <DOC> 116th CONGRESS 2d Session H.
4990 _______________________________________________________________________ AN ACT To direct the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the National Science Foundation to carry out research and other activities to promote the security and modernization of voting systems, and for other purposes.
4990 _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 17, 2020 Received;
read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration _______________________________________________________________________ AN ACT To direct the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the National Science Foundation to carry out research and other activities to promote the security and modernization of voting systems, and for other purposes.
Clerk.
CHERYL L.
116th CONGRESS 2d Session H.
JOHNSON, Clerk.
R.
4990 _______________________________________________________________________ AN ACT To direct the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the National Science Foundation to carry out research and other activities to promote the security and modernization of voting systems, and for other purposes.
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Sections of law this bill changes

1 section in 1 law

From the bill's own amending language, matched to the official United States Code (current through Public Law 119-124).

Election administration improvement · 52 U.S.C. ch. 209 1 section
  • § 21081 Voting systems standards Amends

    52 U.S.C. § 21081 — at 21081(b)

    The law today

    (a) Requirements Each voting system used in an election for Federal office shall meet the following requirements: (1) In general (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the voting system (including any lever voting system, optical scanning voting system, or direct recording electronic system) shall— (i) permit the voter to verify (in a private and independent manner) the votes selected by the voter on the ballot before the ballot is cast and counted; (ii) provide the voter with the opportunity (in a private and independent manner) to change the ballot or correct any error before the ballot is cast and counted (including the opportunity to correct the error through the issuance of a replacement ballot if the voter was otherwise unable to change the ballot or correct any error); and (iii) if the voter selects votes for more than one candidate for a single office— (I) notify the voter that the voter has selected more than one candidate for a single office on the ballot; (II) notify the voter before the ballot is cast and counted of the effect of casting multiple votes for the office; and (III) provide the voter with the opportunity to correct the ballot before the ballot is cast and counted. (B) A State or jurisdiction that uses a paper ballot voting system, a punch card voting system, or a central count voting system (including mail-in absentee ballots and mail-in ballots), may meet the requirements of subparagraph (A)(iii) by— (i) establishing a voter education program specific to that voting system that notifies each voter of the effect of casting multiple votes for an office; and (ii) providing the voter with instructions on how to correct the ballot before it is cast and counted (including instructions on how to correct the error through the issuance of a replacement ballot if the voter was otherwise unable to change the ballot or correct any error). (C) The voting system shall ensure that any notification required under this paragraph preserves the privacy of the voter and the confidentiality of the ballot. (2) Audit capacity (A) In general The voting system shall produce a record with an audit capacity for such system. (B) Manual audit capacity (i) The voting system shall produce a permanent paper record with a manual audit capacity for such system. (ii) The voting system shall provide the voter with an opportunity to change the ballot or correct any error before the permanent paper record is produced. (iii) The paper record produced under subparagraph (A) shall be available as an official record for any recount conducted with respect to any election in which the system is used. (3) Accessibility for individuals with disabilities The voting system shall— (A) be accessible for individuals with disabilities, including nonvisual accessibility for the blind and visually impaired, in a manner that provides the same opportunity for access and participation (including privacy and independence) as for other voters; (B) satisfy the requirement of subparagraph (A) through the use of at least one direct recording electronic voting system or other voting system equipped for individuals with disabilities at each polling place; and (C) if purchased with funds made available under subchapter II on or after January 1, 2007, meet the voting system standards for disability access (as outlined in this paragraph). (4) Alternative language accessibility The voting system shall provide alternative language accessibility pursuant to the requirements of section 10503 of this title. (5) Error rates The error rate of the voting system in counting ballots (determined by taking into account only those errors which are attributable to the voting system and not attributable to an act of the voter) shall comply with the error rate standards established under section 3.2.1 of the voting systems standards issued by the Federal Election Commission which are in effect on October 29, 2002. (6) Uniform definition of what constitutes a vote Each State s...

    187 other bills also change this section · Follow it → Official text at uscode.house.gov ↗

Also cites: 52 U.S.C. § 20961, 52 U.S.C. § 21041

Action History

  1. Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.

  2. Ms. Sherrill moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

  3. Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4468-4472)

  4. DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4990.

  5. Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.

  6. On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4468-4469)

  7. Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  8. Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. H. Rept. 116-396, Part I.

  9. Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. H. Rept. 116-396, Part I.

  10. Committee on House Administration discharged.

  11. Committee on House Administration discharged.

  12. Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 318.

  13. Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

  14. Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

  15. Introduced in House

  16. Introduced in House

  17. Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, 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.

  18. Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, 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.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 546 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (546)

546 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

elections technology
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does HR 4990 do?
The bill requires the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) to conduct research on voting systems to enhance their security and modernization. NIST must establish a Center of Excellence and provide technical assistance to election officials, while NSF is tasked with awarding grants for research and education related to election security and technology.
Who sponsors HR 4990?
HR 4990 is sponsored by Sherrill, Mikie (Democratic).
What is the current status of HR 4990?
This bill died with 116th Congress. It reached “Passed House” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track HR 4990?
Track HR 4990 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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