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To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit voter caging and other questionable challenges.

USA116th CongressHR-1460| House 
| Updated: 4/8/2019
Debbie Mucarsel-Powell

Debbie Mucarsel-Powell

Democratic Representative

Florida

Cosponsors (11)
Sylvia R. Garcia (Democratic)Darren Soto (Democratic)Debra A. Haaland (Democratic)Bobby L. Rush (Democratic)Steve Cohen (Democratic)Jim Cooper (Democratic)Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democratic)Earl Blumenauer (Democratic)Charlie Crist (Democratic)Donna E. Shalala (Democratic)Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Democratic)

Committee on House Administration, Crime and Federal Government Surveillance Subcommittee, Judiciary Committee, Constitution and Limited Government Subcommittee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
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.
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Timeline
Feb 28, 2019
Introduced in House
Feb 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.
Apr 8, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
Apr 8, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
  • February 28, 2019
    Introduced in House


  • February 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.


  • April 8, 2019
    Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.


  • April 8, 2019
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

Crime and Law Enforcement

Related Bills

  • S 116-549: Voter Empowerment Act of 2019
  • HR 116-1: For the People Act of 2019
  • HR 116-1275: Voter Empowerment Act of 2019
  • S 116-949: For the People Act of 2019
Congressional electionsCrime preventionElections, voting, political campaign regulationGovernment information and archivesPostal serviceState and local government operationsVoting rights

To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit voter caging and other questionable challenges.

USA116th CongressHR-1460| House 
| Updated: 4/8/2019
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.
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Timeline
Feb 28, 2019
Introduced in House
Feb 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.
Apr 8, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
Apr 8, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
  • February 28, 2019
    Introduced in House


  • February 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.


  • April 8, 2019
    Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.


  • April 8, 2019
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
Debbie Mucarsel-Powell

Debbie Mucarsel-Powell

Democratic Representative

Florida

Cosponsors (11)
Sylvia R. Garcia (Democratic)Darren Soto (Democratic)Debra A. Haaland (Democratic)Bobby L. Rush (Democratic)Steve Cohen (Democratic)Jim Cooper (Democratic)Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democratic)Earl Blumenauer (Democratic)Charlie Crist (Democratic)Donna E. Shalala (Democratic)Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Democratic)

Committee on House Administration, Crime and Federal Government Surveillance Subcommittee, Judiciary Committee, Constitution and Limited Government Subcommittee

Crime and Law Enforcement

Related Bills

  • S 116-549: Voter Empowerment Act of 2019
  • HR 116-1: For the People Act of 2019
  • HR 116-1275: Voter Empowerment Act of 2019
  • S 116-949: For the People Act of 2019
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Congressional electionsCrime preventionElections, voting, political campaign regulationGovernment information and archivesPostal serviceState and local government operationsVoting rights