H.R. 7536 · 117th Congress
Civic Duty to Vote Act
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Never voted on. It didn't reach a floor vote before the 117th Congress ended, so it expired. A bill has to be introduced again to be considered in a new Congress.
D
LarsonSponsorNo cosponsors.
This bill requires each eligible citizen to vote in each regularly scheduled general election for federal office.
What it does: CRS summary · Introduced in House · Apr 18, 2022
Civic Duty to Vote Act
This bill requires each eligible citizen to vote in each regularly scheduled general election for federal office.
The bill establishes a $20 civil monetary penalty for failure to vote. In the case of an individual's first violation of the voting requirement, the penalty shall not apply and the appropriate state election official must notify the individual that a penalty will be assessed for any subsequent violation.
Further, the bill outlines an additional exception and waiver to the assessment of a penalty. The penalty shall not apply in instances when
- the individual certifies to the appropriate state election official that the individual has a valid and sufficient reason for not voting, or
- the state election official grants a waiver to an individual who either certifies that the individual cannot afford to pay the penalty or attests that the individual will complete one hour of community service.
The bill prohibits state election officials from sharing information with law enforcement agencies regarding an individual's certification or waiver of the penalty. Further, the bill prohibits law enforcement agencies from using this information to subject the individual to additional penalties or criminal investigation.
The bill also requires the Election Assistance Commission to (1) develop and publish best practices for states to implement this bill's requirements, and (2) make grants to states to implement this bill's requirements.
Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov
About this bill and sources
Official title: Civic Duty to Vote Act
Latest action (Apr 18, 2022): Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics · Origin: House · Introduced: Apr 18, 2022
Official page on Congress.gov · Bill text (GovInfo) · Status record (XML)
No recorded floor vote found.