Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS
State Government

HJM 4000

Brief Description:  Requesting minimum standards for federal elections.

Sponsors:  Representatives Mastin and D. Schmidt .

Brief Summary of Bill

$Asks Congress to set minimum standards for federal elections.

Hearing Date:  1/29/01

Staff:  Jim Morishima (786‑7191).

Background: 

The manner in which elections are conducted is mostly a matter of state law.  This is partially because the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution states that all rights not delegated to the federal government by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states, or to the people.  Nevertheless, some federal law exists with respect to equal access to the polls, and voter registration for federal offices.  The conduct of elections is also governed, in part, by the state and federal constitutions.  However, there are currently no uniform federal standards with respect to the conduct of elections by the states.

Summary of Bill: 

Congress is requested, without restricting the method or manner in which the states hold their elections, to enact minimum federal standards concerning the process and procedures that the states may use to hold federal elections.  Federal funding is requested to help the states meet the federal standards.

Rulemaking Authority:  No express authority.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not Requested.