BILL ANALYSIS �
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SJR 6|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SJR 6
Author: Yee (D)
Amended: As introduced
Vote: 21
SUBJECT : The Lines Interfere with National Elections Act of
2013
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This resolution proclaims the Legislatures support
for the federal Lines Interfere with National Elections Act of
2013, and memorializes the Congress of the United States to
promptly pass the act and President Barack Obama to sign the
act.
ANALYSIS : This resolution makes the following legislative
findings:
1.The right to vote is a fundamental right of citizens of the
United States.
2.It is a fundamental principle of our representative democracy
that citizens shall not be required to overcome unreasonable
obstacles in order to exercise their right to vote.
3.At the presidential election on November 6, 2012, voters in
Florida, Virginia, Ohio, and other states waited in line for
up to seven hours to cast ballots, and some voters were
required to wait in line well after the polls were closed.
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4.More than 200,000 voters in Florida likely decided not to vote
in the election held on November 6, 2012, because of their
frustration with long lines.
5.United States Senator Barbara Boxer has introduced in Congress
the Lines Interfere with National Elections Act of 2013, which
would amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to ensure that
voters in elections for federal office do not wait in long
lines in order to vote.
6.The Lines Interfere with National Elections Act of 2013
requires the United States Attorney General, in consultation
with the Election Assistance Commission, to issue standards by
January 1, 2014, regarding the minimum number of voting
systems, poll workers, and other election resources needed on
election day and during early voting periods to prevent a
waiting time of more than one hour at any polling place.
7.The Lines Interfere with National Elections Act of 2013
requires states where a substantial number of voters waited
longer than 90 minutes to cast a vote in the presidential
election held on November 6, 2012, or any election for federal
office held after that date, to comply with a remedial plan to
minimize the waiting times of voters and to ensure voters do
not face similar delays in the future.
8.An election system with fair access provides the greatest
guard to our rights and liberties.
This resolution proclaims the Legislature's support for the
federal Lines Interfere with National Elections Act of 2013, and
memorializes the Congress of the United States to promptly pass
the act and President Barack Obama to sign the act.
Comments
According to the author's office, on Election Day, voters across
our state and nation make their voices heard by electing
representatives to best represent their district and its issues.
While millions of voters easily casted their votes in the recent
presidential election last November, voters in states like
Florida, Ohio and Virginia were faced with long lines at polling
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places. So long, in fact, that in one polling place in Miami,
voters waited up to seven hours before finally having their
opportunity to vote.
Some states suppress their voters by essentially instituting a
"poll tax" on many of their voters, who are often people of
color, seniors, and the working poor. For a hotel worker in
Florida, who earns $10 per hour, he or she essentially spent $50
to $60 just to vote. No one should have to take off seven hours
of work just to participate in our democracy.
FISCAL EFFECT : Fiscal Com.: No
RM:nl 3/7/13 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: NONE RECEIVED
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