Sec. 2. Development of best practices for protecting integrity of Federal elections
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The Help America Vote Act of 2002 ( 52 U.S.C. 20901 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 247 the following new section: The Commission, in consultation with the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, the Election Assistance Commission Standards Board, the Election Assistance Commission Board of Advisors, the Election Assistance Commission Technical Guidelines Development Committee, the National Association of Secretaries of State, the National Association of State Election Directors, the National Association of Election Officials, the International Association of Government Officials, the National Association of State Chief Information Officers, the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center, and other stakeholders the Commission determines necessary, shall conduct a study on each of the following:
Best practices for cybersecurity of Federal elections, including best practices for storing and securing voter registration data. Best practices for election audits, with the goal of ensuring that— each vote cast in an election for Federal office is accompanied by a paper record of the vote that is visible to the voter and is retained by the appropriate election official for a period sufficient to conduct the audit described in subparagraph (B); and prior to the certification of the results of any election for Federal office, appropriate election officials conduct a manual audit of a random sample of the paper records of the votes cast in the election, as described in subparagraph (A), that provides high statistical confidence in the results of the election.
In conducting each of the studies under this section, the Commission shall hold public hearings. In conducting the study under subsection (a)(1), the Commission shall consider the following: The interference by foreign actors in the 2016 Federal election. The opinion of intelligence officials that foreign states are likely to attempt to interfere in future Federal elections. Election administration profiles based on the cybersecurity framework of the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
Best practices for storing and securing voter registration data. All components of election infrastructure, as designated by the Secretary of Homeland Security, on January 6, 2017, as a subsector of a critical infrastructure sector (as defined in section 2001 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 601 )). The implications of the aging of voting equipment on cybersecurity. Any existing Federal funding sources that may be used to assist State and local governments to improve election cybersecurity.
Any related issues the Commission identifies as necessary to complete a comprehensive study of best practices for cybersecurity of Federal elections. In conducting the study under subsection (a)(2), the Commission shall consider the following: Public confidence in the administration of Federal elections. Verifying the integrity of the election process. Confirming the accuracy of results reported by the voting system. Ensuring that the voting system is accurately tabulating ballots.
Ensuring that the winners of each election for Federal office are called correctly. Current State requirements related to election audits. Durational requirements needed to facilitate an election audit prior to election certification, including variations in the acceptance of postal ballots and election certification deadlines. Administrative requirements and challenges for various types of election audits. The potential to identify areas of improvement in election administration using varying types of election audits.
The use of voting systems producing voter-verified paper ballots. Any related issues the Commission identifies as necessary to complete a comprehensive study of best practices for election audits. Not later than the date that is 6 months after the date of the enactment of this section, the Commission shall submit a report to the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate and the Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives on each of the studies conducted under this section, together with recommendations with the matters described in paragraphs
(1)and
(2)of subsection (a). . The table of contents for such Act is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 247 the following new item: Sec. 248. Study and report on best practices for protecting the integrity of Federal elections and for storing and securing voter registration data. .
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Sec. 2
Development of best practices for protecting integrity of Federal elections
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