S.Amdt. 4711

SA 4711, submitted by Ms. Blunt Rochester, aims to add a subtitle to Title I of bill S. 1383 focused on the Protection Military, Military Family, and Overseas Voters.

The purpose of this amendment is to prevent the provisions and amendments of Title I from taking effect until two years after the following items are submitted to Congress:

• A certification signed by the Attorney General, each member of the Election Assistance Commission, and the Presidential designee stating that the Act will not materially impair, delay, burden, or reduce the ability of overseas and absent uniformed services voters to register, request, receive, cast, and have their absentee ballots counted in Federal elections.
• Findings from each member of the Election Assistance Commission regarding the matters required in the certification.
• A report from the Presidential designee that documents the basis for the certification and provides a State-by-State impact analysis of how these provisions affect overseas and absent uniformed services voters.

The amendment further requires that the certification include:

• A statement from the Presidential designee confirming that chief State election officials were consulted and have no unresolved objections.
• A statement from the Inspector Generals for the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Election Assistance Commission confirming that implementation plans do not conflict with the Military Overseas Voting Empowerment Act or the Uniformed and Absentee Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act and include adequate safeguards.
• A determination by the Election Assistance Commission that Congress provided specific funding for State implementation, including voter education, official training, and required safeguards.

Additionally, the amendment allows the chief State election official to request a 1-year extension if the Commission finds the State is not operationally ready to implement the title without burdening the voting abilities of overseas and absent uniformed services voters.