H.R. 1562 115th Congress House

SAFE Act

Official title: To amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to improve the security of the information technology used to administer voter registration procedures and elections… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to improve the security of the information technology used to administer voter registration procedures and elections for Federal office, to promote the accuracy and integrity of the results of such elections, and for other purposes.

Introduced: March 5, 2018 Introduced by: Mark Pocan Democratic · Wisconsin See on congress.gov

Government Operations and Politics Computer security and identity theftComputers and information technologyCongressional electionsDisability and paralysis

More subjectsShow fewer subjects

Election Assistance CommissionElections, voting, political campaign regulationEmergency planning and evacuationExecutive agency funding and structureGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsHearing, speech, and vision carePresidents and presidential powers, Vice PresidentsState and local government operations

Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps

Introduced

In committee

Reported out

Passed House

Passed Senate

To President

Became law

Apr 25, 2017

Referred to the Subcommittee on Research and Technology.

Mar 16, 2017

Introduced in House

Mar 16, 2017

Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

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Latest action April 25, 2017

Referred to the Subcommittee on Research and Technology.

Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Secure America's Future Elections Act or the SAFE Act

This bill directs the National Protection and Programs Directorate of the Department of Homeland Security to designate the infrastructure used to administer elections as critical infrastructure.

The bill amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 with respect to:

funding for states to upgrade the security of the information technology and cybersecurity elements of voting systems, voter registration lists, and voter registration processes;
voting systems and cybersecurity standards;
paper ballot and manual counting requirements;
accessibility to voting systems and ballot verification for individuals with disabilities;
durability and readability requirements for ballots; and
mandatory manual audits of results of elections.

The National Science Foundation shall make grants to study, test, and develop accessible paper ballot voting mechanisms and best practices to enhance the accessibility of paper ballot voting for voters with disabilities, voters whose primary language is not English, and voters with difficulties in literacy.

The National Institute for Standards and Technology shall establish guidance for states that wish to establish alternative audit mechanisms.

The Election Assistance Commission is made permanent.

Related & companion bills 1

Bill text 1 version