Bill Details
HR.1467 - 119th Congress
Status
Latest action
2025-02-21 - Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
Introduced Date
2025-02-21
Policy Area
Government Operations and Politics
Committees
View committees (1)
Cosponsors
View cosponsors (1)
6
0
0
AI Summary This summary was generated by AI from the bill text. AI can get information wrong.
This bill would tie federal election-administration money to a state’s rules for local elections. If a state does not allow local governments to hold elections for local office in odd-numbered years, that state would lose federal funds used to run elections for federal, state, or local offices. The bill is based on the idea that separate local election years help voters pay more attention to community issues and local candidates, instead of having those races crowded onto bigger even-year ballots.
- States would need to have a law in place that lets local governments choose odd-numbered years for local office elections.
- If a state does not have that kind of law, it could not receive federal funds for election administration under this bill and related election law.
- The bill says Congress believes odd-year local elections improve attention to local issues and help voters make better-informed choices.
- The new funding rule would start with fiscal year 2027 and continue after that.
Official Summaries
Protecting Our Local Elections Act or the POLE Act
This bill prohibits a state from receiving federal election administration funds if the state does not permit localities to hold elections for local office in odd-numbered years.
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1467 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1467
To amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to prohibit the use of
Federal funds for the administration of elections for Federal, State,
or local office in States which do not have in effect laws to permit
units of local government to hold elections for local office in odd-
numbered years, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 21, 2025
Mr. Garbarino introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on House Administration
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to prohibit the use of
Federal funds for the administration of elections for Federal, State,
or local office in States which do not have in effect laws to permit
units of local government to hold elections for local office in odd-
numbered years, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Protecting Our Local Elections Act''
or the ``POLE Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS; SENSE OF CONGRESS.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) Holding local elections for public office in odd-
numbered years provides greater focus on local candidates and
issues.
(2) Local elections held in odd-numbered years allow voters
to make more informed decisions about their local
representation.
(3) Holding all elections in even-numbered years diminishes
the attention given to community matters.
(4) Holding all elections in even-numbered years overcrowds
the ballot, hindering the decision-making process for voters.
(5) Local elected officials directly serve their immediate
communities and needs.
(6) Local leaders played a vital role in the founding of
the United States.
(7) Local governments are at the core of our Nation's
republic.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) units of local governments should have the authority to
conduct elections for local office in odd-numbered years;
(2) local elections held in odd-numbered years ensure that
local candidates and issues receive greater attention and allow
voters to make well-informed choices; and
(3) the most effective form of representation is attained
through local governance.
SEC. 3. PROHIBITING PROVISION OF FEDERAL FUNDS FOR ELECTION
ADMINISTRATION FOR STATES NOT PERMITTING LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS TO HOLD ELECTIONS FOR LOCAL OFFICE IN ODD-
NUMBERED YEARS.
(a) Prohibition.--Title IX of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52
U.S.C. 21141 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new
section:
``SEC. 907. PROHIBITING PROVISION OF FEDERAL FUNDS FOR ELECTION
ADMINISTRATION FOR STATES NOT PERMITTING LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS TO HOLD ELECTIONS FOR LOCAL OFFICE IN ODD-
NUMBERED YEARS.
``Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no Federal funds may
be provided under this Act or any other Act to administer an election
for Federal, State, or local office held in a State which does not have
in effect a law which permits units of local government in the State to
hold elections for local office in odd-numbered years.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents of such Act is
amended by adding at the end of the items relating to title IX the
following:
``Sec. 907. Prohibiting provision of Federal funds for election
administration for States not permitting
local governments to hold elections for
local office in odd-numbered years.''.
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply with respect to fiscal year 2027 and each succeeding fiscal year.
<all>