text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``National Election Standards Act of 
  2001''.
  
  SEC. 2. UNIFORM NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR FEDERAL ELECTION PROCEDURES.
  
      (a) Uniform Standards.--Title III of the Federal Election Campaign 
  Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 431 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
  following:
  
  ``SEC. 323. UNIFORM ELECTION PROCEDURES.
  
      ``(a) In General.--The Commission shall provide required uniform 
  national standards regarding procedures for elections for Federal 
  office that--
              ``(1) minimize delay, error, or confusion in voting and in 
          voter registration;
              ``(2) eliminate fraud in the voting process;
              ``(3) increase the accuracy and reliability of vote counts 
          and counting procedure;
              ``(4) reduce the number of uncounted and discarded ballots;
              ``(5) encourage voter registration and voter turnout;
              ``(6) ensure accessibility to registration facilities and 
          polling places for all voters; and
              ``(7) promote public confidence in the accuracy and 
          reliability of the election process.
      ``(b) Standards.--The standards under subsection (a) shall include 
  procedures regarding--
              ``(1) the type of ballots used;
              ``(2) vote counting;
              ``(3) use of counting machines;
              ``(4) accuracy and security of elections and vote counts;
              ``(5) voter registration; and
              ``(6) verification and maintenance of voter rolls.
      ``(c) Study of State Procedures.--For purposes of determining 
  standards under subsection (a), the Commission shall study and 
  periodically review (not less often than once every 6 months following 
  an election for Federal office) State election regulations and 
  procedures.
      ``(d) Enforcement.--Standards established under this section shall 
  only be enforceable under section 309(e).
      ``(e) Regulations.--
              ``(1) In general.--Not later than January 1, 2002, the 
          Commission shall promulgate regulations to carry out the 
          provisions of this section based on an initial study and 
          analysis of election and vote counting procedures utilized in 
          each State.
              ``(2) State compliance.--The Commission may--
                      ``(A) prescribe a reasonable period of time for 
                  States to comply with the uniform national standards 
                  established under this section; and
                      ``(B) establish a process for a State to request a 
                  waiver of compliance with a standard or an extension of 
                  time to comply with a standard, based on a showing that 
                  the State cannot reasonably comply with such 
                  standard.''.
      (b) Enforcement.--
              (1) Civil penalties.--
                      (A) In general.--Section 309 of the Federal 
                  Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 437g) is 
                  amended by adding at the end the following:
      ``(e) The Attorney General may bring a civil action in an 
  appropriate district court for such declaratory or injunctive relief as 
  is necessary to carry out the requirements under section 323.''.
                      (B) Conforming amendment.--Section 309(a)(1) of the 
                  Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 
                  437g(a)(1)) is amended by striking ``Any person'' and 
                  inserting ``Except as provided in section 323, any 
                  person''.
              (2) Criminal penalties.--
                      (A) In general.--Chapter 29 of title 18, United 
                  States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
                  following:
  
  ``SEC. 612. NONCOMPLIANCE WITH UNIFORM NATIONAL ELECTION STANDARDS.
  
      ``It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly conduct an 
  election for Federal office (within the meaning of section 301 of the 
  Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 431)), or to knowingly 
  interfere with such election, so that the election is in violation of 
  the uniform national standards established by the Federal 
  Election Commission under section 323 of such Act. Any person who 
  violates this section shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not 
  more than 3 years, or both.''.
                      (B) Conforming amendment.--The table of sections 
                  for chapter 29 of title 18, United States Code, is 
                  amended by inserting at the end the following:
  
                                ``Sec. 612. Noncompliance with uniform 
                                          national election standards.''.
      (c) Compliance Grant Program.--
              (1) In general.--The Federal Election Commission is 
          authorized to make grants to States to provide for the cost of 
          implementing the uniform national standards for elections 
          established under section 323 of the Federal Election Campaign 
          Act of 1971.
              (2) Use of funds.--A State may use a grant received under 
          paragraph (1) for costs in relation to compliance with the 
          uniform national standards for elections established by the 
          Federal Election Commission.
              (3) Application.--Each State that desires to receive a 
          grant under this subsection shall submit an application to the 
          Federal Election Commission, at such time, in such manner, and 
          accompanied by such information as reasonably required by the 
          regulations promulgated under paragraph (5).
              (4) Approval of application.--The Federal Election 
          Commission shall approve an application in accordance with the 
          standards required under paragraph (5).
              (5) Administrative regulations.--The Federal Election 
          Commission shall issue regulations regarding grants under this 
          subsection that provide for the following:
                      (A) The application process.
                      (B) The content of an application.
                      (C) The standard amount of each grant.
                      (D) The criteria for approval of an application.
              (6) Authorization of appropriations.--
                      (A) In general.--There is authorized to be 
                  appropriated $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2002 
                  through 2011 to carry out the provisions of this 
                  subsection.
                      (B) Availability of funds.--Such funds shall remain 
                  available until expended.
              (7) Reports.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
          enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, the Federal 
          Election Commission shall submit to Congress a report on the 
          activities under this subsection.
  
  SEC. 3. CHANGE IN GENERAL ELECTION DATE.
  
      (a) Electors.--Section 1 of title 3, United States Code, is amended 
  by striking ``on the Tuesday next after the first Monday'' and 
  inserting ``on the first consecutive Saturday and Sunday prior to the 
  first Monday''.
      (b) Congressional Elections.--Section 25 of the Revised Statutes (2 
  U.S.C. 7) is amended to read as follows:
      ``Sec. 25. The first consecutive Saturday and Sunday prior to the 
  first Monday in November, in every even numbered year, are established 
  as the days for the election, in each of the States and Territories of 
  the United States, of Representatives and Delegates to the Congress 
  commencing on the 3d day of January thereafter.''.
  
  SEC. 4. VOTER REGISTRATION IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS.
  
      Section 4 of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (42 U.S.C. 
  1973gg-2) is amended by adding at the end the following:
      ``(c) Same Day Registration.--Notwithstanding any other Federal or 
  State law, each State shall establish procedures to allow voters in the 
  State to register to vote at the polling place at the time of voting in 
  a general election for Federal office.''.
target: National Election Standards Act of 2001 - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA) to direct the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to provide uniform national election standards meeting specified criteria with regard to procedures for elections to Federal office.Authorizes FEC to make grants to States to provide for the cost of implementing such standards for elections to Federal office. Establishes civil and criminal penalties for violation of such standards.Amends Federal presidential elections and vacancies law and other Federal election law to provide for a change in the date with respect to the timing of the appointment of presidential and vice presidential electors, and with respect to the timing of the holding of congressional elections.Amends the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to require each State to establish procedures to allow voters in the State to register to vote at the polling place at the time of voting in a general election for Federal office.
feat_title: A bill to direct the Federal Election Commission to set uniform national standards for Federal election procedures, change the Federal election day, and for other purposes.