Protect Our Polls Act

Today's wording of each part of the law, with what would be struck out and added. Each change also gives the bill's own instruction, word for word.

1. 18 U.S.C. 592a new sectionadded 592aby H.R. 10497 Sec. 3(a)

   592a. Congressional action.—(a) Notification requirement.— Not less than 48 hours before troops or armed persons, including Federal law enforcement officers, are intended to be sent to any place where a general or special election is held to repel armed enemies of the United States under section 592, or any other provision of law, the head of the agency in charge of the troops or armed persons shall transmit to the Majority Leader of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the committees of jurisdiction (as defined in section 6329b(a) of title 5) over the agencies to which the troops or armed persons report, an unclassified report containing—(1) the number of troops or armed persons that are expected to be sent to places where those elections are being held, their unit or units, a description of their responsibilities, and the duration of the order;(2) the specific intelligence that supports the claim that armed enemies of the United States are threatening the places where those elections are being held, with an unclassified summary and a classified annex;(3) the geographical area to which the troops or armed persons will be sent, with specificity on the location of the places at which they will be stationed;(4) the legal authorization, if any, used to provide affirmative authority for the activation of armed forces;(5) the training these troops or armed persons are given to interact with civilian populations; and(6) the detailed justification that State and local forces are unable to repel the armed enemies of the United States without Federal intervention.(b) Congressional calendar.—(1) In general.— If, when the report under subsection (a) is transmitted, the Congress has adjourned sine die or has adjourned for any period, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate, if they deem it advisable (or if petitioned by not less than 30 percent of the membership of their respective Houses) shall jointly request the President to convene Congress in order that it may consider the report and take appropriate action pursuant to this section.(2) Briefing.— When Congress reconvenes, the Secretary of Defense, Director of National Intelligence, and Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation shall immediately provide a classified briefing to the Senate and the House of Representatives on the armed enemies of the United States threat that necessitates the use of troops at places where elections are being held.(c) Expedited congressional review.—(1) In general.— Any use of troops or armed persons at any place where a general or special election is held for the purpose of repelling armed enemies of the United States shall only be authorized if Congress, prior to any deployment, enacts a joint resolution originating in either House.(2) Consideration.—(A) Committee referral.— A joint resolution under paragraph (1) shall be referred to the committee of jurisdiction (as defined in section 6329b(a) of title 5) over the agencies to which the troops or armed persons report, and such committee shall report one such joint resolution not later than 20 hours after transmission of the report under section (a), unless such House shall otherwise determine by yeas and nays.(B) Pending business.— A joint resolution reported under subparagraph (A) shall become the pending business of the House in question (in the case of the Senate the time for debate shall be equally divided between the proponents and the opponents), and shall be voted on not later than 10 hours thereafter, unless such House shall otherwise determine by yeas and nays.(C) Referral to other house committee.— A joint resolution passed by one House under subparagraph (B) shall be referred to the committee of the other House (as determined under subsection (a)) and shall be reported out not later 12 hours before troops or armed persons are to be sent to polling places to repel armed enemies of the United States under section 592. The joint resolution so reported shall become the pending business of the House in question and shall be voted on not later than 6 hours after it has been reported, unless such House shall otherwise determine by yeas and nays.(d) Severability.— If any provision of this section, or any application of such provision to any person or circumstance, is held to be unconstitutional, the remainder of this section and the application of this section to any other person or circumstance shall not be affected.

   The bill says: Chapter 29 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 592 the following:

   Bill text

2. 18 U.S.C. 592a new sectionaddedby H.R. 10497 Sec. 3(b)

   The bill says: The table of sections for chapter 29 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 592 the following:

   Bill text

3. 52 U.S.C. 20701changedby H.R. 10497 Sec. 4(a)

   Every officer(a) In general.— Every officer of election shall retain and preserve, for a period of twenty-two months from the date of any general, special, or primary election of which candidates for the office of President, Vice President, presidential elector, Member of the…

   The bill says: by striking "Every officer" and inserting the following:

   Bill text · Current law (52 U.S.C. 20701)

4. 52 U.S.C. 20701(a)changedby H.R. 10497 Sec. 4(a)

   The bill says: in subsection (a), as so designated, in the second sentence, by striking "this section" and inserting "this subsection"; and

   Bill text · Current law (52 U.S.C. 20701)

5. 52 U.S.C. 20701added (b)by H.R. 10497 Sec. 4(a)

   (b) Condition on availability of funds.— No funds may be appropriated or otherwise made available to the armed forces, as defined in section 101(a)(4) of title 10, United States Code, or any Executive agency, as defined in section 105 of title 5, United States Code, for the purpose of authorizing or ordering any troops or armed persons under the authority or control of such entity to access any record or paper required under subsection (a) to be retained and preserved, regardless of the date on which the record or paper came into the possession of the officer of election or custodian required to retain and preserve the record or paper.(c) Rule of construction.— Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent any member of the armed forces, as defined in section 101(a)(4) of title 10, United States Code, or any individual under the authority or control of any Executive agency, as defined in section 105 of title 5, United States Code, from exercising the right of suffrage in any district to which that individual may belong, if otherwise qualified according to the laws of the State of such district.

   The bill says: by adding at the end the following:

   Bill text · Current law (52 U.S.C. 20701)

6. 52 U.S.C. 20701changedby H.R. 10497 Sec. 4(b)

   The bill says: in section 302 (52 U.S.C. 20702), by striking "section 301" and insert "section 301(a)"; and

   Bill text · Current law (52 U.S.C. 20701)

7. 52 U.S.C. 20701changedby H.R. 10497 Sec. 4(b)

   The bill says: in section 303 (52 U.S.C. 20703), by striking "section 301" and insert "section 301(a)".

   Bill text · Current law (52 U.S.C. 20701)

From the bill's official text on GovInfo and the U.S. Code, latest edition, which may not yet show changes made since.