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S. 1728, Safeguarding Elections through Reforms and Improvements Act 1 (May 29, 2014)

handle is hein.congrec/cbo1675 and id is 1 raw text is: CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE
0'                         COST ESTIMATE
May 29, 2014
S. 1728
Safeguarding Elections through Reforms and Improvements Act
As reported by the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration on April 10, 2014
S. 1728 would amend the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act
(UOCAVA), which requires that states and territories allow uniformed and overseas voters
to vote absentee in federal elections. In particular, the bill would require each state to
submit to the Attorney General and the Secretary of Defense a pre-election report on the
number of absentee ballot applications received from voters covered by UOCAVA and the
number of such ballots transmitted. The bill also would require states to send absentee
ballots by express mail if they fail to meet the deadline established by the bill for mailing
ballots in response to valid and timely applications.
The bill also would direct the Department of Defense (DoD) to contact military personnel
annually to offer assistance in registering to vote, updating voting registration, and
requesting absentee ballots. The Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP), which acts
on behalf of the Secretary of Defense, assists members of the armed forces in the voting
process and currently offers assistance through its website. Based on information from
DoD, CBO expects that agency would provide the required annual assistance through brief
online training modules that would direct members to the FVAP website if they wish to
receive further assistance. CBO estimates that developing the training module, completing
necessary modifications to the FVAP website, and increased website hosting expenses
would cost approximately $1 million in 2015 and less than $500,000 annually from 2016 to
2019, assuming availability of appropriated funds.
Enacting S. 1728 would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go
procedures do not apply.
CBO has not reviewed 5. 1728 for intergovernmental or private-sector mandates. Section 4
of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act excludes from the application of that act any
legislative provisions that would enforce the constitutional rights of individuals. CBO has
determined that the legislation falls within that exclusion because it would protect the
voting rights of certain individuals.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Jason Wheelock. The estimate was approved by
Theresa Gullo, Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.

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