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1 [1] (March 12, 2020)

handle is hein.crs/govchwz0001 and id is 1 raw text is: FF. ' riE S-' $. h ,i . , March 12, 2020 Disrupted Federal Elections: Policy Issues for Congress Super Typhoon Yutu struck the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) approximately 10 days before Election Day 2018. That election included one federal contest, for U.S. House Delegate. Governor Ralph DLG. Torres issued an executive order postponing the general election from November 6 to November 13. The order also postponed early voting. This episode appears to be the only case of a postponed federal general election in modern history. As discussed below, other election disruptions are more common. This CRS In Focus briefly introduces historical and policy issues that could be relevant for congressional oversight, legislation, or appropriations related to what this product calls disrupted elections. This term means events such as natural disasters, other emergencies, or cyber attacks that could substantially delay or prevent normal voting, election administration, or campaigning. Disrupted elections do not necessarily mean that election administration or voting results are flawed. Routine events, such as recounts, can delay final results. Even under normal circumstances, certifying final results occurs well after Election Day. In addition, election administrators routinely prepare for unexpected circumstances before, during, and after Election Day. Although not the focus of this product, more traditional delays (e.g., simple equipment failures, long lines, or new administrative procedures) may raise similar policy issues and options to disruptions arising from disasters or emergencies. Constitutional or legal issues not addressed here also could be relevant. Other CRS resources, some of which are listed at the end of this product, are available to Congress. On the morning of March 3, Tennessee voters awoke to tornado damage hours before Super Tuesday voting began. State and local election administrators quickly directed affected voters to alternate sites. Also on the morning of March 3, the Associated Press reported voting by flashlight after storms caused a power outage at a Bibb County, Alabama, polling place. * During the March 10 presidential primary, voting was delayed and a St. Louis polling place was relocated after a person allegedly threatened poll workers and damaged voting equipment. * A 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCov) outbreak has affected election administration and campaigning. For example, fears of infection reportedly led to Super Tuesday poll worker absences in California and Texas. In both states, media reports indicated that the jurisdictions were prepared for absences and that election administration continued smoothly. Disruptions also are affecting political campaigns. Some 2020 presidential campaigns, for example, cancelled large public events during the primaries. The two major political parties reportedly also were monitoring the 2019-nCov outbreak ahead of summer presidential nominating conventions. The remainder of this In Focus discusses selected policy background and potential considerations for Congress. History provides examples of issues, while others are more theoretical given the unknown nature of future disruptions that might arise. The U.S. Constitution and federal statutes structure election administration and voting in the United States. State, territorial, and local election administrators-supported by thousands of volunteer or part-time poll workers- administer all U.S. elections. Federal agencies overseen and funded by Congress play a supporting role. Federal statutes set, among other provisions, uniform general election dates and minimum standards for polling place and voting access; they also regulate federal campaign finance. These laws generally do not address election disruptions, and no federal election statute is devoted specifically to the topic. Perhaps because of the primarily state and local role in election administration, congressional legislation devoted specifically to disrupted elections is relatively uncommon. Provisions in legislation devoted to options such as mail or other forms of remote voting, early voting, and voter registration could be relevant for congressional consideration of disrupted elections. In addition, after some previous disrupted elections, Congress has conducted hearings to consider appropriations to replace election equipment and to oversee state-level contingency planning, election equipment, and voter access. Ask'V'c t s andc Rs%)akc.)Z Pr.' -ons As with other election administration issues, states or territories are responsible for determining how voters may cast ballots. However, the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) requires states to permit registration and voting by certain overseas civilians and members of the uniformed services (the military; and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Public Health Service, commissioned officers). Previous legislation has proposed expanding these .O 'T p\w -- , gn'a', goo mppm qq\ a , q 'S I 11LIANJILiN,

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