《TO ASSURE PRIDE AND CONFIDENCE IN THE ELECTORAL PROCESS REPORT OF THE NATIONAL COMMISSION ON FEDRAL》

Letter to the American People1

Preface to the Report3

Summary of Principal Recommendations5

I The Goals of Federal Election Reform17

II The Federal Government and the Federal Election System21

The Constitution’s Allocation of Authority21

Presidential Elections and the Electoral College22

The Primary Role of State Governments23

III A Democratic Process That Maintains an Accurate List of Citizens Who Are Qualified to Vote25

The Problem of Accurate Voter Lists25

Voter Registration, Past and Present26

A Better Way: Statewide Voter Registration Systems28

IV A Democratic Process That Encourages Every Eligible Voter to Participate Effectively33

Provisional Voting34

“Same Day” Registration?37

Improving Voter Participation38

Election Day Holiday39

Military and Overseas Voting42

Early, Remote, and Internet Voting43

Citizens with Criminal Records45

Ensuring the Voting Rights of All Citizens46

V A Democratic Process That Uses Equipment That Use Equipment That Reliably Clarifies and Registers the Voter’s Choices51

Very Close Elections Happen－Often52

Benchmarks, Not Mandates52

Benchmarks Applied－The Forty Most Populous Counties55

Standards for More Effective and Accessible Voting Technology57

VI A Democratic Process That Handles Close Elections in a Foreseeable and Fair Way61

Objective Vote Definitions and Foreseeable Post-Election Procedures61

Media Projections of Election Results64

VII A Democratic Process That Reflects Limited but Responsible Federal Participation69

A Pattern of Neglect69

Estimating and Allocating the Costs of Improvement70

The Federal Institutional Role73

Structuring Federal Legislation and Financial Assistance74

Endnotes to the Report77

Additional Statements85

Concurring in Part and Dissenting in Part, by Christopher Edley, Joined by Leon Panetta, Deval Patrick, Bill Richardson, John Seigenthaler, and Kathleen Sullivan85

Concurring by Colleen C. McAndrews, Joined by Slade Gorton and Leon Panetta90

Concurring in Part and Dissenting in Part, by John Seigenthaler, Joined in Part by Griffin Bell92

Organization96

About the National Commission on Federal Election Reform96

Organizing and Sponsoring Institutions103

Appendix AContributors to the Commission’s Work 105

Appendix BThe Michigan Qualified Voter File: A Brief Introduction 113

Task Force on the Federal Election System119

Preface120

Sizing the Problem121

Voter Registration130

Statewide Voter Registration Systems151

Civic Education Programs157

Early Voting, Unrestricted Absentee Voting, and Voting by Mail163

Verification of Identity180

Provisional Balloting186

Disfranchisement of Felons195

Uniform Poll Closing and Reporting201

Task Force on Constitutional and Federal Election Law217

Preface219

Federal Regulation of Elections220

What Counts as a Vote?339

Recounts and Contests343

Congressional Authority to Regulate When Votes Can Be Counted354