HR 1467 Re-checks Congress.gov for new actions and updates the bill's status, and fills in any sponsors, committees, or related bills that are missing. It does not re-pull sponsors/cosponsors/committees/related — those rarely change — and it skips all work if nothing has changed upstream, so it's cheap to click.
To amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to prohibit the use of Federal funds for the administration of elections for Federal, State, or local office in States which do not have in effect laws to permit units of local government to hold elections for local office in odd- numbered years, and for other purposes.
Summary
This bill amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to prohibit the use of Federal funds for administering elections in any State that does not have a law permitting local governments to hold elections for local office in odd-numbered years. The bill expresses Congress's sense that holding local elections in odd-numbered years provides greater focus on local candidates and issues and allows voters to make more informed decisions. The bill adds a new section to Title IX of the Help America Vote Act that withholds all Federal election administration funding from States that do not permit local governments to conduct elections in odd-numbered years. The prohibition takes effect beginning in fiscal year 2027 and applies to each subsequent fiscal year. States would need to pass laws allowing odd-numbered year elections for local office to maintain eligibility for Federal election administration funds.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
1 cosponsor
- Rep. LaLota, Nick [R-NY-1] (R-NY)
Actions (2)
- Feb 21, 2025 Referred to the House Committee on House Administration. · house
- Feb 21, 2025 Introduced in House
More bills on these subjects (8)
Other bills that carry the most legislative subjects in common with this one (topical discovery — distinct from the procedural related bills above).
Similar bills (6)
Bills with similar text or summary — includes reintroductions across Congresses. Ranked by semantic similarity of the bill text (computed locally); a neutral discovery aid, not a claim the bills are duplicates.
Text versions (1)
Bills are re-published as they move (Introduced → Reported → Engrossed → Enrolled …). Each stage below is a separate text; pick two to see what changed. Data from Congress.gov.
Full text
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 21, 2025
Mr. Garbarino introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on House Administration
A BILL
To amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to prohibit the use of Federal funds for the administration of elections for Federal, State, or local office in States which do not have in effect laws to permit units of local government to hold elections for local office in odd- numbered years, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Protecting Our Local Elections Act” or the “POLE Act”.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS; SENSE OF CONGRESS.
(a) Findings.—Congress finds the following:
(1) Holding local elections for public office in odd- numbered years provides greater focus on local candidates and issues.
(2) Local elections held in odd-numbered years allow voters to make more informed decisions about their local representation.
(3) Holding all elections in even-numbered years diminishes the attention given to community matters.
(4) Holding all elections in even-numbered years overcrowds the ballot, hindering the decision-making process for voters.
(5) Local elected officials directly serve their immediate communities and needs.
(6) Local leaders played a vital role in the founding of the United States.
(7) Local governments are at the core of our Nation’s republic.
(b) Sense of Congress.—It is the sense of Congress that—
(1) units of local governments should have the authority to conduct elections for local office in odd-numbered years;
(2) local elections held in odd-numbered years ensure that local candidates and issues receive greater attention and allow voters to make well-informed choices; and
(3) the most effective form of representation is attained through local governance.
SEC. 3. PROHIBITING PROVISION OF FEDERAL FUNDS FOR ELECTION ADMINISTRATION FOR STATES NOT PERMITTING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO HOLD ELECTIONS FOR LOCAL OFFICE IN ODD- NUMBERED YEARS.
(a) Prohibition.—Title IX of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21141 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
“SEC. 907. PROHIBITING PROVISION OF FEDERAL FUNDS FOR ELECTION ADMINISTRATION FOR STATES NOT PERMITTING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO HOLD ELECTIONS FOR LOCAL OFFICE IN ODD- NUMBERED YEARS.
“Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no Federal funds may be provided under this Act or any other Act to administer an election for Federal, State, or local office held in a State which does not have in effect a law which permits units of local government in the State to hold elections for local office in odd-numbered years.”.
(b) Clerical Amendment.—The table of contents of such Act is amended by adding at the end of the items relating to title IX the following:
“Sec. 907. Prohibiting provision of Federal funds for election administration for States not permitting local governments to hold elections for local office in odd-numbered years.”.
(c) Effective Date.—The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to fiscal year 2027 and each succeeding fiscal year. <all>
Comments