POLE Act

Protecting Our Local Elections Act or the POLE Act

This bill prohibits a state from receiving federal election administration funds if the state does not permit localities to hold elections for local office in odd-numbered years.

[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 10524 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                               H. R. 10524

   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.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           December 19, 2024

 Mr. D'Esposito (for himself and Mr. LaLota) 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 2026 and each succeeding fiscal year.
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