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H.R. 5803: To direct the Election Assistance Commission to establish a program to make grants to participating States and units of local government which will administer the regularly scheduled general election for Federal office held in November 2008 for carrying out a program to make backup paper ballots available in the case of the failure of a voting system or voting equipment in the election or some other emergency situation, and for other purposes.

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H.R. 5803: To direct the Election Assistance Commission to establish a program to make grants to participating States and units of local government which will administer the regularly scheduled general election for Federal office held in November 2008 for carrying out a program to make backup paper ballots available in the case of the failure of a voting system or voting equipment in the election or some other emergency situation, and for other purposes.

110th Congress · introduced 2008-04-15 · Government Operations and Politics · Latest: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 248 - 170 (Roll no. 493).

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2008-04-15 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-16] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: 1 recorded vote in our records. Latest: House roll call 493 (2008): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, HR5803 (2008-07-15), Failed. See all
  4. Where it stands now: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 248 - 170 (Roll no. 493). (final step reached)
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

To direct the Election Assistance Commission to establish a program to make grants to participating States and units of local government which will administer the regularly scheduled general election for Federal office held in November 2008 for carrying out a program to make backup paper ballots available in the case of the failure of a voting system or voting equipment in the election or some other emergency situation, and for other purposes.

Plain summary

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Directs the Election Assistance Commission to make a grant to each participating state and unit of local government for carrying out a program to make backup paper ballots available in the case of the failure of a voting system or voting equipment or some other emergency situation in the administration of the regularly scheduled federal general election held in November 2008.

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House without amendment), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

To direct the Election Assistance Commission to establish a program to make grants to participating States and units of local government which will administer the regularly scheduled general election for Federal office held in November 2008 for carrying out a program to make backup paper ballots available in the case of the failure of a voting system or voting equipment in the election or some other emergency situation, and for other purposes.

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House without amendment)

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The strongest published arguments

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-16] · 0 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 5803, A bill to direct the Election Assistance Commission to establish a program to make grants...administer the regularly scheduled general election...in November 2008...to make backup paper ballots available in...a failure of a voting syst (2008-05-13); CBO cost estimate: H.R. 5803, A bill to direct the Election Assistance Commission to establish a program to make grants...administer the regularly scheduled general election...in November 2008...to make backup paper ballots available in...a failure of a voting syst (2008-05-13)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-16] reported raising $2.0 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

Agencies named in this bill

Found automatically: the agency's full official name appears in the bill title. A bill can affect agencies it does not name, so this list may be incomplete.

Recorded votes

Sources

Record fed-us-cong110-hr5803 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong110 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong110