THE FEDERAL ELECTIONS MODERNIZATION ACT¶

An Electoral and Congressional Modernization Framework for a Stronger Republic¶

Revision 5.7¶

Section 1. Short Title¶

This Act may be cited as the "Congressional Elections Modernization Act" or "CEMA."

Section 2. Findings¶

(a) Constitutional Authority¶

Congress finds that:

The Constitution grants Congress authority under the Elections Clause (Article I, Section 4, Clause 1) to regulate the "times, places and manner of holding elections" for federal office.
Congress possesses clear constitutional authority to adjust House size through regular legislation under Article I, Section 2, requiring no constitutional amendment.
The Constitution anticipates and accommodates changes in representation and electoral procedures. The Framers deliberately created a flexible framework allowing Congress to adapt democratic structures to changing circumstances.

(b) Current Electoral Dysfunction¶

Congress finds that:

The American electoral system has produced a Congress unable to address the nation's most pressing challenges. Partisan polarization, legislative gridlock, and declining public trust reflect fundamental structural problems, not merely poor leadership or insufficient civic engagement.
The current winner-take-all, single-member district system creates incentives for partisan gerrymandering, safe seats that insulate incumbents from general election competition, and ideological extremism that makes compromise politically dangerous.
Only 15-30 House districts (3-7% of all seats) are genuinely competitive under current electoral structures. This means approximately 93-97% of House elections are effectively decided in low-turnout partisan primaries rather than general elections, undermining democratic accountability to the broader electorate.
Voters in single-member districts who support losing candidates receive zero representation of their views. In a 435-seat House elected by winner-take-all rules, millions of voters in each election cycle cast ballots that have no influence on who represents them, creating systematic underrepresentation of political minorities in every district and state.
House districts now represent an average of 770,000 constituents, making meaningful constituent services impossible and creating barriers between representatives and the people they serve. The original ratio (approximately 30,000:1) was designed to ensure representatives maintained close connections to constituents and could provide meaningful responsiveness to local concerns.
Congress operates with infrastructure designed for 4 million Americans now serving 335 million -- an 84-fold population increase without proportional expansion in representative capacity. This structural mismatch between institutional capacity and governing demands has degraded Congress's ability to perform its constitutional functions effectively.

(c) Need for Comprehensive Reform¶

Congress finds that:

Piecemeal reforms addressing individual symptoms of electoral dysfunction -- such as redistricting commissions, term limits, or campaign finance restrictions -- cannot solve structural problems requiring systematic electoral architecture changes.
Primary elections in single-member winner-take-all districts create incentives for ideological extremism, as candidates must appeal to partisan base voters rather than median general election voters. This dynamic has accelerated partisan polarization and made cross-party coalition-building politically dangerous for incumbents facing primary challenges.
Proportional representation through multi-member districts enables multiple political perspectives to win seats in proportion to voter support, creating incentives for coalition-building and compromise while maintaining local accountability through district-based representation.
STAR (Score Then Automatic Runoff) voting provides superior preference expression compared to plurality or ranked-choice voting, enabling voters to express nuanced opinions about multiple candidates while maintaining simplicity and avoiding vote-splitting problems that plague other systems.
The scale of representation deficiency in the current 435-member House requires timely correction. At present ratios exceeding 760,000 constituents per Representative -- six to seven times larger than peer democracies -- meaningful constituent service and legislative responsiveness have become structurally impossible. A modernized House sized according to the cube root rule, reaching approximately 700 to 720 members under Census Bureau population projections, restores manageable district populations and strengthens legislative effectiveness. An initial expansion to 510 members followed by predictable biennial increases of 35 seats achieves cube root compliance within approximately 14 years -- three presidential terms -- enabling the Nation to realize the democratic benefits of proportional representation and multi-member districts within a single political generation. This accelerated timeline ensures that members who enact these reforms will see their results, voters will experience tangible improvements in representation quality, and institutional modernization proceeds on a human timescale rather than deferring reform impacts to the distant future.
State legislatures and city councils successfully operate with proportional representation systems and larger memberships, demonstrating that these reforms are practical, effective, and consistent with American governance traditions.

(d) Proportional Representation Benefits¶

Congress finds that:

Multi-member districts with proportional representation reduce gerrymandering incentives, as manipulating district boundaries cannot eliminate proportional representation of political minorities. While district boundaries still matter, the winner-take-all dynamic that makes gerrymandering so powerful disappears under proportional systems.
Proportional representation creates incentives for political parties to appeal to broader coalitions and for candidates to build cross-partisan support, as winning seats requires demonstrating appeal beyond narrow partisan bases.
Multi-member districts enable voters to choose among multiple candidates from the same party or political tradition, providing meaningful choice even in areas dominated by one party. This intra-party competition creates accountability and quality control without requiring voters to support parties they oppose.
Increasing House size makes gerrymandering mathematically more difficult, as creating manipulated districts becomes exponentially more complex with more districts and smaller district populations.
Countries using proportional representation systems demonstrate higher voter satisfaction, broader representation of diverse viewpoints, and greater incentives for inter-party cooperation and coalition government formation.

(e) Integrated Reform Necessity¶

Congress finds that:

Electoral reforms create transitional challenges for incumbents whose careers were built under winner-take-all rules. Compensation adjustments that recognize the value of legislative experience and align incumbent incentives with reform goals remove barriers to passage. Proportional representation through STAR-PR substantially lowers the effective threshold for winning a seat, ensuring that incumbents with meaningful constituent support face reduced -- not increased -- electoral risk under multi-member districts.
The reforms in this Act are designed as an integrated system where each component reinforces the others. Ballot access reform (Title I) enables party competition. Party recognition standards (Title II) provide structure for Joint Endorsement Lists. House expansion (Title III) creates seats for proportional representation. Multi-member districts with STAR-PR (Title IV) operationalize proportionality. Compensation, transition, and implementation mechanisms (Title V) align incentives to make passage politically viable. Enforcement and reporting requirements (Title VI) ensure implementation. General provisions (Title VII) resolve technical implementation details.
These reforms address root causes rather than symptoms. While campaign finance reform, redistricting commissions, and term limits treat symptoms of uncompetitive elections, this Act restructures the fundamental electoral architecture to restore competition and proportional representation.
Implementing STAR voting universally for all congressional elections -- both for single-winner contests (Senate and House elections in states with fewer than three Representatives) and proportional contests (multi-member House districts via STAR-PR) -- creates consistent voter experience across all congressional races, enables institutional learning and expertise development in election administration, and simplifies voter education by maintaining the same ballot marking method (score-then-preference) regardless of office or district structure.

TITLE I: FEDERAL BALLOT ACCESS STANDARDS¶

Section 101. Federal Ballot Access Standards¶

(a) Uniform Federal Standard¶

For all federal elections, states shall grant ballot access to any candidate who satisfies one of the following criteria:

Major Party Nomination: Nomination by a federally recognized political party whose candidate for the same office received at least 5% of the vote in the most recent election for that office in that state; or
Signature Threshold: Petition signed by registered voters equal to 0.5% of votes cast for that office in the most recent election in that state, with the following provisions:
No state may require more than 5,000 signatures for statewide office;
No state may require more than 1,000 signatures for House districts;
Signatures may be collected via secure electronic methods approved by the FEC;
States must accept signatures from any registered voter in the relevant jurisdiction regardless of party affiliation; and
States must provide at least 120 days for signature collection following the candidate filing deadline.
Filing Fee Alternative: Payment of a filing fee not exceeding $1,000 for House seats or $2,500 for statewide office, with such fees adjusted annually for inflation using the Consumer Price Index.

(b) Prohibition on Additional Requirements¶

States may not impose ballot access requirements beyond those specified in subsection (a), including but not limited to:

Party enrollment or registration thresholds;
Demonstration of prior electoral performance;
Mandatory primary participation;
Requirements to demonstrate "substantial support" beyond the signature thresholds specified; or
Any other barrier not explicitly authorized by this section.

(c) Early Access Deadline¶

States must establish candidate filing deadlines that provide at least 120 days before the election for candidates meeting the requirements of subsection (a) to collect signatures or file necessary paperwork.

(d) Streamlined Verification¶

States must:

Verify petition signatures within 30 days of submission;
Provide candidates with preliminary signature counts within 15 days;
Permit candidates to submit supplemental signatures to cure deficiencies; and
Establish transparent, consistent standards for signature validity.

Section 102. Independent and Minor Party Candidates¶

(a) Equal Treatment¶

States must treat independent and minor party candidates identically to major party candidates with respect to:

Ballot position (determined by random selection or rotation);
Ballot designation and formatting;
Access to voter lists and election information;
Participation in official voter guides and candidate forums; and
All other aspects of election administration not explicitly reserved for party nominees.

(b) Party Label Rights¶

Candidates may:

Appear on the ballot with party designation of their choice, subject to Section 203 (Joint Endorsement Lists);
Decline party designation and appear as "Independent";
Include up to three party endorsements on the ballot if those parties have formally endorsed the candidate under procedures established in Title II.

Section 103. Write-In Candidates¶

(a) Write-In Rights¶

States must permit and count write-in votes for all federal offices, provided the write-in candidate has filed a declaration of write-in candidacy with state election officials at least 30 days before the election.

(b) Declaration Requirements¶

Write-in candidate declarations may require only:

Candidate name, address, and contact information;
Sworn statement of eligibility for the office;
Filing fee not exceeding $100; and
Designation of how the candidate's name should appear in vote tallies.

Section 104. Preemption¶

This Title supersedes any conflicting state constitutional provisions, statutes, regulations, or local ordinances regarding ballot access for federal elections. State laws that provide easier ballot access than required by this Title remain valid.

Section 105. FEC Implementation Authority¶

(a) Regulatory Authority¶

The Federal Election Commission shall, within 180 days of enactment, promulgate regulations implementing this Title, including:

Standards for electronic signature collection systems;
Procedures for resolving ballot access disputes;
Model forms for candidate declarations and petitions;
Standards for signature verification and validation; and
Requirements for state reporting on ballot access compliance.

(b) Technical Assistance¶

The FEC shall provide technical assistance to states in implementing these requirements, including model legislation, administrative procedures, and best practices.

Section 106. Enforcement and Remedies¶

(a) Private Right of Action¶

Any candidate denied ballot access in violation of this Title may bring a civil action in federal district court for declaratory and injunctive relief.

(b) Expedited Review¶

Courts shall expedite proceedings under this section, recognizing the time-sensitive nature of ballot access disputes. Appeals may be taken directly to the appropriate court of appeals.

(c) Attorney's Fees¶

Courts may award reasonable attorney's fees to prevailing plaintiffs in actions under this section.

(d) FEC Enforcement¶

The FEC may investigate complaints and bring enforcement actions against states that systematically violate this Title's requirements.

Section 107. Safe Harbor¶

States that implement ballot access procedures in accordance with FEC regulations promulgated under Section 105 shall be deemed in compliance with this Title.

Section 108. Effective Date¶

This Title takes effect 24 months after the date of enactment, applying to all federal elections held after that date.

TITLE II: FEDERAL PARTY RECOGNITION AND JOINT ENDORSEMENT LISTS¶

Section 201. Federal Party Recognition Standards¶

(a) Qualification Requirements¶

To qualify as a federally recognized political party eligible for Joint Endorsement Lists on federal ballots, an organization must meet one of the following criteria:

Electoral Performance Standard: The party's candidate for President, Senate, or House received at least 5% of votes cast in the most recent federal election in at least 15 states; or
Membership Standard: The party demonstrates:
At least 100,000 registered members nationally;
Members in at least 25 states;
No single state comprising more than 25% of total membership;
Formal organizational structure including bylaws, elected leadership, and regular governance meetings;
Democratic internal decision-making processes for endorsements; and
Basic financial transparency with annual reporting to the FEC.

(b) Maintenance Requirements¶

Federally recognized political parties shall maintain status by:

Meeting either the electoral performance or membership standard in each four-year cycle;
Filing annual reports with the FEC documenting organizational structure, membership, and finances;
Maintaining democratic internal procedures for candidate endorsements; and
Endorsing at least one federal candidate every four years.

(c) Grandfather Provision¶

Parties currently recognized on any state ballot as of the date of enactment automatically receive federal recognition without meeting the thresholds in subsection (a) for four years, during which they must achieve compliance with subsection (a) standards to maintain recognition.

Section 202. Party Registration¶

(a) FEC Registration Process¶

Organizations seeking federal party recognition shall file with the Federal Election Commission:

Formal bylaws and organizational documents;
List of elected party leadership;
Membership verification documentation (if using membership standard);
Electoral performance data (if using electoral performance standard);
Financial disclosure statement; and
Procedures for democratic endorsement decisions.

(b) FEC Review and Approval¶

The FEC shall review applications and grant recognition to qualifying parties within 60 days of filing. Parties denied recognition may appeal to federal district court.

(c) Public Database¶

The FEC shall maintain a publicly accessible database of all federally recognized parties, updated quarterly.

Section 203. Joint Endorsement Lists¶

(a) Ballot Display¶

All federal election ballots shall display up to three party endorsements adjacent to each candidate's name in the format: "Candidate Name (Party 1, Party 2, Party 3)."

(b) Candidate Selection Authority¶

If more than three federally recognized parties endorse a candidate, the candidate selects which three endorsements to display. Candidates may decline to display endorsements.

(c) Cross-Party Endorsement Protection¶

No state law may:

Prohibit federally recognized parties from endorsing candidates endorsed by other parties;
Prohibit candidates from accepting multiple party endorsements; or
Impose restrictions on Joint Endorsement Lists beyond federal standards.

(d) Endorsement Procedures¶

Federally recognized parties determine their own endorsement procedures through internal democratic processes, which may include:

Party convention votes;
Party committee decisions;
Party primary elections; or
Other methods consistent with party bylaws.

Parties may endorse candidates who receive endorsements from other parties. No party may prohibit endorsed candidates from accepting additional endorsements.

Section 204. Preemption¶

This Title supersedes conflicting state laws regarding party recognition and ballot endorsements for federal elections. States may establish additional party recognition criteria for state and local offices.

Section 205. FEC Implementation Authority¶

The Federal Election Commission shall, within 180 days of enactment, promulgate regulations implementing this Title, including:

Party registration procedures;
Membership verification standards;
Electoral performance calculation methods;
Ballot display technical standards;
Enforcement procedures; and
Model state implementation guidelines.

Section 206. Effective Date¶

This Title takes effect 24 months after the date of enactment, applying to all federal elections held after that date.

TITLE III: HOUSE EXPANSION¶

Section 301. House Expansion Schedule¶

(a) Initial Expansion¶

Beginning with the First CEMA Election, the House of Representatives shall consist of five hundred ten (510) members.

(b) Biennial Increases¶

Beginning with the second Congress elected after the initial expansion described in subsection (a), and at the beginning of each subsequent Congress, the total membership of the House of Representatives shall increase by thirty-five (35) seats.

(c) Termination of Biennial Increases¶

Biennial increases under subsection (b) shall continue until the total number of Representatives equals or exceeds the cube root of the resident population of the United States, as determined by the most recent decennial census. Once this threshold is reached, further changes in House size shall occur only pursuant to subsection (d).

(d) Post-Stabilization Adjustment Rule¶

After biennial increases terminate under subsection (c), the House shall thereafter be sized at the integer nearest to the cube root of the resident population of the United States as measured by each decennial census, rounding up in cases of exact halves. House size shall be adjusted only once per decennial cycle pursuant to this formula.

(e) Apportionment Procedure¶

For each expansion under this section, the Clerk of the House shall:

Use population data from the most recently completed decennial census;
Calculate updated House size pursuant to subsections (a) through (d);
Apportion such seats among the states using the Method of Equal Proportions; and
Publish the apportionment at least twelve (12) months before the applicable election.

(f) Minimum State Representation¶

Each state shall receive at least one Representative, as required by Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution.

(g) Independence from Census Timing¶

House expansion timing under this section operates independently of decennial census timing. Apportionment shall always use the most recent census data available, but expansions occur on the schedule established in this section regardless of when censuses are conducted.

Section 302. Infrastructure Preparation¶

(a) Architect of the Capitol Responsibilities¶

The Architect of the Capitol shall, within 12 months of enactment:

Develop plans for House Chamber expansion to accommodate 750 members;
Design additional office space for new members and staff;
Plan technology infrastructure for expanded membership;
Estimate capital improvement costs; and
Present plans to House Administration Committee for approval.

(b) Infrastructure Timeline¶

Congress shall appropriate necessary funds for infrastructure improvements to be completed:

At least 12 months before the First CEMA Election (510-member capacity);
Incrementally thereafter as biennial expansions require additional capacity; and
Fully completed to cube root capacity (approximately 720 members) within 14 years of enactment.

(c) GAO and CBO Studies¶

Within 180 days of enactment, the Government Accountability Office and Congressional Budget Office shall jointly prepare comprehensive reports analyzing:

Facility requirements for expanded House membership;
Technology and security infrastructure needs;
Staff expansion requirements and costs;
Office space allocation strategies;
Budget impacts and cost projections; and
Administrative and operational adjustments required.

Section 303. Member Representational Allowance¶

(a) Enhanced MRA¶

Upon the First CEMA Election, each Representative's Member Representational Allowance (MRA) shall increase by 35% above the amount in effect immediately before the First CEMA Election, adjusted annually for inflation thereafter.

(b) Subsequent Adjustments¶

MRA amounts shall be reviewed and adjusted as necessary with each biennial House expansion to ensure adequate resources relative to district size.

(c) Authorization¶

There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as necessary to provide enhanced MRA as specified herein.

Section 304. Redistricting Requirements¶

States shall redistrict following each House expansion to accommodate increased representation, using:

Population data from the most recent decennial census;
Multi-member district standards established in Title IV, Section 403; and
The districting algorithm certified by the Electoral Science Office under Title IV, Section 409.

States with one Representative are exempt from redistricting requirements, as at-large representation involves no internal district boundary. States with two Representatives shall redistrict using the certified algorithm to determine the boundary between two single-member districts.

Section 305. Compliance and Oversight¶

(a) Department of Justice Review¶

The Department of Justice shall review state redistricting plans following each House expansion to ensure compliance with the Voting Rights Act and constitutional requirements.

(b) Enforcement¶

Any qualified voter may bring suit in federal district court to challenge redistricting plans that violate federal requirements. Prevailing parties shall be entitled to reasonable attorney's fees.

TITLE IV: MULTI-MEMBER DISTRICTS, ALGORITHMIC DISTRICTING, AND STAR VOTING¶

Section 401. Single-Member District Mandate Repeal¶

The requirement in 2 U.S.C. Section 2c that Representatives be elected from single-member districts is hereby repealed. States shall elect Representatives from multi-member districts as provided in this Title.

Section 402. Multi-Member District Implementation¶

(a) Single Implementation¶

Beginning with the First CEMA Election, all qualifying states shall elect Representatives exclusively from multi-member congressional districts as provided in this Title. There shall be no graduated phase-in; multi-member districts take effect simultaneously with House expansion under Title III and STAR voting under Section 404.

(b) District Magnitude Requirements¶

Multi-member congressional districts shall elect between three (3) and seven (7) Representatives per district.

(c) Population Equality¶

Districts within each state shall contain substantially equal population, consistent with Voting Rights Act and constitutional one-person-one-vote requirements.

(d) Small State Application¶

(1) Single-Representative States

States with one Representative are exempt from both multi-member district requirements and algorithmic districting requirements. Such states shall elect their Representative at-large using single-winner STAR voting as specified in Section 404(e).

(2) Two-Representative States

States with two Representatives are exempt from multi-member district requirements and shall elect Representatives from two single-member districts using single-winner STAR voting as specified in Section 404(e). District boundaries for two-Representative states shall be determined by the certified districting algorithm under Section 403.

Section 403. Algorithmic Districting¶

(a) Algorithmic Neutrality Requirement¶

All congressional district boundaries shall be determined by algorithmically neutral, deterministic methods that eliminate human discretion from boundary placement. This requirement applies to all states electing two or more Representatives, regardless of whether the state elects Representatives from multi-member districts or single-member districts. No congressional district boundary shall be drawn by any method that permits or requires subjective judgment regarding the placement of boundary lines.

States with one Representative are exempt from this requirement, as at-large representation involves no internal district boundary.

(b) Certified Districting Algorithm¶

The Electoral Science Office shall certify a districting algorithm meeting the requirements of this section. The certified algorithm shall:

Accept as inputs only the number of seats to be allocated, the geographic boundaries of the state, and census population data at the smallest available geographic unit;
Produce district boundaries that are deterministic -- identical inputs shall produce identical outputs in every application;
Require no parameters, thresholds, or weightings that involve subjective judgment;
Be publicly documented such that any person with access to the input data can independently verify the output;
Produce geographically contiguous districts of substantially equal population; and
Be capable of application to both multi-member and single-member districting configurations.

For states with two Representatives, the algorithm shall divide the state into two districts of substantially equal population.

(c) District Magnitude Allocation¶

The certified algorithm shall allocate district magnitudes within each state according to the following principles:

All seats within a state shall be allocated to multi-member districts of three (3) to seven (7) seats;
The algorithm shall select the configuration in which all districts share a single uniform magnitude, if such a configuration exists within the range specified in paragraph (1); and
Where multiple uniform-magnitude configurations exist, the algorithm shall select the configuration whose uniform magnitude appears earliest in the following preference ordering: five (5), six (6), four (4), seven (7), three (3).

Where no uniform-magnitude configuration exists, the algorithm shall maximize the number of seats assigned to districts at the highest-priority magnitude available under the preference ordering, then assign remaining seats to districts at the next-priority magnitude that produces a valid configuration. This process continues through the preference ordering until all seats are allocated.

The district magnitude preference ordering is an adjustable parameter under Section 409(e)(1). In the absence of modification by the Electoral Science Office, the ordering specified in paragraph (3) shall apply.

This subsection applies to states with three or more Representatives. For states with two Representatives, district magnitude is fixed at one Representative per district and no magnitude allocation determination is required.

(d) Algorithm as Adjustable Parameter¶

The specific districting algorithm is an adjustable parameter under Section 409(e). The Electoral Science Office may propose replacement or modification of the certified algorithm through the process established in Section 409(h)(2), subject to the boundary conditions specified in subsection (f) of this section and Section 409(e)(2).

(e) Voting Rights Act Compliance¶

District configurations produced by the certified algorithm shall comply with the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended. The Department of Justice shall review algorithmically generated district maps following each redistricting cycle pursuant to Section 305.

If the Department of Justice determines that an algorithmically generated configuration violates the Voting Rights Act, the Electoral Science Office shall, in coordination with the Department of Justice, apply the minimum boundary adjustment necessary to achieve compliance while preserving the algorithmic neutrality of the remainder of the state's district configuration. Safeguards governing this process are specified in Section 410(d).

(f) Boundary Conditions for Districting Algorithm¶

Any districting algorithm certified or modified under this section must:

Produce districts of substantially equal population consistent with constitutional one-person-one-vote requirements;
Produce geographically contiguous districts;
Operate without reference to racial, ethnic, linguistic, partisan, or incumbent-residence data;
Be fully deterministic and publicly verifiable;
Not require subjective parameter selection by any human actor; and
Be implementable using publicly available census geographic data.

(g) Initial Algorithm Certification¶

The Electoral Science Office shall certify an initial districting algorithm within 18 months of enactment. If the ESO has not certified an algorithm by the deadline established in this subsection, the shortest splitline method -- defined as recursive division of a state's geography along the shortest straight line that divides the remaining population into proportions matching the remaining seat allocation -- shall serve as the default algorithm until the ESO certifies a replacement.

(h) Transparency and Public Access¶

The Electoral Science Office shall publish:

The full specification of the certified algorithm;
All input data used in each redistricting application;
The resulting district maps for each state; and
Verification tools enabling independent replication of results.

All publications under this subsection shall be made available not fewer than 12 months before the election to which they apply.

Section 404. STAR Voting Method¶

(a) Universal STAR Voting Requirement¶

All congressional elections shall use STAR voting (Score Then Automatic Runoff):

Voters score each candidate from 0-5 stars;
System maximizes voter satisfaction while maintaining accountability;
Eliminates spoiler effects and reduces strategic voting incentives; and
Provides intuitive interface familiar from consumer rating systems.

This requirement applies to:

All House of Representatives elections; and
All United States Senate elections.

(b) Implementation Timeline¶

STAR voting for all congressional elections takes effect for the first congressional elections held at least 24 months after enactment.

(c) Ballot Format¶

Ballots shall display all qualified candidates with scoring interface allowing voters to:

Score all candidates, some candidates, or no candidates;
Assign the same score to multiple candidates;
Leave candidates unscored (treated as 0 stars); and
View candidate party endorsements (Title II).

(d) Unified General Election Structure¶

For all congressional elections, qualified candidates appear directly on the general election ballot without state-administered primary elections.

(1) Single General Election Requirement

All candidates meeting ballot access requirements (Title I) appear directly on the general election ballot, with party endorsements (Title II) displayed.

This requirement applies uniformly to:

All House of Representatives elections, regardless of district type; and
All United States Senate elections.

States shall not conduct state-administered primary elections for federal offices.

(2) Rationale

STAR voting achieves optimal democratic outcomes when all qualified candidates appear on the general election ballot without pre-filtering through primaries. The scoring mechanism ensures winners have both high overall support and majority preference in the automatic runoff, eliminating the traditional justification for primary elections. Single general elections:

Maximize voter participation (general elections consistently outperform primaries in turnout);
Eliminate party registration barriers that exclude voters from meaningful participation;
Reduce administrative costs and campaign cycle duration;
Ensure consistency of voter experience across all federal elections regardless of state of residence;
Allow STAR voting to perform its designed function of identifying broadly supported winners from any field size; and
Eliminate state-by-state variation that creates confusion and unequal access to democratic participation.

(3) Party Autonomy Preserved

Political parties retain full autonomy to conduct internal candidate selection processes independent of state-administered elections. Parties may:

Conduct internal nomination processes through caucuses, conventions, or party-controlled procedures;
Hold advisory straw polls or preference votes among party members;
Issue endorsements through Joint Endorsement Lists (Title II);
Campaign for preferred candidates;
Organize party infrastructure and recruit candidates; and
Provide resources and support to preferred candidates.

Such party processes:

Shall be funded entirely by the party conducting them;
Shall not use state election infrastructure or personnel;
Shall not restrict which candidates appear on the general election ballot; and
Shall not affect candidate eligibility or ballot access under Title I.

(4) Constitutional Rationale

This unified general election structure:

Exercises Elections Clause authority to regulate the "manner of holding elections" for congressional office;
Establishes uniform national standards for congressional elections consistent with Congressional authority;
Does not prohibit party activity but separates party processes from state-administered elections;
Preserves party autonomy by permitting internal nomination processes at party expense;
Ensures equal voter participation regardless of party affiliation or state of residence; and
Advances legitimate governmental interests in administrative efficiency, voter participation, electoral consistency, and democratic integrity.

(5) Implementation Timeline

This subsection takes effect for the First CEMA Election.

(e) Single-Winner STAR Tabulation¶

For elections with single winner:

Step 1: Score Tabulation

Sum all scores received by each candidate
Identify two candidates with highest total scores

Step 2: Automatic Runoff

Compare two highest-scoring candidates
On each ballot, candidate with higher score receives one vote
Candidate receiving more votes in automatic runoff is elected

Step 3: Tiebreaking

Ties resolved by random selection, public lot drawing, or other neutral method established by state law

This single-winner procedure applies to:

All Senate elections; and
House elections in states with fewer than three Representatives, as provided in Section 402(d).

(f) Multi-Member District Election Procedures¶

Elections for House seats in multi-member districts follow the unified general election structure specified in subsection (d).

(1) Direct General Election

All candidates meeting ballot access requirements (Title I) appear directly on the general election ballot for multi-member district seats, with party endorsements (Title II) displayed.

(2) Rationale

Multi-member districts using STAR-PR achieve optimal democratic outcomes when all qualified candidates appear on the general election ballot. Proportional allocation ensures diverse viewpoints receive representation proportional to voter support without requiring preliminary candidate field narrowing.

(3) Implementation Timeline

This subsection takes effect at the First CEMA Election.

(g) STAR-PR for Multi-Member House Districts¶

For House elections in multi-member districts electing three or more Representatives, STAR-PR (Score Then Automatic Runoff - Proportional Representation) shall be used. The tabulation algorithm for STAR-PR is Allocated Score.

(1) Required Properties

The tabulation method shall:

Produce proportional outcomes in which each group of voters receives a share of seats reflecting its share of the electorate;
Operate on the same 0-5 star score ballots used in single-winner STAR elections;
Treat all voters equally, with no voter's ballot given greater or lesser initial weight;
Be candidate-centered, with seats awarded to individual candidates based on voter scores rather than party lists or party-determined ordering;
Be deterministic and auditable, producing the same result from the same ballots in every tabulation; and
Satisfy monotonicity, such that increasing a candidate's score on any ballot can never cause that candidate to lose a seat.

(2) Tabulation Procedure

Seats shall be filled through iterative allocation rounds as follows:

Step 1: Calculate the quota. The quota is the unit of ballot weight allocated per seat, calculated as: total valid ballots divided by seats to be filled. The quota formula is an adjustable parameter under Section 409(e)(1).

Step 2: Calculate weighted scores. For each candidate who has not already been elected, compute the sum of each ballot's score for that candidate multiplied by that ballot's current weight. In the first round, all ballot weights are 1.

Step 3: Elect the highest-scoring candidate. The candidate with the highest weighted score wins the next seat.

Step 4: Allocate ballot weight. Sort all ballots by their weighted score for the elected candidate (current ballot weight multiplied by score given to the elected candidate), from highest to lowest. Working from the top of this sorted list, allocate ballot weight as follows:

(A) Identify the split point -- the highest weighted score value such that the total weight of all ballots with a weighted score strictly greater than that value is less than the quota;

(B) For each ballot with a weighted score strictly greater than the split point, set the ballot's weight to zero;

(C) For ballots at the split point (the cusp tier), compute the fraction of weight to allocate as the remaining quota need -- the quota minus the total weight allocated under subparagraph (B) -- divided by the total weight of all ballots at the split point. Reduce each ballot in the cusp tier by that fraction, applied equally to all such ballots; and

(D) Ballots with a weighted score below the split point are unaffected.

The total weight allocated across all ballots in each round equals the quota. The ballot weight allocation procedure is an adjustable parameter under Section 409(e)(1).

Step 5: Repeat. Remove the elected candidate from consideration. Return to Step 2. Continue until all seats are filled.

(3) Tiebreaking

Ties in weighted score totals shall be resolved by neutral, publicly verifiable methods established by state law, subject to guidance from the Electoral Science Office under Section 409.

(4) Scope

This proportional procedure applies only to House elections in multi-member districts with three or more seats.

(h) Minimum Threshold for STAR-PR¶

Districts electing fewer than three Representatives shall use single-winner STAR voting (subsection (e)) rather than STAR-PR. STAR-PR shall only be used for House districts electing three or more Representatives simultaneously.

(i) FEC Certification and Technical Specifications¶

The Federal Election Commission shall, within 12 months of enactment, publish detailed technical specifications for:

Single-winner STAR voting implementation for general elections;
STAR-PR (Allocated Score) implementation for multi-member districts;
Ballot design standards for STAR voting interfaces;
Vote tabulation procedures and audit protocols;
Voting equipment certification requirements; and
Recount and tie-breaking procedures.

Section 405. Ballot Design Standards¶

(a) Clear Presentation¶

Ballots shall present candidate information clearly, including:

Candidate names in alphabetical order or randomized order;
Party endorsements in format specified in Title II;
Scoring interface with clear 0-5 star options;
Instructions in plain language; and
Multi-lingual presentation per Voting Rights Act requirements.

(b) Accessibility¶

Ballots shall comply with accessibility requirements for voters with disabilities, including:

Compatible assistive technologies;
Audio ballot options;
Large print options;
High-contrast display options; and
Physical ballot accessibility.

(c) FEC Model Ballots¶

The FEC shall publish model ballot designs demonstrating compliance with this section within 12 months of enactment.

Section 406. Transition Protection¶

[Reserved]

Section 407. FEC Certification and Oversight¶

(a) Voting System Certification¶

The FEC shall certify voting systems meeting STAR and STAR-PR technical specifications.

(b) State Compliance Monitoring¶

The FEC shall monitor state compliance with this Title and report to Congress annually.

(c) Technical Assistance¶

The FEC shall provide technical assistance to states implementing STAR voting and STAR-PR, including:

Model legislation and regulations;
Voting equipment specifications;
Voter education materials;
Training for election officials; and
Best practices documentation.

Section 408. Contingency Provisions¶

(a) Implementation Delays¶

If states face genuine technical obstacles to timely STAR-PR implementation, the FEC may grant limited extensions upon demonstration of good-faith compliance efforts.

(b) Equipment Availability¶

The FEC shall work with voting equipment vendors to ensure certified STAR-PR systems are commercially available at least 18 months before the First CEMA Election.

(c) Voter Education¶

The FEC shall coordinate with states to ensure comprehensive voter education campaigns precede STAR voting implementation.

Section 409. Electoral Science Office and Voting Method Technical Review¶

(a) Establishment of the Electoral Science Office¶

(1) Creation

There is established as an independent agency in the executive branch the Electoral Science Office (ESO), which shall be responsible for:

Ongoing evaluation of voting method performance under this Act;
Research into improvements to vote tabulation and seat allocation procedures;
Development and validation of proposed technical modifications;
Coordination with academic institutions, election administrators, and international experts;
Public education regarding voting method mechanics and outcomes;
Certification, evaluation, and maintenance of the districting algorithm required by Section 403; and
Publication of algorithmically generated district maps and verification tools following each redistricting cycle.

(2) Independence

The Electoral Science Office shall operate independently of the Federal Election Commission and shall not be subject to FEC direction or control. The ESO may coordinate with the FEC on implementation matters but maintains separate authority over technical evaluation and modification proposals.

(b) ESO Commission¶

(1) Composition

The Electoral Science Office shall be governed by an ESO Commission consisting of seven (7) members appointed as follows:

Two members appointed by the President;
One member appointed by the Chief Justice of the United States;
One member appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
One member appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives;
One member appointed by the Majority Leader of the Senate; and
One member appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate.

(2) Qualifications

Each Commissioner shall possess demonstrated expertise in one or more of the following fields:

Electoral systems and voting theory;
Applied mathematics or statistics;
Political science with specialization in electoral mechanics;
Computer science with specialization in algorithm design or verification;
Election administration; or
Constitutional law with specialization in election law.

No more than four Commissioners may be registered members of the same political party. Commissioners shall be selected for technical expertise rather than political affiliation.

(3) Terms

Commissioners shall serve staggered six-year terms. Initial appointments shall be staggered as follows: two Commissioners for two-year terms, two for four-year terms, and three for six-year terms, as determined by lot. Commissioners may be reappointed for one additional term.

(4) Removal

Commissioners may be removed only for cause, including neglect of duty, malfeasance in office, or incapacity. Removal requires concurrence of the appointing authority and majority vote of the remaining Commissioners.

(5) Chairperson

The Commission shall elect a Chairperson from among its members by majority vote. The Chairperson shall serve a two-year term and may be re-elected.

(6) Compensation

Commissioners shall receive compensation equivalent to Level IV of the Executive Schedule. The Chairperson shall receive compensation equivalent to Level III of the Executive Schedule.

(c) Tier 1: Statutory Principles¶

(1) Normative Commitments

The following elements of the voting methods established in this Title are normative commitments of the statute. They define the democratic principles that the voting methods must satisfy. The ESO shall have no authority to propose or implement modifications to these elements. Modification requires an Act of Congress amending this Title.

Ballot interface consistency: Voters shall perform the same scoring action for all candidates regardless of contest type;
Universal scoring permission: Voters may score all candidates, some candidates, or no candidates, and may assign the same score to multiple candidates;
Equal voter treatment: All voters' ballots shall carry equal initial weight, and no voter's ballot shall be given greater or lesser influence based on party affiliation, geography, or any other characteristic;
Proportional outcome requirement: For multi-member districts, seat allocation shall produce proportional representation reflecting the distribution of voter support across candidates; and
Algorithmic districting neutrality: Congressional district boundaries shall be determined by algorithmically neutral, deterministic methods that eliminate human discretion from boundary placement, as specified in Section 403(a).

(2) Rationale

These elements embody the statute's normative thesis -- the reasons the law exists. Changing any of these elements would represent a fundamental policy reversal, not a technical improvement. Congressional action is the appropriate vehicle for such decisions.

(d) Tier 2: Protected Design Elements¶

(1) Core Design Choices

The following elements are specific design choices that anchor the voter experience and system architecture. The ESO may study these elements, propose modifications, and submit recommendations to Congress. Modifications require affirmative Congressional approval as specified in subsection (h)(1).

Score range: Voters shall score candidates using a 0-5 star scale;
Unscored treatment: Candidates left unscored shall be treated as receiving 0 stars;
Single-winner STAR structure: For single-winner contests, the two highest-scoring candidates shall advance to an automatic runoff determined by voter preferences; and
District magnitude range: Multi-member congressional districts shall elect between three (3) and seven (7) Representatives, as specified in Section 402(b).

(2) Rationale

These elements are well-supported by current research and serve important functions in the system's architecture. However, they represent specific engineering choices rather than normative commitments. Future advances in electoral science may identify improvements. The ESO should be able to study and propose such improvements, but the significance of these elements to the voter experience warrants a higher approval bar than technical parameters: Congress must affirmatively agree, not merely decline to object.

(e) Tier 3: Adjustable Technical Parameters¶

(1) Scope of Technical Review

The following technical parameters may be modified through the process established in subsection (h). These are implementation details that the ESO is best positioned to evaluate and refine based on empirical evidence and ongoing research.

Quota calculation formula: The mathematical formula for determining the unit of ballot weight allocated per seat under STAR-PR, as specified in Section 404(g)(2);
Ballot weight allocation procedure: The procedure for allocating ballot weight after each seat is filled, as specified in Section 404(g)(2), including the sort order, split point identification, and fractional surplus handling method;
Seat allocation sequence: The order of operations for allocating seats among candidates in each allocation round;
Tie-breaking procedures: Methods for resolving ties at any stage of tabulation, provided such methods remain neutral and publicly verifiable;
Rounding and remainder handling: Procedures for handling fractional allocations and distributing remainder seats;
Audit and verification protocols: Technical specifications for post-election audits and result verification, provided such protocols do not reduce auditability;
Districting algorithm: The specific algorithm used to determine congressional district boundaries within each state, subject to the boundary conditions specified in Section 403(f) and subsection (e)(2) of this section;
District magnitude allocation method: The district magnitude preference ordering and the method for allocating magnitudes among districts within a state under Section 403(c), subject to the constraint that all districts fall within the magnitude range specified as a protected design element under subsection (d)(1); and
VRA compliance adjustment procedure: The method by which the ESO, in coordination with the Department of Justice, applies minimum boundary adjustments to achieve Voting Rights Act compliance under Section 403(e).

(2) Boundary Conditions

Any modification to adjustable parameters must:

Preserve or improve proportionality of outcomes as measured against recognized metrics;
Maintain or reduce computational complexity of tabulation;
Preserve or improve transparency and public verifiability;
Not create opportunities for strategic manipulation not present in current specifications;
Not disadvantage any political party, candidate, or voter bloc relative to current specifications;
Be implementable using existing certified voting equipment or equipment certifiable within 18 months;
Not introduce human discretion into district boundary placement or district magnitude allocation; and
Satisfy the boundary conditions for districting algorithms specified in Section 403(f).

(f) Decennial Technical Review¶

(1) Mandatory Review

Beginning with the first decennial census completed after the Second CEMA Election, and following each subsequent decennial census, the ESO shall conduct a comprehensive technical review of voting method performance under this Act.

(2) Review Scope

Each decennial review shall evaluate:

Proportionality outcomes across all multi-member district elections since the previous review;
Voter comprehension and ballot completion rates;
Administrative efficiency and error rates;
Advances in electoral science research applicable to STAR and STAR-PR methods;
International experience with comparable voting systems;
Identified edge cases or anomalies in tabulation outcomes; and
Technological developments affecting implementation feasibility.

(3) Report and Recommendation

Within 24 months of each decennial census certification, the ESO shall publish a comprehensive report including:

Findings from the technical review;
Any recommended modifications to adjustable parameters;
Evidence supporting each recommendation, including simulation results and comparative analysis;
Implementation requirements and timeline for recommended modifications;
Minority views from dissenting Commissioners; and
Public comments received during the review process.

(g) Ad Hoc Technical Review¶

(1) Petition-Based Review

The ESO shall initiate an ad hoc technical review upon petition by:

Election officials from states collectively representing at least 20% of House seats;
At least three federally recognized political parties; or
Resolution of either chamber of Congress.

(2) Performance-Based Review

The ESO may initiate an ad hoc technical review upon determination that:

Documented anomalies in tabulation outcomes warrant investigation;
Peer-reviewed research demonstrates a modification would improve proportionality by a statistically significant margin; or
Technological developments create implementation opportunities not previously available.

(3) Ad Hoc Review Procedures

Ad hoc reviews shall follow the same procedures as decennial reviews but may be completed within 12 months of initiation. The ESO shall not initiate more than one ad hoc review in any 24-month period absent extraordinary circumstances.

(h) Modification Approval Processes¶

Two approval processes are established, corresponding to the significance of the elements being modified.

(1) Process for Tier 2 (Protected Design Elements)

Modifications to elements specified in subsection (d) shall follow this process:

(i) Commission Supermajority. No modification may be transmitted to Congress unless approved by at least six (6) of seven (7) Commissioners.

(ii) Publication and Comment. Prior to Commission vote, proposed modifications shall be:

Published in the Federal Register with supporting documentation;
Made available for public comment for not fewer than 120 days;
Presented at no fewer than five public hearings in geographically diverse locations; and
Submitted to the FEC, state election officials, recognized political parties, and relevant academic institutions for technical comment.

(iii) Transmission to Congress. Upon Commission approval, proposed modifications shall be transmitted to Congress with:

The full text of proposed specification changes;
Technical documentation and supporting evidence;
Implementation timeline and cost estimates;
Summary of public comments and agency responses;
Certification that the modification preserves all Tier 1 statutory principles; and
Certification that boundary conditions in subsection (e)(2) are satisfied.

(iv) Affirmative Congressional Approval. Proposed modifications to protected design elements shall take effect only upon enactment of a joint resolution of approval by both chambers of Congress and presentment to the President. The joint resolution:

Shall be introduced in either chamber within 60 legislative days of transmission;
Shall be referred to the committees of jurisdiction in each chamber;
Shall be privileged for floor consideration if reported or discharged from committee; and
Shall not be subject to amendment.

If Congress does not enact a joint resolution of approval within 180 legislative days of transmission, the proposed modification does not take effect. The ESO may resubmit a revised proposal after 12 months.

(2) Process for Tier 3 (Adjustable Technical Parameters)

Modifications to parameters specified in subsection (e) shall follow this process:

(i) Commission Supermajority. No modification may be transmitted to Congress unless approved by at least five (5) of seven (7) Commissioners.

(ii) Publication and Comment. Prior to Commission vote, proposed modifications shall be:

Published in the Federal Register with supporting documentation;
Made available for public comment for not fewer than 90 days;
Presented at no fewer than three public hearings in geographically diverse locations; and
Submitted to the FEC, state election officials, and recognized political parties for technical comment.

(iii) Transmission to Congress. Upon Commission approval, proposed modifications shall be transmitted to Congress with:

The full text of proposed specification changes;
Technical documentation and supporting evidence;
Implementation timeline and cost estimates;
Summary of public comments and agency responses; and
Certification that boundary conditions in subsection (e)(2) are satisfied.

(iv) Congressional Review Period. Proposed modifications shall take effect 18 months after transmission to Congress unless, within 120 legislative days of transmission, Congress enacts a joint resolution of disapproval.

(v) Joint Resolution of Disapproval. A joint resolution of disapproval under this subsection:

Shall be introduced in either chamber within 60 legislative days of transmission;
Shall be referred to the committees of jurisdiction in each chamber;
Shall be privileged for floor consideration if reported or discharged from committee;
Shall not be subject to amendment; and
Requires passage by both chambers and presentment to the President.

(vi) Effect of Disapproval. If Congress enacts a joint resolution of disapproval:

The proposed modification shall not take effect;
The ESO may not resubmit substantially similar modifications for 24 months; and
The ESO shall publish a response addressing Congressional concerns.

(vii) Effect of No Disapproval. If Congress does not enact a joint resolution of disapproval within 120 legislative days:

The proposed modification shall take effect on the date specified in the transmission, but not earlier than 18 months after transmission;
The FEC shall update technical specifications and certification requirements accordingly;
States shall implement modifications in time for the first federal election occurring at least 12 months after the effective date; and
The ESO shall provide technical assistance to states and election administrators during implementation.

(i) Transparency and Public Access¶

(1) Open Proceedings

All Commission meetings at which official action is taken shall be open to the public, except that the Commission may close portions of meetings when discussing:

Personnel matters;
Pending litigation; or
Information classified for national security purposes.

(2) Public Database

The ESO shall maintain a publicly accessible database containing:

All election data used in technical reviews, in anonymized form;
Simulation models and source code used in evaluating proposed modifications;
Historical proportionality metrics for all multi-member district elections;
International comparative data on voting system performance; and
Academic research relevant to voting method evaluation.

(3) Annual Report

The ESO shall submit an annual report to Congress summarizing:

Activities undertaken during the preceding year;
Preliminary findings from any ongoing reviews;
Implementation status of any approved modifications;
Research priorities for the coming year; and
Budget and staffing requirements.

(j) Coordination with FEC¶

(1) Implementation Authority

The Federal Election Commission retains authority over:

Voting system certification;
State compliance monitoring;
Technical assistance to states; and
Enforcement of voting method requirements.

(2) Specification Updates

Upon effectiveness of any ESO-approved modification, the FEC shall:

Update technical specifications within 90 days;
Revise certification requirements as necessary;
Provide updated guidance to states and vendors; and
Coordinate with ESO on implementation support.

(3) Information Sharing

The FEC and ESO shall enter into a memorandum of understanding governing:

Sharing of election data and compliance reports;
Coordination on technical assistance to states;
Joint research initiatives; and
Dispute resolution procedures.

(k) Authorization of Appropriations¶

(1) Establishment Funding

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Electoral Science Office:

$15 million for the first fiscal year after enactment for establishment and initial operations; and
$10 million for each of the second and third fiscal years after enactment.

Establishment funding under this paragraph is in addition to, and not in lieu of, the mandatory minimum appropriation established under Section 410(c).

(2) Decennial Review Supplemental

There are authorized to be appropriated such additional sums as necessary to conduct decennial technical reviews under Section 409(f), not to exceed $5 million per review cycle.

(3) Ongoing Funding

Beginning with the fourth fiscal year after enactment, ongoing funding for the Electoral Science Office shall be provided through the mandatory minimum appropriation established under Section 410(c). Congress may appropriate sums in excess of the mandatory minimum for any fiscal year.

(l) Effective Date¶

(1) Agency Establishment

The provisions of this section authorizing establishment of the Electoral Science Office, appointment of Commissioners, and administrative preparations shall take effect upon enactment.

(2) Operational Authority

The ESO's authority to conduct technical reviews and propose modifications shall take effect upon the First CEMA Election.

(3) First Decennial Review

The first mandatory decennial review shall commence following certification of the first decennial census completed after the Second CEMA Election.

Section 410. Independence Protections for Districting Functions¶

(a) Executive Independence¶

(1) Non-Interference

The Electoral Science Office shall not be subject to executive orders, presidential memoranda, presidential directives, or directives from the Office of Management and Budget with respect to:

Certification, evaluation, or modification of the districting algorithm under Section 403;
Generation, publication, or modification of congressional district maps;
Allocation of district magnitudes within any state;
Voting Rights Act compliance adjustments under Section 403(e); or
Any technical review of the districting algorithm under Section 409.

(2) Prohibited Communications

No officer or employee of the Executive Office of the President, including the White House Office, the Office of Management and Budget, and any office or council within the Executive Office, shall communicate to any Commissioner or ESO employee any preference, instruction, suggestion, or request regarding:

The selection, certification, or modification of the districting algorithm;
The placement of any district boundary in any state;
The magnitude assigned to any district; or
The outcome of any Voting Rights Act compliance review under Section 403(e).

This prohibition does not apply to communications by the President or designee in the course of exercising appointment authority under Section 409(b)(1), nor to testimony before Congress, nor to publicly filed comments during notice-and-comment proceedings under Section 409(h).

(3) Reporting of Prohibited Communications

Any Commissioner or ESO employee who receives a communication prohibited under paragraph (2) shall:

Refuse to act upon the communication;
Document the communication in writing, including the identity of the communicating party, the date, and the substance of the communication;
Report the communication to the ESO Commission Chairperson within 48 hours; and
Report the communication to the Government Accountability Office within 7 days.

The ESO Commission shall include a summary of all reported prohibited communications in its annual report to Congress under Section 409(i)(3).

(b) Commissioner Removal Protections¶

(1) Enhanced Standard During Redistricting Cycles

During any active redistricting cycle -- defined as the period beginning on the date of certification of decennial census results or the date on which a House expansion triggers redistricting under Title III, and ending on the date of the first general election conducted under the resulting district maps -- no Commissioner may be removed from office except upon:

Conviction of a felony in a court of competent jurisdiction;
Formal adjudication of incapacity by a court of competent jurisdiction; or
Resignation.

(2) Standard Outside Redistricting Cycles

Outside active redistricting cycles, the removal standard specified in Section 409(b)(4) applies.

(3) Vacancy During Redistricting Cycle

If a vacancy occurs during an active redistricting cycle, the appointing authority shall fill the vacancy within 90 days. If the appointing authority fails to fill the vacancy within 90 days, the remaining Commissioners shall continue to exercise all powers of the Commission, and quorum requirements shall be adjusted proportionally, provided that no fewer than four (4) Commissioners constitute a quorum.

(4) Prohibition on Recess Appointments

Commissioners shall not be appointed through recess appointment. All appointments shall follow the process established in Section 409(b)(1) and require Senate confirmation for Presidential appointees. Appointments by legislative and judicial appointing authorities shall be effective upon formal notification to the Commission.

(c) Fiscal Independence¶

(1) Mandatory Minimum Appropriation

Beginning with the fourth fiscal year after enactment, and for each fiscal year thereafter, the Electoral Science Office shall receive an annual appropriation of not less than $8 million, adjusted annually for inflation using the Employment Cost Index. This mandatory minimum shall not be subject to sequestration, rescission, or deferral. For the first three fiscal years after enactment, funding is provided under Section 409(k)(1).

(2) Redistricting Cycle Supplemental

In any fiscal year during which an active redistricting cycle is underway, the mandatory minimum appropriation under paragraph (1) shall increase by $5 million to ensure adequate resources for algorithm application, map generation, public verification, and Voting Rights Act compliance review. This supplemental is in addition to the decennial review supplemental authorized under Section 409(k)(2).

(3) Independent Disbursement

All funds appropriated to the Electoral Science Office -- whether under this section or Section 409(k) -- shall be disbursed directly to the Electoral Science Office by the Treasury Department without requiring approval, clearance, or review by the Office of Management and Budget. The Comptroller General shall audit ESO expenditures annually and report findings to the congressional committees of jurisdiction.

(4) Supplemental Appropriations

Nothing in this section prohibits Congress from appropriating sums in excess of the mandatory minimum for any fiscal year. Any supplemental appropriations shall be subject to the independent disbursement requirement of paragraph (3).

(d) Voting Rights Act Compliance Safeguards¶

(1) Specificity Requirement

Any objection by the Department of Justice to an algorithmically generated district map under Section 403(e) shall be accompanied by a written determination that identifies:

The specific provision of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended, that the map is alleged to violate;
The specific racial, ethnic, or language minority group whose rights are alleged to be impaired;
The specific geographic area within the state where the violation is alleged to occur;
The specific factual basis for the alleged violation, including demographic data, electoral history, and any other evidence supporting the determination; and
The specific relief sought, described with sufficient particularity to enable the ESO to calculate the minimum boundary adjustment necessary.

Generalized objections, objections lacking geographic specificity, or objections unsupported by factual findings shall have no legal effect and shall not require ESO response.

(2) Minimum Adjustment Principle

Any boundary adjustment made by the ESO in response to a Department of Justice objection under Section 403(e) shall be the minimum adjustment necessary to cure the identified violation. "Minimum adjustment" means the adjustment that reassigns the fewest census blocks from one district to another while curing the identified violation. The ESO shall not adjust boundaries beyond the geographic area identified in the Department of Justice objection.

(3) Dual Publication

Following any Voting Rights Act compliance adjustment, the ESO shall publish simultaneously:

The original algorithmically generated map for the affected state;
The adjusted map incorporating the compliance modification;
A boundary-by-boundary accounting of every change, identifying each census block reassigned and the justification for the reassignment; and
A quantitative assessment of the adjustment's impact on district population equality and district magnitude allocation.

(4) Expedited Judicial Review

Any qualified voter, recognized political party, or state may challenge a Department of Justice objection under Section 403(e), or the sufficiency of the ESO's compliance adjustment, before a three-judge panel of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. The three-judge panel shall be convened pursuant to 28 U.S.C. Section 2284. The panel shall:

Conduct proceedings on an expedited basis, with initial hearing within 30 days of filing;
Apply de novo review to the Department of Justice's factual determination of a Voting Rights Act violation;
Apply arbitrary-and-capricious review to the ESO's minimum adjustment determination; and
Issue a final order within 90 days of filing.

Appeal from the three-judge panel shall lie directly to the Supreme Court of the United States.

(5) Standing

Standing to bring an action under paragraph (4) shall extend to:

Any qualified voter residing in the affected state;
Any political party that received at least 1% of the vote in the affected state in the most recent federal election;
The state, acting through its Attorney General; and
The Electoral Science Office, if the ESO determines that a Department of Justice objection does not meet the specificity requirements of paragraph (1).

(e) Algorithm Integrity Protections¶

(1) Source Code Publication

The full source code and mathematical specification of the certified districting algorithm shall be published in the Federal Register and maintained on the ESO's public website. Any modification to the algorithm shall be published not fewer than 18 months before the first election to which it applies.

(2) Independent Verification Requirement

Prior to certifying any districting algorithm or applying any algorithm to generate district maps, the ESO shall engage not fewer than two independent verification bodies -- drawn from university research laboratories, national standards institutes, or comparable institutions with no financial or political relationship to any party, candidate, or officeholder -- to:

Independently implement the algorithm from its published specification;
Apply the independent implementation to the same input data; and
Certify that the independent implementation produces identical district maps.

If independent verification fails, the ESO shall not certify or apply the algorithm until discrepancies are resolved.

(3) Public Replication

Any person shall have the right to replicate the algorithm's output using publicly available input data. The ESO shall provide, at no cost:

The complete input dataset used in each redistricting application;
The published algorithm specification in machine-readable format;
Reference implementation source code in at least two widely used programming languages; and
Expected output for verification purposes.

(4) Tamper Detection

If any district map produced by the ESO differs from the output produced by independent verification or public replication using identical inputs and the published algorithm, the discrepant map shall have no legal effect. The ESO shall investigate the discrepancy, publish findings within 30 days, and regenerate the map using the verified algorithm. The Government Accountability Office shall be notified immediately of any such discrepancy.

(f) Anti-Circumvention¶

(1) Prohibition on Alternative Districting Authority

No federal officer, agency, or instrumentality other than the Electoral Science Office shall have authority to draw, propose, certify, or approve congressional district boundaries, except as provided in subsection (d) of this section regarding Voting Rights Act compliance adjustments.

(2) Prohibition on Conditional Appropriations

No appropriation to the Electoral Science Office shall be conditioned upon the ESO producing a particular algorithmic output, certifying a particular algorithm, or generating district maps with particular characteristics.

(3) Prohibition on Structural Reorganization

The Electoral Science Office shall not be reorganized, consolidated with another agency, placed under the authority of another agency, or subjected to the supervisory authority of any executive branch official below the level of the Commission established under Section 409(b), except by Act of Congress amending this Title.

(4) Whistleblower Protections

Any ESO employee or contractor who reports a violation or attempted violation of this section to the Government Accountability Office, the Inspector General of any relevant agency, or any committee of Congress shall be entitled to all protections provided under 5 U.S.C. Section 2302(b)(8) and the Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989, as amended.

(g) Self-Executing Default¶

(1) Default Algorithm Independence

The default districting algorithm specified in Section 403(g) shall operate independently of the Electoral Science Office. In any circumstance in which the ESO is unable or fails to certify an algorithm or generate district maps by the deadline required under this Title -- whether due to budgetary incapacity, quorum failure, interference, or any other cause -- the default algorithm shall be applied as follows:

The Clerk of the House of Representatives shall apply the default algorithm using census data published by the Bureau of the Census, for all states electing two or more Representatives;
The resulting maps shall be published in the Federal Register and made available for public verification;
The maps shall have the same legal effect as maps generated by the ESO; and
The Government Accountability Office shall investigate and report to Congress on the cause of the ESO's failure within 60 days.

(2) Mathematical Precision of Default

The default shortest splitline algorithm, as specified in Section 403(g), shall be defined with sufficient mathematical precision that its application to any given input dataset produces a single deterministic output requiring no exercise of human judgment. The ESO shall publish a complete mathematical specification of the default algorithm within 12 months of enactment.

(h) Effective Date¶

The provisions of this section take effect upon enactment and apply to all districting functions of the Electoral Science Office from the date of ESO establishment.

TITLE V: COMPENSATION, TRANSITION, AND IMPLEMENTATION¶

Section 501. Purpose¶

This Title establishes compensation and transition mechanisms designed to align incumbent incentives with the reform objectives of this Act. Provisions in this Title take effect on one of two timelines:

Immediate Provisions: Taking effect upon the Immediate Effective Date; and
First CEMA Election Provisions: Taking effect at the First CEMA Election.

Section 502. Congressional Compensation Adjustment¶

(a) Phased Salary Increases¶

(1) House of Representatives

The annual rate of pay for members of the House of Representatives shall increase according to the following schedule: - Year 1 (beginning on the Immediate Effective Date): $189,200 - Year 2 (first January 1 following Year 1): $204,400 - Year 3 (first January 1 following Year 2): $219,600 - Year 4 (first January 1 following Year 3): $234,800 - Year 5 (first January 1 following Year 4): $250,000

(2) United States Senate

The annual rate of pay for members of the United States Senate shall increase according to the following schedule: - Year 1 (beginning on the Immediate Effective Date): $199,200 - Year 2 (first January 1 following Year 1): $224,400 - Year 3 (first January 1 following Year 2): $249,600 - Year 4 (first January 1 following Year 3): $274,800 - Year 5 (first January 1 following Year 4): $300,000

(3) Timing

The Year 1 increase takes effect on the Immediate Effective Date. Subsequent increases take effect on January 1 of each following year.

(b) Automatic Cost-of-Living Adjustments¶

Beginning one year after Year 5 compensation takes effect, congressional salaries shall be adjusted annually for cost-of-living increases using the Employment Cost Index (ECI) for wages and salaries of workers in private industry, as calculated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, without requiring further congressional votes.

(c) Superseding Provision¶

This section supersedes 2 U.S.C. Section 4501 (congressional pay adjustment) to the extent inconsistent with this section.

(d) Effective Date¶

This section takes effect on the Immediate Effective Date.

(e) Voluntary Compensation Hold¶

(1) Election to Hold

Any member of Congress may elect to forgo the difference between the compensation rate established under subsection (a) or (b) and the rate of compensation in effect immediately before the Immediate Effective Date by filing written notice with the Clerk of the House of Representatives or the Secretary of the Senate, as applicable.

(2) Hold Period and Irrevocability

Each election under this subsection shall be:

Effective for the full calendar year specified in the notice;
Irrevocable for the duration of that calendar year; and
Filed no later than December 1 of the preceding calendar year.

(3) Stub Period

For the calendar year in which this Act is enacted, a member may elect to hold compensation under this subsection by filing written notice within 30 days of the Immediate Effective Date. Such hold shall be effective from the date of filing through December 31 of that calendar year and shall be irrevocable for that period.

(4) Forfeiture

Amounts forfeited under this subsection are permanently forfeited and shall not be:

Recoverable as back pay;
Deferred to a subsequent period; or
Applied to any other compensation or benefit.

(5) Scope

An election under this subsection applies only to the salary differential described in paragraph (1). It does not affect:

Pension accrual under Section 503;
Professional development allowances under Section 504;
Member Representational Allowance adjustments under Section 303; or
Any other provision of this Title.

(6) Withdrawal

A member who has filed an election under this subsection may decline to renew it for any subsequent calendar year by not filing a new notice. Upon expiration of a hold period without renewal, the member shall receive the full salary rate then in effect under subsection (a) or (b), as applicable.

(7) Public Disclosure

The Clerk of the House of Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate shall maintain and publish a public record of:

All elections filed under this subsection;
The calendar year covered by each election; and
The expiration or non-renewal of any election.

Section 503. Pension Enhancement¶

(a) Accrual Rate Increase¶

The pension accrual rate for members of Congress shall be 2.5% per year of service, replacing the current 1.7% rate, effective for all service years on or after the Immediate Effective Date.

(b) Reduced Vesting Period¶

Members of Congress shall become vested in the congressional pension system after 5 years of service, replacing the current vesting requirement.

(c) Existing Pension Rights Protected¶

Pension benefits already accrued under prior formulas shall be preserved and calculated separately, with total pension being the sum of:

Benefits accrued under prior formulas for service before the Immediate Effective Date; plus
Benefits accrued under this enhanced formula for service on or after the Immediate Effective Date.

(d) Effective Date¶

This section takes effect on the Immediate Effective Date.

Section 504. Professional Development and Continuing Education¶

(a) Annual Allowance¶

Each member of Congress shall receive an annual professional development allowance equal to 5% of their base salary under Section 502(a) for qualifying educational activities.

(b) Allowance Amounts¶

Based on salaries established in Section 502(a): 1. Members of the House of Representatives: $12,500 per year 2. Members of the Senate: $15,000 per year

These amounts automatically adjust with cost-of-living adjustments under Section 502(b).

(c) Compensation-Adjusted Justification¶

While private sector executive professional development typically represents 3-4% of compensation, this percentage yields $15,000-20,000 annually for executives earning $500,000-600,000. To provide equivalent professional development resources at congressional compensation levels ($250,000-300,000), a 5% allocation is necessary to reach comparable absolute dollar amounts for elite executive education and leadership development programs.

(d) Qualifying Activities¶

Allowance may be used for: 1. Academic coursework and degree programs 2. Professional conferences, seminars, and executive education programs 3. Policy research and study trips (domestic and international) 4. Language instruction 5. Technical skills training (data analysis, technology literacy, etc.) 6. Legislative process and governance education 7. Books, journals, subscriptions, and educational materials 8. Professional coaching and mentoring programs

(e) Non-Qualifying Uses¶

Allowance may not be used for: 1. Campaign-related activities or partisan political events 2. Personal travel unrelated to educational objectives 3. Entertainment, social events, or meals except when integral to qualifying programs 4. Family members' education expenses 5. Lobbying or advocacy training

(f) Administration and Reporting¶

Members shall submit expense reports to their respective chamber's ethics office
Reports must document educational activities and expenditures
Unused allowance does not carry over to subsequent years
Allowance is not taxable income when used for qualifying activities

(g) Effective Date¶

This section takes effect on the Immediate Effective Date.

Section 505. Transition Protection¶

[Reserved]

Section 506. Public Campaign Matching Funds¶

(a) Matching Ratio¶

For elections in multi-member congressional districts, qualified candidates shall receive public matching funds at a 6:1 ratio for contributions of $200 or less from individuals, up to a total of $5 million in public funds per candidate per election cycle.

(b) Qualification Requirements¶

To qualify for matching funds, candidates must:

Collect at least $50,000 in qualifying contributions from at least 500 individual contributors;
Participate in at least two public debates or forums in their district;
Agree to voluntary spending limits of $6 million for the general election; and
Comply with enhanced financial disclosure requirements.

(c) Funding Authorization¶

There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as necessary to provide matching funds under this section.

(d) Voluntary Participation¶

Participation in this matching fund program is voluntary. Candidates who decline participation are not subject to spending limits.

(e) Effective Date¶

This section takes effect beginning with the First CEMA Election.

Section 507. Senate-Specific Provisions¶

(a) Senate Membership Unchanged¶

Nothing in this Act shall alter the composition, size, or apportionment formula of the United States Senate. Each state shall continue to have two Senators as required by Article I, Section 3 of the Constitution.

(b) Senate Authority Over Internal Rules¶

The Senate retains exclusive authority over its own rules, procedures, committee structure, leadership selection, and other matters of internal governance.

(c) Applicability of Compensation Mechanisms¶

The following provisions of this Title apply to members of the Senate:

Salary adjustment (Section 502)
Pension enhancement (Section 503)
Professional development allowance (Section 504)
Streamlined appointment authority (Section 508)

The following provision does NOT apply to the Senate:

Public matching funds (Section 506) -- Not applicable unless Senate separately adopts

(d) Effective Date¶

This section takes effect on the Immediate Effective Date.

Section 508. Streamlined Senate Appointment Authority¶

(a) Automatic Confirmation Window¶

Presidential appointments requiring Senate confirmation shall be deemed confirmed 90 calendar days after nomination unless the Senate takes affirmative action to reject the nomination by majority vote.

(b) Exception for Supreme Court¶

This automatic confirmation provision does not apply to nominations to the Supreme Court, which shall continue to require affirmative Senate confirmation.

(c) Committee Procedures¶

Senate committees shall schedule confirmation hearings within 45 calendar days of receiving a nomination, except where extraordinary circumstances require additional time.

(d) Floor Consideration¶

If a committee has not reported a nomination within 75 calendar days, the nomination shall be automatically placed on the Senate calendar for floor consideration.

(e) Effective Date¶

This section takes effect on the Immediate Effective Date.

(f) Rationale¶

This provision addresses Senate concerns about increased House membership by streamlining appointment processes, ensuring the Senate's advice-and-consent role remains effective while preventing indefinite delays in filling executive and judicial positions.

Section 509. State Election Administration Funding¶

(a) Grant Program Established¶

The Election Assistance Commission shall provide grants to states to support implementation of this Act, including:

Voting equipment acquisition and certification for STAR-PR;
Ballot design and printing for Joint Endorsement Lists;
Training for election officials;
Voter education campaigns;
Administrative systems upgrades; and
Risk-limiting audit procedures.

(b) Funding Formula¶

Grants shall be allocated to states based on:

50% by equal distribution among all states;
25% by proportion of registered voters;
25% by estimated implementation complexity (multi-member district count, first-time STAR-PR adoption, etc.)

(c) Matching Requirement¶

States shall provide matching funds equal to 25% of the federal grant amount, which may be satisfied through in-kind contributions of existing election infrastructure and staff time.

(d) Funding Authorization¶

There are authorized to be appropriated:

$500 million for the first fiscal year after enactment;
$300 million for each of the subsequent four fiscal years;
$150 million annually thereafter, adjusted for inflation.

(e) Replacement of Filing Fee Revenue¶

To the extent states historically collected filing fees for federal office (prohibited by Title I), federal grants under this section shall offset that lost revenue.

(f) Effective Date¶

This section takes effect on the Immediate Effective Date, with first grants distributed within 6 months of enactment.

Section 510. Implementation Timeline Summary¶

For clarity, the provisions of this Title take effect according to the following schedule:

(a) Immediate Effective Date¶

Upon enactment or convening of next Congress after enactment, whichever is later:

Congressional compensation adjustment (Section 502)
Enhanced pension formula (Section 503)
Professional development allowance (Section 504)
Senate-specific provisions (Section 507)
Streamlined appointment authority (Section 508)
State election administration funding (Section 509)

(b) First CEMA Election¶

Public campaign matching funds (Section 506): Beginning with the First CEMA Election

(c) Effective Date¶

This section takes effect on the date of enactment.

Section 511. Severability¶

If any provision of this Title is held invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, all other provisions shall remain in full force and effect. Specifically, compensation mechanisms that have taken effect shall remain in force even if corresponding reform provisions are invalidated.

TITLE VI: ENFORCEMENT AND REPORTING¶

Section 601. Federal Election Commission Enforcement Authority¶

(a) Rulemaking¶

The Federal Election Commission shall promulgate rules necessary to implement this Act within 18 months of enactment, including:

Technical standards for ballot design under Titles I and II;
Party recognition procedures and standards under Title II;
STAR-PR implementation specifications under Title IV;
Public matching fund administration under Section 506;
Reporting requirements for compliance monitoring; and
Coordination procedures with the Electoral Science Office under Section 409.

(b) Enforcement Powers¶

The Federal Election Commission may:

Investigate complaints of non-compliance;
Issue advisory opinions on interpretation of this Act;
Conduct audits of state election administration;
Recommend corrective actions; and
Refer violations to the Department of Justice for enforcement.

(c) State Cooperation¶

States shall cooperate with Federal Election Commission oversight, providing requested data, documents, and access to election officials.

(d) Congressional Budget Office Cost Analysis¶

Within 180 days of enactment, the Congressional Budget Office shall prepare comprehensive cost estimates for this Act including:

Direct costs of House expansion and infrastructure;
Costs of enhanced compensation and benefits;
Implementation costs for new voting systems;
Administrative and operational costs;
Offsetting savings from reduced dysfunction and turnover; and
Long-term fiscal impacts over 30-year horizon.

(e) Electoral Science Office Coordination¶

(1) The Federal Election Commission shall coordinate with the Electoral Science Office established under Section 409 on all matters relating to voting method technical specifications, including:

1. Implementation of approved modifications to adjustable parameters;
2. Updates to STAR-PR certification requirements;
3. Technical assistance to states on voting method implementation; and
4. Data sharing for technical review purposes.

(2) Within 180 days of the establishment of the Electoral Science Office, the Federal Election Commission and the Electoral Science Office shall enter into a memorandum of understanding governing the matters specified in Section 409(j)(3).

(3) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to limit the independent authority of the Electoral Science Office under Section 409.

Section 602. Annual Reporting Requirements¶

(a) Federal Election Commission Report¶

The Federal Election Commission shall submit an annual report to Congress and the President on:

Implementation progress for all titles;
State compliance with federal standards;
Challenges and barriers to implementation;
Recommendations for technical corrections or improvements;
Data on ballot access, party recognition, and electoral outcomes;
Effectiveness of voter education programs; and
Technology and security assessments.

(b) Government Accountability Office Report¶

Every two years, the Government Accountability Office shall evaluate:

Cost-effectiveness of reforms;
Impact on representation quality;
Electoral competition metrics;
Voter satisfaction and turnout;
Institutional capacity and functionality; and
Recommendations for adjustments.

(c) Public Availability¶

All reports required by this section shall be made publicly available online within 30 days of submission to Congress.

Section 603. Judicial Review and Private Right of Action¶

(a) Federal Jurisdiction¶

Federal district courts shall have original jurisdiction over cases arising under this Act, with appeals to the appropriate circuit court and Supreme Court.

(b) Expedited Procedures¶

Courts shall expedite cases challenging implementation of this Act, particularly cases filed in election years that could affect upcoming elections.

(c) Standing¶

Any of the following shall have standing to bring suit under this Act:

Qualified voters in affected jurisdictions;
Candidates for federal office;
Federally recognized political parties;
State or local governments challenging federal standards; and
The Attorney General or state attorneys general.

(d) Attorney's Fees¶

Prevailing parties in suits under this Act shall be entitled to reasonable attorney's fees and costs.

Section 604. Transition Support Office¶

(a) Establishment¶

The Election Assistance Commission shall establish a Transition Support Office to:

Coordinate federal assistance to states implementing this Act;
Provide technical guidance on STAR-PR, redistricting, and ballot design;
Develop best practices and model procedures;
Facilitate information sharing among states;
Administer grant programs under Section 509; and
Monitor implementation timelines and milestones.

(b) Staffing and Resources¶

The Office shall be provided adequate staff, resources, and technology to fulfill its mission, with staffing levels and funding to scale with implementation phases.

(c) Duration¶

The Office shall remain in operation until full implementation of all provisions of this Act is complete (approximately 25-30 years after enactment), after which its functions may be absorbed into regular Election Assistance Commission operations.

Section 605. Protection Against Repeal or Defunding¶

(a) Supermajority Requirement for Compensation Reductions¶

Once any compensation mechanism in Title V takes effect, it may not be reduced, eliminated, or defunded except by a three-fifths vote of both the House and Senate.

(b) Severability Protection¶

If any provision of this Act is held invalid, all compensation mechanisms that have already taken effect shall remain in force regardless of whether the corresponding reform provision remains operational.

(c) Anti-Retaliation¶

No member of Congress shall face reduction in salary, benefits, committee assignments, or other privileges based on their vote for or against this Act.

TITLE VII: GENERAL PROVISIONS¶

Section 701. Severability¶

If any provision of this Act, or the application of any provision to any person or circumstance, is held invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of this Act and the application of such provision to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected.

Specifically, if any reform title (Titles I-IV) is held invalid:

All compensation mechanisms in Title V that have already taken effect shall remain in force;
Other valid reform titles shall continue to operate;
Enforcement provisions in Title VI shall continue to apply to all valid provisions.

Section 702. Constitutional Supremacy¶

Nothing in this Act shall be construed to supersede or modify any provision of the Constitution of the United States. To the extent any provision of this Act conflicts with constitutional requirements, the Constitution shall prevail.

Section 703. Rules of Construction¶

(a) Liberal Construction¶

This Act shall be liberally construed to achieve its purposes of restoring competitive, representative democracy.

(b) No Inference of Authority¶

Nothing in this Act shall be construed as granting Congress authority it does not otherwise possess under the Constitution.

(c) State Authority Preserved¶

Except where expressly preempted by this Act, states retain authority over election administration, ballot design, and other matters within their traditional purview.

Section 704. Effective Date and Temporal Definitions¶

(a) Tiered Effective Date Structure¶

This Act uses a tiered effective date structure to ensure simultaneous integrated launch of electoral reforms while delivering immediate benefits to members:

Tier 1 (Immediate upon Enactment): Titles V (Compensation, Transition, and Implementation), VI (Enforcement and Reporting), and VII (General Provisions) take effect upon the date of enactment.
Tier 2 (First CEMA Election): Titles I (Federal Ballot Access Standards), II (Federal Party Recognition), III (House Membership Expansion), and IV (Multi-Member Districts and STAR Voting) take effect as of the First CEMA Election.

(b) Temporal Definitions¶

For purposes of this Act, the following temporal terms are defined:

"Immediate Effective Date": The date of enactment, or if enacted after the convening of a Congress, the date of convening of the next Congress, whichever provides incumbent members the benefits of Title V sooner.
"First CEMA Election": The first regularly scheduled general election for Congress at which the provisions of Titles I, II, III, and IV of this Act take effect, determined as follows: it shall be the second regularly scheduled general election for Congress occurring after the date of enactment, except that if such second election occurs less than eighteen (18) months after enactment, the First CEMA Election shall instead be the third regularly scheduled general election for Congress occurring after the date of enactment.
"Second CEMA Election": The first regularly scheduled general election for Congress occurring after the First CEMA Election.

(c) Calendar Year References¶

Where this Act references calendar years (e.g., "January 1 of the election year"), such references shall be construed relative to the applicable election cycle and shall adjust automatically based on when the Act takes effect.

(d) Census Data and Apportionment¶

For purposes of House expansion and reapportionment under this Act:

Census Independence: House expansion timing under Title III operates on the schedule established in Section 301 (initial expansion at First CEMA Election, biennial increases thereafter) and is independent of decennial census timing.
Apportionment Data Source: When House expansion occurs, apportionment among states shall use population data from the most recently completed decennial census, as provided in Title III, Section 301(e).
Mid-Cycle Adjustments: For biennial expansions occurring between decennial censuses, states shall redistrict based on available census data, recognizing that population distributions may have shifted since the most recent census.

Section 705. Short Title Usage¶

This Act may be cited as the "Congressional Elections Modernization Act" or "CEMA."

Section 706. Additional Definitions¶

For purposes of this Act, in addition to temporal definitions provided in Section 704(b):

(a) Electoral Science Office¶

"Electoral Science Office" or "ESO" means the independent agency established under Section 409(a) responsible for ongoing evaluation of voting method performance, research into technical improvements, development of proposed modifications to adjustable parameters, and certification, evaluation, and maintenance of the districting algorithm required by Section 403.

(b) Statutory Principles¶

"Statutory principles" means the normative commitments specified in Section 409(c)(1) that define the democratic principles the voting methods must satisfy. Statutory principles may not be modified except by Act of Congress. The ESO has no authority to propose or implement modifications to statutory principles.

(c) Protected Design Elements¶

"Protected design elements" means the core design choices specified in Section 409(d)(1) that anchor the voter experience and system architecture. The ESO may propose modifications to protected design elements, but such modifications require affirmative Congressional approval via joint resolution as specified in Section 409(h)(1).

(d) Adjustable Parameters¶

"Adjustable parameters" means the technical specifications of STAR and STAR-PR voting methods and the districting algorithm specified in Section 409(e)(1) that may be modified through the technical review process established in Section 409, including quota calculation formulas, ballot weight allocation procedure, seat allocation sequences, tie-breaking procedures, rounding and remainder handling, audit and verification protocols, the districting algorithm, the district magnitude allocation method, and the VRA compliance adjustment procedure. Modifications to adjustable parameters take effect unless Congress enacts a joint resolution of disapproval as specified in Section 409(h)(2).

(e) Quota¶

"Quota" means the unit of ballot weight allocated per seat under STAR-PR, representing the total amount of ballot weight reduced across all affected ballots in each allocation round. The initial quota formula is specified in Section 404(g)(2). The quota calculation formula is an adjustable parameter under Section 409(e)(1).

(f) Technical Modification¶

"Technical modification" means any change to protected design elements or adjustable parameters proposed by the Electoral Science Office and approved through the processes established in Section 409(h).

(g) Certified Districting Algorithm¶

"Certified districting algorithm" means the specific algorithm certified by the Electoral Science Office under Section 403(b) for determining congressional district boundaries within each state. The districting algorithm is an adjustable parameter under Section 409(e)(1). The default algorithm, in the absence of ESO certification, is the shortest splitline method as defined in Section 403(g).

(h) Algorithmic Neutrality¶

"Algorithmic neutrality" means the property of a districting method that operates without reference to racial, ethnic, linguistic, partisan, or incumbent-residence data, requires no subjective parameter selection by any human actor, and produces deterministic, publicly verifiable outputs from publicly available inputs. Algorithmic neutrality is a statutory principle under Section 409(c)(1).

(i) District Magnitude¶

"District magnitude" means the number of Representatives elected from a single congressional district. Under this Act, district magnitude for qualifying states ranges from three (3) to seven (7) as specified in Section 402(b). The district magnitude range is a protected design element under Section 409(d)(1).

(j) Active Redistricting Cycle¶

"Active redistricting cycle" means the period beginning on the date of certification of decennial census results or the date on which a House expansion triggers redistricting under Title III, whichever is applicable, and ending on the date of the first general election conducted under the resulting district maps. During an active redistricting cycle, enhanced independence protections apply to the Electoral Science Office under Section 410(b).

(k) Minimum Adjustment¶

"Minimum adjustment" means the smallest boundary modification, measured by the number of census blocks reassigned from one district to another, necessary to cure an identified Voting Rights Act violation under Section 403(e). The minimum adjustment principle is specified in Section 410(d)(2).

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Prepared by Albert Ramos for The American Policy Architecture Institute