HR-9779 : Still Just a Bill

The bill H.R. 9779, also known as the "Confirmation Of Congressional Observer Access Act of 2024" or the "COCOA Act of 2024," amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to ensure that states allow designated congressional election observers access to observe election administration procedures in congressional elections. Key provisions of the bill include:

• Access Requirement: Mandates that states provide designated congressional election observers full access to observe all elements of election administration procedures, including areas where ballots are cast, processed, scanned, tabulated, canvassed, recounted, audited, or certified.
• Restrictions on Observers: Prohibits observers from handling ballots or election equipment, advocating for any position or candidate, reducing ballot secrecy or voter privacy, interfering with a voter's ability to cast a ballot, interfering with election administrators duties, or otherwise interfering with the election administration process.
• Removal of Observers: Allows state or local election officials to remove an observer if there is a reasonable basis to believe the observer has engaged in intimidation or deceptive practices prohibited by Federal law, or in the disruption of voting, processing, scanning, tabulating, canvassing, or recounting of ballots, or the certification of results, but requires notice to congressional committees within 24 hours of removal.
• Observer Designation: Defines a "designated congressional election observer" as a House or Senate employee designated in writing by the chair or ranking minority member of the Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives or the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate.

This bill aims to provide a statutory reference for Congress's constitutional authority to oversee congressional elections, ensuring transparency and the ability to gather information, especially in contested elections.