Election Reform Law
Signed Tuesday By President Bush
Includes Leahy Provision
To Explore Internet-Assisted Elections

WASHINGTON (Tues., Oct. 29) – The election reform law signed Tuesday by President Bush contains a provision co-authored by Sen. Patrick Leahy to explore ways the Internet can be harnessed to improve the election process.

The Hatch-Leahy-Cantwell Amendment establishes an Advisory Committee on Electronic Voting and the Electoral Process that will examine how Internet technology can be used to improve the election process, register voters, enable online voting, increase the public availability of information on candidates and make vote counts faster and more accurate.

Leahy is sometimes called ‘the cyber senator’ for his enthusiasm for and leadership on Internet issues.  During debate on the amendment on Feb. 26, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) told the Senate that "Senator Leahy's knowledge and support of technological issues made his input invaluable."

After the President signed the bill Tuesday, Leahy said, "This provision will keep Congress looking forward in improving our electoral process.” 

He said the new law is only a beginning.  The committee established under the amendment must report back to the Congress in 20 months on how the Internet and other cutting-edge technologies can and should be harnessed to enable American citizens to register and vote conveniently, securely and effectively.

“These are straight-forward goals, and technology can help us get there,” Leahy said.

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