S 2024 IS

110th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2024

To provide for interregional primary elections and caucuses for the selection of delegates to political party Presidential nominating conventions.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 6, 2007

Mr. NELSON of Florida (for himself and Mr. LEVIN) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration

A BILL

To provide for interregional primary elections and caucuses for the selection of delegates to political party Presidential nominating conventions.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the 'Fair and Representative Presidential Primaries Act of 2007'.

SEC. 2. INTERREGIONAL PRIMARY ELECTIONS AND CAUCUSES.
(a) Selection of Delegates to Conventions- The delegates to each national convention for the nomination of candidates of a political party for the offices of President and Vice President shall be selected by primary election or by caucus, as provided by State law. Such State law shall conform to the requirements of the national political executive committee and the national nominating convention of the political party involved.
(b) Timing of Primary Elections and Caucuses-
(1) IN GENERAL- In each region described in subsection (c), the primary elections and caucuses (as the case may be) in a subregion (comprised of a State or a group of States) shall be conducted on each of the following days of each Presidential election year: the second Tuesday in March, the first Tuesday in April, the fourth Tuesday in April, the second Tuesday in May, the fourth Tuesday in May, and the second Tuesday in June.
(2) INITIAL ORDER OF PRIMARIES AND CAUCUSES- For the first Presidential election with respect to which this Act applies, the Election Assistance Commission shall determine by lot the order of subregions in each region for conduct of primary elections and caucuses by the States under paragraph (1).
(3) ORDER OF PRIMARIES AND CAUCUSES FOR SUBSEQUENT ELECTIONS- The subregions determined under paragraph (2) to be first in order for the first Presidential election to which this Act applies shall be last in order with respect to the next such election, and the other subregions shall advance in the order accordingly. The order shall change with respect to subsequent elections in a like manner.
(4) SPECIAL RULES FOR DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, PUERTO RICO, AND TERRITORIES- Any primary election or caucus for the District of Columbia shall be conducted on the same day as a primary election or caucus for the State of Maryland. Any primary election or caucus for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico shall be conducted on the same day as a primary election or caucus for the State of Florida. Any primary election or caucus for any other territory, possession, or other entity entitled under the rules of a political party to delegate representation at the national convention of that party shall be conducted on the same day as a primary election or caucus for the States of Alaska and Hawaii.
(c) Establishment of Regions- The regions (designated by number) and the subregions (designated by letter) referred to in subsection (b) are as follows:
(1) Region 1: (A) Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont; (B) Massachusetts; (C) Connecticut, Rhode Island; (D) Delaware, New Jersey; (E) New York; (F) Pennsylvania.
(2) Region 2: (A) Maryland; (B) West Virginia; (C) Missouri; (D) Indiana; (E) Kentucky; (F) Tennessee.
(3) Region 3: (A) Ohio; (B) Illinois; (C) Michigan; (D) Wisconsin; (E) Iowa; (F) Minnesota.
(4) Region 4: (A) Texas; (B) Louisiana; (C) Arkansas, Oklahoma; (D) Colorado; (E) Kansas, Nebraska; (F) Arizona, New Mexico.
(5) Region 5: (A) Virginia; (B) North Carolina; (C) South Carolina; (D) Florida; (E) Georgia; (F) Mississippi, Alabama.
(6) Region 6: (A) California; (B) Washington; (C) Oregon; (D) Idaho, Nevada, Utah; (E) Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming; (F) Hawaii, Alaska.

SEC. 3. ENFORCEMENT.
The Attorney General may bring a civil action in any appropriate United States district court for such declaratory or injunctive relief as may be necessary to carry out this Act.

SEC. 4. REGULATIONS.
The Election Assistance Commission shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to carry out this Act.

SEC. 5. DEFINITION.
As used in this Act, the term 'State law' means the law of a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory or possession of the United States.

SEC. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Act shall apply with respect to Presidential elections taking place more than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.