COCOA-VIP Act
Latest action: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration. (2026-07-02)
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What this bill does
This bill amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to clarify that the term 'election for Federal office' includes primary and runoff elections, not just general and special elections, when a candidate for the U.S. Senate or House appears on the ballot. The effect is to extend existing congressional election observer access rules to cover these primary and runoff elections. It also specifies that the law does not require observer access to party conventions, caucuses, or other non-ballot candidate selection processes.
Who it affects
This would most affect state and local election officials who run primary and runoff elections, as well as congressional election observers seeking access to those contests.
Key points
- Defines 'election for Federal office' to include general, special, primary, and runoff elections where a congressional candidate is on the ballot.
- Extends observer access provisions under Section 304 of HAVA to primary and runoff elections.
- Clarifies that the law does not require observer access to party conventions, caucuses, or other non-ballot selection processes.
- Applies to candidates for the U.S. Senate and House, including Delegates and the Resident Commissioner.
- The bill is currently in committee and has not been voted on.
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If you support this
Supporting this bill means backing a rule that congressional election observer access extends to ballot-based primary and runoff elections, not just general elections.
If you oppose this
Opposing this bill means leaving current law unchanged, without this explicit clarification that observer access applies to primary and runoff elections.
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