HR 6513 United States House · 118th Congress

COCOA Act of 2024

The COCOA Act of 2024 amends the Help America Vote Act to confirm Congress's constitutional authority to send election observers to monitor election administration procedures. It requires states to allow designated congressional election observers (House or Senate committee employees) full access to observe all election administration procedures, including ballot processing, tabulation, and certification at polling locations. The bill prohibits observers from handling ballots, interfering with voting, reducing voter privacy, or disrupting election administration, and establishes procedures for removing observers with 24-hour notification requirements to congressional committees. This legislation directly affects all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories by mandating access for designated observers during federal elections.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Nov 2023

Committee Review

Sep 2024

House Passage

Sep 2024

Senate Passage

Sep 2024

Signed into Law

Oct 2024

Introduced Nov 30, 2023 Signed Oct 4, 2024

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed in House → Enrolled Bill · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended between its House engrossment and final enrollment to extend congressional election observer access from the House of Representatives only to both chambers, adding the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration throughout. A 24-hour deadline was added for notifying committees when an observer is removed, and the non-binding findings section was deleted. These changes broaden who can be designated as an observer and tighten the notification timeline.

SCOPE

The bill now covers both the House of Representatives and the Senate. The definition of a designated congressional election observer was expanded from 'a House employee' to 'a House or Senate employee,' and all references to the Committee on House Administration now include 'or the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate, as applicable.'

The entire findings subsection (former section 1(b)) was deleted. It contained historical context about Congress's constitutional authority over elections, statistics on contested elections (over 610 in House history), and references to the Federal Contested Elections Act. Findings are non-binding statements of purpose.

TIMELINE

A 24-hour deadline was added requiring election officials to notify the relevant committee within 24 hours of removing a designated congressional election observer from an area.

REQUIREMENT

A subsection clarifying that House employees serving as observers are subject to the House Code of Official Conduct (Rule XXIII) was removed, consistent with the bill's expansion to cover both chambers where different conduct rules apply.

TECHNICAL

Cross-reference corrections changed 'subparagraph (A)' to 'paragraph (1)(A)' in two places, and the short title year was updated from 2023 to 2024 to reflect the actual enactment year.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Oct 4, 2024

Signed into law

Signed by President.

executive

Sep 25, 2024

Introduced

On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 413 - 1 (Roll no. 449). (text: CR H5791)

lower

Sep 25, 2024

Lower · Passed

Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 413 - 1 (Roll no. 449). (text: CR H5791)

lower

Sep 25, 2024

Introduced

Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 6513 - "An Act to amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to confirm the requirement that States allow access to designated congressional election observers to observe the election administration procedures in congressional elections." (consideration: CR H5800)

lower

Sep 25, 2024

Introduced

DEBATE - The House proceeded with 40 minutes of debate on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment to H.R. 6513.

lower

Sep 25, 2024

Introduced

Mr. Steil moved that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment. (consideration: CR H5791-5792)

lower

Sep 24, 2024

Upper · Passed

Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

upper

Sep 24, 2024

Upper · Passed

Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

upper

Sep 24, 2024

Upper · Passed

Senate Committee on Rules and Administration discharged by Unanimous Consent.

upper

Sep 10, 2024

Committee

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.

upper

Sep 9, 2024

Lower · Passed

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5049-5050)

lower

Jan 29, 2024

Lower · Passed

Reported by the Committee on House Administration. H. Rept. 118-361.

lower

Nov 30, 2023

Lower · Passed

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

lower

Nov 30, 2023

Committee

Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.

lower

Nov 30, 2023

Introduced

Introduced in House

lower

1 primary · 2 co-sponsors