II
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1905
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 31, 2007
Ms. Klobuchar (for herself, Mr. Alexander, and Mr. Lieberman) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration
A BILL
To provide for a rotating schedule for regional selection of delegates to a national Presidential nominating convention, and for other purposes.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the
Regional Presidential Primary and
Caucus Act of 2007
.
Definitions
In this Act:
Caucus
The term caucus means any convention, meeting, or series of meetings held for the selection of delegates to a national Presidential nominating convention of a political party.
Election year
The term election year means a year during which a Presidential election is to be held.
National committee
The term national committee means the organization which, by virtue of the bylaws of a political party, is responsible for the day-to-day operation of such political party at the national level, as determined by the Federal Election Commission.
Political party
The term political party means an association, committee, or organization which—
nominates a candidate for election to any Federal office whose name appears on the election ballot as the candidate of such association, committee, or organization; and
won electoral votes in the preceding Presidential election.
Primary
The term primary means a primary election held for the selection of delegates to a national Presidential nominating convention of a political party, but does not include a caucus, convention, or other indirect means of selection.
Schedule
Schedule
First election cycle
Lottery
The Election Assistance Commission shall establish procedures for the conduct of a lottery by not later than March 1, 2010, to select which of the 4 regions described in subsection (b) will hold the first primary in accordance with the schedule under subparagraph (B). Based on such selection, the primaries shall be conducted in the following order:
In the case where Region I is selected to hold the first primary—
Region II shall hold the second primary;
Region III shall hold the third primary; and
Region IV shall hold the fourth primary.
In the case where Region II is selected to hold the first primary—
Region III shall hold the second primary;
Region IV shall hold the third primary; and
Region I shall hold the fourth primary.
In the case where Region III is selected to hold the first primary—
Region IV shall hold the second primary;
Region I shall hold the third primary; and
Region II shall hold the fourth primary.
In the case where Region IV is selected to hold the first primary—
Region I shall hold the second primary;
Region II shall hold the third primary; and
Region III shall hold the fourth primary.
Schedule
Subject to paragraph (3), in 2012, each State that elects to hold a primary shall hold a primary in accordance with this Act, according to the following schedule:
First primary
Each such State in the region selected to hold the first primary under subparagraph (A) shall hold a primary during the period beginning on the first Tuesday in March and ending on the sixth day following such Tuesday.
Second primary
Each such State in the region required to hold the second primary under subparagraph (A) shall hold a primary during the period beginning on the first Tuesday in April and ending on the sixth day following such Tuesday.
Third primary
Each such State in the region required to hold the third primary under subparagraph (A) shall hold a primary during the period beginning on the first Tuesday in May and ending on the sixth day following such Tuesday.
Fourth primary
Each such State in the region required to hold the fourth primary under subparagraph (A) shall hold a primary during the period beginning on the first Tuesday in June and ending on the sixth day following such Tuesday.
Subsequent election cycles
General rule
Subject to paragraph (3), except as provided in subparagraph (B), in each subsequent election year after 2012, each State in each region that elects to hold a primary shall hold a primary during the period beginning on the first Tuesday of the month following the month in which the State held a primary in the preceding election year (or, in the case where the State did not elect to hold a primary in the preceding election year, the month in which the State would have held a primary if it had elected to do so) and ending on the sixth day following such Tuesday.
Limitation
If the States in a region were required to hold primaries during the period beginning on the first Tuesday in June of the preceding election year and ending on the sixth day following such Tuesday, the States in such region that elect to hold a primary shall hold a primary during the period beginning on the first Tuesday in March of the succeeding election year and ending on the sixth day following such Tuesday.
Exception
The States described in paragraphs (1)(G) and (3)(C) of subsection (b) may hold a primary on a date prior to the beginning of the period described in paragraph (1)(B)(i). In the case where such a State does not elect to hold a primary prior to the beginning of such period, if the State elects to hold a primary, the State shall hold a primary during the period in which the region the State is in (as determined under subsection (b)) is scheduled to hold a primary (as determined under paragraphs (1) and (2)).
Regions
For purposes of subsection (a):
Region I
Region I shall be comprised of the following:
Connecticut.
Delaware.
District of Columbia.
Maine.
Maryland.
Massachusetts.
New Hampshire.
New Jersey.
New York.
Pennsylvania.
Rhode Island.
Vermont.
West Virginia.
Region II
Region II shall be comprised of the following:
Alabama.
Arkansas.
Florida.
Georgia.
Kentucky.
Louisiana.
Mississippi.
North Carolina.
Oklahoma.
South Carolina.
Tennessee.
Texas.
Virginia.
Region III
Region III shall be comprised of the following:
Illinois.
Indiana.
Iowa.
Kansas.
Michigan.
Minnesota.
Missouri.
Nebraska.
North Dakota.
Ohio.
South Dakota.
Wisconsin.
Region IV
Region IV shall be comprised of the following:
Alaska.
Arizona.
California.
Colorado.
Hawaii.
Idaho.
Montana.
Nevada.
New Mexico.
Oregon.
Utah.
Washington.
Wyoming.
Territories
The national committees shall jointly determine the region of each territory of the United States.
State caucus to select delegates
In general
Subject to subsection (b), in the case where a State elects to select delegates to a national Presidential nominating convention of a political party through a caucus held by any political party which has the authority to nominate a candidate, the State shall hold a caucus during the period in which the region the State is in (as determined under section 3(b)) is scheduled to hold a primary (as determined under paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 3(a)).
Exception
The States described in paragraphs (1)(G) and (3)(C) of section 3(b) may hold a caucus on a date prior to the beginning of the period described in section 3(a)(1)(B)(i). In the case where such a State does not elect to hold a caucus prior to the beginning of such period, if the State elects to hold a caucus, the State shall hold a caucus during the period in which the region the State is in (as determined under section 3(b)) is scheduled to hold a primary (as determined under paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 3(a)).
Rule of construction
Nothing in this Act—
shall be construed as requiring a State to hold a primary or a caucus for the selection of delegates to a national Presidential nominating convention of a political party; or
is intended to confer to the Election Assistance Commission any power concerning the selection of delegates other than that expressly provided under section 3(a)(1)(A).
Effective date
This Act shall apply with respect to any primary or caucus held in connection with a general election held in the year 2012 and in each election year thereafter.