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 define 'election for Federal office' as including general, special, primary, and runoff elections with congressional candidates on the ballot. The stated purpose is to affirm that congressional election observers have access to primary elections, not just general elections. It 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 election officials and political parties running federal primaries, as well as the election observers seeking access to those primaries.
Key points
- Defines 'election for Federal office' to include primary and runoff elections, not only general and special elections.
- The definition applies to races for the U.S. Senate and House, including Delegates and the Resident Commissioner.
- Clarifies that observer access rules do not extend to party conventions, caucuses, or other non-ballot selection processes.
- Amends Section 304 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002.
- The bill is currently in committee and has not become law.
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If you support this
You are backing a law that extends congressional election observer access rules to cover federal primary and runoff elections, while excluding conventions and caucuses.
If you oppose this
You are backing keeping the current law unchanged, without this explicit statement that observer access rules apply to federal primaries and runoffs.
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