Establishing the Select Committee on Electoral Reform.

Temporary House panel to study election rules

If adopted, the House would set up a temporary Select Committee on Electoral Reform. The Speaker would appoint 14 Members, with 7 after consulting the minority leader. Each leader would also name one co-chair. The committee would meet within 30 days after all appointments. Twelve Members would make a quorum, but fewer could hold hearings. It would study how we elect Members of Congress and options such as multi-member districts with proportional representation; changing the size of the House; ranked-choice and cumulative voting; fusion voting; open, nonpartisan primaries; and independent redistricting commissions. It would review federal barriers to state pilots, including the Uniform Congressional District Act’s single-member district rule. It would hold hearings with experts, current and former Members, and officials from states and other countries. It would have most standing-committee powers but no authority to act on bills. It could only recommend subpoenas and depositions to a standing committee. It could use House staff and seek interim funding under House rules. A final report to Congress and the President would be due within 1 year of its first meeting. The committee would end 30 days after filing that report.