Overview
Title
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to prohibit 501(c)(3) organizations from providing direct funding to official election organizations and to amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to prohibit the District of Columbia from receiving or using funds or certain donations from private entities for the administration of a District of Columbia election, and for other purposes.
ELI5 AI
H.R. 7319 is like a new rule that says friendly groups can't give money to people who run elections. It also means the capital city, Washington, D.C., can't use money from private people to help with their elections, and these changes will start in 2025.
Summary AI
H.R. 7319, also known as the "End Zuckerbucks Act of 2024", seeks to amend the Internal Revenue Code to stop 501(c)(3) organizations from directly funding official election organizations. It also proposes changes to the Help America Vote Act to prevent the District of Columbia from using private funds or donations for managing its elections. The bill clarifies that these amendments won't affect the use of private facilities as polling places and sets the new rules to take effect in 2025.
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AnalysisAI
The Bill Summary
The proposed legislation, known as the "End Zuckerbucks Act of 2024," aims to make significant changes to how elections are funded and administered concerning private involvement. The bill primarily consists of two major components: amendments to the Internal Revenue Code and the Help America Vote Act. It seeks to prohibit 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations from providing direct or indirect financial support to official election organizations. Furthermore, it restricts the District of Columbia from accepting or using funds, property, or services from private entities to administer District-specific elections, including aspects like voter education and registration. Effective dates for these changes are either January 1, 2025, or starting with taxable years after December 31, 2025.
Significant Issues
One primary issue is the ambiguous language within the bill. Terms such as "official election organizations" and "private entities" are not clearly defined. This lack of clarity could lead to varying interpretations, affecting a wide range of non-profit and private entities that traditionally engage in civic involvement. Another concern is the broad prohibition of private funding or support, which could inadvertently limit beneficial contributions aimed at enhancing electoral processes and voter participation. Furthermore, while the bill outlines prohibitions, it lacks specific penalties or enforcement mechanisms, raising questions about how effectively the rules would be implemented.
Potential Impacts on the Public
For the general public, these changes could alter the landscape of election-related activities. The prohibition of private funding might reduce resources available for voter education and outreach efforts. This reduction could affect public awareness and participation in elections, potentially undermining efforts to improve voter turnout and informed voting practices. Additionally, the legalistic language used might contribute to confusion among community organizations, private entities, and the public, possibly leading to reduced engagement due to uncertainties about compliance.
Impacts on Specific Stakeholders
Non-profit organizations and community groups could experience considerable negative impacts from the restrictions posed by this bill. Their role in supporting election-related activities may be significantly curtailed, hindering efforts to support free and fair elections through educational initiatives and community engagement. Conversely, proponents of the bill might argue that it strengthens the integrity of elections by reducing the potential for undue private influence.
The District of Columbia could face challenges in election administration due to the restriction on receiving private funds. This prohibition might complicate or add costs to election preparations, especially if private resources have previously supplemented official efforts. On the other hand, the legislation might be seen positively by those advocating for a strict demarcation between private interests and public election processes.
In summary, while the bill aims at ensuring elections are free from private financial influence, its execution is fraught with potential for reduced resources and clarity issues, impacting both the general public and specific stakeholder groups across the election spectrum.
Issues
The prohibition on 501(c)(3) organizations from providing any form of funding, including below-cost services and indirect funding, to official election organizations could limit the potential for beneficial civic engagement activities (Section 2).
The language defining 'official election organizations' and 'private entity' is ambiguous, potentially leading to wide-ranging interpretations that could affect both 501(c)(3) and private entities' involvement in elections (Sections 2 and 3).
The prohibition of the District of Columbia from receiving private funding adds complexity to election administration and may curtail beneficial private contributions intended to enhance voter education and participation (Section 3, SEC. 304).
The rule of construction language could result in confusion about permissible activities of private facilities serving as polling places, particularly regarding charging fees or providing additional resources (Sections 2(b) and 3(b), SEC. 304).
The legislation includes no specific penalties or enforcement mechanisms, potentially undermining its effectiveness (Section 304).
The effective date of January 1, 2025, might not provide adequate time for the District of Columbia to implement necessary changes, which could disrupt election preparations (Section 3(e)).
The use of legalistic language throughout the bill might lead to misinterpretation by the general public and those responsible for implementing the changes (Sections 2 and 3).
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The first section of the Act states that this legislation will be called the "End Zuckerbucks Act of 2024."
2. 501(c)(3) organizations prohibited from providing direct funding to election organizations Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The bill amends Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code to prohibit non-profit organizations from providing direct or indirect funding to election organizations. It clarifies that this restriction does not prevent certain facilities, like houses of worship or community centers, from being used as polling places, with the changes applying to funding starting in 2026.
3. Prohibition against the receipt or use of funds or certain donations from private entities with respect to District of Columbia elections Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section outlines a rule prohibiting the District of Columbia from accepting or using funds, property, or services from private sources for running elections, including activities like voter education and registration. However, it permits using private facilities as polling places and takes effect for elections starting January 1, 2025.
304. Prohibition against the receipt or use of funds or certain donations from private entities for the administration of a District of Columbia election Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section prohibits the District of Columbia from accepting or using money, property, or services from private entities for managing its elections, including activities related to voter education and registration. However, it allows private or public facilities like community centers to be polling places during these elections.