Bill Overview
Title: COCOA Act of 2022
Description: This bill requires states to provide designated congressional election observers with full access to observe the administration procedures of federal elections. The bill prohibits such an observer from handling ballots or elections equipment, advocating for a position or candidate, taking any action to reduce ballot secrecy, or otherwise interfering with the elections administration process. Designated congressional election observer refers to an individual who is designated in writing by specified congressional committees to gather information with respect to an election, including in the event that the election is contested in the House of Representatives or the Senate and for other purposes permitted by Article I, Section 5 of the U.S. Constitution.
Sponsors: Rep. Steil, Bryan [R-WI-1]
Target Audience
Population: People eligible to participate in U.S. federal elections
Estimated Size: 239000000
- The bill pertains to federal elections in the United States, which involve all voting-eligible citizens.
- Observers have a direct role in election oversight, influencing the transparency and credibility of the electoral process.
- Federal elections in the U.S. affect the entire nation, as they determine leadership at the national level.
- There are approximately 258 million adults in the U.S., but not all are eligible voters due to reasons like disenfranchisement.
- Factors impacting voter eligibility include age, citizenship status, and legal restrictions due to felony convictions.
- Approximately 159 million people participated in the last presidential election in 2020, indicating active engagement.
- The required presence of observers may impact election officials and their procedures across all states.
Reasoning
- The COCOA Act impacts individuals directly involved in the administration and observation of elections, such as election officials, observers themselves, and indirectly, voters, as they may perceive changes in transparency and security.
- While all eligible voters (239 million) are potentially impacted at some level, the direct effects are more pronounced for those directly engaging with the process.
- Given the policy's budget constraints and its non-intrusive nature (observers are not allowed to interfere), the well-being impact is generally limited to perceptions of election integrity and procedural adherence.
- The policy's aim to increase transparency might have a mild improvement effect on voter trust and perception of fairness in elections, but this perception varies by individual experience and political orientation.
Simulated Interviews
Election Official (Dallas, TX)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having designated observers could improve the credibility of elections.
- I worry about possible disruptions with the increased number of observers.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Retired (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having official observers might make me feel more confident about election results.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Poll Volunteer (Portland, OR)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Observers could help reduce inconsistencies I've seen before.
- I hope they know how to respectfully observe without interrupting.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
College Student (Chicago, IL)
Age: 22 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's essential to have transparency in elections; it boosts my trust in democracy.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Lawyer (Miami, FL)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Access for observers could minimize disputes by providing transparency.
- The key is ensuring observers don't interfere with fair process.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Elementary School Teacher (Rural Kansas)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Any additional oversight seems good if it doesn't affect voting ease.
- Observers from DC might not understand local voting issues.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Software Developer (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Enhanced election observation could help secure elections better.
- Observers should ideally have tech-savvy knowledge to be effective.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Retired Teacher (Brooklyn, NY)
Age: 75 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- More transparency is always better, but integrity and respect must be maintained.
- Removing interference is key to trust.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Journalist (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 50 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This could lead to greater public discourse on election fairness.
- Critical to ensure observer impartiality.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Activist (Austin, TX)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Observers could play a role in identifying and preventing voter suppression.
- Worried about observer bias and overreach.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 3 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $30000000 (Low: $25000000, High: $40000000)
Year 2: $30000000 (Low: $25000000, High: $40000000)
Year 3: $30000000 (Low: $25000000, High: $40000000)
Year 5: $30000000 (Low: $25000000, High: $45000000)
Year 10: $30000000 (Low: $25000000, High: $50000000)
Year 100: $30000000 (Low: $25000000, High: $50000000)
Key Considerations
- Ensuring non-partisan, qualified observers to maintain neutrality in oversight.
- Training and protocol establishment will require timely and coordinated efforts between state and federal entities.
- The administrative burden on state election offices might necessitate cooperative assistance to align with federal expectations.