Sec. 313. Mandatory availability of early voting

343 words·~2 min read·/bill/114/hr/6072/ih/section-313

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Subtitle D of title III of the Help America Vote Act of 2002, as added by section 312(a), is amended by adding at the end the following new section: Each State shall allow individuals to vote in an election for Federal office during an early voting period which occurs prior to the date of the election. The early voting period required under this subsection with respect to an election shall consist of a period of not fewer than 14 consecutive days (including weekends) which begins on the 17th day before the date of the election (or, at the option of the State, on a day prior to the 17th day before the date of the election) and ends on the date of the election.

Each polling place which allows voting during an early voting period under subsection

(a)shall— allow such voting for no less than 12 hours on each day, except that the polling place may allow such voting for fewer than 12 hours on Sundays; and have uniform hours each day for which such voting occurs. To the greatest extent practicable, a State shall ensure that each polling place which allows voting during an early voting period under subsection

(a)is located within walking distance of a stop on a public transportation route. The Commission shall issue standards for the administration of voting prior to the day scheduled for a Federal election. Such standards shall include the nondiscriminatory geographic placement of polling places at which such voting occurs. The standards described in paragraph

(1)shall permit States, upon providing adequate public notice, to deviate from any requirement in the case of unforeseen circumstances such as a natural disaster, terrorist attack, or a change in voter turnout. This section shall apply with respect to elections held on or after January 1, 2018. . The table of contents of such Act, as amended by section 312(c), is amended by adding at the end of the items relating to subtitle D of title III the following: Sec. 332. Mandatory availability of early voting. .