Sec. 2. Reducing waiting times for voters in Federal elections
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Subtitle A of title III of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 ( 52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.) is amended— by redesignating sections 304 as section 307; and by inserting after section 303 the following new section: Each State and jurisdiction which is responsible for administering elections for Federal office shall provide a sufficient number of voting systems, poll workers, and other election resources, including physical resources, at a polling place used in any election for Federal office, including a polling place at which individuals may cast ballots prior to the date of the election, to ensure— a reasonably uniform ratio of election staff and voting systems to registered voters in the jurisdiction; a reasonably uniform and geographic distribution of polling places to ensure that all voters in a jurisdiction have equal access to polling places; a fair and equitable waiting time for all voters in the State; and that no individual will be required to wait longer than 30 minutes to cast a ballot at the polling place.
In determining the number of voting systems, poll workers, and other election resources provided at a polling place for purposes of paragraph (1), the jurisdiction shall take into account the following factors: The voting age population. Voter turnout in past and similar elections. The number of voters registered. The number of voters who have registered since the most recent Federal election. Census data for the population served by the polling place, such as the proportion of the voting age population who are under 25 years of age or who are naturalized citizens.
The needs and numbers of voters with disabilities and voters with limited English proficiency. The type of voting systems used. The length and complexity of initiatives, referenda, and other questions on the ballot. Complaints received during and following prior elections about long wait times or other problems voters experienced at polling places in the jurisdiction, including whether and in which ways polling places worked to remedy such complaints. Such other factors, if available, including relevant demographic factors relating to the population served by the polling place determined by the State or jurisdiction.
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Commission shall establish and publish guidelines to assist States and jurisdictions in meeting the requirements of this subsection. Nothing in this subsection may be construed to authorize a State or jurisdiction to meet the requirements of this subsection by closing any polling place, prohibiting an individual from entering a line at a polling place, or refusing to permit an individual who has arrived at a polling place prior to closing time from voting at the polling place.
Each jurisdiction which administers elections for Federal office shall develop, and implement to the greatest extent practicable, an election administration plan for each election for Federal office, in accordance with applicable Federal and State law. Such election administration plan shall include a contingency plan under which the jurisdiction shall provide additional poll workers, machines, ballots, and other equipment and supplies (as the case may be) on the date of the election to any polling place used in an election for Federal office, including a polling place at which individuals may cast ballots prior to the date of the election, at which waiting times exceed 30 minutes.
Each such contingency plan shall also include a provision by which the jurisdiction shall extend the closing time for the polling place in the case where there is a delay in the timely opening or operation of a polling place or when voters have waited more than 30 minutes to cast a ballot. Such extended poll hours shall be commensurate with the total time of the delayed opening or operation of the polling place and for the total period of time exceeding 30 minutes that voters had to wait in order to cast a ballot at the polling place from the time of arrival.
Notwithstanding section 209, the State shall ensure that the contingency plan developed under paragraph
(1)is approved by the Commission prior to the date of the election involved, in accordance with such procedures as the Commission may establish. This section shall apply with respect to elections held on or after the date that is 180 days after the date of enactment of this section. . Section 401 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 ( 52 U.S.C. 21111 ) is amended— by striking the section heading and inserting the following: ; Enforcement by striking The Attorney General and inserting
(a); In general .—The Attorney General in subsection (a), as added by subparagraph (B), by striking “and 303” and inserting “303, and 304”; and by adding at the end the following new subsection: A person who is aggrieved by a State's or jurisdiction’s violation of section 304, relating to preventing unreasonable waiting times for voter, may bring a civil action in an appropriate United States District Court for such declaratory or injunctive relief as may be necessary to carry out the requirements of such section. The court may award to a person aggrieved by a violation of section 304 who prevails in an action brought under paragraph
(1)the costs of the action, including a reasonable attorney fee. A United States District Court may extend the hours for a polling location in any action brought under subsection
(a)or
(b)to enforce the provisions of such section 304. . The table of contents of such Act is amended by amending the item relating to section 401 to read as follows: Sec. 401. Enforcement. . Section 209 of such Act ( 52 U.S.C. 20929 ) is amended by striking The Commission and inserting Except as provided in section 304(b)(2), the Commission . The table of contents of such Act is amended— by redesignating the item relating to section 304 as relating to section 307; and by inserting after the item relating to section 303 the following new item: Sec. 304. Preventing unreasonable waiting times for voters. . Not later than June 30 of each odd-numbered year, the Election Assistance Commission shall submit to Congress a report assessing the impact of section 304 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (as added by subsection (a)) on the administration of elections for Federal office during the preceding 2-year period, and shall include in the report such recommendations as the Commission considers appropriate. Nothing in this section or in any amendment made by this section may be construed to prohibit a State, with respect to any election for Federal office from providing (in an equitable and nondiscriminatory manner) a greater number of systems, poll workers, and other election resources at any polling place than the minimum number required under section 304 of such Act (as added by subsection (a)).
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