S.Amdt. 4160

1. Adds SEC. __. EARLY VOTING wherever appropriate

   Adds a section

   Inserted: SEC. __. EARLY VOTING.

   Inserted: (a) Requirement.--

   Inserted: (1) In general.--Title III of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 15481 et seq.) is amended by redesignating sections 304 and 305 as sections 305 and 306, respectively, and by inserting after section 303 the following new section:

   Inserted: "SEC. 304. EARLY VOTING.

   Inserted: "(a) In General.--Each State shall allow individuals to vote in an election for Federal office not less than 15 days prior to the day scheduled for such election in the same manner as voting is allowed on such day.

   Inserted: "(b) Minimum Early Voting Requirements.--Each polling place which allows voting prior to the day of a Federal election pursuant to subsection (a) shall--

   Inserted: "(1) allow such voting for no less than 4 hours on each day (other than Sunday); and

   Inserted: "(2) have uniform hours each day for which such voting occurs.

   Inserted: "(c) Effective Date.--Each State shall be required to comply with the requirements of this section on and after January 1, 2009.".

   Inserted: (2) Conforming amendment.--Section 401 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 15511) is amended by striking "and 303" and inserting "303, and 304".

   Inserted: (b) Standards for Early Voting.--

   Inserted: (1) In general.--Title II of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 15321 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new subtitle:

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   Inserted: "Subtitle E--Guidance and Standards "SEC. 297. STANDARDS FOR EARLY VOTING.

   Inserted: "(a) In General.--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.

   Inserted: "(b) Deviation.--The standards described in subsection (a) shall permit States, upon providing adequate public notice, to deviate from any requirement in the case of unforseen circumstances such as a natural disaster, terrorist attack, or a change in voter turnout.".

   Inserted: (2) Conforming amendment.--Section 202 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 15322) is amended by redesignating paragraphs (5) and (6) as paragraphs (6) and (7), respectively, and by inserting after paragraph (4) the following new paragraph:

   Inserted: "(5) carrying out the duties described in subtitle E;".

   Inserted: (3) Rulemaking authority.--Section 209 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 15239) is amended--

   Inserted: (A) by striking "The Commission" and inserting the following:

   Inserted: "(a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), the Commission", and

   Inserted: (B) by inserting at the end the following new subsection:

   Inserted: "(b) Exception.--On and after January 1, 2009, subsection (a) shall not apply to any authority granted under subtitle E of this title or section 304.".

   Inserted: (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take effect on January 1, 2009.

   The amendment doesn't say where this goes; the clerk decides.

   Original wording

   At the appropriate place, insert the following:

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As printed