S.Amdt. 4161

1. Adds SEC. __. MINIMUM REQUIRED VOTING SYSTEMS AND POLL WORKERS IN POLLING PLACES wherever appropriate

   Adds a section

   Inserted: SEC. __. MINIMUM REQUIRED VOTING SYSTEMS AND POLL WORKERS IN POLLING PLACES.

   Inserted: (a) Minimum Required Voting Systems and Poll Workers.--

   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. MINIMUM REQUIRED VOTING SYSTEMS AND POLL WORKERS.

   Inserted: "(a) In General.--Each State shall provide for the minimum required number of voting systems and poll workers for each polling place on the day of any Federal election and on any days during which such State allows early voting for a Federal election in accordance with the standards determined under section 297.

   Inserted: "(b) 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.--

   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:

   Inserted: "Subtitle E--Guidance and Standards "SEC. 297. STANDARDS FOR ESTABLISHING THE MINIMUM REQUIRED VOTING SYSTEMS AND POLL WORKERS.

   Inserted: "(a) In General.--The Commission shall issue standards regarding the minimum number of voting systems and poll workers required in each polling place on the day of any Federal election and on any days during which early voting is allowed for a Federal election.

   Inserted: "(b) Distribution.--The standards described in subsection (a) shall provide for a uniform and nondiscriminatory geographic distribution of such systems and workers.

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   Inserted: "(c) Deviation.--The standards described in subsection (a) shall permit States, upon providing adequate public notice, to deviate from any allocation requirements 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