To amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to establish a minimum period for early voting in elections for Federal office.

To amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to establish a minimum period for early voting in elections for Federal office. 1. Early voting (a) Requirements Subtitle A of title III of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 ( 52 U.S.C. 21081 (1) by redesignating sections 304 and 305 as sections 305 and 306; and (2) by inserting after section 303 the following new section: 304. Early voting (a) Requiring Voting Prior to Date of Election (1) In general 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, in the same manner as voting is allowed on such date. (2) Length of period The early voting period required under this subsection with respect to an election shall consist of a period of consecutive days (including weekends) which begins on the 15th day before the date of the election (or, at the option of the State, on a day prior to the 15th day before the date of the election) and ends on the date of the election. (b) Minimum early voting requirements Each polling place which allows voting during an early voting period under subsection (a) shall— (1) allow such voting for no less than 4 hours on each day, except that the polling place may allow such voting for fewer than 4 hours on Sundays; and (2) have uniform hours each day for which such voting occurs. (c) Location of polling places near public transportation 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. (d) Standards (1) 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. (2) Deviation 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. (e) Effective date This section shall apply with respect to elections held on or after January 1, 2020. . (b) Conforming amendment relating to issuance of voluntary guidance by election assistance commission Section 311(b) of such Act ( 52 U.S.C. 21101(b) (1) by striking and (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (3) and inserting ; and (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (4) in the case of the recommendations with respect to section 304, June 30, 2020. . (c) Clerical amendment The table of contents of such Act, is amended— (1) by redesignating the items relating to sections 304 and 305 as relating to sections 305 and 306; and (2) by inserting after the item relating to section 303 the following new item: Sec. 304. Early voting. .

Summary: This bill requires each state to allow individuals to vote in an election for federal office during an early voting period. Individuals voting early must be allowed to vote in the same manner as individuals voting on the day of the election.