Polling Change Awareness Act
Bill: H.R.641 | Sponsor: Rep. Brown, Anthony G. (D-MD)
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics

Summary:
Polling Change Awareness Act
This bill establishes minimum requirements for notifying individuals of a change in their polling place for a federal election.
Specifically, the bill requires a state that changes an individual's polling place to notify the individual at least seven days before the federal election or the first day of an early voting period, whichever occurs first. However, if the change is made fewer than seven days before the federal election and the individual appears at the previously assigned polling place, the state must make every reasonable effort to enable the individual to vote. Further, the bill specifies the methods of notification.
In addition, states must place signs at locations that no longer serve as a polling place.

To amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require States to meet 
notification requirements for voters affected by polling place changes, 
                        and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Polling Change Awareness Act''.

SEC. 2. MINIMUM NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR VOTERS AFFECTED BY 
              POLLING PLACE CHANGES.

    (a) Requirements.--Section 302 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 
(52 U.S.C. 21082) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e); and
            (2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following new 
        subsection:
    ``(d) Minimum Notification Requirements for Voters Affected by 
Polling Place Changes.--
            ``(1) In general.--If a State assigns an individual who is 
        a registered voter in a State to a polling place with respect 
        to an election for Federal office which is not the same polling 
        place to which the individual was previously assigned with 
        respect to the most recent election for Federal office in the 
        State in which the individual was eligible to vote--
                    ``(A) the State shall notify the individual of the 
                location of the polling place not later than 7 days 
                before the date of the election or the first day of an 
                early voting period (whichever occurs first); or
                    ``(B) if the State makes such an assignment fewer 
                than 7 days before the date of the election and the 
                individual appears on the date of the election at the 
                polling place to which the individual was previously 
                assigned, the State shall make every reasonable effort 
                to enable the individual to vote on the date of the 
                election.
            ``(2) Methods of notification.--The State shall notify an 
        individual under subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) by mail, 
        telephone, and (if available) text message and electronic mail.
            ``(3) Placement of signs at closed polling places.--If a 
        location which served as a polling place in an election for 
        Federal office does not serve as a polling place in the next 
        election for Federal office held in the jurisdiction involved, 
        the State shall ensure that signs are posted at such location 
        on the date of the election and during any early voting period 
        for the election containing the following information:
                    ``(A) A statement that the location is not serving 
                as a polling place in the election.
                    ``(B) The locations serving as polling places in 
                the election in the jurisdiction involved.
                    ``(C) Contact information, including a telephone 
                number and website, for the appropriate State or local 
                election official through which an individual may find 
                the polling place to which the individual is assigned 
                for the election.
            ``(4) Effective date.--This subsection shall apply with 
        respect to elections held on or after January 1, 2022.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 302(e) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 
21082(e)), as redesignated by subsection (a), is amended by striking 
``Each State'' and inserting ``Except as provided in subsection (d)(4), 
each State''.
                                 <all>