Streamlined and Improved Methods at Polling Locations and Early (SIMPLE) Voting Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-411
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9]
Introduced: 2015-01-20
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures

Civil actions and liability

Congressional elections

Congressional oversight

Elections, voting, political campaign regulation

Federal Election Commission (FEC)

Legal fees and court costs

Public transit

State and local government operations

Voting rights
Latest action: action_date: 2015-01-20
text: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.

Summaries:
action_date: 2015-01-20
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Streamlined and Improved Methods at Polling Locations and Early (SIMPLE) Voting Act of 2015</b></p> <p> Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA) to require each state to allow individuals to vote in a federal election on each day during the 15-day period ending on the second day immediately preceding the election date in the same manner as voting is allowed on election day.</p> <p>Requires a state to ensure that each polling place that allows early voting in a federal election is located within reasonable walking distance of a stop on a public transportation route.</p> <p>Requires the Election Assistance Commission to issue standards for the administration of early voting in a federal election.</p> <p>Requires each state to provide a sufficient number of voting systems, poll workers, and other election resources (including physical resources) at a polling place used in a federal election to ensure: (1) a fair and equitable waiting time for all voters in the state, and (2) that no individual will be required to wait longer than one hour to cast a ballot at the polling place.</p> <p>Requires each state to develop, and implement to the greatest extent practicable, a contingency plan under which it shall provide any polling place on a federal election day whose waiting times exceed one hour with additional poll workers, machines, ballots, and other equipment and supplies, including a polling place at which individuals may cast ballots before the election date.</p> <p>Requires the Commission to report to Congress biennially on the impact of this Act's early voting and waiting time provisions on the administration of elections for federal office.</p> <p>Prescribes requirements for the counting of provisional ballots that will be treated as votes.</p> <p>Allows civil money penalties, intervention by aggrieved parties, and private actions to address HAVA violations by a state or jurisdiction.</p>

tv_txt: I 114th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 411 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 20, 2015 Mr. Cohen introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on House Administration A BILL To amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to promote early voting in elections for Federal office and to prevent unreasonable waiting times for voters at polling places used in such elections, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Streamlined and Improved Methods at Polling Locations and Early (SIMPLE) Voting Act of 2015 . 2. Minimum requirements for early voting and for reducing waiting times for voters in federal elections (a) Requirements for States (1) In general Subtitle A of title III of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 ( 52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq. ) is amended— (A) by redesignating sections 304 and 305 as sections 306 and 307; and (B) by inserting after section 303 the following new sections: 304. Early voting (a) In general Each State shall allow individuals to vote in an election for Federal office on each day occurring during the 15-day period which ends on the second day immediately preceding the date of the election, in the same manner as voting is allowed on such date. (b) Minimum early voting requirements Each polling place which allows voting prior to the date of a Federal election pursuant to subsection (a) shall— (1) allow such voting for not less than 10 hours on each day; 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 prior to the date of a Federal election pursuant to subsection (a) is located within reasonable 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 date 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, 2016. 305. Preventing unreasonable waiting times for voters (a) Preventing unreasonable waiting times (1) In general Each State 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) a fair and equitable waiting time for all voters in the State; and (B) that no individual will be required to wait longer than one hour to cast a ballot at the polling place. (2) Criteria In determining the number of voting systems, poll workers, and other election resources provided at a polling place for purposes of paragraph (1), the State shall take into account the following factors: (A) The voting age population. (B) Voter turnout in past elections. (C) The number of voters registered. (D) The number of voters who have registered since the most recent Federal election. (E) 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. (F) The needs and numbers of voters with disabilities and voters with limited English proficiency. (G) The type of voting systems used. (H) The length and complexity of initiatives, referenda, and other questions on the ballot. (I) Such other factors, including relevant demographic factors relating to the population served by the polling place, as the State considers appropriate. (3) Guidelines Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Commission shall establish and publish guidelines to assist States in meeting the requirements of this subsection. (4) Rule of construction Nothing in this subsection may be construed to authorize a State 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. (b) Development and implementation of contingency plans (1) In general Each State shall develop, and implement to the greatest extent practicable, a contingency plan under which the State 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 one hour. (2) Approval of plan by Commission 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. (c) Effective date This section shall apply with respect to elections held on or after January 1, 2016. . (2) Clerical amendment The table of contents of such Act is amended— (A) by redesignating the items relating to sections 304 and 305 as relating to sections 306 and 307; and (B) by inserting after the item relating to section 303 the following new items: Sec. 304. Early voting. Sec. 305. Preventing unreasonable waiting times for voters. . (b) Report by election assistance commission Not later than June 30 of each odd-numbered year, the Election Assistance Commission shall submit to Congress a report assessing the impact of sections 304 and 305 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. (c) No effect on authority of state To provide for longer periods of early voting or greater amount of resources at polling places 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— (1) from providing (in an equitable and nondiscriminatory manner) a longer period for early voting than the minimum period required under section 304 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (as added by subsection (a)); or (2) 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 305 of such Act (as added by subsection (a)). 3. Requirements for counting provisional ballots; establishment of uniform and nondiscriminatory standards (a) In general Section 302 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 ( 52 U.S.C. 21082 ) is amended— (1) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (f); and (2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following new subsections: (d) Statewide counting of provisional ballots (1) In general For purposes of subsection (a)(4), notwithstanding the precinct or polling place at which a provisional ballot is cast within the State, the appropriate election official shall count each vote on such ballot for each election in which the individual who cast such ballot is eligible to vote. (2) Effective date This subsection shall apply with respect to elections held on or after January 1, 2016. (e) Uniform and nondiscriminatory standards (1) In general Consistent with the requirements of this section, each State shall establish uniform and nondiscriminatory standards for the issuance, handling, and counting of provisional ballots. (2) Effective date This subsection shall apply with respect to elections held on or after January 1, 2016. . (b) Conforming amendment Section 302(f) of such Act ( 52 U.S.C. 21082(f) ), as redesignated by subsection (a), is amended by striking Each State and inserting Except as provided in subsections (d)(2) and (e)(2), each State . 4. Availability of civil penalties and private rights of action to enforce help america vote act of 2002 (a) Availability of civil penalties and private rights of action Section 401 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 ( 52 U.S.C. 21111 ) is amended to read as follows: 401. Enforcement (a) Action by Attorney General (1) In general The Attorney General may bring a civil action against any State or jurisdiction in an appropriate United States District Court for such declaratory and injunctive relief (including a temporary restraining order, a permanent or temporary injunction, or other order) as may be necessary to carry out the requirements of subtitle A of title III. (2) Assessment of civil money penalty In a civil action brought under paragraph (1), if the court finds that the State or jurisdiction violated any provision of subtitle A of title III, it may, to vindicate the public interest, assess a civil penalty against the State or jurisdiction— (A) in an amount not to exceed $110,000 for each such violation, in the case of a first violation; or (B) in an amount not to exceed $220,000 for each such violation, for any subsequent violation. (3) Intervention Upon timely application, a person aggrieved by a violation of subtitle A of title III with respect to which a civil action is commenced under paragraph (1) may intervene in such action, and may obtain such appropriate relief as the person could obtain in a civil action under subsection (b) with respect to that violation, along with costs and a reasonable attorney fee. (4) Report to Congress Not later than December 31 of each year, the Attorney General shall submit to Congress an annual report on any civil action brought under paragraph (1) during the preceding year. (b) Private right of action (1) Availability A person who is aggrieved by a State's or jurisdiction’s violation of subtitle A of title III 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 subtitle. (2) Costs and attorney fees The court may award to a person aggrieved by a violation of subtitle A of title III who prevails in an action brought under paragraph (1) the costs of the action, including a reasonable attorney fee. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of contents of such Act is amended by amending the item relating to section 401 to read as follows: Sec. 401. Enforcement. . (c) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to violations alleged to have occurred on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.