This bill adds new rules to the Help America Vote Act. It requires state and local election officials to prepare, no later than 30 days before the voting period for a federal election, to provide at least 1 covered polling place or vote center for every 2,000 registered voters in a State during that voting period. Polling places and vote centers must not be concentrated in a specific area and must be in geographically diverse locations. The bill defines a "covered polling place" as a site that accepts ballots only from voters in a particular precinct, and a "vote center" as a site that accepts ballots from any voter regardless of precinct.
The bill creates staffing rules. Each required polling place or vote center must be adequately staffed so ballots are processed in a timely way, equipment and ballots are stored and handled securely, and accessibility laws are followed. Officials must consider factors such as number of registered voters, number of check-in stations, electronic voting machines, ballot scanners, voters' accessibility needs, and whether wait times are 30 minutes or less when deciding staffing levels.
The bill allows an exception: the polling-place number and location rules do not apply in a State (or a jurisdiction in a State) that permits every voter to vote by dropping a ballot in a drop box or by mail. The bill also creates a federal grant program to help States meet these standards. The Election Assistance Commission (the Commission) must award grants to States for this purpose and may hire staff to run the grant program. The bill authorizes the appropriation of "such sums as may be necessary" to carry out the Act.
No publicly available information on estimated costs or budgetary impact. The bill authorizes the appropriation of "such sums as may be necessary" to implement the law, creates a grant program to fund state implementation, and allows the Commission to hire employees to run the grant program.
No publicly available information.
No publicly available information.