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Bill > HR118


US HR118

US HR118
Streamlined and Improved Methods at Polling Locations and Early (SIMPLE) Voting Act of 2019


summary

Introduced
01/03/2019
In Committee
01/03/2019
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
12/31/2020

Introduced Session

116th Congress

Bill Summary

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. This bill allows for early voting in elections for federal office and for reduced waiting times for voters at polling places used in such elections. States must allow early voting in a federal election each day during the 15-day period ending on the second day before election day in the same manner as voting is allowed on election day; 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; provide a sufficient number of voting systems, poll workers, and other election resources at polling places used in a federal election to ensure an equitable waiting time, not longer than one hour, for all voters in the state; plan to provide polling places whose waiting times exceed one hour on election day with additional poll workers, machines, ballots, and other equipment and supplies. The Election Assistance Commission shall issue standards for the administration of early voting in a federal election. The bill establishes requirements for the counting of provisional ballots that will be treated as votes. The bill allows civil money penalties, intervention by aggrieved parties, and private actions to address Help America Vote Act of 2002 violations by a state or jurisdiction.

AI Summary

This bill, the Streamlined and Improved Methods at Polling Locations and Early (SIMPLE) Voting Act of 2019, aims to amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to promote early voting in elections for federal office and prevent unreasonable waiting times for voters at polling places. The key provisions of the bill include: requiring states to allow early voting for a 15-day period before election day, ensuring that polling places for early voting are located near public transportation, mandating that states provide a sufficient number of voting systems, poll workers, and other resources to ensure a fair and equitable waiting time of no more than one hour for voters, establishing guidelines for the administration of early voting, and requiring uniform and nondiscriminatory standards for the counting of provisional ballots. The bill also allows for civil money penalties, intervention by aggrieved parties, and private actions to address violations of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 by a state or jurisdiction.

Committee Categories

Government Affairs

Sponsors (19)

Last Action

Referred to the House Committee on House Administration. (on 01/03/2019)

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