article: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Streamlined and Improved Methods at Polling Locations and Early Voting Act'' or the ``SIMPLE Voting Act''. SEC. 2. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR EARLY VOTING AND FOR REDUCING WAITING TIMES FOR VOTERS IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS. (a) Requirements for States.--Subtitle A of title III of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 15481 et seq.) is amended-- (1) by redesignating sections 304 and 305 as sections 306 and 307; and (2) by inserting after section 303 the following new sections: ``SEC. 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 2 days before the date of the election, in the same manner as voting is allowed on such day. ``(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, 2014. ``SEC. 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 such voting site, such as the proportion of the voting-age population who are under 25 years of age or who are naturalized citizens. ``(F) The educational levels and socio-economic factors of the population served by such voting site. ``(G) The needs and numbers of voters with disabilities and voters with limited English proficiency. ``(H) The type of voting systems used. ``(I) The length and complexity of initiatives, referenda, and other questions on the ballot. ``(J) Such other factors 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, 2014.''. (b) Conforming Amendment Relating to Enforcement.--Section 401 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 15511) is amended by striking ``sections 301, 302, and 303'' and inserting ``subtitle A of title III''. (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 306 and 307; and (2) 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.''. SEC. 3. 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 Act or in any amendment made by this Act 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 section 2(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 section 2(a)).
summary: Streamlined and Improved Methods at Polling Locations and Early Voting Act or SIMPLE Voting Act - Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require each state to allow individuals to vote in a federal election on each day during the 15-day period ending two days before the election date in the same manner as voting is allowed on election day. Requires a state to ensure that each polling place which allows early voting in a federal election is located within reasonable walking distance of a stop on a public transportation route. Requires the Election Assistance Commission to issue standards for the administration of early voting in a federal election. 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. 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.