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H.R. 411

Referred to Committee

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

Introduced 1/20/2015•114th Congress•House

Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.

1/20/2015 • House

Summary

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Prescribes requirements for the counting of provisional ballots that will be treated as votes.

Allows civil money penalties, intervention by aggrieved parties, and private actions to address HAVA violations by a state or jurisdiction.

Introduced in House • 1/20/2015

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Topics & Subjects

Administrative law and regulatory proceduresCivil actions and liabilityCongressional electionsCongressional oversightElections, voting, political campaign regulationFederal Election Commission (FEC)Legal fees and court costsPublic transitState and local government operationsVoting rights

Congressional Votes (0)

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Related Federal Spending

Sponsor & Cosponsors (31)

Party Breakdown

31
Democrats
0
Republicans
0
Independents

Sponsor

R[
Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9]

Democrat • TN-9

Sponsored 1/20/2015

Cosponsors (30)

R[
Rep. Cartwright, Matt [D-PA-17]

D-PA-17

Joined 1/30/2015

R[
Rep. Cummings, Elijah E. [D-MD-7]

D-MD-7

Joined 1/30/2015

R[
Rep. Kaptur, Marcy [D-OH-9]

D-OH-9

Joined 1/30/2015

R[
Rep. Ellison, Keith [D-MN-5]

D-MN-5

Joined 1/30/2015

R[
Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2]

D-WI-2

Joined 1/30/2015

R[
Rep. Himes, James A. [D-CT-4]

D-CT-4

Joined 1/30/2015

Bill Journey

Originated in the House

Introduced

January 20, 2015

Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.

Committee Review

Floor Debate

Passed Chamber

Other Chamber

President

Enacted into Law

Text Versions (1)

Introduced in House1/20/2015

Details

Bill TypeHR
Current StatusReferred to Committee
Cosponsors30