,,ii #aacth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #bgea ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,july #ca1 #bjad ,mr4 ,walsh introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,rules and ,administration ,a ,,bill ,to provide payments to ,states for activities to expand early voting access1 provide for an equitable distribution of early voting polling locations1 including early voting polling locations on ,indian tribal land1 and to implement voter registration reforms for elections for ,federal office1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,rural and ,tribal ,voter ,rights ,act4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,chief ,state election official ,the term chief ,state election official means1 with respect to a ,state1 the individual designated by the ,state under section #aj of the ,national ,voter ,registration ,act of #aiic 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aigc;gg-#h7 to be responsible for coordination of the ,state's responsibilities under such ,act4 7#b7 ,commission ,the term ,commission means the ,election ,assistance ,commission established under section #bja of the ,help ,america ,vote ,act of #bjjb 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aecba74 #c4 ,payments to ,states for activities to expand early voting access1 provide for equitable distribution of early voting polling locations1 and voter registration reforms 7a7 ,in general ,the ,commission shall make a requirements payment each fiscal year in an amount determined under subsection 7b7 to each ,state that the ,commission determines meets the requirements described in section #d7;b74 7b7 ,amount of payment 7#a7 ,in general ,subject to subsection 7c71 the amount of a payment made to a ,state for a fiscal year under this section shall be equal to the product of-- 7,a7 the total amount appropriated for payments for the fiscal year pursuant to the authorization under subsection 7h7 minus the total amount of all of the minimum payment amounts determined under subsection 7c72 and 7,b7 the ,state allocation percentage for the ,state 7as determined under paragraph 7#b774 7#b7 ,state allocation percentage defined ,the ,state allocation percentage for a ,state is the amount 7expressed as a percentage7 equal to the quotient of-- 7,a7 the voting age population of the ,state 7as reported in the most recent decennial census72 and 7,b7 the total voting age population of all ,states 7as reported in the most recent decennial census74 7c7 ,guaranteed minimum payment amount ,the amount of a payment made to a ,state for a fiscal year under this section may not be less than-- 7#a7 in the case of any of the several ,states or the ,district of ,columbia1 one-half of #a percent of the total amount appropriated for payments under the authorization under subsection 7h7 for the fiscal year2 or 7#b7 in the case of the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico1 ,guam1 ,american ,samoa1 or the ,united ,states ,virgin ,islands1 one-tenth of #a percent of such total amount4 7d7 ,state receipt of funds ,a ,state is eligible to receive a payment under this section for a fiscal year if the chief executive officer of the ,state1 or designee1 in consultation and coordination with the chief ,state election official1 has filed with the ,commission a statement certifying that the ,state is in compliance with the requirements of section #d7;b74 7e7 ,use of payment 7#a7 ,in general ,a ,state shall use the funds provided under a payment made under this section to carry out the requirements of this ,act1 including the following3 7,a7 ,training and hiring election officials1 poll workers1 and election volunteers4 7,b7 ,establishing early voting locations4 7,c7 ,implementing the ,state plan described in section #d7;b74 7,d7 ,acquiring1 leasing1 improving1 modifying1 or replacing voting technology to implement the requirements of this ,act4 7,e7 ,establishing online registration systems4 7,f7 ,educating voters about voting opportunities1 voter registration1 voting procedures1 and voting rights4 7#b7 ,use for other purposes ,subject to paragraph 7#c71 a ,state may use the funds provided under a payment made under this section to improve the administration of elections for ,federal office if the chief ,state election official certifies that the requirements of this ,act have been met4 7#c7 ,limitation ,a ,state may not use any portion of a payment under this section-- 7,a7 to pay costs associated with any litigation2 or 7,b7 for the payment of any judgment4 7f7 ,eligibility ,a ,state is eligible to receive a payment under this section notwithstanding that ,state legislation is required to carry out an activity under this ,act and the ,state legislation has not been enacted at the time this ,act takes effect4 7g7 ,deposit of ,amounts in ,state ,election ,fund ,a ,state shall deposit any funds provided under this section in the ,state election fund described in section #bed7;b7 of the ,help ,america ,vote ,act of #bjjb 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aedjd7;b774 7h7 ,authorization of appropriations 7#a7 ,in general ,there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary to provide grants to ,states to carry out the requirements of this ,act4 7#b7 ,continuing availability of ,funds ,after ,appropriation ,any payment made to a ,state under this section shall be available to the ,state without fiscal year limitation4 #d4 ,equitable distribution of early voting polling locations 7a7 ,tribal early voting locations ,a ,state or local election official shall provide at least one early voting location on tribal land when requested by the applicable ,tribal government4 7b7 ,state early voting location distribution plan development 7#a7 ,in general ,each ,state shall1 after reasonable notice and public hearings1 adopt and submit to the ,commission1 not later than the date that is #b years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 a plan which provides for the equitable distribution of early voting locations4 7#b7 ,state plan development ,the chief executive officer of each ,state1 or designee1 in consultation and coordination with the chief ,state election official1 shall develop the ,state plan through a committee of appropriate individuals1 including the local election officials of the two most populous jurisdictions in the ,state1 other local election officials in the ,state1 stakeholders1 and other citizens1 appointed for such purpose by the chief ,state election official4 7#c7 ,state plan requirements ,a ,state plan shall ensure that eligible voters have adequate access to early voting locations1 taking into consideration each of the following3 7,a7 ,population density4 7,b7 ,travel time to local election offices4 7,c7 ,travel time to permanent or temporary early voting locations4 7,d7 ,the potential use of alternate early voting locations1 including public buildings1 city and county government buildings1 tribal government offices1 public libraries1 fairgrounds1 civic centers1 courthouses1 senior centers1 community centers1 and private places of business4 7,e7 ,the extent to which members of a class protected by section #b7;a7 of the ,voting ,rights of ,act of #aife 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aigc7;a77 have an equal opportunity to participate in early voting and have an equal opportunity to access early voting locations4 7,f7 ,the potential use of temporary early voting locations1 including mobile voting systems4 7#d7 ,revision of ,state plan ,each ,state plan shall provide for revision of the plan from time to time as may be necessary to take account of changes in voter populations4 7#e7 ,publication by commission ,the ,commission shall publish in the ,federal ,register each ,state plan submitted to the ,commission under this subsection4 7#f7 ,exemption for ,states that provide for equitable distribution of early voting locations ,the requirements of this subsection shall not apply to a ,state that1 under ,state law that is in effect continuously on and after ,june #a1 #bjaf1 provides for the equitable distribution of early voting locations in the ,state with respect to elections for ,federal office 7as determined by the ,commission74 #e4 ,expanding early voting access 7a7 ,in general ,each ,state shall make early voting available to any eligible voter for at least ten days before an election for ,federal office4 ,an eligible voter may cast their early voting ballots in person at an early voting location during that #aj-;day period in the same manner as any ballot would be cast in the precinct on election day4 7b7 ,effective date ,each ,state shall be required to comply with the requirements of this section on and after the date that is one year after the date of enactment of this ,act4 #f4 ,designation of certain ,federal facilities as voter registration agencies 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs1 the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services1 the ,commissioner of the ,social ,security ,administration1 the ,postmaster ,general1 the ,secretary of ,agriculture1 and the ,secretary of the ,interior shall permit a ,state to designate facilities of the respective agencies located in the ,state as voter registration agencies under section #g of the ,national ,voter ,registration ,act of #aiic 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aigc;gg-#e74 7b7 ,activities ,a voter registration agency designated under subsection 7a7 shall carry out the following activities3 7#a7 ,offer with each application to the agency for service or assistance1 and with each recertification1 renewal1 or change of address form relating to such service or assistance1 the mail voter registration application form described in section #i of the ,national ,voter ,registration ,act of #aiic 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aigc;gg-#g7;a77#b77 or the agency's own form if it is equivalent to the form described in such section1 unless the applicant declines to register to vote or update their voter registration in writing4 7#b7 ,provide a form that includes the following3 7,a7 ,the question1 ,if you are not registered to vote where you live now1 would you like to apply to register to vote here today84 7,b7 ,if the agency provides public assistance1 the statement1 ,applying to register or declining to register to vote will not affect the amount of assistance that you will be provided by this agency44 7,c7 ,boxes for the applicant to check to indicate whether the applicant would like to register or update their registration to vote1 or decline to register or update their registration to vote4 7#c7 ,provide assistance to applicants in completing the voter registration application forms1 unless the applicant refuses such assistance in writing4 7#d7 ,accept completed voter registration application forms for transmittal to the appropriate ,state or local election official4 7c7 ,transmittal 7#a7 ,in general ,subject to paragraph 7#b71 a completed voter registration application accepted at a voter registration agency designated under subsection 7a7 shall be electronically transmitted1 in a format that can be translated and uploaded into the ,statewide voter database established pursuant to section #cjc7;a7 of the ,help ,america ,vote ,act of #bjjb 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aedhc7;a771 to the appropriate ,state or local election official not later than #aj days after the date of acceptance4 7#b7 ,exception ,if a voter registration application is accepted within #e days before the last day for registration to vote in an election for ,federal office1 the application shall be transmitted to the appropriate ,state or local election official not later than #e days after the date of acceptance4 7#c7 ,updated registration ,if an application is an updated voter registration1 the voter registration agency shall label the updated registration accordingly4 7d7 ,clarification regarding application ,the requirements of this section shall only apply to a voter registration agency designated under subsection 7a74 ,nothing in this section shall affect the application of section #g of the ,national ,voter ,registration ,act of #aiic 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aigc;gg-#e7 to a voter registration agency not designated under such subsection4 7e7 ,integration with ,state electronic voter registration systems ,the ,commission shall implement an online system that1 to the extent practicable-- 7#a7 provides an electronic means for a voter registration agency designated under subsection 7a7 to carry out the requirements of this section2 7#b7 transmits a completed voter registration application to the appropriate ,state or local election official2 and 7#c7 in the case of an individual registering to vote in a ,state that operates its own electronic voter registration system1 directs an applicant to that system4 #g4 ,same day and electronic registration 7a7 ,same day registration ,notwithstanding section #h7;a77#a77;,d7 of the ,national ,voter ,registration ,act of #aiic 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aigc;gg-#f71 each ,state shall permit any eligible individual on the day of an election for ,federal office and on any day when voting1 including early voting1 is permitted for an election for ,federal office-- 7#a7 to register to vote in such election using a form that meets the requirements under section #i7;b7 of the ,national ,voter ,registration ,act of #aiic2 and 7#b7 to cast a vote in such election4 7b7 ,electronic registration 7#a7 ,in general ,each ,state shall provide a secure online interface available to the public on a public1 government website that allows any eligible individual to register to vote or to update their voter registration with an online voter registration application that meets the requirements of the mail voter registration application form described in section #i of the ,national ,voter ,registration ,act of #aiic 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aigc;gg-#g7;a77#b774 ,the online application shall be processed in the same manner as a mail voter registration application form is processed1 subject to the requirements of section #cjc7;b7 of the ,help ,america ,vote ,act of #bjjb 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aedhc7;b771 except that the absence of a written signature shall not preclude the registration of an eligible individual4 7#b7 ,effective date ,each ,state shall be required to comply with the requirements of this subsection on and after the date that is one year after the date of enactment of this ,act4 7c7 ,eligible individual ,for purposes of this section1 the term eligible individual means1 with respect to an election for ,federal office1 an individual who is otherwise qualified to vote in that election4 7d7 ,exception ,this section shall not apply to a ,state in which1 under a ,state law in effect continuously on and after the date of the enactment of this section1 there is no voter registration requirement for individuals in the ,state with respect to elections for ,federal office4 #h4 ,enforcement 7a7 ,attorney general ,the ,attorney ,general may bring a civil action in an appropriate district court for such declaratory or injunctive relief as is necessary to carry out this ,act4 7b7 ,private right of action 7#a7 ,notice ,a person who is aggrieved by a violation of this ,act may provide written notice of the violation to the chief ,state election official of the ,state involved4 7#b7 ,civil action ,if the violation is not corrected within #ij days after receipt of a notice under paragraph 7#a71 or within #bj days after receipt of the notice if the violation occurred within #abj days before the date of an election for ,federal office1 the aggrieved person may bring a civil action in an appropriate district court for declaratory or injunctive relief with respect to the violation4 7#c7 ,exception to notice if violation within #cj days of election ,if the violation occurred within #cj days before the date of an election for ,federal office1 the aggrieved person need not provide notice to the chief ,state election official under paragraph 7#a7 before bringing a civil action under paragraph 7#b74 7c7 ,relation to other laws 7#a7 ,in general ,the rights and remedies established by this ,act are in addition to all other rights and remedies provided by law1 and neither the rights and remedies established by this section nor any other provision of this ,act shall supersede1 restrict1 or limit the application of the ,voting ,rights ,act of #aife 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aigc et seq474 7#b7 ,no authorization or requirement for conduct prohibited by the ,voting ,rights ,act ,nothing in this ,act authorizes or requires conduct that is prohibited by the ,voting ,rights ,act of #aife 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aigc et seq474