,,ii #aad? ,,congress #a/ ,session ,s4 #aiab ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,! ,,unit$ ,,/ates ,july #cj1 #bjae ,mr4 ,te/] 7= himself1 ,mr4 ,frank51 ,ms4 ,heitkamp1 & ,mr4 ,udall7 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ! ,judici>y ,a ,,bill ,to protect ! rights ( ,indian & ,native ,alaskan vot]s4 #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! ,native ,am]ican ,vot+ ,rights ,act ( #bjae4 #b4 ,def9itions ,9 ?is ,act3 7#a7 ,indian res]vation ,! t]m ,indian res]vation %all h ! mean+ giv5 ! t]m 9 section #bjc ( ! ,vot+ ,rights ,act ( #aife 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #ajejc74 7#b7 ,indian tribe ,! t]m ,indian tribe has ! mean+ giv5 ! t]m 9 section #d ( ! ,indian ,self-,det]m9ation & ,education ,assi/ance ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #dej;b74 #c4 ,tribal access to poll+ places & vot] regi/ration 7a7 ,actions requir+ precle>ance ,no ,/ate or political subdivision may1 unless t ,/ate or political subdivision meets ! requirem5ts ( subsection 7b7-- 7#a7 elim9ate ! only poll+ place or vot] regi/ration site on an ,indian res]vation2 7#b7 move or consolidate a poll+ place or vot] regi/ration site t is locat$ on an ,indian res]vation to a location #a mile or fur!r f ! exi/+ location ( ! poll+ place or vot] regi/ration site2 7#c7 move or consolidate a poll+ place on an ,indian res]vation to a location across a riv]1 lake1 m\nta91 or o!r natural b\nd>y su* t x makes travel difficult = a vot]1 reg>dless ( di/ance2 7#d7 elim9ate 9-p]son vot+ on an ,indian res]vation by designat+ an ,indian res]vation z a p]man5t abs5tee vot+ location1 unless-- 7,a7 ! entire ,/ate is or becomes a p]man5t abs5tee vot+ ,/ate2 or 7,b7 ! ,indian tribe reque/s su* a designation 9 accordance ) section #c7;c72 7#e7 remove an e>ly vot+ location or o!rwise dim9i% e>ly vot+ opportunities on an ,indian res]vation2 or 7#f7 decrease ! numb] ( days or h\rs t an 9-p]son or e>ly vot+ location is op5 on an ,indian res]vation or *ange ! dates ( 9-p]son or e>ly vot+ on an ,indian res]vation4 7b7 ,precle>ance 7#a7 ,9 ,g5]al ,a ,/ate or political subdivision meets ! requirem5ts ( ?is subsection if ! ,/ate or political subdivision-- 7,a7 in/itutes an action 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,di/rict ,c\rt = ! ,di/rict ( ,columbia = a decl>atory judgm5t t ! specifi$ activity describ$ 9 subsection 7a7 t ! ,/ate or political subdivision desires to c>ry out nei!r has ! purpose nor w h ! effect ( d5y+ or abridg+ ! "r to vote on acc\nt ( race or color1 or memb]%ip 9 a language m9ority gr\p1 & unless & until ! c\rt ent]s su* judgm5t ! ,/ate or political subdivision %all n c>ry out su* activity2 or 7,b7 ! *ief legal (fic] or o!r appropriate (ficial ( su* ,/ate or subdivision submits a reque/ to c>ry out ! specifi$ activity describ$ 9 subsection 7a7 to ! ,attorney ,g5]al & ! ,attorney ,g5]al has n int]pos$ an objection )9 #fj days aft] su* submission1 or ^u good cause %[n1 to facilitate an exp$it$ approval )9 #fj days aft] su* submission1 ! ,attorney ,g5]al has affirmatively indicat$ t su* objection w n be made4 7#b7 ,no limitation on future actions ,nei!r an affirmative indication by ! ,attorney ,g5]al t no objection w be made1 nor ! ,attorney ,g5]al's failure to object1 nor a decl>atory judgm5t ent]$ "u ?is section %all b> a subsequ5t action to enjo9 en=cem5t ( an activity describ$ 9 subsection 7a74 ,9 ! ev5t ! ,attorney ,g5]al affirmatively indicates t no objection w be made )9 ! #fj-;day p]iod foll[+ receipt ( a submission1 ! ,attorney ,g5]al may res]ve ! "r to reexam9e ! submission if additional in=mation comes to ! ,attorney ,g5]al's att5tion dur+ ! rema9d] ( ! #fj-;day p]iod :i* w\ld o!rwise require objection 9 accordance ) ?is section4 ,any action "u ?is section %all be he>d & det]m9$ by a c\rt ( #c judges 9 accordance ) ! provisions ( section #bbhd ( title #bh ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,code & any appeal %all lie to ! ,supreme ,c\rt4 #d4 ,designation ( tribal poll+ places 7a7 ,obligations ( ! ,/ate 7#a7 ,designation ( ,/ate (fic] ,ea* ( ! sev]al ,/ates ^: t]ritory conta9s all or "p ( an ,indian res]vation %all designate1 = ea* ,indian tribe ( ea* ,indian res]vation1 an (fic] )9 t ,/ate responsible = compliance ) ! provisions ( ?is ,act4 ,! ,/ate %all provide writt5 notice to ea* su* ,indian tribe ( ! (fic] s designat$4 7#b7 ,provision ( poll+ places ,= ea* ,indian tribe t satisfies ! obligations ( subsection 7b71 & = ea* election t is held at lea/ #ahj days aft] ! ,indian tribe initially satisfies su* obligations1 any ,/ate ^: t]ritory conta9s all or "p ( an ,indian res]vation ( ! ,indian tribe-- 7,a7 %all provide a m9imum ( "o poll+ place 9 a location select$ by ! ,indian tribe2 7,b7 %all provide additional poll+ places 9 locations select$ by ! ,indian tribe if1 bas$ on ! totality ( circum/ances1 x is %[n t n provid+ additional poll+ places w\ld result 9 memb]s ( ! ,indian tribe hav+ less opportunity to vote ?an o!r citiz5s h1 z det]m9$ by ! ,attorney ,g5]al2 7,c7 %all1 at ea* poll+ place provid$ 9 accordance ) ?is section1 make vot+ ma*9es1 tabulation ma*9es1 ballots1 provisional ballots1 & o!r vot+ mat]ials available to ! same ext5t t su* equipm5t & mat]ials are made available at mo/ o!r poll+ places 9 ! ,/ate2 7,d7 %all1 at ea* poll+ place provid$ "u ?is section1 conduct ! election us+ ! same vot+ proc$ures t are us$ at o!r poll+ places 9 ! ,/ate2 7,e7 %all1 at ea* poll+ place provid$ 9 accordance ) ?is section1 provide tra9+1 comp5sation1 & o!r b5efits to election (ficials & poll work]s to ! same ext5t t su* tra9+1 comp5sation1 & b5efits are provid$ to election (ficials & poll work]s at o!r poll+ places 9 ! ,/ate2 7,f7 %all coop]ate 9 good fai? ) ! ef=ts ( ! ,indian tribe to satisfy ! c]tifications ! ,indian tribe made pursuant to subp>agraphs 7,b7 ?r\gh 7,e7 ( subsection 7b77#a72 & 7,g7 may fulfill ! ,/ate's obligations "u subp>agraphs 7,a7 & 7,b7 by relocat+ exi/+ poll+ places1 by creat+ new poll+ places1 or bo?4 7#c7 ,equitable opportunities to vote ,:5 assess+ ! opportunities to vote provid$ to memb]s ( ! ,indian tribe & to o!r citiz5s 9 ! ,/ate1 to det]m9e ! numb] ( additional poll+ places 7if any7 t a ,/ate mu/ provide pursuant to subp>agraph 7,b7 ( p>agraph 7#b71 ! ,/ate1 & any c\rt apply+ ?is ,act1 %all consid]-- 7,a7 ! numb] ( vot+-age citiz5s assign$ to ea* poll+ place2 7,b7 ! di/ances t vot]s mu/ travel to rea* ! poll+ places2 7,c7 ! "t t vot]s mu/ sp5d travel+ to rea* ! poll+ places2 7,d7 ! modes ( transportation t vot]s use to rea* ! poll+ places2 7,e7 ! exi/5ce ( & access to public transportation to ! poll+ places2 & 7,f7 any o!r factor relevant to effectuat+ ! purposes ( ?is ,act4 7b7 ,obligations ( ! ,indian ,tribe 7#a7 ,! ,/ate obligations 9 subsection 7a7 %all apply only if ! ,indian tribe files a /&+ reque/ ) ! (fic] designat$ "u subsection 7a77#a7 = a poll+ place or poll+ places = future elections1 pursuant to subp>agraphs 7,a7 & 7,b7 ( subsection 7a77#b71 :i*-- 7,a7 specifies ! numb] & locations ( su* poll+ places2 7,b7 c]tifies t ! ,indian tribe has arrang$ access to ! facilities 9 :i* su* poll+ places w be locat$1 & t su* access is 9 accordance ) ,f$]al & ,/ate law2 7,c7 c]tifies t ! ,indian tribe w ensure t ea* su* poll+ place w be op5 & accessible to all vot+-age citiz5s :o reside 9 ! prec9ct or o!r geographic area assign$ to su* poll+ place1 reg>dless ( :e!r su* citiz5s are or are n memb]s ( ! ,indian tribe or ( any o!r ,indian tribe2 7,d7 c]tifies t ! ,indian tribe w designate election (ficials & poll work]s to /aff su* poll+ places on e day t ! poll+ places w be op52 & 7,e7 c]tifies t ! ,indian tribe w ensure t ! election (ficials & poll work]s :o ! ,indian tribe designate to /aff su* poll+ places att5d & satisfactorily complete any tra9+ t is requir$ ( election (ficials & poll work]s :o /aff o!r poll+ places 9 ne>by areas ( ! ,/ate1 or reque/s t ! ,/ate %all designate su* election (ficials & poll work]s4 7#b7 ,at any "t at lea/ #fj days be=e an election1 an ,indian tribe t previ\sly has satisfi$ ! obligations ( p>agraph 7#a7 may notify ! ,/ate t ! ,indian tribe int5ds to opt out ( ! /&+ reque/ = "o or m poll+ places z describ$ 9 subp>agraphs 7,a7 & 7,b7 ( subsection 7a77#b7 = a p>ticul> election or = all future elections4 7c7 ,abs5tee ,ballot+ ,9 ,/ates t p]mit abs5tee or mail-9 ballot+1 an ,indian tribe may reque/ to ! ,/ate or political subdivision t an ,indian res]vation ( ! ,indian tribe be designat$ z an abs5tee ballot location4 ,9 su* in/ances1 abs5tee ballots %all be provid$ to ea* regi/]$ vot] liv+ on ! ,indian res]vation )\t ! requirem5t ( a reque/ or an excuse = an abs5tee ballot4 ,bil+ual election mat]ials %all be provid$ if requir$ by section #bjc ( ! ,vot+ ,rights ,act ( #aife 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #ajejc74 7d7 ,e>ly ,vot+ ,9 ,/ates t provide = e>ly vot+1 a ,/ate or local election (ficial %all provide at lea/ "o e>ly vot+ location on an ,indian res]vation ^u ! reque/ ( ! applicable ,indian tribe4 7e7 ,facilities ,an ,indian tribe may reque/ to ! ,/ate or political subdivision t tribal gov]nm5t (fices or ,f$]al facilities1 su* z ,indian ,heal? ,s]vice or ,bureau ( ,indian ,affairs facilities1 be designat$ z poll+ places or vot] regi/ration ag5cies "u section #g ( ! ,national ,vot] ,regi/ration ,act ( #aiic 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #bjejf7 provid$ t ! tribal gov]nm5t (fice or ,f$]al facility meets ! requirem5ts ( ,f$]al & ,/ate law appli$ to o!r poll+ places or vot] regi/ration ag5cies )9 ! ,/ate or political subdivision4 7f7 ,tribal ,gov]nm5t ,id5tification ,if a ,/ate or political subdivision requires an individual to pres5t id5tification = ! purposes ( vot+ or regi/]+ to vote1 a tribal id5tification c>d %all be treat$ z a valid =m ( id5tification = su* purposes4 7g7 ,en=cem5t ,! gov]nm5t ( an ,indian tribe or ! ,attorney ,g5]al ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates may br+ a civil action aga9/ a ,/ate or political subdivision1 z ! case may be1 or aga9/ an appropriate ,/ate or political subdivision (fic] act+ 9 an (ficial capacity 9 an appropriate ,unit$ ,/ates di/rict c\rt = su* decl>atory or injunctive relief z may be necess>y to effectuate ! provisions ( ?is section4 7h7 ,relation%ip to ,o!r ,laws ,no?+ 9 ?is ,act %all invalidate1 or limit ! rights1 rem$ies1 or proc$ures available "u1 or sup]s$e1 re/rict1 or limit ! application (1 ! ,vot+ ,rights ,act ( #aife 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #ajcja et seq471 ! ,national ,vot] ,regi/ration ,act ( #aiic 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #bjeja et seq471 ! ,help ,am]ica ,vote ,act ( #bjjb 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #bjija et seq471 or any o!r ,f$]al law or regulation relat$ to vot+ or ! electoral process4 #e4 ,bil+ual election requirem5ts ,section #bjc ( ! ,vot+ ,rights ,act ( #aife 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #ajejc7 is am5d$-- 7#a7 9 subsection 7b77#c77;,c71 by /rik+ #aiij & ins]t+ #bjaj2 & 7#b7 9 subsection 7c71 by /rik+ or 9 ! case ( ,alaskan natives & ,am]ican ,indians1 if ! pr$om9ant language is hi/orically unwritt5 & ins]t+ 7z ( ! date on :i* ! mat]ials or in=mation is provid$74 #f4 ,f$]al obs]v]s to protect tribal vot+ rights ,section #h7;a7 ( ! ,vot+ ,rights ,act ( #aife 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #ajcje7;a77 is am5d$-- 7#a7 9 p>agraph 7#a71 by /rik+ or aft] ! semicolon2 7#b7 9 p>agraph 7#b71 by add+ or aft] ! semicolon2 & 7#c7 by ins]t+ aft] p>agraph 7#b7 ! foll[+3 7#c7 ! ,attorney ,g5]al has receiv$ a writt5 compla9t f an ,indian ,tribe t ef=ts to d5y or abridge ! "r to vote "u ! color ( law on acc\nt ( race or color1 or 9 contrav5tion ( ! gu>antees set =? 9 section #d7;f77#b71 are likely to occur2 4 #g4 ,election obs]v] transp>5cy ,! ,attorney ,g5]al %all make publicly available ! reports ( ,f$]al election obs]v]s appo9t$ pursuant to section 7#h77;a77#c7 ( ! ,vot+ ,rights ,act ( #aife 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #ajcje7;a77#c771 z add$ by section #f1 n lat] ?an #f mon?s aft] ! date t su* reports are submitt$ to ! ,attorney ,g5]al4 #h4 ,tribal vot+ consultation ,! ,attorney ,g5]al %all1 to ! ext5t practicable1 consult annually ) ,indian tribes reg>d+ issues relat$ to vot+ = memb]s ( an ,indian tribe4 #i4 ,attorneys' fees1 exp]t fees1 litigation exp5ses ,9 any civil action "u ?is ,act1 ! c\rt1 9 its discretion1 may aw>d reasonable attorneys' fees1 reasonable exp]t fees1 & o!r reasonable litigation exp5ses z "p ( ! co/s to ! prevail+ p>ty1 o!r ?an ! ,unit$ ,/ates4