,i #aagth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #ggf ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,february #c1 #bjba,ms4 ,scanlon 7for herself1 ,ms4 ,garcia of ,texas1 and ,ms4 ,escobar7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,house ,administration ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,help ,america ,vote ,act of #bjjb to require ,states to provide secured drop boxes for voted absentee ballots in an election for ,federal office1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,dropbox ,access ,act4 #b4 ,requiring ,states to provide secured drop boxes for voted absentee ballots in elections for ,federal office 7a7 ,requirement ,subtitle ,a of title ,,iii of the ,help ,america ,vote ,act of #bjjb 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #bajha et seq47 is amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating sections #cjd and #cje as sections #cje and #cjf1 respectively2 and 7#b7 by inserting after section #cjc the following new section3 #cjd4 ,use of secured drop boxes for voted absentee ballots 7a7 ,requiring use of drop boxes ,in each county in the ,state1 each ,state shall provide in-person1 secured1 and clearly labeled drop boxes at which individuals may1 at any time during the period described in subsection 7b71 drop off voted absentee ballots in an election for ,federal office4 7b7 ,minimum period for availability of drop boxes ,the period described in this subsection is1 with respect to an election1 the period which begins #de days before the date of the election and which ends at the time the polls close for the election in the county involved4 7c7 ,accessibility 7#a7 ,in general ,each ,state shall ensure that the drop boxes provided under this section are accessible for use-- 7,a7 by individuals with disabilities1 as determined in consultation with the protection and advocacy systems 7as defined in section #ajb of the ,developmental ,disabilities ,assistance and ,bill of ,rights ,act of #bjjj 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aejjb77 of the ,state2 and 7,b7 by individuals with limited proficiency in the ,english language4 7#b7 ,determination of accessibility for individuals with disabilities ,for purposes of this subsection1 drop boxes shall be considered to be accessible for use by individuals with disabilities if the drop boxes meet such criteria as the ,attorney ,general may establish for such purposes4 7#c7 ,rule of construction ,if a ,state provides a drop box under this section on the grounds of or inside a building or facility which serves as a polling place for an election during the period described in subsection 7b71 nothing in this subsection may be construed to waive any requirements regarding the accessibility of such polling place for the use of individuals with disabilities or individuals with limited proficiency in the ,english language4 7d7 ,number of drop boxes 7#a7 ,formula for determination of number ,the number of drop boxes provided under this section in a county with respect to an election shall be determined as follows3 7,a7 ,in the case of a county in which the number of individuals who are residents of the county and who are registered to vote in the election is equal to or greater than #bj1jjj1 the number of drop boxes shall be a number equal to or greater than the number of such individuals divided by #bj1jjj 7rounded to the nearest whole number74 7,b7 ,in the case of any other county1 the number of drop boxes shall be equal to or greater than one4 7#b7 ,timing ,for purposes of this subsection1 the number of individuals who reside in a county and who are registered to vote in the election shall be determined as of the #ijth day before the date of the election4 7e7 ,location of drop boxes ,the ,state shall determine the location of drop boxes provided under this section in a county on the basis of criteria which ensure that the drop boxes are-- 7#a7 available to all voters on a non-discriminatory basis2 7#b7 accessible to voters with disabilities 7in accordance with subsection 7c772 7#c7 accessible by public transportation to the greatest extent possible2 7#d7 available during all hours of the day2 and 7#e7 sufficiently available in all communities in the county1 including rural communities and on ,tribal lands within the county 7subject to subsection 7f774 7f7 ,rules for drop boxes on ,tribal lands ,in making a determination of the number and location of drop boxes provided under this section on ,tribal lands in a county1 the appropriate ,state and local election officials shall-- 7#a7 consult with ,tribal leaders prior to making the determination2 and 7#b7 take into account criteria such as the availability of direct-to-door residential mail delivery1 the distance and time necessary to travel to the drop box locations 7including in inclement weather71 modes of transportation available1 conditions of roads1 and the availability 7if any7 of public transportation4 7g7 ,posting of information ,on or adjacent to each drop box provided under this section1 the ,state shall post information on the requirements that voted absentee ballots must meet in order to be counted and tabulated in the election4 7h7 ,effective date ,this section shall apply with respect to the regularly scheduled general election for ,federal office held in ,november #bjbb and each succeeding election for ,federal office4 4 7b7 ,conforming amendment relating to enforcement ,section #dja of the ,help ,america ,vote ,act of #bjjb 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #baaaa7 is amended by striking and #cjc and inserting #cjc1 and #cjd4 7c7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of contents of such ,act is amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating the items relating to sections #cjd and #cje as relating to sections #cje and #cjf1 respectively2 and 7#b7 by inserting after the item relating to section #cjc the following new item3 ,sec4 #cjd4 ,use of secured drop boxes for voted absentee ballots4 4