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Polling Place Protection Act of 2019

USA116th CongressS-955| Senate 
| Updated: 3/28/2019
Jeff Merkley

Jeff Merkley

Democratic Senator

Oregon

Rules and Administration Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Polling Place Protection Act of 2019 This bill requires states and jurisdictions responsible for administering elections to provide sufficient resources to ensure a reasonably uniform ratio of staff and voting systems to registered voters, a reasonably uniform geographic distribution of polling places, a fair and equitable waiting time for voters, and a wait of no longer than 30 minutes to cast a ballot at a polling place. These states and jurisdictions must develop an election administration plan that includes a contingency plan for additional resources to be deployed if there are wait times of over 30 minutes at any polling place on an election day. Contingency plans must be approved by the Federal Election Commission. This bill provides a private right of action for an individual aggrieved by a state or jurisdiction's violation of the voting wait time limit. A U.S. district court may extend polling hours to enforce these requirements.
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Timeline
Mar 28, 2019
Introduced in Senate
Mar 28, 2019
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
  • March 28, 2019
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 28, 2019
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.

Government Operations and Politics

Civil actions and liabilityCongressional oversightElections, voting, political campaign regulationLegal fees and court costsState and local government operationsVoting rights

Polling Place Protection Act of 2019

USA116th CongressS-955| Senate 
| Updated: 3/28/2019
Polling Place Protection Act of 2019 This bill requires states and jurisdictions responsible for administering elections to provide sufficient resources to ensure a reasonably uniform ratio of staff and voting systems to registered voters, a reasonably uniform geographic distribution of polling places, a fair and equitable waiting time for voters, and a wait of no longer than 30 minutes to cast a ballot at a polling place. These states and jurisdictions must develop an election administration plan that includes a contingency plan for additional resources to be deployed if there are wait times of over 30 minutes at any polling place on an election day. Contingency plans must be approved by the Federal Election Commission. This bill provides a private right of action for an individual aggrieved by a state or jurisdiction's violation of the voting wait time limit. A U.S. district court may extend polling hours to enforce these requirements.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Mar 28, 2019
Introduced in Senate
Mar 28, 2019
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
  • March 28, 2019
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 28, 2019
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
Jeff Merkley

Jeff Merkley

Democratic Senator

Oregon

Rules and Administration Committee

Government Operations and Politics

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Civil actions and liabilityCongressional oversightElections, voting, political campaign regulationLegal fees and court costsState and local government operationsVoting rights