[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5678 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5678

To amend title 3, United States Code, and the Uniform Time Act of 1966 
   to establish a single poll closing time for Presidential general 
                               elections.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           December 15, 2000

 Mr. Markey (for himself, Mr. Tauzin, Mr. Dingell, Mr. LaTourette, Ms. 
Eshoo, Mr. Frost, Mr. Cox, Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas, Mr. Burr 
 of North Carolina, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Olver, Mr. Hastings of Florida, 
Mr. Horn, Mr. Phelps, Mr. George Miller of California, Mr. Clyburn, Mr. 
   Boehlert, Mr. Deal of Georgia, Mr. Barton of Texas, Mr. Udall of 
    Colorado, Mr. Riley, and Mr. Burton of Indiana) introduced the 
     following bill; which was referred to the Committee on House 
  Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Commerce, for a 
 period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 
                          committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend title 3, United States Code, and the Uniform Time Act of 1966 
   to establish a single poll closing time for Presidential general 
                               elections.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Uniform Poll Closing Act of 2000''.

SEC. 2. SINGLE POLL CLOSING TIME FOR PRESIDENTIAL GENERAL ELECTIONS.

    Chapter 1 of title 3, United States Code, is amended by--
            (1) redesignating section 21 as section 22; and
            (2) inserting after section 20 the following new section:

```SEC. 21. SINGLE POLL CLOSING TIME.

    ``(a) Each polling place in each State shall close, with respect to 
a Presidential general election, at 9:00 o'clock post meridiem, eastern 
standard time. Any person who, as determined under the law of the State 
involved, arrives at a polling place after that time shall not be 
permitted to vote in the Presidential general election.
    ``(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), a polling place shall close, 
with respect to a Presidential general election, as provided by the law 
of the State involved, in the case of a polling place at which each 
person who is eligible to vote has voted.
    ``(c) Notwithstanding section 1 or any other provision of law, in 
the case of the States of Alaska and Hawaii, a State may open polling 
places with respect to a Presidential general election during the day 
preceding the day provided under such section in addition to the day 
provided under such section, so long as the State meets the 
requirements of subsection (a) with respect to the day provided under 
such section.
    ``(d) As used in this section, the term `Presidential general 
election' means the election for electors of President and Vice 
President.''.

SEC. 3. EXTENDED DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME IN PACIFIC TIME ZONE IN 
              PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION YEARS.

    Section 3 of the Uniform Time Act of 1966 (15 U.S.C. 260a) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(d)(1) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, in each 
year in which a Presidential general election takes place, the period 
of time during which the standard time shall be advanced with respect 
to the Pacific time zone shall end at 2:00 o'clock ante meridiem on the 
first Sunday after the date of that election.
    ``(2) As used in this subsection, the term `Presidential general 
election' means the election for electors of President and Vice 
President.''.

SEC. 4. TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.

    (a) Amendments to Title 3, United States Code.--The table of 
sections for chapter 1 of title 3, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by redesignating the item relating to section 21 as the 
        item relating to section 22; and
            (2) by inserting after the item relating to section 20 the 
        following new item:

``21. Single poll closing time in continental United States.''.
    (b) Amendments to Uniform Time Act of 1966.--Section 3(a) of the 
Uniform Time Act of 1966 (15 U.S.C. 260a(a)) is amended by striking out 
``2 o'clock antemeridian'' each place it appears and inserting in lieu 
thereof ``2:00 o'clock ante meridiem''.
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