[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1510 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1510

  To amend the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to provide for 
   online voter registration and other changes and to amend the Help 
  America Vote Act of 2002 to improve voting, to require the Election 
    Assistance Commission to study and report on best practices for 
   election cybersecurity and election audits, and to make grants to 
States to implement those best practices recommended by the Commission.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 29, 2017

  Ms. Klobuchar (for herself, Mrs. Gillibrand, Ms. Cortez Masto, Mr. 
Durbin, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Udall, Mr. Franken, Mr. Wyden, Ms. Warren, 
and Mr. Brown) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
         referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To amend the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to provide for 
   online voter registration and other changes and to amend the Help 
  America Vote Act of 2002 to improve voting, to require the Election 
    Assistance Commission to study and report on best practices for 
   election cybersecurity and election audits, and to make grants to 
States to implement those best practices recommended by the Commission.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE, ETC.

    (a) In General.--This Act may be cited as the ``Helping State and 
Local Governments Prevent Cyber Attacks (HACK) Act''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title, etc.
       TITLE I--ELECTION INTEGRITY AND CYBERSECURITY IMPROVEMENT

Sec. 101. Short title.
Sec. 102. Study and report on best practices for cybersecurity of 
                            Federal elections and election audits.
Sec. 103. Election technology improvement grants.
                      TITLE II--VOTER REGISTRATION

Sec. 201. Federal electronic voter registration application form.
Sec. 202. Voter registration deadline.
Sec. 203. Change of address.
Sec. 204. Mail voter registration form may not require full social 
                            security number.
                           TITLE III--VOTING

Sec. 301. Availability of early voting and no-excuse absentee voting.
Sec. 302. Requirements for counting provisional ballots.

       TITLE I--ELECTION INTEGRITY AND CYBERSECURITY IMPROVEMENT

SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE.

    This title may be cited as the ``Election Integrity and 
Cybersecurity Improvement Act of 2017''.

SEC. 102. STUDY AND REPORT ON BEST PRACTICES FOR CYBERSECURITY OF 
              FEDERAL ELECTIONS AND ELECTION AUDITS.

    (a) In General.--The Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 20901 
et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 247 the following new 
section:

``SEC. 248. STUDY AND REPORT ON BEST PRACTICES FOR CYBERSECURITY OF 
              FEDERAL ELECTIONS AND ELECTION AUDITS.

    ``(a) In General.--The Commission, in consultation with the 
National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Secretary of the 
Department of Homeland Security, the Election Assistance Commission 
Standards Board, the Election Assistance Commission Board of Advisors, 
the Election Assistance Commission Technical Guidelines Development 
Committee, the National Association of Secretaries of State, the 
National Association of State Election Directors, the National 
Association of Election Officials, the International Association of 
Government Officials, and other stakeholders the Commission determines 
necessary, shall conduct a study on each of the following:
            ``(1) Best practices for cybersecurity of Federal 
        elections.
            ``(2) Best practices for election audits.
    ``(b) Public Hearings.--In conducting each of the studies under 
this section, the Commission shall hold public hearings.
    ``(c) Issues Considered.--
            ``(1) Cybersecurity of federal elections.--In conducting 
        the study under subsection (a)(1), the Commission shall 
        consider the following:
                    ``(A) The interference by foreign actors in the 
                2016 Federal election.
                    ``(B) The opinion of intelligence officials that 
                foreign states are likely to attempt to interfere in 
                future Federal elections.
                    ``(C) Election administration profiles based on the 
                cybersecurity framework of the National Institute of 
                Standards and Technology.
                    ``(D) All components of election infrastructure, as 
                designated by the Secretary of Homeland Security, on 
                January 6, 2017, as a subsector of a critical 
                infrastructure sector (as defined in section 2001 of 
                the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 601)).
                    ``(E) The implications of the aging of voting 
                equipment on cybersecurity.
                    ``(F) Any existing Federal funding sources that may 
                be used to assist State and local governments to 
                improve election cybersecurity.
                    ``(G) Any related issues the Commission identifies 
                as necessary to complete a comprehensive study of best 
                practices for cybersecurity of Federal elections.
            ``(2) Election audits.--In conducting the study under 
        subsection (a)(2), the Commission shall consider the following:
                    ``(A) Public confidence in the administration of 
                Federal elections.
                    ``(B) Verifying the integrity of the election 
                process.
                    ``(C) Confirming the accuracy of results reported 
                by the voting system.
                    ``(D) Ensuring that the voting system is accurately 
                tabulating ballots.
                    ``(E) Ensuring that the winners of each election 
                for Federal office are called correctly.
                    ``(F) Current State requirements related to 
                election audits.
                    ``(G) Durational requirements needed to facilitate 
                an election audit prior to election certification, 
                including variations in the acceptance of postal 
                ballots and election certification deadlines.
                    ``(H) Administrative requirements and challenges 
                for various types of election audits.
                    ``(I) The potential to identify areas of 
                improvement in election administration using varying 
                types of election audits.
                    ``(J) Any related issues the Commission identifies 
                as necessary to complete a comprehensive study of best 
                practices for election audits.
    ``(d) Report and Recommendations.--Not later than the date that is 
9 months after the date of the enactment of the Election Integrity and 
Cybersecurity Improvement Act of 2017, the Commission shall submit a 
report to the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate and 
the Committee on Administration of the House of Representatives on each 
of the studies conducted under this section, together with 
recommendations with respect to the following:
            ``(1) Best practices for cybersecurity of Federal 
        elections.
            ``(2) Best practices for election audits.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents for such Act is 
amended by inserting after the item relating to section 247 the 
following new item:

``Sec. 248. Study and report on best practices for cybersecurity of 
                            Federal elections and election audits.''.

SEC. 103. ELECTION TECHNOLOGY IMPROVEMENT GRANTS.

    (a) In General.--The Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 20901 
et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new title:

           ``TITLE X--ELECTION TECHNOLOGY IMPROVEMENT GRANTS

``SEC. 1001. ELECTION TECHNOLOGY IMPROVEMENT GRANTS.

    ``(a) In General.--The Commission shall make a payment in an amount 
determined under section 1002 to each State which meets the conditions 
described in section 1003.
    ``(b) Use of Funds.--
            ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), a 
        State receiving payment under this title shall use the payment 
        to implement the recommendations of the Commission with respect 
        to best practices for cybersecurity of Federal elections and 
        election audits under section 248(d).
            ``(2) Other activities.--A State may use a payment under 
        this title to carry out other activities to improve the 
        administration of elections for Federal office if the State 
        certifies to the Commission that--
                    ``(A) the State has implemented the recommendations 
                of the Commission with respect to best practices for 
                cybersecurity of Federal elections and election audits 
                under section 248(d);
                    ``(B) the State will use any remaining funds to 
                improve, upgrade, or acquire new technological 
                equipment related to election administration, which may 
                include--
                            ``(i) voting machines;
                            ``(ii) election management systems;
                            ``(iii) electronic poll books;
                            ``(iv) online voter registration systems;
                            ``(v) participation in the Electronic 
                        Registration Information Center;
                            ``(vi) accessible voting equipment; and
                            ``(vii) other technological upgrades 
                        identified by the Commission in their studies 
                        on best practices for cybersecurity and 
                        election audits; and
                    ``(C) the State has appropriated funds for carrying 
                out such activities in an amount equal to 10 percent of 
                the total amount to be spent for such activities 
                (taking into account the payment under this section and 
                the amount spent by the State).

``SEC. 1002. ALLOCATION OF FUNDS.

    ``(a) In General.--Subject to subsection (c), the amount of a 
payment made to a State under this title shall be equal to the product 
of--
            ``(1) the total amount appropriated for payments pursuant 
        to the authorization under section 1007; and
            ``(2) the State allocation percentage for the State (as 
        determined under subsection (b)).
    ``(b) State Allocation Percentage Defined.--The `State allocation 
percentage' for a State is the amount (expressed as a percentage) equal 
to the quotient of--
            ``(1) the voting age population of the State (as reported 
        in the most recent decennial census); and
            ``(2) the total voting age population of all States (as 
        reported in the most recent decennial census).
    ``(c) Minimum Amount of Payment.--The amount of a payment made to a 
State under this section may not be less than--
            ``(1) in the case of any of the several States or the 
        District of Columbia, one-half of 1 percent of the total amount 
        appropriated for payments under this title under section 1007; 
        or
            ``(2) in the case of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, 
        American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
        Islands, or the United States Virgin Islands, one-tenth of 1 
        percent of such total amount.
    ``(d) Pro Rata Reductions.--The Commission shall make such pro rata 
reductions to the allocations determined under subsection (a) as are 
necessary to comply with the requirements of subsection (c).
    ``(e) Continuing Availability of Funds After Appropriation.--A 
payment to a State under this title shall be available to the State 
without fiscal year limitation.

``SEC. 1003. CONDITION FOR RECEIPT OF FUNDS.

    ``(a) In General.--A State is eligible to receive a payment under 
this title if the chief executive officer of the State, or designee, in 
consultation and coordination with the chief State election official, 
has filed with the Commission a statement certifying that the State is 
in compliance with the requirements referred to in subsection (b). A 
State may meet the requirement of the previous sentence by filing with 
the Commission a statement which reads as follows: `______ hereby 
certifies that it is in compliance with the requirements referred to in 
section 1003(b) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002.' (with the blank 
to be filled in with the name of the State involved).
    ``(b) State Plan Requirement; Certification of Compliance With 
Applicable Laws and Requirements.--The requirements referred to in this 
subsection are as follows:
            ``(1) The State has filed with the Commission a State plan 
        which the State certifies--
                    ``(A) contains each of the elements described in 
                section 1004;
                    ``(B) is developed in accordance with section 1005; 
                and
                    ``(C) meets the public notice and comment 
                requirements of section 1006.
            ``(2) The State is in compliance with each of the laws 
        described in section 906, as such laws apply with respect to 
        this Act.
            ``(3) To the extent that any portion of the payment is used 
        for activities other than implementing the recommendations of 
        the Commission with respect to best practices for cybersecurity 
        of Federal elections and election audits under section 248(d)--
                    ``(A) the State's proposed uses of the payment are 
                not inconsistent with such recommendations; and
                    ``(B) the use of the funds under this subparagraph 
                is consistent with the requirements of section 
                1001(b)(2)(B).
    ``(c) Methods of Compliance Left to Discretion of State.--The 
specific choices on the methods of complying with the elements of a 
State plan shall be left to the discretion of the State.
    ``(d) Timing for Filing of Certification.--A State may not file a 
statement of certification under subsection (a) until the expiration of 
the 45-day period which begins on the date the State plan under this 
section has been published on both the website of the chief State 
election official and the website of the Election Assistance Commission 
pursuant to section 1005(b).
    ``(e) Chief State Election Official Defined.--In this title, the 
`chief State election official' of a State is the individual designated 
by the State under section 10 of the National Voter Registration Act of 
1993 (42 U.S.C. 1973gg-8) to be responsible for coordination of the 
State's responsibilities under such Act.

``SEC. 1004. STATE PLAN.

    ``(a) In General.--The State plan shall contain a description of 
each of the following:
            ``(1) How the State will use the payment under this title 
        to implement the recommendations of the Commission with respect 
        to best practices for cybersecurity of Federal elections and 
        election audits under section 248(d) and, if applicable under 
        section 1001(b)(2), to carry out other activities to improve 
        the administration of elections.
            ``(2) How the State will distribute and monitor the 
        distribution of the payment to units of local government or 
        other entities in the State for carrying out the activities 
        described in paragraph (1), including a description of--
                    ``(A) the criteria to be used to determine the 
                eligibility of such units or entities for receiving the 
                payment; and
                    ``(B) the methods to be used by the State to 
                monitor the performance of the units or entities to 
                whom the payment is distributed, consistent with the 
                performance goals and measures adopted under paragraph 
                (3).
            ``(3) How the State will adopt performance goals and 
        measures that will be used by the State to determine its 
        success and the success of units of local government in the 
        State in carrying out the plan, including timetables for 
        meeting each of the elements of the plan, descriptions of the 
        criteria the State will use to measure performance and the 
        process used to develop such criteria, and a description of 
        which official is to be held responsible for ensuring that each 
        performance goal is met.
            ``(4) How the State will conduct ongoing management of the 
        plan, except that the State may not make any material change in 
        the administration of the plan unless the change--
                    ``(A) is developed and published on the website of 
                the chief State election official and the website of 
                the Election Assistance Commission in accordance with 
                section 1005 in the same manner as the State plan;
                    ``(B) is subject to public notice and comment in 
                accordance with section 1006 in the same manner as the 
                State plan; and
                    ``(C) takes effect only after the expiration of the 
                30-day period which begins on the date the change has 
                been published on both the website of the chief State 
                election official and the website of the Election 
                Assistance Commission.
            ``(5) A description of the committee which participated in 
        the development of the State plan in accordance with section 
        1005 and the procedures followed by the committee under such 
        section and section 1006.
    ``(b) Protection Against Actions Based on Information in Plan.--
            ``(1) In general.--No action may be brought under this Act 
        against a State or other jurisdiction on the basis of any 
        information contained in the State plan filed under this title.
            ``(2) Exception for criminal acts.--Paragraph (1) may not 
        be construed to limit the liability of a State or other 
        jurisdiction for criminal acts or omissions.

``SEC. 1005. PROCESS FOR DEVELOPMENT AND FILING OF PLAN; PUBLICATION BY 
              COMMISSION.

    ``(a) In General.--The chief State election official shall develop 
the State plan under this title through a committee of appropriate 
individuals, including the chief election officials of the two most 
populous jurisdictions within the State, other local election 
officials, stake holders, and other citizens, appointed for such 
purpose by the chief State election official.
    ``(b) Publication of Plan by Commission.--After receiving the State 
plan of a State under this title, the Commission shall cause to have 
the plan published on both the website of the chief State election 
official and the website of the Election Assistance Commission.

``SEC. 1006. REQUIREMENT FOR PUBLIC NOTICE AND COMMENT.

    ``For purposes of section 1003(b)(1)(C), a State plan meets the 
public notice and comment requirements of this section if--
            ``(1) not later than 30 days prior to the submission of the 
        plan, the State made a preliminary version of the plan 
        available for public inspection and comment;
            ``(2) the State publishes notice that the preliminary 
        version of the plan is so available; and
            ``(3) the State took the public comments made regarding the 
        preliminary version of the plan into account in preparing the 
        plan which was filed with the Commission.

``SEC. 1007. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated for 
payments under this title for fiscal year 2018, $325,000,000.
    ``(b) Availability.--Any amounts appropriated pursuant to the 
authority of subsection (a) shall remain available without fiscal year 
limitation until expended.

``SEC. 1008. REPORTS.

    ``Not later than 6 months after the end of the fiscal year for 
which a State received a payment under this title, the State shall 
submit a report to the Commission on the activities conducted with the 
funds provided, and shall include in the report--
            ``(1) a list of expenditures made with respect to each 
        category of activities described in section 1001(b); and
            ``(2) an analysis and description of the activities funded 
        under this title to meet the requirements of this title and an 
        analysis and description of how such activities conform to the 
        State plan under section 1004.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents of such Act is 
amended by adding at the end the following:

           ``TITLE X--ELECTION TECHNOLOGY IMPROVEMENT GRANTS

``Sec. 1001. Election technology improvement grants.
``Sec. 1002. Allocation of funds.
``Sec. 1003. Condition for receipt of funds.
``Sec. 1004. State plan.
``Sec. 1005. Process for development and filing of plan; publication by 
                            commission.
``Sec. 1006. Requirement for public notice and comment.
``Sec. 1007. Authorization of appropriations.
``Sec. 1008. Reports.''.

                      TITLE II--VOTER REGISTRATION

SEC. 201. FEDERAL ELECTRONIC VOTER REGISTRATION APPLICATION FORM.

    (a) In General.--The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 
U.S.C. 20501 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 6 the 
following new section:

``SEC. 6A. ONLINE VOTER REGISTRATION.

    ``(a) Development.--The Election Assistance Commission shall, in 
consultation with chief election officials of the States, develop an 
online voter registration platform which--
            ``(1) contains an electronic version of the mail voter 
        registration application form prescribed under section 9(a)(2) 
        (in this section referred to as the `electronic voter 
        registration application form') that--
                    ``(A) meets the requirements of section 9(b) and 
                section 303(a)(4) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002; 
                and
                    ``(B) allows for the applicant to provide--
                            ``(i) sufficient information required by 
                        the State or jurisdiction in which the 
                        applicant is registering for the purposes of 
                        identifying an existing signature of the 
                        applicant on file with such State or 
                        jurisdiction; or
                            ``(ii) an electronic signature in such form 
                        or by such method as is acceptable by the State 
                        or jurisdiction to which the applicant is 
                        registering; and
            ``(2)(A) requires an applicant to indicate whether the 
        applicant is currently registered to vote in any other 
        jurisdiction (and, if so, to provide information identifying 
        such other jurisdiction); and
            ``(B) in the case of an applicant who is registered to vote 
        in another jurisdiction, treats submission and acceptance of 
        such application in a new jurisdiction as a request to cancel 
        registration in such other jurisdiction.
    ``(b) Duties of Election Assistance Commission.--
            ``(1) Transmission of completed applications and 
        cancellation requests.--The Election Assistance Commission 
        shall automatically forward completed electronic voter 
        registration application forms and cancellation requests 
        pursuant to subsection (a)(2)(B) to the appropriate chief State 
        election officials and, acting through such officials, to 
        appropriate State and local election officials in the State.
            ``(2) Registration through state-based platforms.--If the 
        chief election official of a State certifies that the State has 
        developed a platform that meets the requirements of subsection 
        (a), the Election Assistance Commission shall automatically 
        connect applicants for registration in that State to such State 
        platform in lieu of the platform developed under subsection 
        (a).
    ``(c) Acceptance of Completed Applications.--A State shall accept 
an electronic voter registration application form transmitted under 
subsection (b), and ensure that the individual is registered to vote in 
the State, if the individual meets the same voter registration 
requirements applicable to individuals who register to vote by mail in 
accordance with section 6(a)(1) using the mail voter registration 
application form prescribed by the Election Assistance Commission 
pursuant to section 9(a)(2).
    ``(d) Procedures if No Existing Electronic Signature.--If a State 
does not accept an electronic signature for individuals registering 
electronically and there is insufficient information to identify an 
existing signature of the applicant on file with the State or 
jurisdiction, the State shall allow individuals to provide a signature 
at the poll prior to voting for the first time in such jurisdiction 
after acceptance of an electronic voter registration form.
    ``(e) First-Time Voters.--
            ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), a State may by 
        law require a person to vote in person if--
                    ``(A) the person was registered to vote in a 
                jurisdiction electronically; and
                    ``(B) the person has not previously voted in that 
                jurisdiction.
            ``(2) Exception.--Paragraph (1) does not apply in the case 
        of a person--
                    ``(A) who is entitled to vote by absentee ballot 
                under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee 
                Voting Act;
                    ``(B) who is provided the right to vote otherwise 
                than in person under section 3(b)(2)(B)(ii) of the 
                Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped 
                Act;
                    ``(C) who has provided sufficient information for 
                the purposes of identifying an existing signature of 
                the applicant on file with such State or jurisdiction; 
                or
                    ``(D) who is entitled to vote otherwise than in 
                person under any other Federal law.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) State procedures.--Section 4(a) of the National Voter 
        Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20503(a)) is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph 
                (2);
                    (B) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph 
                (4); and
                    (C) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following 
                new paragraph:
            ``(3) by electronic application pursuant to section 6A; 
        and''.
            (2) Timing of registration.--Section 8(a)(1) of the 
        National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20507(a)(1)) 
        is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph 
                (C);
                    (B) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as 
                subparagraph (E); and
                    (C) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the 
                following new subparagraph:
                    ``(D) in the case of registration online under 
                section 6A, if the valid voter registration application 
                is submitted not later than the lesser of 20 days, or 
                the period provided by State law, before the date of 
                the election (as determined by treating the date on 
                which the application is completed electronically as 
                the date on which it is submitted); and''.
            (3) Informing applicants of eligibility requirements and 
        penalties.--Section 8(a)(5) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 20507(a)(5)) 
        is amended by striking ``and 7'' and inserting ``6A, and 7''.

SEC. 202. VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE.

    Section 8(a)(1) of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 
U.S.C. 20507(a)(1)) is amended by striking ``30 days'' each place it 
appears and inserting ``28 days''.

SEC. 203. CHANGE OF ADDRESS.

    (a) Modification of Procedures.--
            (1) In general.--Section 8(e) of the National Voter 
        Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20507(e)) is amended to 
        read as follows:
    ``(e) Procedure for Voting Following Failure To Return Card.--
            ``(1) Notwithstanding failure to notify the registrar of 
        the change of address prior to the date of an election, a 
        registrant who has moved from an address in the State to an 
        address in the same State shall, upon oral or written 
        affirmation by the registrant of the change of address before 
        an election official, be permitted to vote--
                    ``(A) at the polling place of the registrant's 
                current address; or
                    ``(B) at a central location within the same 
                registrar's jurisdiction.
            ``(2) If the registration records indicate that a 
        registrant has moved from an address in the area covered by a 
        polling place, the registrant shall, upon oral or written 
        affirmation by the registrant before an election official that 
        the registrant continues to reside at the address previously 
        made known to the registrar, be permitted to vote--
                    ``(A) at that polling place; or
                    ``(B) at a central location within the same 
                registrar's jurisdiction.''.
            (2) Effective date.--The amendment made by this section 
        shall take effect on January 1, 2019.
    (b) Inclusion of Electronic Voter Registration Application in USPS 
Online Change of Address Process.--
            (1) In general.--The Postmaster General shall ensure that 
        the United States Postal Service Online Change of Address 
        process--
                    (A) incorporates the online voter registration 
                platform developed under section 6A of the National 
                Voter Registration Act of 1993, as added by section 
                201; and
                    (B) allows individuals to register to vote during 
                the process.
            (2) Transmission of completed applications.--The Postmaster 
        General shall coordinate with the Election Assistance 
        Commission to ensure that applications and requests for 
        cancellation through the platform under paragraph (1) are 
        forwarded in accordance with section 6A(b)(1) of the National 
        Voter Registration Act of 1993, as added by section 201.

SEC. 204. MAIL VOTER REGISTRATION FORM MAY NOT REQUIRE FULL SOCIAL 
              SECURITY NUMBER.

    Section 9(b) of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 
U.S.C. 20508(b)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``except as provided in 
        paragraph (2)'' before ``may require'';
            (2) by redesignating paragraphs (2), (3), and (4), as 
        paragraphs (3), (4), and (5), respectively; and
            (3) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new 
        paragraph:
            ``(2) may not require more than the last 4 digits of an 
        applicant's social security number;''.

                           TITLE III--VOTING

SEC. 301. AVAILABILITY OF EARLY VOTING AND NO-EXCUSE ABSENTEE VOTING.

    (a) Requirements.--Subtitle A of title III of the Help America Vote 
Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating sections 304 and 305 as sections 305 
        and 306, respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after section 303 the following new 
        section:

``SEC. 304. AVAILABILITY OF VOTING PRIOR TO ELECTION DAY.

    ``(a) In General.--Each State shall--
            ``(1) allow individuals to vote in an election for Federal 
        office prior to the date of the election through--
                    ``(A) early voting which meets the requirements of 
                subsection (b); or
                    ``(B) voting by mail which meets the requirements 
                of subsection (c); and
            ``(2) publicize the details of any voting allowed under 
        paragraph (1).
    ``(b) Early Voting.--Early voting meets the requirements of this 
subsection if such voting occurs--
            ``(1) over a period of 7 consecutive days (including 
        weekend days) during the 10-day period preceding the date of 
        the election; and
            ``(2) for no less than 8 hours on each day such early 
        voting occurs.
    ``(c) Voting by Mail.--Voting by mail meets the requirements of 
this subsection if--
            ``(1) the State does not require an excuse in order to 
        obtain and cast a ballot by mail for any Federal election; and
            ``(2) the State does not include any requirements for 
        notarization or other formal authentication.
    ``(d) Effective Date.--This section shall apply with respect to 
elections held on or after January 1, 2019.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment Relating to Enforcement.--Section 401 of 
such Act (52 U.S.C. 21111) is amended by striking ``and 303'' and 
inserting ``303, and 304''.
    (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents of such Act is 
amended--
            (1) by redesignating the items relating to sections 304 and 
        305 as relating to sections 305 and 306, respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after the item relating to section 303 the 
        following new item:

``Sec. 304. Availability of voting prior to Election Day.''.

SEC. 302. REQUIREMENTS FOR COUNTING PROVISIONAL BALLOTS.

    (a) In General.--Section 302 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 
(52 U.S.C. 21082) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e); and
            (2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following new 
        subsection:
    ``(d) Statewide Counting of Provisional Ballots.--
            ``(1) In general.--For purposes of subsection (a)(4), 
        notwithstanding the precinct or polling place at which a 
        provisional ballot is cast within the State, the appropriate 
        election official shall count each vote on such ballot for each 
        election in which the individual who cast such ballot is 
        eligible to vote within the State.
            ``(2) Effective date.--This subsection shall apply with 
        respect to elections held on or after January 1, 2019.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 302(e) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 
21082(e)), as redesignated by subsection (a), is amended by striking 
``Each State'' and inserting ``Except as provided in subsection (d)(2), 
each State''.
                                 <all>