text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Voter Outreach and Turnout Expansion 
  Act of 2003''.
  
         TITLE I--EXPANSION OF ELECTION ADMINISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
  
  SEC. 101. SAME-DAY VOTER REGISTRATION.
  
      (a) In General.--Section 303 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 
  (42 U.S.C. 15483) is amended--
              (1) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e); and
              (2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following new 
          subsection:
      ``(d) Permitting Voter Registration on Date of Election.--
              ``(1) In general.--At each polling place in a State at 
          which ballots are cast in an election for Federal office, an 
          individual may register to vote on the date of the election, 
          and may cast a vote at the polling place in the election, if 
          the individual--
                      ``(A) completes an application for voter 
                  registration in accordance with the requirements of 
                  this Act and other applicable law; and
                      ``(B) executes a written affirmation before an 
                  election official at the polling place stating that the 
                  individual is eligible to register to vote in the 
                  jurisdiction in which the individual desires to vote 
                  and has not already voted in the election.
              ``(2) Transmittal of completed applications to state 
          election official.--An appropriate official at a polling place 
          shall transmit any voter registration application accepted 
          under this subsection to the appropriate State election 
          official at the time the official at the polling place 
          transmits the ballots cast at the polling place to the 
          official.
              ``(3) Notice to individuals filing voter registration 
          applications after deadline.--If an individual's application 
          for voter registration prior to the date of an election is 
          received by the appropriate election official after the 
          deadline for receipt of applications with respect to the 
          election under State law, the official shall transmit a notice 
          to the individual stating that the application was received 
          after the deadline and that the individual may register to vote 
          at the polling place on the date of the election in accordance 
          with this subsection.
              ``(4) Requirements under national voter registration act of 
          1993.--In carrying out this subsection, a polling place in a 
          State shall meet the requirements applicable to a voter 
          registration agency designated by the State under section 
          7(a)(2) of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (42 
          U.S.C. 1973gg-5(a)(2)), except that clauses (i), (ii), and 
          (iii) of section 7(a)(6)(B) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1973gg-
          5(a)(6)(B)) shall not apply with respect to any of the voter 
          registration forms distributed by the polling place pursuant to 
          this subsection.''.
      (b) Inclusion in Voting Information Requirements.--Section 
  302(b)(2) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 14582(b)(2)) is amended--
              (1) in subparagraph (E), by inserting ``and the right to 
          register to vote at the polling place on the date of an 
          election and vote in that election'' after ``provisional 
          ballot'';
              (2) by redesignating subparagraphs (E) and (F) as 
          subparagraphs (F) and (G); and
              (3) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following new 
          subparagraph:
                      ``(E) instructions for individuals registering to 
                  vote at the polling place under section 303(d);''.
      (c) Effective Date.--Section 303(e) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
  15483(e)), as redesignated by subsection (a), is amended by adding at 
  the end the following new paragraph:
              ``(3) Requirement for voter registration on date of 
          election.--Each State and jurisdiction shall be required to 
          comply with the requirements of subsection (d) on and after 
          January 1, 2004.''.
  
  SEC. 102. PERMITTING VOTERS TO CAST BALLOTS PRIOR TO ELECTION; 
                PERMITTING VOTERS TO OBTAIN ABSENTEE BALLOTS FOR ANY 
                REASON.
  
      (a) In General.--The Help America Vote Act of 2002 is amended--
              (1) by redesignating sections 304 and 305 as sections 305 
          and 306; and
              (2) by inserting after section 303 the following new 
          section:
  
  ``SEC. 304. PROMOTING EARLY AND ABSENTEE VOTING.
  
      ``(a) Requiring Jurisdictions To Establish Early Voting Sites.--
              ``(1) In general.--Each jurisdiction in a State which 
          administers an election for Federal office shall designate 
          early voting sites within the jurisdiction to serve as polling 
          places for the election prior to the date of the election, and 
          shall permit any individual who is registered to vote in the 
          election and eligible to cast a ballot at any polling place 
          within the jurisdiction to cast the ballot at the site.
              ``(2) Treatment of ballots cast at sites.--After a ballot 
          is cast for an election at an early voting site under this 
          subsection, the ballot shall be held and tabulated by the 
          jurisdiction in the same manner as an absentee ballot cast for 
          the election.
              ``(3) Period of operation.--The jurisdiction shall operate 
          the early voting sites designated under this subsection for an 
          election during such period as it considers appropriate, except 
          that--
                      ``(A) the period may not begin later than the 22nd 
                  day before the date of the election or the date on 
                  which the ballots for the election are available to be 
                  cast (whichever occurs later); and
                      ``(B) at least 2 of the days during the period 
                  shall be weekend days.
              ``(4) Conditions for designation and distribution of 
          sites.--The number of early voting sites of a jurisdiction and 
          the location of such sites within the jurisdiction shall be 
          determined by the jurisdiction, subject to the following 
          conditions:
                      ``(A) To the greatest extent practicable, the 
                  jurisdiction shall designate sites which are also 
                  designated as voter registration agencies under section 
                  7 the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (42 
                  U.S.C. 1973gg-5).
                      ``(B) The aggregate number of voting systems used 
                  in all such sites in the jurisdiction may not be less 
                  than 25 percent of the total number of voting systems 
                  which will be used in all polling places in the 
                  jurisdiction on the date of the election.
                      ``(C) At least one of the sites selected, and the 
                  voting system used at such site, shall be accessible 
                  for individuals with disabilities (including the blind 
                  and visually impaired).
                      ``(D) The geographic distribution of the sites 
                  shall reflect the geographic distribution of the voting 
                  age population of the jurisdiction.
                      ``(E) In establishing sites, the jurisdiction shall 
                  comply with the applicable requirements of the Voting 
                  Rights Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 1973 et seq.).
      ``(b) Permitting Voters To Obtain Absentee Ballots for Any 
  Reason.--No State election official may require an individual who 
  requests an absentee ballot for an election to provide a reason for the 
  request, or to otherwise provide any proof of the individual's need for 
  an absentee ballot, as a condition of obtaining the ballot.''.
      (b) Conforming Amendments.--
              (1) Deadline for adoption of voluntary guidance by election 
          assistance commission.--Section 311(b) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
          15501(b)) is amended--
                      (A) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph 
                  (2);
                      (B) by striking the period at the end of paragraph 
                  (3) and inserting ``; and''; and
                      (C) by adding at the end the following new 
                  paragraph:
              ``(4) in the case of recommendations with respect to 
          section 304, January 1, 2004.''.
              (2) Enforcement.--Section 401 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 15511) 
          is amended by striking ``and 303'' and inserting ``303, and 
          304''.
      (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for subtitle A of 
  title III of such Act is amended--
              (1) by redesignating the items relating to sections 304 and 
          305 as items relating to sections 305 and 306; and
              (2) by inserting after the item relating to section 303 the 
          following new item:
  
          ``Sec. 304. Promoting early and absentee voting.''.
  
  SEC. 103. CLARIFICATION OF REQUIREMENT TO PERMIT INDIVIDUALS TO 
                COMPLETE INCOMPLETE MAIL-IN VOTER REGISTRATION 
                APPLICATIONS.
  
      Section 303(b)(4)(B) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (42 
  U.S.C. 15483(b)(4)(B)) is amended to read as follows:
                      ``(B) Incomplete forms.--If an applicant for voter 
                  registration with respect to an election fails to 
                  answer any of the questions included on the mail voter 
                  registration form pursuant to subparagraph (A), or 
                  otherwise fails to provide any information required to 
                  be provided on the form, the registrar shall--
                              ``(i) notify the applicant of the failure 
                          and of the opportunity for the applicant to 
                          register to vote at the polling place on the 
                          date of the election in accordance with 
                          subsection (d); and
                              ``(ii) if the form was received by the 
                          registrar within the deadline under State law 
                          for the receipt of voter registration 
                          applications with respect to the election, 
                          provide the applicant with an opportunity to 
                          complete the form in a timely manner to allow 
                          for the completion of the registration form 
                          prior to the election.''.
  
  SEC. 104. ADDITIONAL FUNDING.
  
      Section 257(a) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 
  15407(a)) is amended--
              (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``$1,400,000,000'' and 
          inserting ``$1,405,000,000'';
              (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``$1,000,000,000'' and 
          inserting ``$1,005,000,000''; and
              (3) in paragraph (3), by striking ``$600,000,000'' and 
          inserting ``$605,000,000''.
  
  SEC. 105. EFFECTIVE DATE.
  
      The amendments made by this title shall take effect as if included 
  in the enactment of the Help America Vote Act of 2002.
  
                TITLE II--REMOVING OTHER BARRIERS TO VOTING
  
  SEC. 201. TREATMENT OF ELECTION DAY IN SAME MANNER AS VETERANS DAY FOR 
                PURPOSES OF FEDERAL EMPLOYMENT.
  
      (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
              (1) many Americans do not vote on Election Day because of 
          conflicting work schedules;
              (2) Federal, State, and local governments should share the 
          responsibility for increasing voter turnout on Election Day;
              (3) States should establish Election Day as a legal public 
          holiday in each year and should provide full paid leave for 
          State government employees on Election Day; and
              (4) the treatment of Election Day in the same manner as 
          Veterans Day for purposes of laws relating to Federal 
          employment will lead to increased voter turnout and will 
          increase the availability of poll workers and suitable polling 
          places.
      (b) Treatment of Election Day in Same Manner as Veterans Day for 
  Purposes of Federal Employment.--For purposes of any law relating to 
  Federal employment, the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November 
  in 2004 and each even-numbered year thereafter shall be treated in the 
  same manner as November 11.
  
  SEC. 202. VOTING LEAVE.
  
      (a) In General.--Each employee of an employer may take up to 2 
  hours of leave (or up to 3 hours of leave, in the case of an employee 
  whose workplace is further than 25 miles from the polling place at 
  which the employee is eligible to cast a ballot under State law) in 
  order to vote on any workday on which an election for Federal office is 
  held.
      (b) Unpaid or Paid Leave Permitted.--Notwithstanding any other 
  provision of law, leave granted under this subsection may be unpaid 
  leave or paid leave.
      (c) Duties of Employee.--An employee taking leave under this 
  subsection shall make a reasonable effort to schedule the leave so as 
  not to disrupt unduly the operations of the employer, shall provide 
  such notice prior to taking leave as is practicable, and shall make a 
  reasonable effort to vote.
      (d) No Loss of Benefits.--The taking of leave under this subsection 
  shall not result in the loss of any employment benefit accrued prior to 
  the date on which the leave commenced.
      (e) Prohibited Acts.--
              (1) Exercise of rights.--It shall be unlawful for any 
          employer to interfere with, restrain, or deny the taking of or 
          the attempt to take any leave provided under this subsection.
              (2) Discrimination.--It shall be unlawful for any employer 
          to discharge or in any other manner discriminate against any 
          individual for--
                      (A) opposing any practice made unlawful by this 
                  subsection;
                      (B) filing any charge, or instituting or causing to 
                  be instituted any proceeding, under or related to this 
                  subsection;
                      (C) giving or preparing to give any information in 
                  connection with any inquiry or proceeding relating to 
                  any leave provided under this subsection; or
                      (D) testifying or preparing to testify in any 
                  inquiry or proceeding relating to any leave provided 
                  under this subsection.
      (f) Investigative Authority.--The Secretary of Labor shall have 
  investigative authority with respect to the provisions of this 
  subsection in the same manner and under the same terms and conditions 
  as the investigative authority provided under section 106 of the Family 
  and Medical Leave Act of 1993, and the requirements of section 106 of 
  such Act shall apply to employers under this subsection in the same 
  manner as such requirements apply to employers under section 106 of 
  such Act.
      (g) Enforcement.--The provisions of section 107 of the Family and 
  Medical Leave Act of 1993 shall apply with respect to the enforcement 
  of the requirements of this subsection in the same manner and under the 
  same terms and conditions as such provisions apply with respect to the 
  enforcement of the requirements of title I of such Act.
      (h) Employer Defined.--In this section, the term ``employer'' means 
  any person engaged in commerce or in any industry or activity affecting 
  commerce who employs 25 or more employees during a calendar year, and 
  includes any person who acts, directly or indirectly, in the interest 
  of an employer to any of the employees of such employer and any 
  successor in interest of an employer. In the previous sentence, the 
  terms ``commerce'' and ``industry or activity affecting commerce'' have 
  the meaning given such terms in section 101(1) of the Family and 
  Medical Leave Act of 1993.
      (i) Nondiscrimination.--The implementation and enforcement of this 
  section shall be in compliance with the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
      (j) Effective Date.--This section shall apply with respect to 
  elections occurring after January 2004.
  
  SEC. 203. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING DISTRIBUTION OF SAMPLE BALLOTS 
                AND VOTING MATERIALS.
  
      It is the sense of Congress that the distribution of sample 
  ballots, information on voting, and other voter education materials 
  will help to prevent errors by voters at the polls and to reduce the 
  rates of spoiled ballots, and Congress encourages States and other 
  jurisdictions which administer elections to distribute these materials 
  to registered voters prior to elections.
target: Voter Outreach and Turnout Expansion Act of 2003 - Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to: (1) permit an individual to register to vote on the date of the election at each polling place in a State at which ballots are cast in an election for Federal office; and (2) require each jurisdiction in a State which administers an election for Federal office to designate early voting sites to serve as polling places for the election prior to the election date, and to permit any registered voter to cast a ballot at the site.Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) many Americans do not vote on Election Day because of conflicting work schedules; (2) Federal, State, and local governments should share the responsibility for increasing voter turnout; (3) States should establish Election Day as a legal public holiday and provide full paid leave for State government employees; and (4) the treatment of Election Day in the same manner as Veterans Day for purposes of law relating to Federal employment will lead to increased voter turnout and will increase the availability of poll workers and suitable polling places.Sets out requirements for employee voting leave.Expresses the sense of Congress encouraging State and other jurisdictions to distribute sample ballots, information on voting, and other voter education materials as an aid to preventing errors by voters at the polls and reducing the rates of spoiled ballots.
feat_title: To amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require States to permit individuals to register to vote at polling places on the date of an election, to cast ballots at designated polling places prior to the date of an election, and to obtain absentee ballots for an election for any reason, and for other purposes.