To change the date for regularly scheduled Federal elections and establish polling place hours.

January 24, 2005

Mr. KOHL (for himself and Mr. CORZINE) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration

To change the date for regularly scheduled Federal elections and establish polling place hours.

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 `Weekend Voting Act'.

SEC. 2. CHANGE IN CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION DAY TO SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.

Section 25 of the Revised Statutes (2 U.S.C. 7) is amended to read as follows:

`SEC. 25. The first Saturday and Sunday after the first Friday in November, in every even numbered year, are established as the days for the election, in each of the States and Territories of the United States, of Representatives and Delegates to the Congress commencing on the 3d day of January thereafter.'.

SEC. 3. CHANGE IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION DAY TO SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.

Section 1 of title 3, United States Code, is amended by striking `Tuesday next after the first Monday' and inserting `first Saturday and Sunday after the first Friday'.

SEC. 4. POLLING PLACE HOURS IN CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES.

(a) In General-

(1) PRESIDENTIAL GENERAL ELECTION- Chapter 1 of title 3, United States Code, is amended--

(A) by redesignating section 1 as section 1A; and

(B) by inserting before section 1A the following:

`Sec. 1. Polling place hours in continental United States

`(a) Definitions- In this section:

`(1) CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES- The term `continental United States' means a State (other than Alaska and Hawaii) and the District of Columbia.

`(2) PRESIDENTIAL GENERAL ELECTION- The term `Presidential general election' means the election for electors of President and Vice President.

`(b) Polling Place Hours-

`(1) IN GENERAL- Each polling place in the continental United States shall be open, with respect to a Presidential general election, beginning on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. eastern standard time and ending on Sunday at 6:00 p.m. eastern standard time.

`(2) EARLY CLOSING- A polling place may close between the hours of 12:00 p.m. (midnight) and 5:00 a.m. local time as provided by the law of the State in which the polling place is located.'.

(2) CONGRESSIONAL GENERAL ELECTION- Section 25 of the Revised Statutes of the United States (2 U.S.C. 7) is amended--

(A) by redesignating section 25 as section 25A; and

(B) by inserting before section 25A the following:

`SEC. 25. POLLING PLACE HOURS IN THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES.

`(a) Definitions- In this section:

`(1) CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES- The term `continental United States' means a State (other than Alaska and Hawaii) and the District of Columbia.

`(2) CONGRESSIONAL GENERAL ELECTION- The term `congressional general election' means the general election for the office of Senator or Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress.

`(b) Polling Place Hours-

`(1) IN GENERAL- Each polling place in the continental United States shall be open, with respect to a congressional general election, beginning on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. eastern standard time and ending on Sunday at 6:00 p.m. eastern standard time.

`(2) EARLY CLOSING- A polling place may close between the hours of 12:00 p.m. (midnight) and 5:00 a.m. local time as provided by the law of the State in which the polling place is located.'.

(b) Conforming Amendments-

(1) The table of sections for chapter 1 of title 3, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating to section 1 and inserting the following:

(2) Sections 871(b) and 1751(f) of title 18, United States Code, are each amended by striking `title 3, United States Code, sections 1 and 2' and inserting `sections 1A and 2 of title 3'.

END