; and (2) by inserting after the item relating to section 305 the following new item: Sec. 306. Early voting. . IX Voting by Mail 901. Voting by mail (a) Requirements Subtitle A of title III of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 ( 52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.), as amended by section 131(a), section 201(a), and section 801(a), is amended— (1) by redesignating sections 307 and 308 as sections 308 and 309; and (2) by inserting after section 306 the following new section: 307. Promoting ability of voters to vote by mail (a) In General If an individual in a State is eligible to cast a vote in an election for Federal office, the State may not impose any additional conditions or requirements on the eligibility of the individual to cast the vote in such election by absentee ballot by mail, except as required under subsection (b) and except to the extent that the State imposes a deadline for requesting the ballot and related voting materials from the appropriate State or local election official and for returning the ballot to the appropriate State or local election official. (b) Requiring signature verification A State may not accept and process an absentee ballot submitted by any individual with respect to an election for Federal office unless the State verifies the identification of the individual by comparing the individual’s signature on the absentee ballot with the individual’s signature on the official list of registered voters in the State, in accordance with such procedures as the State may adopt. (c) Deadline for providing balloting materials If an individual requests to vote by absentee ballot in an election for Federal office, the appropriate State or local election official shall ensure that the ballot and relating voting materials are transmitted to the individual— (1) not later than 2 weeks before the date of the election