NATION : Panel OKs Poll-Closing Measure

WASHINGTON —  A bill that would close voting in presidential elections at the same time across the country to prevent early results from influencing Western voters was approved by the Senate Rules Committee today.

The bill would close polls in all states except Alaska and Hawaii at 10 p.m. Eastern time, 9 p.m. Central time, 8 p.m. Mountain time and 7 p.m. Pacific time. The committee passed the measure 9 to 2 and sent it to the full Senate.

The legislation was promoted by the 1980 presidential election when Democratic President Jimmy Carter conceded to Republican Ronald Reagan while polls were still open in the Pacific time zone, discouraging many voters, especially Democrats, from voting.