Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a substitute bill that requires county officials count ballots 8 days before an election.

Highlights:

• Requires the board of registrars or absentee ballot clerk to keep safely, unopened, and stored in a manner that will prevent tampering and unauthorized access all official absentee ballots received from absentee electors before the closing of the polls on the day of the primary or election (Sec. 1.a-1.A).

• Requires the board of registrars or absentee ballot clerk to promptly notify the elector by first-class mail that the elector's ballot was returned too late to be counted and that the elector will not receive credit for voting in the primary or election (Sec. 1.F).

• Establishes absentee ballots cast in a primary, election, or runoff by eligible absentee electors who reside outside the county or municipality in which the primary, election, or runoff is held and are members of the armed forces of the United States, members of the merchant marine of the United States, spouses or dependents are valid ballots and will be counted and included in the certified election results (Sec. 1.G).

• Establishes beginning Monday before a primary, election, or runoff, the registrars or absentee ballot clerks will be authorized to open the outer absentee ballot envelope on which is printed the oath of the elector in such a manner as not to destroy the oath printed thereon and will remove the outer envelope and remove the  'Official Absentee Ballot' inside (Sec. 1-2).

• Authorizes the county or state executive committee of each political party to designate independent and nonpartisan monitors to open and scan absentee ballots (Sec. 1-3).

• Establishes as the ballots are tabulated, they will be placed into locked ballot boxes and will be transferred to locked ballot bags, if needed, for security (Sec. 1-7).

• Requires all absentee ballots to be counted and tabulated in such a manner that returns may be reported by precinct, and separate returns will be made for each precinct in which absentee ballots were cast showing the results by each precinct in which the electors reside (Sec. 1-7.d).

• Specifies if an absentee elector's right to vote has been challenged for cause, a poll officer will write 'Challenged,' the elector's name, and the alleged cause of challenge on the outer envelope and will deposit the ballot in a secure, sealed ballot box, and it will be counted as other challenged ballots are counted (Sec. 1-7.e).

• Establishes it is unlawful at any time before  the close of the polls for any person to disclose or for any person to receive any information regarding the results of the tabulation of absentee ballots except as expressly provided by law (Sec. 1-7.f).

Full Bill Text