Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends absentee ballot laws to increase paperwork from one form to 2.

Highlights:

• Requires the municipal clerk to receive a completed application in the form prescribed by the commission that contains the elector's original written signature, or, if the application is made contains the elector's electronic signature or a copy of the elector's original written signature, or the signature of a person the elector authorizes to sign on the elector's behalf (Sec. 6).

• Requires the application to mandate the elector to certify facts establishing that he or she is qualified to vote in the election at the municipality of his or her legal voting residence and to include at least all of the following information (Sec. 7):

• The elector's municipality and county of residence;

• The elector's name, date of birth, and contact information, including as applicable the elector's telephone number, fax number, and electronic mail address;

• The street address of the elector's legal voting residence;

• The election at which the elector intends to vote absentee;

• Whether the elector is a military or overseas elector;

• The elector's confidential identification serial number if the elector has obtained a confidential listing;

• The lawful method by which the elector prefers to receive the absentee ballot; and

• Whether the elector is hospitalized.

• Authorizes an elector who receives an absentee ballot application under this law to return it but must enclose a copy of his or her proof of identification or any authorized substitute document with the application (Sec. 10).

• Specifies if an elector fails to cast and return an absentee ballot for any election for which the elector applies for and receives an absentee ballot application under this law, the clerk will notify the elector by 1st class letter or postcard that his or her name will be removed from the mailing list unless the clerk receives a renewal of the application within 30 days of the notification (Sec. 11).

• Prohibits a municipal or county clerk or municipal or county board of election commissioners, and no person acting on behalf of the commission, from sending or transmitting an absentee ballot application or an absentee ballot to an elector for voting in an election unless the elector applies for the application or ballot as provided by law (Sec. 13).

• Requires the municipal clerk to place the ballot in an unsealed envelope furnished by the clerk. The envelope will have the name, official title and post-office address of the clerk upon its face. The other side of the envelope will have a printed certificate which includes a space for the municipal clerk or deputy clerk to enter write his or her initials indicating that if the absentee elector voted in person, the elector presented proof of identification to the clerk and the clerk verified the proof presented (Sec. 15).

• Requires the clerk or board of election commissioners of a municipality receiving an application from an elector who is an occupant of a qualified retirement home or residential care facility located in the municipality but who is a resident of a different municipality to, as soon as possible, notify and request an absentee ballot from the clerk or board of election commissioners of the municipality in which the elector is a resident (Sec. 20).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends absentee ballot laws to increase paperwork from one form to 2.

Highlights:

• Requires the municipal clerk to receive a completed application in the form prescribed by the commission that contains the elector's original written signature, or, if the application is made contains the elector's electronic signature or a copy of the elector's original written signature, or the signature of a person the elector authorizes to sign on the elector's behalf (Sec. 6).

• Requires the application to mandate the elector to certify facts establishing that he or she is qualified to vote in the election at the municipality of his or her legal voting residence and to include at least all of the following information (Sec. 7):

• The elector's municipality and county of residence;

• The elector's name, date of birth, and contact information, including as applicable the elector's telephone number, fax number, and electronic mail address;

• The street address of the elector's legal voting residence;

• The election at which the elector intends to vote absentee;

• Whether the elector is a military or overseas elector;

• The elector's confidential identification serial number if the elector has obtained a confidential listing;

• The lawful method by which the elector prefers to receive the absentee ballot; and

• Whether the elector is hospitalized.

• Authorizes an elector who receives an absentee ballot application under this law to return it but must enclose a copy of his or her proof of identification or any authorized substitute document with the application (Sec. 10).

• Specifies if an elector fails to cast and return an absentee ballot for any election for which the elector applies for and receives an absentee ballot application under this law, the clerk will notify the elector by 1st class letter or postcard that his or her name will be removed from the mailing list unless the clerk receives a renewal of the application within 30 days of the notification (Sec. 11).

• Prohibits a municipal or county clerk or municipal or county board of election commissioners, and no person acting on behalf of the commission, from sending or transmitting an absentee ballot application or an absentee ballot to an elector for voting in an election unless the elector applies for the application or ballot as provided by law (Sec. 13).

• Requires the municipal clerk to place the ballot in an unsealed envelope furnished by the clerk. The envelope will have the name, official title and post-office address of the clerk upon its face. The other side of the envelope will have a printed certificate which includes a space for the municipal clerk or deputy clerk to enter write his or her initials indicating that if the absentee elector voted in person, the elector presented proof of identification to the clerk and the clerk verified the proof presented (Sec. 15).

• Requires the clerk or board of election commissioners of a municipality receiving an application from an elector who is an occupant of a qualified retirement home or residential care facility located in the municipality but who is a resident of a different municipality to, as soon as possible, notify and request an absentee ballot from the clerk or board of election commissioners of the municipality in which the elector is a resident (Sec. 20).

Full Bill Text