Signed by Governor Brad Little

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that specifies that when voters request a particular type of absentee ballot for a primary election, they can only request the issuance of a new ballot of the same type they originally requested.

Highlights:

• Specifies the following in the case of requests for primary ballots (Sec. 1-2):

• An elector who has designated a political party affiliation shall receive a primary ballot for that political party;

• An elector who has designated a political party affiliation may receive the primary election ballot of a political party other than the political party such elector is affiliated with if such other political party has provided notification to the secretary of state that identifies the political party such elector is affiliated with;

• An "unaffiliated" elector will receive the primary ballot for the political party which the elector designated in the elector's application for an absentee ballot. Provided, however, that a political party's ballot does not be provided to an "unaffiliated" elector where that political party has not elected to allow "unaffiliated" electors to vote in such party's primary election;

• If an "unaffiliated" elector does not indicate a choice of a political party's primary ballot, the elector shall receive a nonpartisan ballot; and

• Once an absentee primary ballot is issued to an elector by the county clerk, the county clerk may not issue the same elector a new absentee primary ballot with a different party affiliation than the absentee ballot originally issued to the elector, unless the original absentee ballot type was issued in error by the county clerk.

• Authorizes an absentee ballot to be delivered to the absent elector in the office of the county clerk, by postage prepaid mail or by other appropriate means, including use of a facsimile machine or other electronic transmission (Sec. 1-3).

• Requires the secretary of state to create procedures for the transmission of blank absentee ballots by mail and by electronic transmission for all electors who are entitled to vote by absentee ballot under the uniformed and overseas citizens absentee voting act, and by which such electors may designate whether the elector prefers the transmission of such ballots by mail or electronically (Sec. 1-4).

• Authorizes a political party to supply a witness to accompany the clerk in the personal delivery of an absentee ballot. If the political party desires to supply a witness, it shall be the duty of the political party to supply the names of such witnesses to the clerk no later than 46 days before the election (Sec. 1-5).

• Authorizes an elector physically that is unable to mark such an elector's ballot may receive assistance in marking such a ballot from the officer delivering the same or an available person of the elector's choosing (Sec. 1-7).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that specifies that when voters request a particular type of absentee ballot for a primary election, they can only request the issuance of a new ballot of the same type they originally requested.

Highlights:

• Specifies the following in the case of requests for primary ballots (Sec. 1-2):

• An elector who has designated a political party affiliation shall receive a primary ballot for that political party;

• An elector who has designated a political party affiliation may receive the primary election ballot of a political party other than the political party such elector is affiliated with if such other political party has provided notification to the secretary of state that identifies the political party such elector is affiliated with;

• An "unaffiliated" elector will receive the primary ballot for the political party which the elector designated in the elector's application for an absentee ballot. Provided, however, that a political party's ballot does not be provided to an "unaffiliated" elector where that political party has not elected to allow "unaffiliated" electors to vote in such party's primary election;

• If an "unaffiliated" elector does not indicate a choice of a political party's primary ballot, the elector shall receive a nonpartisan ballot; and

• Once an absentee primary ballot is issued to an elector by the county clerk, the county clerk may not issue the same elector a new absentee primary ballot with a different party affiliation than the absentee ballot originally issued to the elector, unless the original absentee ballot type was issued in error by the county clerk.

• Authorizes an absentee ballot to be delivered to the absent elector in the office of the county clerk, by postage prepaid mail or by other appropriate means, including use of a facsimile machine or other electronic transmission (Sec. 1-3).

• Requires the secretary of state to create procedures for the transmission of blank absentee ballots by mail and by electronic transmission for all electors who are entitled to vote by absentee ballot under the uniformed and overseas citizens absentee voting act, and by which such electors may designate whether the elector prefers the transmission of such ballots by mail or electronically (Sec. 1-4).

• Authorizes a political party to supply a witness to accompany the clerk in the personal delivery of an absentee ballot. If the political party desires to supply a witness, it shall be the duty of the political party to supply the names of such witnesses to the clerk no later than 46 days before the election (Sec. 1-5).

• Authorizes an elector physically that is unable to mark such an elector's ballot may receive assistance in marking such a ballot from the officer delivering the same or an available person of the elector's choosing (Sec. 1-7).

Full Bill Text