HB2691

THE CONTEXT: The County Recorder or other officer in charge of elections must designate two ballot retrievers from two differing political parties to retrieve voted ballots from a ballot drop-off location or drop-box. Upon arrival, the ballot retrievers must note the location and identification number of the drop-box and the date and time of the arrival on the prescribed retrieval form that is to be provided by the county recorder or other officer in charge of elections.

WHAT THE BILL DID: The final vetoed version would add that all ballot boxes must have a tamper evident seal, mandate that a law enforcement officer must aid in the transfer of the ballot box, and state that the chain of custody record must begin at the printing location of the ballot and continue through the delivery of the ballot.

WHY IT MATTERED: The practical reason for this bill was to make election administration and accountability rules for elections more definite. It would add that all ballot boxes must have a tamper evident seal, and would also mandate that a law enforcement officer must aid in the transfer of the ballot box, rather than leave the current rule unchanged.