SB1595

THE CONTEXT: For an early ballot to be counted and valid, the voted ballot along with the ballot affidavit must be: 1) received by the County Recorder or other officer in charge of elections; or 2) deposited at any polling place in the county by 7:00 p. m.

WHAT THE BILL DID: The final vetoed version would specifies circumstances in which the County Recorder or other officer in charge of elections may not operate the on-site early voting locations, lists the following acceptable methods for returning a voted ballot: a) Mailed to the County Recorder or other officer in charge of elections; b) Delivered to the County Recorder or other officer in charge of elections no later than 7:00 pm on the Friday preceding the election; c) Deposited by the voter at any polling place in the county upon presenting identification and signing the signature roster or electronic pollbook; or d) Tabulated by use of the on-site tabulation procedure, and require a voter to present identification to the County Recorder or other officer in charge of elections within a specified timeline for the ballot to be counted and valid if the voter's ballot was delivered by a voter's agent.

WHY IT MATTERED: The practical reason for this bill was to make election administration and accountability rules for early ballots more definite. It would specifies circumstances in which the County Recorder or other officer in charge of elections may not operate the on-site early voting locations, and would also lists the following acceptable methods for returning a voted ballot: a) Mailed to the County Recorder or other officer in charge of elections; b) Delivered to the County Recorder or other officer in charge of elections no later than 7:00 pm on the Friday preceding the election; c) Deposited by the voter at any polling place in the county upon presenting identification and signing the signature roster or electronic pollbook; or d) Tabulated by use of the on-site tabulation procedure, rather than leave the current rule unchanged.