Brief (1)
HB 2854 amends the state election laws by eliminating the requirement that election officers use mechanically operated models as an instructional tool for voters at polling places. The bill authorizes county election officers to instruct voters in the operation of a voting machine using printed material or a demonstration instead of a mechanical model. The bill repeals the requirement that official election mailings be sent by first class mail. The bill requires the voter's date of birth (month, day, and year) be included on the application for advance voting ballots.
The Senate Committee amendment was technical.
Background
HB 2854 was proposed by the Secretary of State to eliminate the requirement for expensive and difficult to obtain mechanical models with which to demonstrate voting procedures. A Secretary of State's representative testified that the requirement for mechanical models originated when voting machines were activated by levers. He stated that modern voting equipment most commonly is activated touch screens or pressure sensitive buttons. The use of such equipment is easily explained without need for a model.
The representative of the Secretary of State testified that requiring birth dates on voters' applications for advance ballots would allow county election officers to accurately identify an applicant and prevent duplicate applications and ballots. He also testified that eliminating the requirement for first class mail allows the county election officer to use the United States Postal Service's election logo which provides first class service for mailings without paying first class rates. The Johnson County and Shawnee County Election Commissioners testified in support of the bill.
The House Committee on Governmental Organization and Elections placed the bill on the Consent Calendar.
The Senate Committee on Elections and Local Government made a technical amendment to the bill requiring the month, day, and year of an applicant's date of birth to be placed on the application.
The Division of the Budget's fiscal note was unavailable when the bill was passed out of the House Committee.
1. *Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at http://www.ink.org/public/legislative/bill_search.html