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Minutes for SB8 - Committee on Ethics, Elections and Local Government
Short Title
Providing for canvassing of advance voting ballots mailed on the date of the election.
Minutes Content for Tue, Jan 24, 2017
Chairperson Bowers opened the hearing on SB8. Chuck Reimer, staff revisor, provided a briefing on the bill.
Senator Hensley testified in support of SB8 indicating this bill comes as an issue for those citizens whose mail processing centers have moved outside of their county or outside of the state causing delays in mail delivery. Senator Hensley indicated this bill would allow ballots postmarked on Election Day or before to be counted. (Attachment 3)
After questions by the Committee were answered, the hearing continued.
Jamie Shew testified in support of SB8. Mr. Shew described the impact of recent postal reforms on mailing of advance ballots. Mr. Shew indicated his office has seen an increase in the number of ballots arriving on Wednesday and Thursday after Election Day. Mr. Shew suggested consideration of moving the deadline for requesting a mail ballot from the Friday before the election. Mr. Shew also suggested consideration of a change which allows mail ballots to be returned to the polling place on Election Day. (Attachment 4)
After questions from the Committee were answered, the hearing continued.
Bryan Caskey testified as a neutral conferee on SB8 indicating this bill would allow ballots with a postmark on or before Election Day to be honored as long as they are returned by the fourth day. Mr. Caskey stated they are asking that if this bill is worked, to consider moving that to the third day. Mr. Caskey discussed the deadline to request a ballot to be mailed, and described the need for that to be addressed. (Attachment 5)
After questions from the Committee were answered, Chairperson Bowers closed the hearing on SB8.
