SB 136 – Allows emergency workers to request, receive and submit absentee ballots

• Sponsor: Sifton
• LR Number: 0610S.01I
• Committee: Financial and Governmental Organizations and Elections
• Last Action: 2/23/2015 - Voted Do Pass S Financial and Governmental Organizations and Elections Committee
• Effective Date: Emergency clause

Current Bill Summary

SB 136 - In the event of a state of emergency declared by a state or the federal government, an emergency worker may request, receive and send absentee ballots and accompanying materials by mail, facsimile transmission or electronic transmission. Additionally, election authorities shall provide absentee ballots and voting materials to emergency workers working in such an emergency by mail, fax, or electronic transmission as requested by the worker and accept ballots in their preferred form.

Such workers shall be eligible to request such ballots until 5:00 p.m. on the Monday prior to the election. Ballots must be received by the closing of the polls on election day in order to be counted.

This act contains an emergency clause.

This act is substantially similar to HB 359 (2015) and provisions contained within HCS/HB 67 (2015) and similar to SB 708 (2014).

SCOTT SVAGERA