SCS/SBs 652 & 548 - This act opens up absentee balloting and removes the June and October election dates.

Currently, a person may vote by absentee ballot due to:

1. Expected absence from the election authority's jurisdiction during election day; 2. Illness or disability; 3. Religion; 4. Employment at polling place; and 5. Incarceration.

Under this act, the first provision of expected absence during election day, listed above, is modified to allow absentee voting by any voter who expects to be away from the precinct where he or she votes during normal election hours. In addition, any voter age 65 years or older may vote by absentee ballot, in addition to the current provisions as listed above in 2 through 5.

The June and October election dates are removed. As a result, elections would be held on:

February or March, but not both; April; August; and November.

Currently, no city or county shall adopt a charter or charter amendment that calls for elections on any other dates than currently provided by law, but ones adopted before 1978 are grandfathered-in.

This act also grandfathers in all charters and charter amendments so that they may continue calling elections on dates as their charters now provide, however, no new charter or charter amendment shall be adopted calling for elections on dates other than those provided by this act.
MARGARET TOALSON

SA 1 - CHANGES THE DATE OF CERTIFICATION OF PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEES TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE FROM THE 10TH TUESDAY TO THE 8TH TUESDAY PRIOR TO EACH PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. SA 2 - ALLOWS SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO HOLD ELECTON IN AUGUST NONPRIMARY YEARS AND IN JUNE, BUT REMOVES THE AUGUST NONPRIMARY- YEAR ELECTION DATE FOR OTHER ELECTION ISSUES.