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2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE
2019 Senate BILL 917
March 26, 2020 - Introduced by Senators Larson, Smith and Carpenter,
cosponsored by Representative Brostoff. Referred to Committee on
Elections, Ethics and Rural Issues.
SB917,1,4 1An Act to amend 5.84 (1), 6.15 (4) (b), 6.86 (1) (b), 6.87 (6), 6.88 (1) and 7.52 (1)
2(a); and to create 6.885 and 6.91 of the statutes; relating to: canvassing
3absentee ballots during a state of emergency on the Sunday before an election
4and providing a penalty.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, absentee ballots may not be canvassed until election day.
This bill authorizes a municipality to adopt an ordinance providing for the
canvassing of absentee ballots during a state of emergency on the Sunday before an
election, subject to the following requirements:
1. The municipality must use automatic tabulating equipment to process
absentee ballots.
2. Prior to enacting an ordinance under the bill, the municipal clerk or
municipal board of election commissioners must notify the Elections Commission in
writing of the proposed enactment and must consult with the Elections Commission
concerning administration of early canvassing of absentee ballots.