Summary of the Report of

The House Interim Committee on Election Reform and Ballot Access

Representative Jim Seigfreid, Chair

December 2001

 

 

After hearing testimony from eighteen witnesses, observing two demonstrations of electronic voting equipment, viewing a videotape presentation on instant runoff voting, and attending an exposition on accessible voting technology, the committee recommends:

 

•                     Expanding the pool of available, qualified election judges.

•                     Allowing a set number of employees from businesses/employers with 50 or more employees to take time off work without penalty to serve as election judges.

•                     Requiring state agencies that collect postcard voter registrations to transfer them to the appropriate election authority within 5 business days.

•                     Closing certain voter registration records to the public by court order if the voter’s safety is at issue.

•                     Allowing caretakers of the disabled and elderly to vote by absentee ballot.

•                     Providing state grants for election judge compensation and to upgrade local election equipment, subject to appropriation.

•                     Authorizing the certification of electronic voting equipment.

•                     Allowing international election observers.

•                     Allowing persons in federal service to return absentee ballots by electronic means.

•                     Eliminating use of the butterfly ballot unless approved by the Secretary of State.

•                     Requiring that voting instructions be clearly posted at all polls, preferably in each voting booth.

•                     Addressing the issue of challenged or questionable voters.

•                     Encouraging enforcement of existing election laws.

•                     Enforcing or tightening current voter identification requirements.

•                     Further examining the possibility of giving local election authorities the option to mail out sample ballots to voters and only print sample ballots one time in newspapers, versus the current requirement of two newspaper printings.

•                     Assessing the number of elections authorized to be held each year.

•                     Eliminating the requirement that uncontested elections for committee men and women be included on ballots.

•                     Extending the time period allowed for testing voting equipment.

•                     Accepting absentee ballot application requests by fax, if technology permits.

 

 

The committee intends to support legislation to be offered in the upcoming session that incorporates these recommendations.

 

Julie Jinkens McNitt, Legislative Analyst