Senate committee reviews election-law overhaul, debates write‑in deadlines and electronic ballot return

The Senate Committee on Government Operations on April 9, 2025 heard extended testimony on a miscellaneous changes to election law bill that would require write‑in candidate registration for higher‑level races, order reports on ranked‑choice voting and electronic ballot return, change who may serve on recount teams, and require targeted post‑election checklist audits for towns with split legislative districts.

The bill matters for military and overseas voters, voters with disabilities, municipal clerks and the secretary of state because it would change how write‑in votes are counted, require state reports on new voting technologies, and shift some audit and petition timelines, witnesses said.

Representative Shay Waters Evans, the House ranking member who joined the Senate committee to explain the bill, said the write‑in registration provision grew from requests by town clerks and the secretary of state’s office to reduce counting ambiguity on election night. She said earlier drafts required registration “two Fridays before the election,” but the House later moved the deadline: “It’ll be election day, 7 PM on election day,” she said, noting the change aimed to preserve late, local‑level write‑in options while balancing clerk workloads.

Deputy Secretary of State Lauren Hibbert told the committee the Secretary of State’s Office backs several elements of the bill while seeking clarity on others.…