Senate strike‑all amendment would tighten DMV automatic registration, write‑in rules and campaign‑finance filings

Legislative counsel Tim Devlin told the Government Operations & Military Affairs committee that a Senate “strike‑all” amendment to an elections bill (draft 8.1) would make multiple, substantive changes to voter registration, ballot procedures, write‑in votes and campaign‑finance rules.

The overview provided to the committee said the draft delays a ranked‑choice voting feasibility report to Jan. 15, 2028, alters ballot delivery and write‑in counting rules, changes campaign‑finance registration and reporting triggers, and amends automatic voter registration at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

Why it matters: The package would change when clerks must count write‑in votes, require uniformity in how candidates’ names appear on ballots, expand registration duties for candidates and committees regardless of money spent, and require evidence or attestation of U.S. citizenship for automatic DMV registration. Committee members and Secretary of State staff said the changes will require software and operational updates and training for town clerks.

The amendment would: delay a required secretary of state report on ranked‑choice voting to Jan. 15, 2028; remove a provision that had required a November 2026 report on permitting electronic ballot return for certain voters; set a 5 p.m. Thursday before an election as the…