Senate committee advances change to late voter-registration hours after contested hearing

Senate Bill 490, a proposal to revise late voter-registration hours for federal elections, won committee approval after a lengthy hearing and a roll-call vote.

Senator Mike Cuff introduced the bill as a ‘‘common sense’’ measure he said would let county election officials concentrate late-registration activity into less chaotic hours. ‘‘We open also 8 to 5 on Saturday morning before the election,’’ Cuff said, describing the bill’s core change to allow a full Saturday of registration and a shortened window on election day to noon so clerks can complete post-registration work on Monday.

County election officials and the secretary of state's office supported the bill. Austin James, testifying on behalf of Secretary of State Christy Jacobson, said the change would expand access for people who cannot register during weekday business hours and would not reduce total registration hours. ‘‘This bill does not reduce the amount of registration hours by 1 minute of current registration time. It instead reallocates those hours,’’ James said.

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