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Assembly to weigh in as House panel hears HB 43, a bill with same-day registration and vote-by-mail changes
Summary
Committee members discussed House Bill 43 on Feb. 13, noting the bill would enact same-day registration, allow postage-paid envelopes for absentee ballots, remove some witness-signature requirements and extend counting timelines. Chair Christopher Constant planned to testify at a House State Affairs hearing scheduled the same day.
Municipal staff and Assembly members discussed House Bill 43 and related election measures at the Feb. 13 Assembly Legislative Committee meeting as the bill advanced to a House State Affairs hearing.
Clerk's staff explained the bill (HB 43) would enact same-day registration at the state level and likely mandate same-day registration for municipalities; it would permit the state to provide postage-paid envelopes for absentee-by-mail ballots and remove a 30-day residence-registration requirement tied to municipal elections in Title 29. The draft also removes a witness-signature requirement on state absentee envelopes and would extend the time the state may count absentee ballots from seven days to ten days.
The clerk's office noted the bill overlaps in places with provisions in the governor's bill (Senate Bill 70) and that some items the Assembly has previously requested, such as changing how "intent to return" and inactive registration rules operate, are partly reflected in current proposals.
Assembly Chair Christopher Constant intended to testify at the House State Affairs hearing on HB 43 that afternoon. The clerk and members signaled interest in amendments the municipality might request, including clarifying stamps as a "thing of value" when mailing ballots and specifying definitions for municipal districts.
The committee emphasized elections are a legislative priority and said staff would continue to track and, where appropriate, advocate amendments that align with previously adopted municipal positions on secure voting and vote-by-mail practices.
Next steps: Chair Constant planned to testify before the House State Affairs Committee; municipal staff will continue to track HB 43 and related bills and coordinate testimony and amendment requests as needed.
