Committee pauses bill creating 5-foot buffer for curbside voting after debate

A committee hearing on HB 1938 drew extensive testimony from election officials and advocates over a proposal that would create a five-foot buffer around an automobile during curbside voting.

The bill, as it reached the committee, narrows an earlier, larger buffer (discussed in prior drafts) to a 5-foot perimeter around a vehicle while a voter is casting a curbside ballot. Sponsor testimony said the intent is to prevent people from approaching the car uninvited to hand literature or otherwise intrude; the sponsor told the committee it "is to not to have someone who is doing curbside voting to have people try to get in the car with them to give them a sample ballot or campaign literature." (as stated in testimony).

Why it matters: Curbside voting protections affect voters with mobility limitations and the procedures counties use at polling locations. Supporters said a…