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Committee Adopts Amendment and Votes Unanimously to Advance Technical Fix Replacing "votes" with "ballots" in Recount Laws
Summary
Deputy Secretary of State Erin Hennessy told the committee SB 212 aligns statutory language with the secretary of state's usage by changing references from 'votes' to 'ballots cast' in recount- and selection-related statutes. The committee adopted a clarifying amendment and voted 15-0 to report the bill ought to pass as amended.
The committee advanced Senate Bill 212, a technical fix that replaces ambiguous references to "votes" with the clearer term "ballots cast" in several election statutes, after adopting a clarifying amendment and recording a unanimous committee vote.
Senator David Rochefort introduced the bill on behalf of the secretary of state's office. "This was requested by the secretary of state's office," he said during the hearing. Deputy Secretary Erin Hennessy explained that "ballots cast" — the number of physical ballots — provides a consistent denominator for recount eligibility and fee calculations, particularly in multi-seat races where the term "votes" can be ambiguous.
Hennessy told the committee she had identified about 15 sections in need of revised language and offered to work with the committee if members found additional places to update. During executive session the committee adopted a drafting amendment that tightened an awkward phrasing and then moved the bill to the next stage. The motion that the bill "ought to pass as amended" carried on a recorded vote of 15 to 0, and the chair placed the bill on the consent calendar.
No policy dispute arose in the hearing; members noted the change was technical and recommended coordination with the secretary's office and the Office of Legislative Services for any further edits.
