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House approves elections bill after debate over vote-by-mail postage
Summary
HB230, revising mail-in voting procedures and signature-matching audits, passed after an amendment making county payment for return postage optional. The House passed the bill, as amended, 70–1 after extended debate over costs and access.
Representative Duh presented HB230, a package of election-law revisions focused on mail-in voting procedures, signature-review processes and a postage rule requiring counties to pay return postage in all-mail elections. The sponsor described the bill as clarifying existing practices and adding processes for signature matching and voter cure opportunities.
Representative Peterson moved Amendment 2 to remove the requirement that counties pay postage and instead make that choice optional. Debate focused on whether the postage provision constituted an unfunded mandate and whether removing it would create inconsistency across counties. Opponents of the amendment argued that counties would ultimately bear the cost or pass it to voters indirectly; supporters of the amendment said counties should not be forced to absorb the expense and that business-reply rates can be higher than retail stamps.
Representative Duh and others said signature-audit provisions and a requirement that county clerks provide postage in some scenarios would protect voters and the integrity of vote-by-mail systems. Representative Eric and others warned that even small postage costs can depress turnout among certain populations.
The House adopted Amendment 2 (making postage optional) and then passed HB230, as amended, 70–1. The bill will be referred to the Senate for further consideration.
