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Senate Approves County Opt-In Election Day Registration Pilot; Clerks to Report Back
Summary
The Senate passed a first-substitute of H.B. 156 to allow counties to opt into an Election Day Voter Registration pilot that counts verified provisional ballots; participating county clerks will report pilot results to the Government Operations interim committee and the measure sunsets after three years.
Senator Henderson presented the first substitute to H.B. 156, an opt-in pilot for county election-day voter registration that would allow certain provisional ballots to be counted if proof of residency and identification are verified during the canvass. Henderson said the substitute coordinates with Senate Bill 135 and reflects work with county clerks to address earlier concerns about feasibility.
Under the pilot, counties that opt in would require voters presenting on election day to provide proof of residency and identification; county clerks would later cross-check that information during the canvass and, if verified and the registrant is eligible, the provisional ballot would be counted. The measure includes a three-year sunset and a reporting requirement: participating clerks must report experiences and data to the Government Operations interim committee in 2016.
Supporters said the pilot corrects situations in which voters who thought they were registered at caucus later discovered their registration records were not properly processed and thus their provisional ballots did not count. Opponents raised operational concerns for smaller and rural counties and the need for safeguards and clear verification protocols. Senator Vickers said some rural counties that once opposed the idea were now considering the pilot after consultation with the Lieutenant Governor's office.
The Senate adopted the substitute and passed H.B. 156 on a roll-call transmission back to the House (roll-call reported by the clerk as 23 aye votes; no recorded nays; 3 absent). The House will receive the substitute for further consideration.
