Committee adopts UOCAVA carve-out for absentee-ballot receipt deadline in SB 293

The Senate General Government Committee on the second hearing of Senate Bill 293 adopted an amendment that would require absentee and mail ballots to be received by the close of polls on Election Day while carving out an exception for UOCAVA (military and overseas) voters. The amendment was adopted without objection.

The amendment was explained to the committee by the vice chair, who said the change mirrors rules already in effect in many states and leaves UOCAVA voters an explicit exception. Chad Ennis of Honest Elections Project ACTION testified in support, saying the bill ‘‘gives a bright line rule’’ that makes administration simpler for election officials and, he argued, reduces litigation and increases public confidence.

Ennis told the committee that, as he sees it, the current rule allowing ballots to arrive postmarked up to four days after Election Day creates cumbersome postmark disputes for officials and courts. ‘‘If that ballot comes in at before 07:30 on Election Day, it's gonna be accepted,’’ he said, describing the proposed bright-line standard.

Senator Mora pressed Ennis on the risk that mail delays could disenfranchise voters who post ballots in good faith but whose mail is late. ‘‘So you're basically saying that it's okay to disenfranchise somebody who mails their ballot in,’’ Mora said. Ennis responded that voters have alternatives — early in-person voting, handing ballots to election-office staff and staffed drop-offs — and that other states adjusted to earlier deadlines without widespread problems.

The committee concluded the second hearing on SB 293 after the proponent testimony and questions; no final vote on the bill itself occurred at the session.

What happens next: The committee recorded the amendment adoption and closed this hearing; further committee work or scheduling for a vote on the full bill was not announced during the meeting.