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Senator England outlines bill to remove in-person absentee envelope
Summary
Sen. England told the committee HB 859 would eliminate the separate in-person absentee envelope, keep the 45-day voting window, and require an affidavit before voters cast ballots into the OMR machine; the circuit clerks association supports the change and the bill was reported out.
Senator England explained House Bill 859 as a narrow change to in-person absentee voting that removes the separate absentee envelope but does not alter the 45‑day in-person absentee window. "This bill is different in that it doesn't change the the days of in person absentee voting. It's still 45 days," she said.
Under the proposed change, voters who qualify for in-person absentee would print an affidavit, attest to the relevant excuse and have their ballot printed and cast directly into an optical mark reader (OMR) machine, "just like you do at the precinct," England said. She told the committee the circuit clerks association had worked on and supports the bill.
Committee members asked for clarification on mechanics; England affirmed that the voter places the printed ballot into the machine. The committee moved and passed the measure on a voice vote with the motion recorded as title sufficient, do pass.
