Signed by Governor Kim Reynolds

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with house amendments and pass a bill that requires the Secretary of State to receive consent prior to sending absentee ballot requests by mail.

Highlights:

• Authorizes the state commissioner of elections to exercise emergency powers over any election being held in a district in which either a natural disaster, another kind of disaster, or extremely inclement weather has occurred (Sec. 3).

• Specifies that the state commissioner’s decision to alter any conduct for an election using emergency powers must be approved by the legislative council (Sec. 3).

• Specifies that if the legislative council does not approve the secretary of state’s use of emergency powers to conduct an election, the legislative council may choose to present and approve its own procedures or choose to take no further action (Sec. 3).

• Prohibits the number of polling places from being reduced by more than 35 percent if an emergency exists in all precincts of a county (Sec. 3).

• Requires the polling places allowed to open to be equitably distributed in the county based on the ratio of regular polling places located in unincorporated areas in the county to regular polling places in incorporated areas in the county (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with senate amendments and further amend a bill that requires the Secretary of State to receive consent prior to sending absentee ballot requests by mail.

Highlights:

• Authorizes the state commissioner of elections to exercise emergency powers over any election being held in a district in which either a natural disaster, another kind of disaster, or extremely inclement weather has occurred (Sec. 3).

• Specifies that the state commissioner’s decision to alter any conduct for an election using emergency powers must be approved by the legislative council (Sec. 3).

• Specifies that if the legislative council does not approve the secretary of state’s use of emergency powers to conduct an election, the legislative council may choose to present and approve its own procedures or choose to take no further action (Sec. 3).

• Prohibits the number of polling places from being reduced by more than 35 percent if an emergency exists in all precincts of a county (Sec. 3).

• Requires the polling places allowed to open to be equitably distributed in the county based on the ratio of regular polling places located in unincorporated areas in the county to regular polling places in incorporated areas in the county (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text