Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that prohibits police from being within 100 feet of a polling location or ballot drop box unless responding to a specific call.

Highlights:

• Authorizes the election board or the superintendent of elections in the county in which an election is held to contact a law enforcement agency if information is obtained prior to the election that in the judgment of the election board or superintendent of elections should be communicated to a law enforcement agency (Sec. 1.c).

• Prohibits any person employed as a police officer or law enforcement officer from remaining or standing within 100 feet of a polling place during the conduct of an election except to vote in a personal capacity if qualified to vote (Sec. 2.b).

• Specifies this law does not prohibit the detail or assignment of a police officer or other law enforcement officer due to a summons made to the commission, committee, board, body, authority, or official having charge of the police department in any municipality, or to any other law enforcement agency, for assistance with regard to a specific emergency or disturbance that exists at the time the summons is made (Sec. 3.c).

• Specifies if, at the closing of the polls, a voter deposits a mail-in ballot at a ballot drop box in a county in which the voter does not reside, the county board of elections, upon discovering that fact, will notify and timely deliver the ballot to the county board of elections of the county in which the voter resides, who will accept the ballot for processing (Sec. 4.a).

• Prohibits a ballot drop box from being located inside, or within 100 feet of an entrance or exit, of a law enforcement agency (Sec. 4.e).

• Prohibits a person from wearing, displaying, selling, giving, or providing any political or campaign slogan, badge, button, or other insignia associated with any political party or candidate within 100 feet of a ballot drop box, except the badge furnished by the county board as provided by law. A person violating the provisions of this subparagraph is guilty of a disorderly persons offense (Sec. 4.f).

• Requires the rules and regulations to include, but may not be limited to, criteria for each county board of elections to (Sec. 4.c):

• Determine the number of ballot drop boxes required per voter population, considering both the number of registered voters and the number of registered mail-in voters in each county before each election;

• Select the geographic location of each ballot drop box, ensuring an equitable distribution of ballot drop boxes across the county to maximize convenience to voters;

• Ensure the accessibility of ballot drop boxes and drop box locations to persons with disabilities; and

• Maintain the security of ballot drop boxes and of the ballots deposited therein, including standards and procedures for ballot retrieval by authorized persons only, and for ensuring the proper chain of custody and safe storage of voted mail-in ballots before each election.

• Specifies if a person distributes or displays any circular or printed matter or offer any suggestion or solicit any support for any candidate, party or public question within the polling place or room or within a distance of 100 feet of the outside entrance to such polling place or room, or within 100 feet of a ballot drop box, he is guilty of a disorderly persons offense (Sec. 5).

Full Bill Text