Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes persons with disabilities and persons active in the military to receive and return mail ballots electronically.

Highlights:

• Defines "eligible disabled voter" as a disabled person eligible to vote who is incapacitated to such an extent that it would be an undue hardship to vote at the polls because of illness, mental or physical disability, blindness, or serious impairment of mobility (Sec. 17-20-9.d).

• Alleges it is the intent and purpose that the provisions outlined in this law are designed to facilitate the federal mandate of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) (Sec. 1.a).

• Authorizes the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) to be used as a request for an absentee ballot by (Sec. 1.b):

• A member of the armed forces who is absent from the state because of being inactive service;

• Any person absent from the state in the performance of "services intimately connected with military operations";

• Any person who is employed outside of the United States; and

• Any person who does not qualify but who is a citizen of the United States and absent from the state and residing outside the United States.

• Requires the single FPCA card to permit the person to request an absentee ballot for each primary and election through the next general election for federal office or for the period specified by federal law in which the voter is eligible to vote (Sec. 1.c).

• Requires the FPCA card to be received by the local board of canvassers where the person last maintains his/her residence for voting purposes within the time frame for applying for absentee ballots as outlined in this law (Sec. 1.d).

• Requires the secretary of state shall approve electronically transmitted ballots to and from eligible voters only through a service or solution that meets the following requirements (Sec. 1.e):

• The system has had one or more independent security reviews;

• Demonstrates the system meets the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework guidelines or federal cybersecurity framework guidelines of a successor designated federal agency or organization; and

• Approved by the secretary of state.

• Establishes eligible disabled voters are entitled to electronically receive and return their mail ballot, using the same electronic transmission system as that used by voters covered by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act. (UOCAVA). This electronic process will satisfy the federal Rehabilitation Act, section 508 concerning accessibility standards (Sec. 17-20-9.e).

Full Bill Text