Bill No.: SF0020 Drafter: LGC
LSO No.: 11LSO-0059 Effective Date: 7/1/2011
Enrolled Act No.: SEA0015
Chapter No.: 38
Prime Sponsor: Joint Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Interim Committee
Catch Title: Election code-revisions.
Subject: General revisions of the election code.
Summary/Major Elements:
· This act generally amends the election code by:
· Repealing archaic language regarding the use of folded ballots and rubber stamps and conforming language to current law;
· Clarifying signature requirements for petitions and providing a process for determining the number of signatures needed for petitions when boundaries of a special district change;
· Clarifying which statutes apply to the counting of write-in votes, limiting the time for notification of persons nominated by write-in votes and allowing election officers to charge a fee for counting those votes that did not affect the election;
· Providing a timeline for distribution of absentee ballots;
· Removing the limitation on the number of times an elector may request a replacement for a spoiled ballot;
· Providing that county canvassing board members are appointed by the county clerk rather than the board of county commissioners;
· Requiring notification to write-in candidates that failure to timely respond to a notice of nomination will result in forfeiture of that nomination;
· Clarifying the procedure for filling vacancies in office;
· Providing a procedure and timelines for submission of municipal initiatives, including setting the time for determination of qualified signatories as the date the initiative is submitted for verification; and
· Limiting electioneering when voting is being conducted.