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.