Provides for the issuance of special ballots to emergency responders who respond to emergencies declared by the governor or a court of competent jurisdiction

Title of bill

An act to amend the election law, in relation to providing special ballots for emergency responders

Purpose

To enable first responders to vote in an election during a state declared emergency

Summary of provisions

Adds a new section 11-308 to the election law creating special ballots for emergency responders.

§ 1 - allows registered voters who serve as emergency responders during an emergency declared by the Governor or court of competent jurisdiction to apply for a special ballot at any time prior to any election regardless of absentee ballot deadlines.

§ 2 - Emergency responders may utilize an absentee ballot application to request the special or may file a written statement that they are unable to appear at the polling place on the day of election due to duties as emergency responder. Boards of elections shall provide ballot immediately upon request and may utilize overnight delivery. Ballots may also be transmitted by facsimile or electronic transfer in same format as military ballots.

§ 3 - Cast ballots may be delivered to any board of elections office in the state or to any poll site no later than close of polls that Election Day.

§ 4 - Board of elections shall assist emergency responders to ensure the enfranchisement of the emergency responders.

§ 5 - Ballots received by boards of elections from voters of another jurisdiction shall time and date stamp and forward immediately to the voters' board of election. Ballots will be considered timely if time stamp of first receiving board is timely. Ballots shall be cast and canvassed according to same provision of absentee, military and special ballot (ELN § 9-209) and if not in standard appearance shall be handled same as military ballots and request (ELN § 10-125).

§ 6 - Emergency responders shall include all persons called upon to provide emergency support, relief or other services during a declared disaster, including, but not limited to, medical personnel, military personnel, utility company or similar contract employees, fire department personnel, police department personnel, local and state emergency management personnel, and other state and local government employees providing response services.

§ 7 - State board of elections shall develop and distribute sample forms and procedure to local boards of elections to effectuate this act.

§ 8 - provides for an immediate effective date.

Justification

This bill provides emergency responders access to special ballots which can be returned to any board of elections and routed to the responder's appropriate board. This legislation requires all boards of elections to provide assistance to responders in the application and

ballot return process. It authorizes ballot delivery processes to commensurate to those available military voters.

This bill provides emergency responders access to special ballots so that they will not lose their right to vote on account of service in response to an emergency.

Legislative history

New bill.

Effective date

Immediately