Voting Access and Process, including Voting Rights Restoration and Voter Suppression
HB28 - Absentee voting, authorize without providing excuse, Secs. 17-11-3, 17-11-7 am'd.
Sponsor(s): Representatives Jackson and Hatcher
Synopsis and Analysis: Under existing law, a registered voter may only vote by absentee ballot if he or she meets one of the criteria prescribed by law for voting absentee. This bill would allow a registered voter to vote by absentee ballot without an excuse.
This bill will allow a registered voter to vote by absentee ballot without an excuse. It removes all of the prescribed reasons for voting absentee in the current law. The "no excuse" does not remove the requirement that an application for an absentee ballot be made not less than five days prior to the election and leaves in place the statutory reasons for emergency absentee ballots within five days of an election. In this respect, HB 28 is identical to HB117 and HB 251. Additionally, HB28 makes a few additional language edits, including to Sec. 17-11-3(a), replacing "by hand delivery" with "in person" with respect to how a voter can apply for and vote an absentee ballot.
League Action and Justification: Monitor. This bill would eliminate some barriers to voting, but language eliminating "by hand delivery" and substituting "in person" could potentially restrict use of commercial carriers other than US mail. There are two other bills that eliminate the requirement of an excuse for a standard absentee ballot that do not have this additional language change.
Bill Progress in Legislature
Go here to get more information about the bill and changes in the bill as it progresses through the legislature.
HB28 - Absentee voting, authorize without providing excuse, Secs. 17-11-3, 17-11-7 am'd.
Sponsor(s): Representatives Jackson and Hatcher
Synopsis and Analysis: Under existing law, a registered voter may only vote by absentee ballot if he or she meets one of the criteria prescribed by law for voting absentee. This bill would allow a registered voter to vote by absentee ballot without an excuse.
This bill will allow a registered voter to vote by absentee ballot without an excuse. It removes all of the prescribed reasons for voting absentee in the current law. The "no excuse" does not remove the requirement that an application for an absentee ballot be made not less than five days prior to the election and leaves in place the statutory reasons for emergency absentee ballots within five days of an election. In this respect, HB 28 is identical to HB117 and HB 251. Additionally, HB28 makes a few additional language edits, including to Sec. 17-11-3(a), replacing "by hand delivery" with "in person" with respect to how a voter can apply for and vote an absentee ballot.
League Action and Justification: Monitor. This bill would eliminate some barriers to voting, but language eliminating "by hand delivery" and substituting "in person" could potentially restrict use of commercial carriers other than US mail. There are two other bills that eliminate the requirement of an excuse for a standard absentee ballot that do not have this additional language change.
Bill Progress in Legislature
Go here to get more information about the bill and changes in the bill as it progresses through the legislature.
| Calendar Date | Body | Amd/Sub | Matter | Committee | Nay | Yea | Abstain | Vote |
| 02/04/2020 | H | Read for the first time and referred to the House of Representatives committee on Constitution, Campaigns and Elections | CC&E | | | |
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