AB 39

Currently, unless an elector votes by absentee ballot, the elector must appear

at the polling place serving his or her residence to vote. Polling places are staffed by

inspectors who, with limited exceptions, are appointed from nominations submitted

by the party committeemen or committeewomen of the two major political parties.

If nominations are not submitted, inspectors may be appointed without regard to

party affiliation. With limited exceptions, inspectors must be residents of the area

served by the polling place where they are employed. Inspectors are public officers

who serve for two-year terms and must file an oath of office. Inspectors must be

compensated by the municipality where they serve. When an elector votes at a

polling place, at least two inspectors must record the elector as a voter, and must

either issue and receive the elector's ballot or permit the elector to use a voting

machine.

Current law permits any qualified elector who for any reason is unable or

unwilling to appear at his or her polling place to vote by absentee ballot. With certain

exceptions, the elector must apply for and obtain an absentee ballot from the

appropriate municipal clerk or board of election commissioners by 5 p.m. on the day

before the election. The elector may cast the absentee ballot either by mail or in

person at the office of the municipal clerk or board of election commissioners of the

municipality where the elector resides or, by municipal option at a single alternate

site. If an elector applies for an absentee ballot in person, the elector casts the

absentee ballot at the same time that he or she applies for the ballot. Current law

also contains a special procedure that permits certain residents of nursing or

retirement homes or community-based residential facilities to apply for and obtain

an absentee ballot from two special voting deputies who are appointed by the

municipal clerk or board of election commissioners and who personally visit the

home or facility. These electors give their absentee ballots directly to the special

voting deputies, who then deliver the ballots to the municipal clerk or board of

election commissioners. Currently, a qualified elector who is not registered may

register to vote at an election by mail or through a special registration deputy no later

than the 20th day before the election. A qualified elector may also register at the

office of the municipal clerk or board of election commissioners in the municipality

where the elector resides no later than the day before the election.

With certain limited exceptions, this bill authorizes the municipal clerk or

board of election commissioners of any municipality to designate any location as a

temporary, satellite station for absentee voting by electors of the municipality. The

location may be inside a building or outdoors and need not be contained in a room

separated from other activities. The bill permits any qualified elector of a

municipality to obtain and cast an absentee ballot at a satellite station. A satellite

station may be open for absentee voting at any time, but only during the period

beginning on the date that the official absentee ballots become available for