Absentee voting at residential care facilities. (FE)

What it does

Summary by the Legislative Reference Bureau, the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

Currently, the municipal clerk or board of election commissioners of each municipality is directed to dispatch two special voting deputies to conduct absentee voting in person for each election at each nursing home located in the municipality upon application for an absentee ballot by one or more qualified electors who are occupants of the home. Participation in the special absentee voting is limited to occupants of the home. The clerk or board may also dispatch special voting deputies to any community-based residential facility, retirement home, adult family home, or residential care apartment complex located in the municipality to conduct absentee voting for occupants of the facility, home, or complex if the clerk or board finds that a significant number of occupants of the facility, home, or complex may need assistance in voting or meet certain other specified criteria upon application for an absentee ballot by one or more qualified electors who are occupants of the facility, home, or complex. This bill provides that the clerk or board of election commissioners shall dispatch two special voting deputies to each community-based residential facility, adult family home, and residential care apartment complex located in the municipality to conduct absentee voting in person for occupants of the facility, home, or complex at each election upon application by one or more qualified electors who are occupants of the facility, home, or complex, except that the clerk or board need not dispatch special voting deputies to visit any facility, home, or complex unless there are at least five registered electors who are occupants of the facility, home, or complex. The bill does not change current law as it relates to dispatching special voting deputies to retirement homes.

Currently, a municipal clerk or board of election commissioners who dispatches special voting deputies to a facility, home, or complex must post a notice of the visit by the deputies at the facility, home, or complex at least 24 hours in advance of the time of the visit. This bill requires this notice to be posted at the home or facility where absentee voting is to be conducted at least five working days in advance of the visit. The bill also directs each municipal clerk and board of election commissioners to provide public notice of each visit by special voting deputies to a residential care facility to a local news medium and to those news media that have filed a written request to receive such notices at least five working days before each visit. In addition, the bill requires the clerk or board to post the notice on the Internet. Under the bill, a municipal clerk or board of election commissioners whose municipality does not maintain an Internet site need not comply with the Internet posting requirement.

Who's behind it

8 lawmakers are its authors⁠. All 8 are Republicans.

6 more lawmakers signed on in support⁠.

What it would cost

State agencies filed a cost estimate. Each opens as a PDF from the Legislature.

• Fiscal Estimate From GAB

Versions and amendments

Every text the Legislature printed for this bill, including proposed changes. Each opens on the Legislature's site.

• Amendment Histories
• LC Amendment Memo