SB 297

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.