AB 538

This bill requires that each nonjudicial elective state official, during the person’s first full term of office and once every three years for as long as the person holds any nonjudicial elective state office, serve as an election official for an election held in any municipality in this state, not including an election in which the person is a candidate on the ballot. The requirement under the bill applies to the offices of governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state treasurer, state superintendent of public instruction, state senator, and state representative to the assembly.

The bill requires the nonjudicial elective state official to be appointed and trained in the same manner as other election officials and to serve as an election official no fewer than eight hours on election day. Under the bill, the person receives no compensation for serving as an election official. In addition, after satisfying the requirement, the person must certify that fact to the Elections Commission. The requirement does not apply to a person who files with the commission a sworn statement from a physician or physician assistant verifying that the person is physically incapable of serving as an election official for eight hours on election day. However, a person who does not serve or is unable to serve as an election official during an election cycle is still required to attend the training required for election officials at least once every two years, as provided under current law. Under the bill, the appointment of a nonjudicial elective state official to serve as an election official does not count towards any limit that a municipality imposes on the number of election officials hired or appointed.

Finally, the bill prohibits the legislature and all legislative committees from meeting on a day in which an election, other than a special election, is being held in this state for a local, state, or national office.