FINAL BILL REPORT

                  HB 1646

                         C 418 L 93

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Expanding eligibility for ongoing absentee voter status.

By Representatives Anderson, Reams, Veloria, Vance, Campbell, Dyer, Pruitt, Conway, Brough, King, Miller, Springer, Forner, Wineberry and J. Kohl.

House Committee on State Government

Senate Committee on Government Operations

Background:  The registered voters of this state may choose to vote by absentee ballot rather than at the polls.  A voter must, however, request the absentee ballot from the county auditor.

In 1985, the Legislature established a means by which certain voters may request to vote by absentee ballot on an ongoing basis, rather than having to request absentee ballots on an election-by-election basis.  A disabled voter or a voter over the age of 65 may choose to be an ongoing absentee ballot voter.  A voter's status as an ongoing absentee ballot voter is generally valid from the time of application until January 1 of the next odd-numbered year.  Following that date, the auditor must send the voter an application to renew the status.  This status is also terminated by:  the written request of the voter; the death or disqualification of the voter; the cancellation of the voter's registration record; or the return of an absentee ballot as being undeliverable.

Summary:  Any registered voter may choose to vote by absentee ballot on an ongoing basis.  A person's status as an ongoing absentee ballot voter no longer automatically terminates on January 1 of each odd-numbered year.

Votes on Final Passage:

House  97 0

Senate 39 7

Effective:  July 25, 1993