SB 552

Abstract

Absentee voting; excuse required tovote absentee by mail; signature match. Requires a registered voter to provide a reason for being absent or unable to vote at hispolling place on election day in order to receive an absentee ballotto vote by mail. The bill requires a voter voting absentee by mailto open his ballot in the presence of a notary who must sign theballot return envelope. The bill requires that the general registrarmatch the signature of the voter on an absentee return envelope toa signature that the general registrar has on file before processingthe ballot. If the signature doesn't match, the absentee ballot isto be treated as a provisional vote subject to approval by the electoralboard. The bill also repeals the permanent absentee voter list andlimits the special annual application to those voters with an illnessor disability.