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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2019 - 2020
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | March 17, 2020 09:47 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Dan K. Williams |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Allowing for Early Counting of Mail-in and Absentee Ballots |
| After we reformed our voting system, election officials started expressing concern about how long it will take them to count absentee ballots and mail-in ballots. We already expect an influx of new mail-in voters. With efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic, we can anticipate an even bigger increase in the number of voters who would rather vote remotely. Unfortunately, our law prohibits election officials from counting any ballot before polls close even when that ballot arrives days or weeks early – something that is certain to create a logjam in reporting. We need to act now before this logjam happens. That is why I am introducing legislation allowing counties to begin counting absentee ballots and mail-in ballots before polls close if they receive those ballots before election day. Under my bill, they will not be able to report results until after polls close, but they will be able to start counting ballots. Join me by supporting this legislation. Help alleviate the burden our county election officials face and help to prevent an almost certain electoral logjam. |
Introduced as HB2483