Bills › 89th General Assembly
Relating to the conduct of elections during emergencies
Sponsored by the Senate State Government Committee
Topics:Elections & votingState government
Same legislation: SSB 1204
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedFebruary 16, 2021
- Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 16, 2021
- Done: Senate committeeMarch 2, 2021
- Done: Passes the SenateMarch 9, 202130–17
- Done: House committeeMarch 23, 2021
- Stopped: Passes the HouseDied when the General Assembly ended
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Died when the session ended The 2022 session adjourned on May 24, 2022, the General Assembly’s last regular session. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
AI summary The state commissioner of elections would no longer need permission from the legislative council to use emergency powers during an election. While the general assembly can still cancel these emergency orders, the commissioner is now forbidden from moving an entire election to mail-in voting only. If a court finds that mistakes made it impossible to know the true winner, the commissioner can also call for a new election.1
Read the official explanation
This bill relates to the conduct of elections during emergencies. The bill repeals the requirement that an exercise of emergency powers by the state commissioner of elections be approved by the legislative council prior to taking effect. The bill allows the general assembly, or the legislative council if the general assembly is not in session, to rescind an emergency declaratory order. The bill includes certain requirements that the state commissioner of elections must meet in exercising emergency powers, including those relating to polling places, the dates of elections, the counting of ballots, and the contesting of elections. The bill prohibits the state commissioner of elections from ordering that an election be conducted solely by mail. The bill allows the state commissioner of elections to call for a repeat election if an election contest court determines that errors prevent the outcome of an election from being determined accurately.
Changed since by amendment S-3057; see Amendments.
House subcommittee
Named March 10, 2021. Meeting: Wednesday, March 17 · 8:00 AM · RM 103, Sup. Ct. Chamber.
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89th General Assembly