[NFBMT] Legislative Alert: Allowing a disabled voter to electronically return a ballot

[BRUCE&JOY BRESLAUER]

Hello, fellow NFB of Montana Federationists.

 

This is potentially some really exciting news.

 

HB 643 Allowing a disabled voter to electronically return a ballot

http://leg.mt.gov/bills/2021/billhtml/HB0643.htm

 

Summary:  An elector with a disability who requests an electronic ballot from
an election administrator, either in person or in writing, will receive one
along with instructions for completing it, a secrecy envelope or secrecy
cover sheet, and a transmittal cover sheet that includes an elector
affirmation.  After voting the balot, the elector prints the ballot, places
it in the secrecy envelope, signs the affirmation, and returns it to the
election office by 8:00PM on election day in order for the ballot to be
counted.  If the elector returns the ballot electronically, the elector
places the ballot behind the secrecy cover sheet.  When the ballot is
received by the election office, an election administrator logs it and makes
sure that it is transcribed to a regular ballot.  The Secretary of state
shall adopt rules to ensure the security of the ballots and the secrecy of
the votes, and to protect the accuracy, integrity,and  secrecy of each
ballot, whether it is mailed in, brought in, or transmited electronically by
the encrypted electronic ballot transmission system.  There are also
instructions for verifying and counting a ballot from a provisionally
registered elector, and to verify the validity of the voted ballot and the
elector submitting it, or to correct it if necessary.  

 

If this passes, it will take effect on July 1, 2021, for Federal primary and
Federal general elections starting with the Federal election in November,
2022.   

 

This bill is being sponsored by Geraldine Custer, Republican, from House
District 39, Forsyth.  It was introduced in the House on March 16, 2021.
I'll let you know as soon as I know anything more.    

 

Joy Breslauer, Advocacy and Public Policy Committee Chair 

National Federation of the Blind of Montana 

Web Site: http://www.nfbofmt.org <http://www.nfbofmt.org/> 

 

Live the life you want

 

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who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation's blind. Every day we work
together to help blind people live the lives they want.