A bill for an act relating to the administration of elections.(Formerly SSB 1175.)
The legislation aims to bolster election security and compliance by expanding the responsibilities of the state commissioner of elections. It grants this commissioner the authority to issue direct directives that are exempt from the typical administrative rulemaking process. This flexibility is intended to improve the efficiency of election operations, especially concerning security protocols that vendors must follow when handling election technology and infrastructure.
Senate File 540 pertains to the administration of elections and introduces several amendments to current election laws. The bill establishes that candidates for federal office are not required to affirm awareness of disqualifications related to felony convictions unless their rights have been restored. This change seeks to streamline the candidacy process for federal candidates. Additionally, it requires the state commissioner of elections to create distinct forms for federal office candidates, enhancing clarity in election procedures.
One significant point of contention is the provision allowing the state commissioner to limit access to election infrastructure if security protocols are not adhered to by vendors. This measure raises concerns among advocates for local election autonomy, who argue it could centralize too much power. Furthermore, the bill specifies that when conducting elections, the choice between manual and automated counting methods will be determined by factors such as expected voter turnout, potentially impacting the speed and accuracy of vote counting.
Further, the bill clarifies that objections related to presidential nominees must focus solely on the legal sufficiency of their nomination certificates. This change in the objection standard is likely aimed at streamlining challenge processes but has generated discussions about its implications for candidate eligibility scrutinies.