Authorizing the secretary of state, after consultation with county election officers, to adopt rules and regulations for the use of remote ballot boxes.
Impact
The bill mandates that by July 1, 2024, regulations concerning remote ballot boxes be established, including their locations, times, and other necessary measures to maintain ballot integrity. This regulation will prepare counties for the upcoming election cycles and attempts to address concerns about the accessibility of voting, particularly for those unable to vote in person or needing to submit ballots in advance.
Summary
House Bill 2518 is a legislative proposal aimed at enhancing the administration of elections in Kansas. The bill authorizes the Secretary of State to work with county election officers to create rules and regulations regarding the use of remote ballot boxes for the return of advance voting ballots. This move is intended to facilitate the voting process and potentially increase voter participation by providing additional options for ballot submission.
Contention
While the intentions behind HB 2518 are to streamline voting procedures, there may be concerns regarding the implementation and security of remote ballot boxes. Critics could argue that the introduction of such measures might raise questions about election integrity and the potential for fraudulent activities. Thus, balancing accessibility with security measures is likely to be a significant point of discussion amongst legislators and stakeholders as this bill progresses.
Prohibiting remote ballot boxes, providing for reporting and publication of voting results and public access to voting records and materials, limiting advance voting provisions and requiring receipt of advance voting ballots by election day, limiting the size of precincts, making the general election a state holiday, providing that the sheriff has sole jurisdiction for and shall provide security at voting places, establishing the authority of the legislature over elections with preeminence over rules and regulations of the secretary of state and federal election law and making certain election crimes felonies.
Requiring that all advance voting ballots deposited in a remote ballot box be considered provisional ballots until verified by the county election office.
Elections and Primaries; rules or regulations adopted by the State Election Board prior to a general primary, general election, or runoff thereof; limit the effective date