Elections; creating the Election Notary Accountability Act; requiring notary public to submit copy of log to county election board within certain time period. Effective date.
If enacted, SB1013 will establish penalties for non-compliance, classifying the failure to submit the required log as a misdemeanor. Notaries found guilty of this offense may face fines up to $500 for each instance of violation. Furthermore, should a notary falsely report their log or exceed the authorized number of ballots notarized, they could be prosecuted for election fraud. The provision for notifying the district attorney for investigations into potential violations reflects an effort to strengthen enforcement mechanisms surrounding election integrity.
Senate Bill 1013, known as the Election Notary Accountability Act, seeks to enhance accountability among notary publics in the context of elections. The proposed legislation mandates that notaries submit a copy of their notary log to the county election board within 30 days following an election. This log should encompass all notarizations from the 90 days leading up to the election. The intention behind this requirement is to provide greater oversight and verification of notarized ballots, therefore bolstering the integrity of the electoral process.
There will likely be points of contention regarding the implications of SB1013 on the operations of notaries and the administration of elections. Advocates for the bill may argue that it is a necessary step toward ensuring public confidence in the electoral process. However, critics could view this as an additional burden on notaries, potentially discouraging them from participating in elections or inadvertently penalizing those who make honest mistakes. Debates are expected to center on the balance between ensuring election security and maintaining ease of access to notarization services, particularly in underserved communities.