SB552:

Absentee voting; excuse required to vote absentee by mail, signature match.

Bill Summary:

Absentee voting; excuse required to
vote absentee by mail; signature match. Requires a registered
voter to provide a reason for being absent or unable to vote at his
polling place on election day in order to receive an absentee ballot
to vote by mail. The bill requires a voter voting absentee by mail
to open his ballot in the presence of a notary who must sign the
ballot return envelope. The bill requires that the general registrar
match the signature of the voter on an absentee return envelope to
a signature that the general registrar has on file before processing
the ballot. If the signature doesn't match, the absentee ballot is
to be treated as a provisional vote subject to approval by the electoral
board. The bill also repeals the permanent absentee voter list and
limits the special annual application to those voters with an illness
or disability.