Senate Bill S8558

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S8558

SPONSOR: BOYLE
 
TITLE OF BILL:  CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY
proposing an amendment to section 2 of article 2 of the constitution, in
relation to absentee voting

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To allow any voter to vote by absentee ballot without reason.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section 1. Resolved, that section 2 of article 2 of the constitution be
amended to read as follows:  The legislature may, by general law,
provide a manner in which, and the time and place at which, qualified
voters may vote by absentee ballot, and for the return and canvass of
their votes.

Section 2. Resolved, that the foregoing amendment be referred to the
first regular legislative session convening after the next succeeding
              

general election of members of the assembly, and, in conformity with
section 1 of article 19 of the constitution, be published for 3 months
previous to the time of such election.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

There are various forms of voting proposals allowing citizens more
opportunity to participate in our democracy. For some, voting by absen-
tee ballot would be a matter of convenience. For many individuals,
however, who cannot leave work on election day, are elderly, or have no
transportation, absentee voting might provide the only opportunity for
them to exercise their right to vote.

Current law requires that an individual can vote by absentee ballot only
if that individual is absent from the county of his or her residence; is
unable to appear at their polling place due to disability or illness; is
a resident of a veterans health administration hospital; or detained in
a jail awaiting action by a grand jury or awaiting trial or confined in
jail or prison after a conviction for an offense other than a felony.

This legislation would allow citizens to vote by absentee ballot without
requiring any excuse.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Resolved, that the foregoing amendment be referred to the first regular
legislative session convening after the next succeeding general election
of members of the assembly, and, in conformity with section 1 of article
19 of the constitution, be published for 3 months previous to the time
of such election.