SB 1653 Summary

• Eliminates emergency voting procedures that allowed qualified electors to vote between 7:00 p.m. Friday and 5:00 p.m. Monday preceding election day by removing subsections H and I from section 16-542.

• Establishes new early voting verification procedures beginning on the effective date, allowing voters to present identification when submitting mailed early ballots or receiving early ballots at voting locations, with verified ballots marked "ID verified" and exempt from signature verification.

• Requires early voting locations, including county recorder offices, to remain open until 7:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday immediately preceding election day, and until at least 3:00 p.m. on Monday preceding election day.

• Permits authorized election workers from different political parties to remove early ballots returned at voting locations on election day after identification verification, with a required chain of custody log available for public inspection within 48 hours.

• Modifies section 16-246 to remove presidential preference election-specific emergency voting procedures while retaining standard early voting provisions.