HB 11-1131: Mail Ballot Elections Summary

• Mandates all general, primary, odd-year, recall, and congressional vacancy elections conducted on or after July 1, 2011 be conducted as mail ballot elections statewide.

• Allows small counties (Category V and VI) to opt-out by demonstrating to the Secretary of State that mail ballot elections would cost more than traditional polling place elections.

• Requires counties to establish service centers (minimum equal to number of motor vehicle offices) and drop-off locations (one per 30,000 registered electors) open 8 days before election day through election day for ballot return and in-person voting.

• Mandates mail ballots be sent 22-18 days before elections to all active registered electors and those marked "Inactive - failed to vote"; all ballots must be received by 7 p.m. election day.

• Relocates mail ballot provisions from Article 8 to new Article 7.5 and repeals numerous outdated election code sections related to mail-in voting procedures.