SB 1051 Summary

• Establishes registrar of voters certification program requiring all registrars to complete training and satisfy criteria by July 1, 2017, with annual eight-hour training requirements to maintain certification.

• Creates advisory committee to develop training programs for registrars, deputy registrars, assistant registrars, and poll workers, with oversight by the Secretary of the State.

• Authorizes the Secretary of the State to temporarily relieve a registrar of duties for failure to maintain certification or during investigations, and enables the Attorney General to pursue removal of registrars for misconduct, neglect, or incompetence.

• Modifies voter registration deadlines and procedures, changing the deadline from 14 days before an election to 7 days for mail-in applications, and allows registrars to admit applicants on election day with proper documentation.

• Requires moderators to transmit preliminary election results to the Secretary of the State by midnight on election day and conduct public vote announcements within 48 hours, and permits temporary canvass interruptions to seal and store materials securely.