Substitute Bill No. 5311 Summary

• Eliminates the requirement that only the latest absentee ballot (by serial number) be counted when an applicant receives multiple ballots, replacing it with a "last received" standard for all voters except armed forces members.

• Requires municipal clerks to mark rejected absentee voting sets or portions thereof with "rejected" notation and the reasons for rejection, then seal and retain them until delivery per section 9-140c.

• Maintains special counting rules for armed forces members whereby the last-received ballot is counted if no ballot has already been counted, with all other ballots marked rejected.

• Applies the "last received" counting standard to absentee ballots issued due to clerk errors under section 9-153c, with the same rejection procedures for uncounted ballots.

• Clarifies that "mailed" absentee ballots include those deposited in secure drop boxes, requiring municipal clerks to retrieve drop box ballots beginning on the first day of ballot issuance and continuing daily through close of polls, including on election day.

• Effective July 1, 2024.