HB 1469 - Elections Summary

• Changes the Secretary of State from an appointed position to an elected office, with elections held at the statewide general election when the Governor and Cabinet officers are elected.

• Requires voter registration applicants to designate a party affiliation or explicitly select "no party affiliation"; applicants who fail to do so will not be registered and must submit a new application.

• Authorizes same-day voter registration at early voting sites and polling places for eligible individuals who provide required voter registration information.

• Establishes General Election Day as a paid holiday, allowing electors to absent themselves from work without penalty or wage reduction during polling hours.

• Makes numerous changes to vote-by-mail procedures, including allowing voters to sign ballots with their last four digits of social security number, extending deadlines, and requiring postage-prepaid mailing envelopes.