SB 1206 - Elections

• Secretary of State shall be elected at statewide general elections for 4-year terms instead of appointed by the Governor, beginning with the next election when the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Cabinet officers are elected.

• Voter registration applicants must affirmatively designate a party affiliation or select "no party affiliation" to complete registration; applications without a designation will be rejected and applicants notified they must resubmit with a party choice.

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

• Changes vote-by-mail ballot procedures including: extending request deadline to the 11th day before election, allowing voters to sign certificates with last four digits of social security number instead of full signature, and providing postage-prepaid return envelopes.

• Designates General Election Day as a paid holiday; allows voters to absent themselves from work during polling hours without penalty or wage deduction.