S.B. 287 Summary

• Implements elections by mail incrementally: starting 2016 in counties with populations under 100,000, expanding to counties under 500,000 in 2018, and all elections statewide by 2020.

• Establishes voter service centers in each county open from 10 days before election through election day to accept ballots, update voter information, provide disability access, and enable same-day voter registration beginning January 1, 2018.

• Creates places of deposit for personal delivery of mail-in ballots and allows ballots to be returned by mail, in-person deposit, or at voter service centers, with deadline at close of polls on election day.

• Permits early ballot counting beginning seven days before election while keeping vote totals confidential until voting concludes, and allows electronic ballot transmission and return within five days before election.

• Shares election expenses between State and counties for mail elections: State pays half of non-precinct expenses (proportional to county registered voters), counties pay all voter registration and absentee voting costs including voter service centers.