HB4491 Summary

• Removes provisions specifying petition and referenda requirements for proposed statewide advisory public questions from the Election Code.

• Modifies petition signature verification procedures by eliminating requirements for election authorities to conduct sample verification and segregate signatures by election jurisdiction.

• Centralizes signature verification responsibilities with the State Board of Elections, which will conduct random sampling and determine validity of signatures on constitutional amendment and statewide advisory question petitions.

• Simplifies valid signature calculation by removing jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction aggregation requirements and eliminating the 5 assistant watcher positions previously allowed during large sample verifications.

• Takes effect immediately upon becoming law.