SB 253 Summary

• Requires "ABSENTEE BALLOT" printed in prominent uniform capital letters at the top of all absentee ballots prepared by county election boards.

• Eliminates the requirement that the third member of a recount commission be a mechanic and instead allows any qualified voter from a major political party.

• Requires voting equipment vendors to include contractual provisions mandating they provide a competent expert familiar with their equipment to recount commissions when recounts occur, effective for contracts entered into, amended, or renewed after June 30, 2013.

• Extends the deadline for consolidating multiple recount petitions from 7 days to 14 days after election day (for candidate petitions) or 17 days (for county chairman petitions).

• Eliminates the requirement that state recount commission hearings on contest petitions be convened at least two days after the contest proceeding is ordered.