HB 5543 Summary

• Allows absent voter ballot applications to be used for all elections held during a calendar year, except presidential primary elections, which require separate single-use applications.

• Permits the Secretary of State to provide absent voter ballot applications with more election options than those provided by cities or townships, which clerks must honor if the application otherwise complies with requirements.

• Establishes separate procedures for presidential primary elections with applications valid only for that specific election and not usable for other elections held that year.

• Adds the Secretary of State's absent voter ballot application form as an acceptable application method alongside written requests, clerk-provided forms, and federal postcard applications.

• Clarifies that criminal penalties apply to unauthorized persons who both distribute and return absent voter ballot applications to election officials.