Senate Bill 980 Summary

• Allows electors to apply for absent voter ballots using an online absent voter ballot application maintained by the Secretary of State, in addition to existing in-person and mail application methods.

• Requires the online application to verify elector identity and registration status by requesting name, driver license or state ID number, full date of birth, last 4 digits of Social Security number, and eye color.

• Permits registered electors to sign the online application using a stored digital signature on file with the Secretary of State, or by uploading a photograph of their handwritten signature if they lack a stored digital signature.

• Mandates that completed online applications be electronically transmitted through the qualified voter file to the appropriate city or township clerk for processing, and must be treated identically to paper applications signed with a physical handwritten signature.

• Makes grammatical changes throughout the statute, replacing "a person" with "an individual" in various contexts related to absent voter ballot applications.