House Bill 848 Summary

• Establishes a new early voting system allowing registered voters to cast ballots in person at a central voting location beginning the sixth Tuesday before an election or within fourteen days after candidates are certified.

• Requires election authorities with more than 175,000 registered voters to establish at least one satellite voting location for early voting during November presidential elections and other designated elections, with specific operational requirements including at least four hours daily and fourteen days of operation.

• Defines "early ballot" as a ballot cast in person at a central or satellite voting location during the early voting period, separate from absentee ballots which remain mail-in voting.

• Requires early ballots cast at central voting locations to be cast on electronic voting systems but not tabulated until election day, with memory cards and paper ballots secured daily at satellite locations.

• Mandates state funding reimbursement to election authorities for implementation costs, and prohibits enforcement of early voting requirements if no state funding is appropriated.