House Bill 297 Summary

• Absentee ballots cast in the registrar's office may be cast using direct recording electronic voting systems or optical mark reading equipment, with systems sealed daily and ballots remaining in the circuit clerk's office until election day.

• Mail-in absentee ballots must be postmarked by election day and received by the registrar no more than five (5) business days after the election to be counted.

• All absentee votes are final and persons who vote absentee before election day are prohibited from voting in person on election day.

• Absentee votes cast in the registrar's office shall be tallied on election day and announced simultaneously with all other votes cast that day.

• The Secretary of State shall promulgate rules and regulations to implement these provisions and ensure absentee ballots remain in the circuit clerk's office for counting rather than being taken to precincts.