An Act To Comply with Federal Election Laws Including the Help America Vote Act of 2002
Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 1486
Committee: Legal and Veterans Affairs
Sponsors: GAGNON
Amends: 21-A MRSA §1, 21-A MRSA §112, 21-A MRSA §122, 21-A MRSA §152, 21-A MRSA §154, 21-A MRSA §155, 21-A MRSA §172, 21-A MRSA §181, 21-A MRSA §629, 21-A MRSA §752, 21-A MRSA §752-A, 21-A MRSA §753, 21-A MRSA §753-B, 21-A MRSA §776, 21-A MRSA §777, 21-A MRSA §777-A, 21-A MRSA §778, 21-A MRSA §780, 21-A MRSA §781, 21-A MRSA §781-A

Legislative Document 
No. 1486 
S.P.492 
In Senate, March 31, 2003 
An Act To Comply with Federal Election Laws Including the Help 
America Vote Act of 2002 
Submitted by the Secretary of State pursuant to Joint Rule 204. 
Reference to the Committee on Legal and Veterans Affairs suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Senator GAGNON of Kennebec. 
Printed on recycled paper 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
8e it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 21-A MRSA §1, sub-§2-A, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 614, 
§2, is repealed. 
Sec. 2. 21-A MRS A §1, sub-§23-A is enacted to read: 
23-A. 
Melllher 
of the merchant marine. 
"Member 
of 
the 
merchant marine" 
means 
a 
person, 
other than 
a 
member 
of 
a 
uniformed seryice or a person employed, enrolled or maintained on 
the Great Lakes or the inland waterways, who is; 
A. 
Employed as 
an officer or crew member of 
a 
vessel 
documented under the laws of the United States, a vessel 
owned by the United States or a 
vessel of foreign-flag 
registry under charter to or control of the United States; or 
B. 
Enrolled with 
the 
United States 
for 
employment 
or 
training for employment, or maintained by the United States 
for emergency relief service, as an officer or crew member 
of a vessel described in paragraph A. 
Sec.3. 21-A MRSA §1, sub-§27-8 is enacted to read: 
27-B. 
Overseas voter. 
"Overseas yoter" means: 
A. 
A person who resides outside the United States and who 
was qualified to vote in the last place in which the person 
was domiciled in the State before leaving the United States; 
ru: 
B. 
A person who resides outside the United States and, 
except for such residence, would be qualified to vote in the 
last place in which the person was domiciled in the State 
before leaving the United States. 
Sec. 4. 21-A MRSA §1, sub-§§46-A and 46-8 are enacted to read: 
46-A. 
Uniformed service. 
"Uniformed service" means 
the 
United States Army, 
Navy, 
Air Force, 
Marine Corps 
and Coast 
Guard, the commissioned corps of the United States Public Health 
Service and the commissioned corps of the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration. 
46-B. 
Uniformed service voter • 
"Uniformed service voter" 
means: 
A. 
A member of a uniformed seryice on active duty who, by 
reason of actiye duty or service, is absent from the place 
Page l-LR1938(1) 
of residence in the State where the member is otherwise 
gualified to yote: 
B. 
A member of the merchant marine who, 
by reason of 
service in the merchant marine, is absent from the place of 
residence where the member is otherwise gualified to vote: or 
C. 
A spouse or 
dependent of 
a 
member 
referred to 
in 
paragraph A or B who, 
by reason of the active duty or 
service of the member, is absent from the place of residence 
where the spouse or dependent is otherwise gualified to vote. 
Sec. 5. 21-A MRSA § 112, sub-§§4, 7 and 8, as amended by PL 1993, 
c. 695, §3, are further amended to read: 
4. 
Separate residence. 
The place where a person's family 
resides is presumed to be the person's place of residence, but a 
person may acquire 
a 
separate residence if the person takes 
another 
abode 
with 
the 
intention of 
remaining 
there. 
This 
subsection does not apply to aFmeel--f-o-r-o-e-s--peFs9BBel uniformed 
service voters, students and others covered by subsection 7. 
7. 
Uniformed 
service 
voters, 
students, 
institutional 
patients, Indians. 
A person does not gain or lose a residence 
solely because of the person's presence or absence while employed 
in the AFmeel-F9Fees uniformed service or the merchant marine of 
the United States 
9F-~~-~~~-S~a~e, while 
a 
student in any 
institution of learning, while kept in any institution at public 
expense 
or 
while 
residing 
upon 
any 
Indian 
or 
military 
reservations. 
This subsection may not be construed to prevent a 
student at any institution of learning from qualifying as a voter 
in the municipality where the student resides while attending 
that institution. 
8. 
Voting residence retained. 
A person who has gained a 
voting residence in a municipality retains it, if the person so 
desires, 
when 
the 
person 
becomes 
a 
patient 
at 
a 
federal 
insti tution or an employee of a federal agency where the person 
is required to reside on land ceded to the Federal Government by 
the State. 
This subsection applies to a 
member of the AFmeel 
!i=eFees uniformed service, merchant marine or the National Guard 
who is required to be in a place other than that in which the 
person has gained a voting residence. 
Sec. 6. 21-A MRSA §112, sub-§§10 and 11, as amended by PL 1993, 
c. 695, §4, are further amended to read: 
10. 
Becoming 18 on federal property. 
A person who becomes 
years of age while residing on federal property as a patient 
at a federal institution or an employee of a federal agency, or 
while in the 
AtHleEl--~F-88S uniformed service., is cons idered tc 
have gained a voting residence in the municipality Hi which the 
person resided at the time the person became such a patient, 
employee or member of the AF-HleEl-Ferees uniform~(;L __ ~~_L\Ti~~. 
11. 
Spouse of member of uniformed service or merchant 
mar ine. 
A spsl:ise-B-f- -a- -ffieffihe-l'- -G-E' -- t kle - A-£ffi€-El-F--v"O{l"'+~- '_'J.-r,- -a-(\ \:.-i'ld< --lOtH to Y 
person may have the same voting residence as that persc·n' i:, spouse 
who is a member of the unifQLl]lj'1Q __ ~~rvic~_~-L..-.Ifler.~!:,;J.J_g)lt 
I.<£;. 
p, 
member of the AF-Hlea-FsHles uniLQrmJ,!_Q. 
ser.Yi~_~_Q..L;flS!ccl}C:lnJ;.,nc;J.l,jJ)e 
on active duty, whose spouse has a place of 
n"s~.del}('p ;n thi s 
State, may establish a residence in the place of residence of the 
spouse by filing an affidavit \'rit.h the registrar deelerinq dl 
intention to reside in that place upon severEn,cp [rom the Af'mee 
Fef'ees .l!piformed service OCfl}eXJ:}ELIlt._J1laripe. 
Sec. 7. 21-A MRSA §122, first 1[, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 161, 
§6, is amended to read: 
A person may register as 
a voter by appearing before the 
registrar, proving that Be the ~~9n is qualified ullder section 
Ill, subsections 1 to 3, and filing an applicati'.'Il provided by 
the registrar containing the information required by section 111 
172. 
Township residents may register as provided ll1 
s'~ction 156. 
Sec. 8. 21-A MRSA §152, sub-§l, as amended by PL 1997, c. 436, 
§34, is further amended to read: 
1. 
Application. 
In addition to the procedure provided by 
section 122, 
a 
person may 
register to vote 
or enroll in 
a 
poli tical party, or both, by completing an application that is 
designed by the Secretary of State aaEl--<Kffi-t.-a-in&--t.-he--f-811swia"'J 
iaESF-fRat:isa. 
The application must include, but is not limited 
to: 
A. 
First name, middle name or initial and last name, or 
first name or initial, middle name and last name; 
B. 
Residence 
address, 
including street, 
street 
number, 
apartment number, town and zip code; 
C. 
Mailing address; 
D. 
Date of birth; 
F. 
Most recent prior residence where registered to vote, 
including the name under which registered, if cha.nged, legal 
address and mailing address; 
H. 
Notification 
that 
failure 
to 
complete 
the 
entire 
application may prevent registration; 
±T--~;r-&&a~B&-k~--~-a~4€a~~--b&-a-~1t~-States 
eitiBeR-aRe-taat-all-iRfe~ffiatieR-is-ee~~eetf 
J. 
Date of application; 
K. 
Signature of applicant; aRe 
L. 
Choice of political party if the applicant desires to 
enroll in 
a 
political party or 
an 
indication that the 
applicant chose not to enroll in a partyTL 
M. 
A place for the person's current. valid Maine driver's 
license number, if applicable; or, if the applicant has no 
driver's license number, the last 4 digits of the person's 
social security number, if applicable; or, if the applicant 
has 
neither 
number, 
a 
place 
to 
put 
"none" 
or 
"not 
applicable"; and 
N. 
A place for the applicant to respond to the questions 
concerning the voter's qualifications as required by the 
federal Help America Vote Act of 2002, PL 107-252. 
Sec. 9. 21-A MRSA §152, sub-§5, as amended by PL 2001, c. 310, 
§ll, is further amended to read: 
5. 
Design of application. 
The Secretary of State shall 
design the application se-k~--~&-ffiaY-~-ffiai~-a~-~-pestea~e. 
The Secretary of State may design an application that can be 
completed 
electronically 
and 
that 
substantially 
meets 
the 
requirements of this section. 
Sec. 10. 21-A MRSA §154, sub-§1, as amended by PL 1997, c. 
436, §36, is further amended to read: 
1. 
App1ication. 
A person qualified 
to 
register 
under 
section Ill, subsections 1 and 2 and who resides outside the 
United States and does not maintain a fixed and principal home or 
other address in the State may register at the last residence 
address immediately before leaving the United States and enroll 
by 
filing 
a 
federal 
postcard application or 
an 
application 
designed by the Secretary of State 
eeRtaiRiR~--tae--fellewiB~ 
iBfe~ffiatieB. 
The state application must include, but is not 
limited to: 
A. 
First name, middle name or initial and last name, or 
first name or initial, middle name and last name; 
B. 
Last residence address immediately before departing from 
the 
United 
States, 
including 
street, 
street 
number, 
apartment number, town and zip code; 
C. 
Mailing address; 
D. 
Date of birth; 
H. 
Notification 
that 
failure 
to 
complete 
the 
entire 
application may prevent registration; 
J. 
Signature of applicant; 
KT--~~-&~a~emeB~-~~--~h&-a~J£a£~--~-a-~~~-States 
eitiBeB-aBe-that-a~~-iBEeFmatieB-is-eeFFeett 
L. 
Date of application; aBe 
N. 
Choice of political party if the registrant 
enroll in a 
political party or 
an indication 
applicant chose not to enroll in a partYTL 
wishes to 
that the 
o. 
A place for the person's current, valid Maine driver's 
license number, if applicable; or, if the applicant has no 
driver's license number, the last 4 digits of the person's 
social security number, if applicable; or, if the applicant 
has 
neither 
number, 
a 
place 
to 
put 
"none'" 
or 
"not 
applicable"; and 
P. 
A place for the applicant to respond to the questions 
concerning the voter's qualifications as required by the 
federal Help America Vote Act of 2002, PL 107-252._ 
Sec. 11. 21-A MRSA §155, first 1(, as amended by PL 1991, c. 
399, §1, is further amended to read: 
The registrar shall conditionally accept the registration 
and enrollment of any person who is aetweeB 17 years of age and 
will attain 18 years of age by the next election, and who is 
otherwise qualified to be a voter. 
The registrar sha.ll maintain 
a 
separate list of these persons, 
with a 
notation of their 
birthdates, and shall place their names on the voting list as 
soon as they have attained 18 years of age. 
Sec. 12. 21-A MRS A §171, as amended by PL 1997, c. 436, §40, 
is repealed. 
Sec. 13. 21-A MRSA §172 is enacted to read: 
§172. 
Voter registration fi1e 
The registrar shall prepare and keep a voter registration 
file containing the voter registration documents for each voter 
on the voting list, arranged alphabetically by the last name of 
each voter. 
The file must contain an originaL signed voter 
registration application for 
each voter, 
with all associated 
applications containing changes of name, 
address or enrollment 
and 
any 
documentation 
concerning 
these 
applications 
or 
the 
qualifications for these voters. 
When the name of a voter is 
removed from the voting list, the registrar shall indicate on the 
voter's registration documents the date that the voter's name was 
removed from the list and retain the documents for 
years, 
either in the same file, or in a separate file. 
Sec. 14. 21-A MRSA §181, sub-§I, 1B, as amended by PL 1995, c. 
418, Pt. A, §39, is further amended to read: 
B. 
Outside agencies that include the following: 
(1) 
The Department of Human Services, Bureau of Family 
Independence, 
Bureau 
of 
Health 
and 
Bureau 
of 
Rehabili tation; 
(2) 
The 
a~mea--'eFees uniformed service recruitment 
offices; 
(3) 
The public high schools; and 
(4) 
The offices of municipal clerks and registrars. 
Sec. IS. 21-A MRSA c. 3, sub-c. 8 is enacted to read: 
SUBCHAPTER 8 
HELP AMERICA VOTE ACT 
§221. 
State coordinator 
The Secretary of State is the coordinator of the State's 
responsibilities under the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002, 
PL 107-252. 
Sec. 16. 21-A MRSA §629, sub-§I, ,A, as amended by PL 1985, c. 
315, is further amended to read: 
A.. 
In a general election, the municipal officers in each 
mun i c i pal it y 
e f - -4-rO-O-O- - 9-£ - -ffiG-Fe- - "p€)pulat.-i-€>B- -m~& 1; - -p-r~4e- - at: 
least:-~~~-9get:a-~~-~-l9GT-~--~r~~-eHeeeaiB§ 
lt6-9~-~~-~-r-&~-t:ae-v9~e£s-~-i~-i~~~~~-a1;-eaea 
vet:iB§--~~---~~--a--~~~~~1r--e'--~es~--~~--4TGGG 
~e~~la1;ieBr-t:ae-m~Biei~al-effiee~6 must provide at least one 
voting booth for each 200, or fraction exceeding 1/2 of that 
number, 
of the 
ve~eF6 qualified 
~e--¥e~e ~~ in each 
voting place. 
For purposes of this paragraph, "gualified 
voters" does not include voters who have been designated as 
inactive as a result of voter list maintenance procedures. 
Sec. 17. 21-A MRSA §629, sub-§I, 'A-l is enacted to read: 
A-I. 
In 
every 
election, 
the 
municipal 
officers 
shall 
provide at least one voting booth in each voting place that 
is accessible for persons with disabilities. 
The accessible 
voting booth may be used to meet the minimum reguirements 
under paragraph A. 
Sec. 18. 21-A MRS A §752, sub-§l, as amended by PL 1997, c. 
436, §106, is further amended to read: 
1. 
Absentee ballots to be identical. 
Absentee ballots must 
be identical to the regular ballots used at an election, except 
as provided in paragraph A for 
HleHlbeF6--f)-f--t;.B.e--A·£fnee--E!o-r~-eF 
ei~il5eB6--o-u-t-s-i-de--~ae--Un-i-t-e-d--S~a~e6 uniformed service voters or 
overseas voters. 
A. 
At least 3 months before the election to which they 
pertain, 
the 
Secretary 
of 
State 
shall 
furnish 
each 
municipality with 
a 
reasonable 
number 
of blank write-in 
absentee ballots for use by HleHlbeF6-e~--t~~~-~~&-aBe 
ei~il5eB6--EHi~-6·ie-e--t-he-...y.B-i-t;.e4-St;at;e6 uniformed service voters 
or 
overseas 
voters 
who 
have 
met 
the qualifications 
in 
section 751. 
These ballots must 
be 
similar to 
regular 
ballots, except that no candidate names may be printed. 
The 
Secretary 
of 
State 
shall 
prepare 
a 
ballot listing all 
offices to be selected with a space after each office to 
write in the voter's preference. 
~ae-£ellewiB~-iB6£~yet;ieB6 
HlY6t;-ae-~~~~-~~~-t;.ype-at;-~£-e--t~~-&G&-~a~~&t;.~--¥GY 
MA¥ - .vmE- -FOR- -1>. - PERSGN - -S¥- -WR-1-'I-WG- - Ul- !±'RA!±'--P-ERSON-"-S- -NAME- -A~m 
MYN±b±PAb±~--G~--~gs~ENGE---~-~~-~-~PA~E--YNgER--~WE 
PRQPE&-Q¥¥±bE ... The Secretary of State shall desi9n the form 
of the ballot, including any instructions to thE! voters in 
marking the ballot. 
Sec. 19. 21-A MRSA §752; sub-§4, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 
161, §6, is amended to read: 
4. 
Delivery of 
materials; 
insufficient 
quantity. 
The 
Secretary of State shall send the voting materials to the clerk 
of each municipality. 
If the clerk believes that a larger number 
should be furnished, ae the clerk must notify the Secretary of 
State who shall determine whether the additional materials are 
needed and, if so, shall furnish them as promptly as possible. 
Sec. 20. 21-A MRSA §752-A, as enacted by PL 2001, c. 
516, 
§16, is amended to read: 
§152-A. Federa1 absentee ba110t 
The federal ~rite-in absentee ballot may be used in primary 
aRaL 
general and special elections for state and federal offices 
by memBe!' 6 - af - -UJ.€- -Un-i-t€-€1--S-t-a-t-e£- -Ar"--med- --F'G-F-G-e-S- -a-:ad- -eit-i5eBS -aliE s iae 
the-YRiEee-States uniformed se~vice voters or overseas voters who 
are qualified pursuant to section 751. 
Sec. 21. 21-A MRSA §753 .. B, sub-§6, 1l1lA and B, as enacted by PL 
2001, c. 310, §54, are a~ended to read: 
A. 
The list of absentee voters must include each voter' s 
aame, 
residence 
address, 
voting 
district 
and 
party 
affiliationTL the date and manner by which the ballot was 
requested, 
tae-~&&-~-ma~~€~--By-~~~-~~-ba~~B-t--wa6 
isslJe<;"Land receivedT.L a notation of whether the application 
and the ballot were accepted or rejectedL and a place for 
the registrar to certify the voter registration status of 
the absentee voters 
whe--vot~--wit-oo'*"t--af>f>-±-i€a-t-iB-fh--i-n--Ehe 
p!'e6eR€e-~-~~-e1eF*. 
The clerk must also indicate on the 
list when the absentee voter is a uniformed service voter or 
overseas voter. 
B. 
The clerk shall submit this list of absentee voters to 
the registrar for certification of the registration status 
and, 
when applicable, the enrollment status of the voters 
whe-~~-in-~~-¥£B£€££~-B~--t~-e1eF*. 
~he-~l~~-sha±± 
a±se--~~---a11--~~~-~~~~--app-±i€a-tiBn£--~~--Eae 
Fe~iSEFaF-~~-~~if-~~-B~-tRe-~~~~-a-t~~~~~-aaeT 
whea-appJi€aBJe7--th€-~~~~-~-a-t4Hr~-~~-~~~-Bamea-eR 
eaeb-appJieatieaT 
The registrar shall certify the list aae 
app±ieatieas either before or as soon as possible after the 
ballot is issued to the voter. 
The certifications must be 
completed before the absentee ballots may be processed and 
cast on election day. 
Sec. 22. 21-A MRSA §753-B, sub-§6, llD is enacted to read: 
D. 
Within 20 days after each election. the clerk shall send 
a report to the Secretary of State stating the total number 
of 
absentee 
ballots 
issued 
to 
absentee 
voters 
in 
the 
municipality for that election. 
The 
report must further 
identify the number of ballots that were issued to uniformed 
service voters and overseas voters. respectively. 
For each 
category of absentee voters, 
the report must include the 
number of ballots that were returned by the voters and were 
processed and cast in the election. 
Sec. 23. 21-A MRSA §776, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 161, §6, 
is amended to read: 
§776. Applicability of provisions 
This AF~iele article applies to memBeF6-~-~~-ABm&G-~eFee6 
uniformed service voters or overseas voters who are covered by 
the federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, 
United States Code, Section 1973ff (2001). 
The Secretary of 
State is responsible for carrying out the State' s duties under 
that Act. 
Sec. 24. 21-A MRSA §777, as amended by PL 1993, c. 695, §32, 
is repealed. 
Sec. 25. 21-A MRSA §777-A is enacted to read: 
§777-A. Registration and enrollment 
Uniformed service voters or overseas voters may register or 
enroll at 
any 
time 
by 
completing 
a 
federal 
or state voter 
registration application form and filing it with the registrar. 
Sec. 26. 21-A MRSA §778, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 161, §6, 
is amended to read: 
§778. Duty of registrar 
On receipt of an application under section +++ 777-A, the 
registrar shall register the applicant, unless it appears that he 
the applicant is not qualified. 
If he the applicant is not 
qualified, the registrar shall notify him the applicant of the 
reason why for rejection of the application. 
1. 
Member specially designated. 
The registrar shall place 
the letter .. s .. on the voting list beside the name of each memaeF 
e~-~he-A~mea-FeFee6 uniformed service voter registered under this 
section. 
2. 
Overseas 
voter specially designated. 
The 
registrar 
shall place the letter "0" on the voting list beside the name of 
each overseas voter registered under this section. 
Sec. 27. 21-A MRS A §779, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 161, §6, 
is repealed. 
Sec. 28. 21-A MRSA §780, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 161, §6, 
is repealed and the following enacted in its place: 
§180. 
Absentee ballots; application 
A uniformed service voter or an overseas voter may reg:uest 
an absentee ballot as provided in section 753-A or by submitting 
a 
federal application or form reg:uesting an absentee ballot. 
Prior to the time when regular absentee ballots are available, if 
an 
applicant 
reg:uests 
a 
blank 
write-in 
absentee 
ballot 
or 
indicates that it takes more than 6 weeks to receive and return 
mail to the applicant's location, the clerk shall send a blank 
write in absentee ballot to the voter. 
Once the regular absentee 
ballots 
become 
available, 
the 
clerk 
shall 
issue 
a 
regular 
absentee ballot in response to any reg:uest under this section. 
If the clerk has issued a blank write-in absentee ballot to a 
voter before the regular absentee ballots become available, the 
clerk may send a regular absentee ballot to the voter, following 
the procedures for issuing a 2nd absentee ballot under section 
753-B. 
Sec. 29. 21-A MRSA §781, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 161, §6, 
is repealed. 
Sec. 30. 21-A MRSA §781-A is enacted to read: 
§181-A. 
Absentee ballot application: procedure on receipt 
Upon receipt of an application, written request or telephone 
application for an absentee ballot that is accepted pursuant to 
section 753-A, 
the clerk shall immediately issue an absentee 
ballot and return envelope by mail or in person to the applicant 
or to the immediate family member or to a 3rd person designated 
in a written application or reg:uest made by the voter. 
The clerk 
shall type or write in ink the name and the residence address of 
the voter in the designated section of the return envelope. 
The 
Secretary of State shall provide a return envelope which moves 
free of postage under federal law. 
Sec. 31. 21-A MRSA §§782 and 783, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 
161, §6, are amended to read: 
§182. Absentee ballots; procedure on return 
On receipt of a 
return envelope apparently containing an 
absentee ballot, 
the clerk shall 
Be~e--&~-~~-~-~Jme--e€ 
aeliveFY-~B--~&-~-~~--~~--~~-~he--Fe~is~FaF follow the 
procedures for regular absentee voting under this subchapter. 
~Re-~~~~~--&ha~~-~e£~~~Y-~B-~he-~~-whe~heF-~~-~eFseB 
wRese-~-appea££--a&-~--is-~~i&t~~-a~47--~B-~-~FimaFY 
elee~~eRT-eR£e~~ea-~£-~~~~~~it~--~~~~-~h&a-Fe~~FR-~Re 
eRye*epe-te-~Re-e*e~kT 
§783. Authority of Secretary of State 
The 
Secretary 
of 
State 
may 
act 
administratively 
to 
facilitate voting by 
ffieffiae~6--e~--tRe--A~ffiea--~e~ee6 uniformed 
service voters and overseas yoters. 
He The Secretary of State 
may use federal or other facilities available for this purpose. 
SUMMARY 
This bill makes changes necessary to bring the Maine Revised 
Statutes, Title 2l-A into compliance with the requirements of 
federal election laws, including the Help America Vote Act of 
2002, 
HAVA, 
and the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee 
Voting 
Act, 
and 
specifies 
that 
the 
Secretary 
of 
State 
is 
responsible for overseeing the State's duties with respect to 
these Acts. 
The bill adds or amends certain definitions relating 
to members of the uniformed service and overseas voters. 
The 
bill also updates existing sections of the election law with the 
new terms. 
The bill makes changes to the voter registration 
application to add certain identifying information as required by 
HAVA. 
The bill specifies that in order for l7-year olds to 
preregister to vote, they must turn 18 years of age prior to the 
next election. 
The bill also clarifies what documentation must 
be retained in the voter registration file. 
The bill also makes 
a single, standard requirement for the number of voting booths 
needed for a general election for all municipalities. 
The bill 
requires each voting place to have at least one voting booth that 
is accessible for persons with physical disabilities. This bill 
replaces the current requirements for instructions fo~ the blank, 
write-in absentee ballots with 
autho~ity for the Secretary of 
State to determine those instructions. 
The bill clarifies usage 
of 
the 
federal 
write-in 
absentee 
ballot. 
The 
bill 
also 
streamlines the process for recording absentee ballots issued by 
removing a duplicative requirement that the registrar certify the 
absentee ballot applications. 
The bill requires municipal clerks 
to file a report with the Secretary of State indicating how many 
persons 
were 
issued 
and 
returned 
absentee ballots 
fo~ each 
election; and further identifying the number of ballots that were 
issued to uniformed service voters and overseas voters. 
This 
bill makes other changes to the provisions for absentee voting 
for the uniformed service voters and overseas 
vote~s that are 
consistent 
with 
current 
laws 
governing 
all 
other 
absentee 
voters. 
Page ll-LR1938(1)