HB 1169 – Bipartisan Elections Act of 2020
Primary Sponsors: Rep. Holly Grange (R-New Hanover), Rep. Destin Hall (R-Caswell), Rep. Allison Dahle (D-Wake), Rep. Pricey Harrison (D-Guilford)
Summary
This bill allows for the 2020 general election, for one witness signature for the casting of an absentee ballot instead of two signatures.
The bill allows for completed absentee requests to be emailed or faxed to county boards of elections.
The bill requires DHHS and the State Board of Elections to develop a program on how to safely allow multi-partisan teams to assist registered voters within a congregate living situation durign the 2020 elections.
The bill requires ballots to have a bar code allowing the county board of elections and the voter to track a voted ballot following its return to the county board.
The bill allows an additional 2 weeks to approve applications for absentee ballots.
The bill requires the State Board to create an online portal for voters to submit online requests for absentee ballots by September 1, 2020.
The bill also appropriates funds to the State Board of Elections to respond to COVID-19.
History
- Filed 5/22/2020
- Favorable Committee Substitute – Elections Committee 5/27/2020
- Favorable Committee Substitute – Rules Committee 5/27/2020
- Passed House 116-3
- Passed Senate Redistricting on 6/2/2020 – Amended
- Passed Senate Appropriations – 6/2/2020 – Amended
- Passed Senate Rules 6/9/2020
- Passed Senate with amendments on second reading 6/10/2020
- Passed Senate on third reading on 6/11/2020
- House concurred with the Senate changes with a vote of 105-14 on 6/11/2020
- The bill was presented to the Governor on 6/11/2020