Amendment ID: S2755-21

Amendment 21

Easing the burden on town clerks and election officials

Ms. Moran, Messrs. Feeney and Timilty move that the proposed new text be amended in Section 6, in sub-section (d), in clause (4) in line 75, by striking the following word:- "and";

And in Section 6, in sub-section (d), in clause (4) in line 76 by inserting after the word "guaranteed" the following sub-clauses:- “(iii) include a bar code on each application specific to the voter which can be used by the city or town clerk to scan such application into the voter registration system for processing, (iv) include clear instructions and a link for voters to track their mail-in application.”;

And by adding at the end thereof, the following new sections:-

"SECTION XX. The secretary will make software changes to the voter registration system to streamline the process for entering mail-in ballot requests which shall include one-step scanning process of applications using bar codes required on applications mailed by the secretary in accordance with section 6(4)(iii) of this legislation and in addition to other reporting and processing enhancements that may assist city and town clerks with more efficiently processing mail in applications, by July 15, 2020.

SECTION XX. The secretary will implement a voter tracking system for early voted applications, similar to the secretary's system for tracking of absentee ballots during state elections, and will provide voters with real-time tracking of the status of their application, including but not limited to: date application processed, date ballot mailed by local official, date ballot received back by the local official and provide the link to this tracking system on each application mailed by the secretary in accordance with section 6(4)(iii) of this legislation."