HB 294 -- Absentee Ballots

Sponsor:  Foster

This bill requires election authorities to establish absentee
ballot teams to help impaired voters fill out their absentee
ballots and to collect these ballots.  The bill also requires
that absentee ballot teams include one member from each
registered political party in a county.  It is the
responsibility of the county chairs for the political parties to
appoint their team member.  The Secretary of State will
reimburse election authorities for the costs of these absentee
ballot teams at the rate of the federal minimum wage.  Finally,
the bill makes it a class three election offense for team
members to help with or collect absentee ballots without all
team members present.  The maximum penalty for class three
election offenses is one year in prison and a $2,500 fine.