Indiana 2021 Regular Session Status: In Committee 1 D cosponsors

SB 402 — Various elections matters.

Last action — First reading: referred to Committee on Elections

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2021 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

Provides that the polls close at 7 p.m. (Under current law, the polls must close at 6 p.m.) Provides that an application to obtain or renew a motor vehicle driver's license or permit or an identification card serves as a voter registration application unless the applicant expressly declines on the application to register to vote. Provides that a voter becomes registered to vote when: (1) the county voter registration office determines the voter appears to be eligible to vote at the address on the voter's voter registration application; and (2) the voter receives notice of this determination. Requires a county voter registration office to note that a voter is in inactive status if the notice of voter registration is returned by the United States Postal Service due to an unknown or insufficient address. Eliminates the seven day period during which a voter's voter registration application is considered pending. Permits a voter to register at the polls by completing a voter registration form and an affirmation that the person has not voted elsewhere in the election and by providing proof of residence. Permits a voter who is qualified to vote in person to vote by absentee ballot. Removes all other qualifications for a voter to vote by absentee ballot except for a voter with disabilities who is unable to make a voting mark on the ballot or sign the absentee ballot secrecy envelope. (Such a disabled voter is currently required to vote before an absentee voter board.) Requires each absentee ballot mailed to a voter to be assigned a unique tracking number as prescribed by the election division using IMb Tracing. Requires the election division to incorporate a feature in the computerized list that enables county election officials and a voter to use IMb Tracing to track the voter's absentee ballot from the time the absentee ballot was mailed to the voter until the time the absentee ballot was received by the county election officials. Permits a county election board to authorize nonpartisan election observers for educational purposes to be present at the polls. Permits a county election board to authorize a public health safety officer to be present at the polls to monitor the public health. Requires each county to establish one satellite office for absentee voting in addition to absentee voting provided in the circuit court clerk's office. Requires each county to establish an additional satellite office for each 25,000 or fraction of 25,000 active voters in the county. Requires that in a township with at least 25,000 active voters, a satellite office must be established for each 25,000 active voters in the township. Provides that a voter may return a completed absentee ballot sealed in an absentee ballot envelope to the county election board by depositing the absentee ballot envelope in an absentee ballot drop box. Provides that absentee ballots may be scanned, but not tabulated, before election day. Provides that a person who knowingly does any electioneering in an area within 100 feet of an absentee ballot drop box commits a Class A misdemeanor. Repeals a provision that requires the rejection of an absentee ballot marked and forwarded by a voter who subsequently dies before election day. Repeals obsolete statutes relating to counting absentee ballots in precincts. Makes conforming changes.

Bill Text

We don't have the full text on file for this bill yet.

Read SB 402 on the official Indiana source →

Action History

  1. First reading: referred to Committee on Elections

  2. Authored by Senator Ford J.D.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 149 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (149)

149 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

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Frequently asked questions

What does SB 402 do?
Provides that the polls close at 7 p.m. (Under current law, the polls must close at 6 p.m.) Provides that an application to obtain or renew a motor vehicle driver's license or permit or an identification card serves as a voter registration application unless the applicant expressly declines on the application to register to vote. Provides that a voter becomes registered to vote when: (1) the county voter registration office determines the voter appears to be eligible to vote at the address on the voter's voter registration application; and (2) the voter receives notice of this determination. Requires a county voter registration office to note that a voter is in inactive status if the notice of voter registration is returned by the United States Postal Service due to an unknown or insufficient address. Eliminates the seven day period during which a voter's voter registration application is considered pending. Permits a voter to register at the polls by completing a voter registration form and an affirmation that the person has not voted elsewhere in the election and by providing proof of residence. Permits a voter who is qualified to vote in person to vote by absentee ballot. Removes all other qualifications for a voter to vote by absentee ballot except for a voter with disabilities who is unable to make a voting mark on the ballot or sign the absentee ballot secrecy envelope. (Such a disabled voter is currently required to vote before an absentee voter board.) Requires each absentee ballot mailed to a voter to be assigned a unique tracking number as prescribed by the election division using IMb Tracing. Requires the election division to incorporate a feature in the computerized list that enables county election officials and a voter to use IMb Tracing to track the voter's absentee ballot from the time the absentee ballot was mailed to the voter until the time the absentee ballot was received by the county election officials. Permits a county election board to authorize nonpartisan election observers for educational purposes to be present at the polls. Permits a county election board to authorize a public health safety officer to be present at the polls to monitor the public health. Requires each county to establish one satellite office for absentee voting in addition to absentee voting provided in the circuit court clerk's office. Requires each county to establish an additional satellite office for each 25,000 or fraction of 25,000 active voters in the county. Requires that in a township with at least 25,000 active voters, a satellite office must be established for each 25,000 active voters in the township. Provides that a voter may return a completed absentee ballot sealed in an absentee ballot envelope to the county election board by depositing the absentee ballot envelope in an absentee ballot drop box. Provides that absentee ballots may be scanned, but not tabulated, before election day. Provides that a person who knowingly does any electioneering in an area within 100 feet of an absentee ballot drop box commits a Class A misdemeanor. Repeals a provision that requires the rejection of an absentee ballot marked and forwarded by a voter who subsequently dies before election day. Repeals obsolete statutes relating to counting absentee ballots in precincts. Makes conforming changes.
Who sponsors SB 402?
SB 402 is sponsored by J.D. Ford (Democrat).
What is the current status of SB 402?
This bill died with 2021 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track SB 402?
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Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

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