Substitute Senate Bill No. 258 (sSB258 File No. 209) proposes a series of minor and technical revisions to the Government Administration and Elections statutes, with an effective date of October 1, 2024. The bill includes changes to the voter guide information, specifying what constitutes "contact information" for candidates, and revises the process for removing elector names from registry lists. It also clarifies the conditions for reapplying as an elector after removal, the counting of inactive elector names for petition signatures, and the procedures for an elector with an unforeseen illness or physical disability to appoint a designee for absentee ballot delivery. The bill introduces new legal language and deletes existing language to update the statutes, including specifying the categories of individuals who may use the federal absentee ballot application form and outlining the process for applying for a "presidential ballot," appointing absentee ballot coordinators, and providing assistance to electors in need.

Furthermore, the bill revises the procedures for conducting a recanvass of election returns, including the summoning of recanvass officials and the replacement process for officials who are unavailable. It updates language to be gender-neutral and outlines the process for recanvassing absentee ballots. The bill amends Section 9-311a, defining conditions for automatic recanvasses and the process for waiving the right to one. It introduces penalties for influencing votes or miscounting them as a class C felony and addresses the filing of petition pages with the Secretary. The bill also includes changes related to independent expenditures, the Citizens' Election Fund, and the establishment of the Long Island Sound Foundation, Inc. as a successor to the Long Island Sound Assembly. Technical changes for clarity and a fiscal impact statement indicating no fiscal impact to the state or municipalities are also part of the bill.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 9-32, 9-35c, 9-150c, 9-153a, 9-311a, 9-364a
GAE Joint Favorable: 9-32, 9-35c, 9-150c, 9-153a, 9-311a, 9-364a
File No. 209: 9-32, 9-35c, 9-150c, 9-153a, 9-311a, 9-364a