The General Assembly Raised Bill No. 5352 seeks to enhance the operational efficiency of the State Elections Enforcement Commission by implementing new timelines and procedures for handling written complaints. The bill repeals subsection (g) of section 9-7a and replaces it with provisions that require commission staff to complete a preliminary examination of complaints within 14 days. Depending on the outcome, complaints may be dismissed, resolved through discussions, or investigated further. If complaints remain unresolved within specified timeframes, either complainants or respondents can pursue judicial intervention. Additionally, the bill introduces new rules for complaints involving foreign nationals and violations of chapter 151, which will not be subject to the one-year dismissal rule applicable to other complaints.

Moreover, the bill amends subsection (d) of section 9-706, which governs the commission's review of candidate committee applications for grants. It establishes a presumption of truthfulness for information on contribution certification forms, which can only be challenged by evidence from prior investigations. The commission is empowered to disqualify contributions made under false names and must consider various factors to assess their legitimacy. The bill also clarifies that contributions cannot be disqualified based solely on address discrepancies or online fundraising responses. It outlines the process for approving grants for candidate committees, ensuring that full grants for general election campaigns depend on the timely receipt of qualifying contributions. The act is set to take effect on October 1, 2026, aiming to streamline the investigation process for voting-related complaints and address issues related to straw contributions.