This bill amends the existing law regarding the pre-election certificate and the post-election reporting process. It introduces new requirements for the pre-election certificate, which will now include specific details such as the total number of absentee ballots received from the secretary of state, the number of absentee ballots mailed to voters, the number of spoiled absentee ballots, and the number of absentee ballots remaining at the close of polls. The language that previously required the total number of ballots received has been deleted. Additionally, the bill mandates that one copy of the pre-election certificate be retained by the moderator, one by the clerk, and one forwarded to the secretary of state with election returns.

Furthermore, the bill updates the post-election certificate requirements to include a broader range of data, such as the number of general election ballots remaining and a comparison of different methods of tallying ballots cast. It also clarifies that the moderator must complete and submit a ballots cast form within 48 hours of the polls closing, which includes various categories of ballots cast. The previous provisions regarding the ballots cast form have been deleted, streamlining the reporting process. The act is set to take effect 60 days after its passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 658:32, 659:73