This bill amends the existing law regarding the pre-election certificate and post-election reporting requirements. It introduces new provisions that require the secretary of state to prepare and distribute three copies of the pre-election certificate to each town or ward clerk. The updated certificate 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. 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 revises the content of the post-election certificate that the moderator must complete. It now includes a broader range of information, such as the number of official ballots received, the number of ballots cast on election day, and details regarding absentee ballots used if the polling place runs out of official ballots. New insertions also require the moderator to report the number of general election ballots remaining and the total number of ballots cast, along with a comparison of different methods of tallying ballots. The bill removes previous requirements for a ballots cast form and streamlines the reporting process, while establishing an effective date of 60 days after passage.

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