This bill mandates that the Secretary of State provide secure containers for storing ballots to all voting precincts before state and federal elections. The new legal language specifies that these containers must be secure, durable, reusable, transportable, stackable, and marked, with locks and tamper-evident sealers. Additionally, the containers will have registration or serial numbers, and the Secretary of State is required to prepare an annual progress report detailing the number of containers replaced, their locations, and plans for future replacements. The bill also includes provisions for special containers for separate ballots related to voter questions.

The bill does not allocate specific funding or authorize new positions, and its fiscal impact is indeterminable due to the unknown costs associated with manufacturing and distributing the containers. The implementation of this initiative is expected to be funded through Help America Vote Act (HAVA) funds, but the Secretary of State will need to confirm the eligibility of these funds for the required purchases. The bill is set to take effect on January 1, 2027.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 659:97
As Amended by the Senate: 659:97
HB1541 text: 659:97