The bill, H.B. No. 569, amends the Election Code to provide voters with an opportunity to correct defects in early voting ballots that are voted by mail. It requires election clerks to notify voters of any defects in their carrier envelopes within two days of discovering the issue, along with a corrective action form developed by the secretary of state. The bill outlines that voters can either cancel their application to vote by mail or correct the defect by submitting the corrective action form or visiting the clerk's office within a specified timeframe. Additionally, if the clerk determines that timely notification is not feasible, they may contact the voter via telephone or email.

The bill also mandates that the secretary of state develop an online tool to help voters track their ballot status and correct any defects. It emphasizes that all procedures must be uniformly applied to all ballots and allows poll watchers to observe the actions taken regarding ballot defects. The changes will take effect on September 1, 2025, and will only apply to elections held after that date.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Election Code 86.011, Election Code 86.015 (Election Code 86)