The bill establishes a new process for conducting election recounts, allowing for hand counting of votes as an option. It empowers the Secretary of State and county clerks to mandate recounts under certain conditions and permits candidates to request hand counts. The legislation revises the dates for primary elections and the county and state canvass to accommodate the time required for hand counting. Key amendments include a broader definition of "recount" to include both hand counting and electronic processing, and a change in the primary election date from the third to the first Monday in August. The bill also creates an election recount account to fund hand recounts, ensuring that these funds are continuously appropriated. Additionally, the bill outlines procedures for bond elections, specifying that each bond question must be presented to qualified electors and that these elections should coincide with primary or general elections or designated Tuesdays in May, November, or the first Monday in August. It replaces the third Monday in August with the first Monday in August for bond elections. The bill mandates political subdivisions to notify the county clerk at least 110 days before the election regarding the bond question. Furthermore, it repeals certain sections of existing law and appropriates $200,000 from the general fund to the newly established election recount account, with the act set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 22-1-102, 22-2-104, 22-8-102, 22-8-108, 22-14-114, 22-16-103, 22-16-109, 22-16-110, 22-16-111, 22-16-113, 22-16-118, 22-21-103
Engrossed: 22-1-102, 22-2-104, 22-8-102, 22-8-108, 22-14-114, 22-16-103, 22-16-109, 22-16-110, 22-16-111, 22-16-113, 22-16-118, 22-21-103