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Bill Title: Various election law matters. Makes the following changes in election law: (1) Removes provisions relating to candidates for President of the United States filing ballot placement requests with the secretary of state. (2) Provides that the election division annual training conference for county election officials must include information on cybersecurity and physical security practices for the statewide voter registration system, voting systems, and polling places. Requires the attendance of bipartisan board of registration members and permits clerks and board members to designate a number of chief deputies to attend. (3) Specifies that absentee reports generated by the statewide voter registration data base are required to be in a specified format, and may be generated in other formats. (4) Requires a notice to be sent to an applicant whose voter registration application is denied because the acknowledgment card was returned as undeliverable. (5) Authorizes the Indiana election commission to determine the validity of a candidate's nomination for certain offices. (6) Provides that a voter may not change the political party primary ballot that the voter has requested. (7) Establishes a procedure for casting a voter's ballot if the voter does not complete the procedures for casting the voter's ballot on an electronic voting machine or if a voter abandons a paper ballot. (8) Provides that an electronic poll book may not be used at an election if the poll book is delivered to the county election board less than 60 days before the election unless the voting system technical oversight program (VSTOP) has previously authorized in writing to the contrary. (9) Provides that a precinct may not be established if any precinct would have less than 600 active voters except in certain circumstances. (10) Provides that a county election board or a board of elections and registration does not have the power to extend the hours that the polls are open on election day. (11) Establishes standards for issuance of an order by an Indiana court or administrative agency to extend the hour for closing of the polls. Requires that specific findings be made by a court before issuing an order to extend polling place hours and makes other amendments concerning appeals in such cases. (12) Removes the shortened period during which absentee ballots by mail may be sent when a county election board shortens the period during which in-person absentee ballots may be voted. (13) Modifies the procedure for checking sample ballots for compliance with official ballots to make the procedure practical for counties using vote centers. (14) Provides that the state voting system inventory maintained by the VSTOP and any county election board resolution adopting alternative voting system security plans are confidential. (15) Provides that, in Marion County, ballots cast at a vote center are not required to be sorted by precinct unless a recount is requested. (16) Provides that, in Marion County, absentee ballot envelopes may be opened by machine instead of by absentee ballot counters. (17) Provides that, in Marion County, an individual who is: (a) a citizen of the United States; (b) registered to vote in Indiana; and (c) at least 18 years of age; may be appointed to serve as an absentee ballot counter or a courier, if the county election board adopts a resolution by a unanimous vote of its entire membership authorizing the appointment of such individuals. (18) Prohibits a county election board from scanning a voted absentee ballot card using an optical scan ballot scanner before election day, and instead requires that the voted absentee ballot card be placed in a secure envelope until election day. (19) Clarifies that the county fiscal body sets the per diem and mileage rates for all types of absentee board members. (20) Requires a county election board to take certain actions regarding a provisional ballot that is cast by an individual who is registered to vote in an Indiana county other than the county in which the provisional ballot was cast. (21) Requires all counties to count absentee ballots at a central location. (22) Establishes a deadline to file a small town primary ordinance with the county. (23) Provides that certain notice requirements do not apply to an early candidate vacancy filled by a county chairman or by a committee consisting of the county committee's chairman, vice chairman, secretary, and treasurer. (24) Sets forth procedures when notice of a resignation was received but timely notice was not provided. (25) Provides that any voter of a school corporation may challenge a candidate for election to the governing body of the school corporation if there is no candidate who is entitled to contest the election of the candidate. (26) Makes various technical changes in election law relating to: (a) ballots; (b) election administration; (c) voter registration; (d) candidates; (e) public questions; (f) polling places; (g) initialing ballots; (h) payment of expenses of the state recount commission; and (i) certification of public questions relating to certain school corporation tax levies. (27) Updates and corrects dates and other references in election law. (28) Repeals several obsolete provisions relating to: (a) preservation of certain documents; (b) election administration; and (c) establishment of a single county executive. Makes technical and conforming changes.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 4-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-05-06 - Public Law 278 [SB0560 Detail]

Download: Indiana-2019-SB0560-Enrolled.pdf

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