Committee approves bill to standardize early voting hours

Sponsor (speaker 14) presented HB 1325 to set standard early‑voting hours across multiple sites to reduce voter confusion about different site schedules. The proposed standard hours are 8 a.m.–6 p.m. on weekdays, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. on Saturdays, and 8 a.m.–5 p.m. the day before an election. The bill includes a safe‑harbor provision allowing county election boards to deviate where they cannot secure a site at the standard hours.

Sponsor stated counties generally supported the provision and that standard hours would reduce voter confusion seen in the last election at some multi‑site counties. The committee advanced the bill by voice vote; no opposition speakers were signed up.