Committee lays over election-procedure bills after procedural and security questions

Two election-related bills introduced by Representative Gordon were discussed and laid over for additional drafting and consultation with the Secretary of State's office.

Representative Gordon described House File 3587 as a measure that would require election judges assisting voters who cannot enter the polling place to handle only one completed ballot at a time, citing curbside voting situations where multiple voters in a vehicle could create confusion about which ballot belongs to whom. He also presented House File 3589, which would permit a voter to briefly leave a polling location at the discretion of the head election judge to handle unforeseen personal needs and then return to receive a new ballot if appropriate.

Nicole Freeman, government relations director in the Office of the Secretary of State, told the committee her office was open to working on the measures but raised operational concerns. On HF3587 she said the office had read the draft as potentially restricting the pair of election judges to carrying only one voted ballot as a team and suggested clarification about whether the rule belongs in statute or in guidance. On HF3589 she cautioned that granting broad discretion to a head election judge could create inconsistent practices across counties and complicate tracking and end-of-day tabulation; she said the current guidance treats a voter who leaves after receiving a ballot as having effectively abandoned that ballot and recommended incident-logging procedures be used when necessary.

Committee members expressed sympathy for the bills’ goals — avoiding disenfranchisement and reducing confusion — but also flagged possible implementation and security vulnerabilities, including delays at busy precincts and potential for inconsistent treatment when judges exercise discretion. Representative Gordon said he welcomed further drafting and collaboration with the Secretary of State’s office. Both bills were laid over.