Committee sends election administration updates to Ways and Means

Chair Freiberg moved House File 42‑40 as amended to Ways and Means. Nicole Freeman of the Office of the Secretary of State summarized the bill’s principal elements: optional 18‑day absentee voting for designated cities; standardized use of the statewide voter registration system (SVRS) across elections (except March), clarified early‑voting certificate printing and retention procedures, electronic distribution of annotated election‑law updates to local clerks and auditors, and a proposed reimbursement framework for counties and municipalities that administer unscheduled state or federal special elections.

Freeman noted the office spent roughly $57,000 in 2024 printing and mailing annotated lawbooks to local officials and proposed electronic delivery as a cost saver. Members adopted the author's A1 amendment and voted to refer the bill to Ways and Means. The measure was described as an effort to modernize statutes and provide clearer administrative guidance while preserving election security.