Title: Auditing The Manual Tally; Automated Recounts On Direct Recording Electronic Voting Systems Using Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail Paper Copies; Chain Of Custody; Challenges; Conducting A Manual Tally; Cost Of Recount; Counting Boards; Definitions; Definitions; Definitions; Definitions; Direct Recording Electronic (DRE) Voting Systems; General Provisions; General Provisions; General Vote Counting Standards; Location Of Recount; Manual Recounts Generally; Manual Recounts Of Ballots Cast On Direct Recording Electronic Voting Systems Using Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail Paper Copies; Manual Recounts, “Vote For Multiple” Contests; Manual Recounts, “Vote For One” Contests; Manual Tally Cumulating Board; Manual Tally Forms; Manual Tally Plan; Material To Be Examined; Relevant Material; Media, Photography And Recording Devices; Observing The Manual Tally; Optical Scan Voting Systems; Order Of Recount; Other Paper Voting Systems; Other Responsibilities; Public Notice And Observation; Purpose....
Type: Proposed
Citations: Title 02; Section 20280
Agency: California Secretary of State
Publication Date: May 19, 2023
Summary: The California Secretary of State is proposing regulations for the counting of ballots, specifically related to manual tallies. The proposed regulations aim to provide clear and uniform guidance to election officials across California's 58 counties. Changes include modifications to the current Uniform Vote Counting Standards and Recount regulations, renumbering and relocation of these regulations, and the addition of new chapters for manual tallying.
Location: US-CA
Title: Elections
Type: Proposed
Citations: 8 CCR 1505-1
Agency: Department of State
Publication Date: Jul 11, 2023
Summary: The Colorado Department of State is proposing amendments to election rules in order to improve the administration, implementation, and enforcement of election laws in the state. The amendments implement changes made during the 2023 legislative session, and address various aspects such as staffing, signature verification procedures, video surveillance, licensing requirements for petition entities, intercounty ballot transfer requirements, and procedures for voters confined in county jails. The Department may also consider additional rule amendments to ensure consistency and alignment with Department standards.
Location: US-CO
Title: Third-Party Voter Registration Organizations
Type: Proposed
Citations: 1S-2.042
Agency: Department of State
Publication Date: Jul 31, 2023
Summary: The Florida Department of State's Division of Elections is proposing to amend Rule 1S-2.042, relating to Third-Party Voter Registration Organizations, to align with recent statutory changes in Florida laws (Ch. 2021-11, Ch. 2022-73, and Ch. 2023-120). The purpose of the amendment is to provide third-party voter registration organizations with a mechanism to avoid fines for unauthorized persons collecting or handling voter registration applications.
Location: US-FL
Title: Ballot Standards And Election
Type: Proposed
Citations: 31 KAR 5:026
Agency: State Board of Elections
Publication Date: Nov 01, 2022
Summary: This rule provides for measures that establish standards for the ballots used during elections, as well as, measures that ensure that votes cast during an election are done so in a free, fair, and secure manner. The outer envelope of all mail-in absentee ballots will have a barcode or other label that is unique to the individual voter and capable of being read by an electronic optical scanner when processed. The unique barcode or label for each mail-in absentee ballot outer envelope is to be issued by the State Board of Elections. A voter who is disabled may request a mail-in absentee ballot via an online accessible ballot portal. If the mail-in absentee ballot is found to have been completed and returned as a cast ballot, the voter cannot cast an in-person vote. A voter may deliver a mail-in absentee ballot to the office of the county clerk in the county where the voter is registered, to a secure ballot drop-box in the county where the voter is registered, or to a secure drop-off receptacle. If a signature match cannot be made to the cast ballot and voter, a notice will be provided to the voter.
Location: US-KY
Title: Ballot Standards And Election Security
Type: Final
Citations: 31 KAR 5:026
Agency: State Board of Elections
Publication Date: Feb 01, 2023
Summary: This rule states that a voter who is disabled may request a mail-in absentee ballot via an online accessible ballot portal, which will conform to web-accessible design standards. Further a voter, or an individual identified by KRS 117.0861(1), may deliver a mail-in absentee ballot to the office of the county clerk in the county where the voter is registered, to a secure ballot drop-box in the county where the voter is registered, or to a secure drop-off receptacle if one is maintained by the county clerk in the county where the voter is registered, rather than mailing the ballot via the United States Postal Service.
Location: US-KY
Title: Voter Registration
Type: Emergency
Citations: 950 CMR 57.00
Agency: Comptroller of the Commonwealth
Publication Date: Jul 07, 2023
Summary: This emergency rulemaking issued by the Massachusetts Comptroller of the Commonwealth includes updated references to Automatic Voter Registration at the Registry of Motor Vehicles and RMV verification of applicant information for those submitting a voter registration application through the online voter registration system.
Location: US-MA
Title: Early Voting Center Equipment And Materials; Judges' Manuals And Training
Type: Proposed
Citations: COMAR 33.02.03
Agency: Board of Elections
Publication Date: Jun 30, 2023
Summary: The State Board of Elections in Maryland has proposed several amendments and new regulations under various subtitles related to elections. The proposed changes include allowing the use of electronic copies and online training for election judges, updating election judge compensation, limiting the number of recount options for candidates, removing the option for early voting supplements for election judges, clarifying same-day registration during special elections, and providing flexibility in how the State Administrator provides notice of same-day registration. Public comments on the proposed regulations can be submitted until July 31, 2023.
Location: US-MD
Title: Definitions; Election Judges; Polling Places
Type: Proposed
Citations: COMAR 33.01.01
Agency: Board of Elections
Publication Date: Jul 28, 2023
Summary: The State Board of Elections proposes various changes to regulations under Title 33. The proposed actions include amending the definition of "historically disenfranchised communities," defining a returning election judge and their compensation, clarifying the scope of Subtitle 15 to align with Ch. 157, Acts of 2023, and defining the process for local boards to develop a polling place plan and change polling place locations. The proposed regulations have no significant economic impact and do not affect individuals with disabilities. The public can submit comments until August 28, 2023, and there is no public hearing scheduled.
Location: US-MD
Title: Online Absent Voter Ballot Application
Type: Final
Citations: R 168.31
Agency: Department Of State
Publication Date: Jan 15, 2023
Summary: This rule states that the online absent voter ballot application must provide an opportunity for a voter to use the voter's stored digital signature on file with the secretary of state on the application. In order to allow a voter to use the voter's stored digital signature, the online absent voter ballot application must verify the voter's identity and registration status by requesting the voter's name, complete driver's license or state ID number, full date of birth, last four digits of the voter's social security number, and eye color. For registered voters whose stored digital signature is on file with the secretary of state, the online absent voter ballot application must be signed with that stored digital signature. Registered voters without a stored digital signature on file with the secretary of state may provide a manual digital signature by uploading a photograph of their physical handwritten signature to the online absent voter ballot application. Completed online absent voter ballot applications, including digital signature, must be sent electronically through the Qualified Voter File to the city or township clerk for processing. An application signed using a stored digital signature or manual signature must be treated identically as an application signed with a physical handwritten signature.
Location: US-MI
Type: Notice
Agency: Office of the Secretary of State
Publication Date: Aug 21, 2023
Summary: The Minnesota Office of the Secretary of State is requesting comments on possible amendments to various rules governing election administration, voter registration, petitions, absentee ballots, and related matters. These potential rule changes align with recent statutory modifications and cover topics such as voter registration procedures, absentee and mail balloting, presidential nomination primaries, voting system testing, ballot preparation, and more. Interested parties, including voters, election officials, political parties, and advocacy groups, can provide written comments until October 20, 2023.
Location: US-MN
Title: Voting Equipment
Type: Proposed
Citations: 08 NCAC 04
Agency: State Board of Elections
Publication Date: Jul 03, 2023
Summary: The State Board of Elections in North Carolina has proposed a new rule to govern the examination of highly sensitive voting system information maintained in an escrow account. The purpose is to allow authorized individuals to review this information while protecting proprietary and competitive information belonging to vendors and preventing the disclosure of vulnerabilities that could compromise election results. The proposed rule outlines the criteria for authorized persons and the conditions of access to the escrowed information. The public hearing on this rule is scheduled for July 20, 2023, and the comment period ends on September 1, 2023.
Location: US-NC
Title: Electronic Poll Book Implementation
Type: Proposed
Citations: N.J.A.C. 15:10-7
Agency: Department of State
Publication Date: Nov 07, 2022
Summary: On March 30, 2021, the Governor signed a law that added early voting in certain primary and general elections in the State to the existing voting statutes. Early voting is conducted using electronic poll books and optical-scan voting machines that read hand-marked paper ballots or other voting machines that produce a voter-verifiable paper ballot. May 2, 2019, a law was enacted that allowed the county commissioners of registration and county boards of elections to choose to use electronic poll book systems for an election, so long as the system has been certified by the Secretary of State (Secretary). This rule includes the creation of a pilot program allowing the use of electronic poll book systems with certain requirements that must be met. For the Secretary to approve a commissioner of registration or board of election’s request to pilot electronic poll book systems and the specific type of electronic poll book the county plans to utilize, the commissioner of registration or board of elections must provide at least 2 electronic poll books per polling place, along with a backup paper polling register or signature copy register on the day of the election. Electronic poll book records must be retained for at least six years after the election.
Location: US-NJ
Title: Revises Provisions Relating To Ballots And Voting
Type: Proposed
Citations: NAC 293
Agency: Secretary of State
Publication Date: Jun 22, 2023
Location: US-NV
Title: Revises Provisions Relating To Ballot Duplicating Board And Voting Systems
Type: Proposed
Citations: NAC 293B
Agency: Secretary of State
Publication Date: Jun 22, 2023
Location: US-NV
Title: Revises Provisions Relating To Ballots And Voting
Type: Proposed
Citations: NAC 293
Agency: Secretary of State
Publication Date: Jul 19, 2023
Summary: This proposed rule enacts provisions requiring each county clerk to report to the Secretary of State after an election, setting forth certain requirements for conducting risk-limiting audits of elections, revising certain definitions relating to elections, and revising certain provisions relating to mail ballots and mail ballot central counting boards. It further revises provisions relating to postelection certification audits of VVPATs and eliminates certain obsolete references to voter preregistration and registration databases maintained by the county clerks. It eliminates certain obsolete provisions relating to absent ballots and makes various other changes relating to elections.
Location: US-NV
Title: Application For Voter Registration; Voter Outreach; Voter Registration List Maintenance
Type: Proposed
Citations: 230:15-3
Agency: State Election Board
Publication Date: Mar 01, 2023
Summary: This rule outlines provisions for applications for voter registration, voter outreach information, and the maintenance of voter registration lists.
Location: US-OK
Title: Absentee Voting Boards; Applications For Absentee Ballots; Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot; General Provisions; Processing Applications
Type: Proposed
Citations: 230:30-1
Agency: State Election Board
Publication Date: Mar 01, 2023
Summary: This rule outlines rules regarding absentee voting. It addresses Absentee Voting Boards, Applications For Absentee Ballots, provisions for Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot, General Provisions, and the processing of applications for absentee voting.
Location: US-OK
Title: Application For Voter Registration; Voter Outreach
Type: Final
Citations: 230:15-3
Agency: State Election Board
Publication Date: Aug 01, 2023
Summary: The Oklahoma State Election board has issued a final rulemaking. The updated rules outline provisions for applications for voter registration, voter outreach information, and the maintenance of voter registration lists.
Location: US-OK
Title: Absentee Voting Boards; Applications For Absentee Ballots; Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot; General Provisions; Processing Applications
Type: Final
Citations: 230:30-1
Agency: State Election Board
Publication Date: Aug 01, 2023
Summary: The Oklahoma State Election Board has issued a final rulemaking. Update rules affect absentee voting, including Absentee Voting Boards, applications for absentee ballots, provisions for federal write-in absentee ballot, and the processing of applications for absentee voting.
Location: US-OK
Title: Amends Vote By Mail Manual, Related Procedures, Forms, And Requirements For Conducting Elections.
Type: Final
Citations: 165-007-0030
Agency: Secretary of State
Publication Date: Oct 01, 2022
Summary: This rule amends the vote-by-mail manual and related procedures, forms, and requirements for elections. It provides updated and clear guidelines for county elections officials to follow when conducting an election. The rule is adopted as a temporary rule due to the timing of an upcoming election.
Location: US-OR
Title: Amends Vote By Mail Manual, Related Procedures, Forms, And Requirements For Conducting Elections.
Type: Proposed
Citations: 65-007-0030
Agency: Secretary of State
Publication Date: Apr 01, 2023
Summary: This rule provides updated guidelines for county elections officials to follow when conducting an election. Further, these revisions incorporate new rules by reference, clarify policy for newly enacted legislation passed in 2021 by the State Legislature, and correct technical and formatting changes. Specifically, the changes in the Vote By Mail Procedures manual clarify procedures for reviewing postal indicators on ballots and for providing notice to voters when they return an unsigned ballot. The changes to the manual require county elections officials to include additional information in their election security plans and provide a process by which they are to report results for certain elections.
Location: US-OR
Title: Amends Vote By Mail Manual, Related Procedures, Forms, And Requirements For Conducting Elections.
Type: Proposed
Citations: 165-007-0030
Agency: Secretary of State
Publication Date: Apr 01, 2023
Summary: This rule provides updated guidelines for county elections officials to follow when conducting an election. Further, these revisions incorporate new rules by reference, clarify policy for newly enacted legislation passed in 2021 by the State Legislature, and correct technical and formatting changes. Specifically, the changes in the Vote By Mail Procedures manual clarify procedures for reviewing postal indicators on ballots and for providing notice to voters when they return an unsigned ballot. The changes to the manual require county elections officials to include additional information in their election security plans and provide a process by which they are to report results for certain elections.
Location: US-OR
Title: Amends Manual Interpreting Ors 260.432 - Restrictions On Political Advocacy By Public Employees
Type: Proposed
Citations: 165-013-0030
Agency: Secretary of State
Publication Date: May 01, 2023
Summary: This finalized rulemaking issued by the Oregon Secretary of State extensively amends the existing manual titled 'Restrictions on Political Advocacy by Public Employees'. For example, it prohibits public employees from posting material to an official government social media account that contains certain prohibited political advocacy . This includes “re-tweeting” or sharing a post or news article that contains political advocacy. Posts or shared materials must meet impartiality requirements, even when sharing outside links, articles or materials. Further, it stipulates that a public employee may be acting in their official capacity even during their own personal time or when using personal equipment, when posting prohibited materials to an official agency website or social media account. This activity could constitute a violation of ORS 260.432
Location: US-OR
Title: Expansion Of Voter Registration Opportunities
Type: Executive Order
Citations: Executive Order 2022-03
Agency: Office of the Governor
Publication Date: Oct 01, 2022
Summary: This rule is implementing provisions of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA) and provides that the Secretary of the Commonwealth will administer a system where all offices in this Commonwealth that provide public assistance, each county clerk of orphan's court, including each marriage license bureau, all offices in this Commonwealth that provide State-funded programs primarily engaged in providing services to persons with disabilities and all armed forces recruitment centers are required to perform voter registration activities mandated by the NVRA. It also requires that the Secretary of the Commonwealth make voter registration forms available for distribution to other entities so that such entities can provide voter registration application materials to their constituents. The Department of State is the entity charged with implementing the Pennsylvania voter registration law and will provide a working group to support all entities impacted by this Executive Order, which will provide training and support on all implementation and reporting requirements.
Location: US-PA
Title: Rules And Regulations For Mail Ballot Certification Process
Type: Proposed
Citations: 410-RICR-20-00-23
Agency: Board of Elections
Publication Date: Sep 07, 2022
Summary: This rule establishes uniform guidelines for the certification and challenging of mail ballots. It included clarifying definitions of who and what is related to this measure. It details the verification of mail ballot envelopes, duties the Board must do pertaining to this, and what information must be included for this. It also goes over the required signature and verification comparison protocol election officials will do and what the protocol is in certain events. The rule further goes into standing and bases for challenges to mail ballots who may challenge these mail ballots and what statutory bases are eligible for challenges. All objections for certification of a ballot must be made first verbally to election officials who will separate the ballot measure. It outlines protocols for acceptance or disqualification of ballot, and protocols to remedy omissions or definicies of ballots.
Location: US-RI
Title: Ballot Chain Of Custody
Type: Proposed
Citations: R623-8
Agency: Lieutenant Governor
Publication Date: Dec 15, 2022
Summary: This rule establishes requirements and guidelines for election officials regarding ballot security, including the custody, documentation of custody, handling, processing, disposition, tabulation of ballots and retention practices.
Location: US-UT
Title: General Administration
Type: Final
Citations: 1VAC20-20
Agency: Department of Elections
Publication Date: Mar 13, 2023
Summary: This bill states that access to the Virginia Voter Registration System will be restricted to individuals enrolled in a security awareness training program or provided by the Virginia Department of Elections. Individuals who do not complete assigned training within the required timeframe may have their credentials revoked or limited as needed to ensure the security of the Virginia Voter Registration System.
Location: US-VA
Title: Conduct, Regulation, And Accommodation Of Election Observers
Type: Notice
Citations: EL 4
Agency: Wisconsin Elections Commission
Publication Date: Nov 21, 2022
Summary: This rule pertains to the conduct, regulation, and accommodation of Election Observers. The Commission is establishing rules that set forth standards of conduct applicable to persons who are present at a polling place, or elsewhere, for the purpose of observing all public aspects of an election. The Commission proposes to codify a permanent rule as required by Wis. Stat. § 7.41(5). This rule will expand upon items addressed in the statute that need clarification, such as what interactions are permissible between observers, voters, and election officials, how a chief inspector may restrict which areas are open to observers, and what may count as disruptive behavior.
Location: US-WI
Type: Final
Agency: Secretary of State
Publication Date: Oct 21, 2022
Summary: This rule establishes early processing produces for absentee ballots. Specifically, it details what the county clerk must do when they elect to prepare and process absentee ballots the Thursday or Friday immediately preceding election day. They must provide notice of the date, time, and place that absentee ballot preparation and processing will occur to the secretary of state, and the chairman of each political party, require all observers and election judges to complete a form attesting they are not a candidate, candidate’s committee chairperson, or treasurer before observing preparation and processing, accommodate public viewing of the early processing of absentee ballots, and designate an absentee ballot preparation and processing area. Further, election judges appointed for the purpose of early processing and preparation of absentee ballots will not allow the votes cast on a particular ballot to be readily viewable by any observer. The rule also outlines procedures and rules that observers of the early processing and preparation of absentee ballots and election judges appointed for the early processing and preparation of absentee ballots must follow.
Location: US-WY