2019 Senate Bill 297

Allow email return of military absentee ballots

Introduced in the Senate

May 7, 2019

Introduced by Sen. Paul Wojno (D-9)

To establish the identity verification system that would be used under Senate Bill 117's proposal to facilitate active duty military voters and their spouses to return their absentee ballots by email if sent from a military-issued email address, using a military “common access card” smart-card to verify identity. Specifically, this bill would define that common access card as the "United States Department of Defense verified electronic signature" as the certificate-based digital identification code issued to qualified personnel by the U.S. Department of Defense as part of the common access card, or its successor.

Referred to the Committee on Elections

May 23, 2019

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the bill pass.

Oct. 30, 2019

Passed in the Senate 36 to 1 (details)

Received in the House

Oct. 30, 2019

Referred to the Committee on Elections and Ethics

March 4, 2020

Reported without amendment

Refer to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means