2001 Senate Bill 173 ↩

House Roll Call 718: Passed

To eliminate the straight party ticket option from election ballots. The bill makes several other changes, and is the subject of a 2002 general election referendum on whether it will go into effect. The official referendum ballot language describes the effects of the bill as follows: Eliminate "straight party" vote option on partisan general election ballots. Require Secretary of State to obtain training reports from local election officials. Require registered voters who do not appear on registration list to show picture identification before voting a challenged ballot. Require expedited canvass if presidential vote differential is under 25,000. Require ballot counting equipment to screen ballots for voting errors to ensure the accurate tabulation of absentee ballots. Permit voters in polls to correct errors. Provide penalties for stealing campaign signs or accepting payment for campaign work while being paid as a public employee to perform election duties.