Honorable Frank Corte, Jr., Chair, House Committee on Defense & Veterans' Affairs
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB71 by Corte (Relating to the establishment of a program to provide a ballot by electronic mail to military personnel serving overseas.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would require the Secretary of State to implement a program to provide a ballot by electronic mail to military personnel serving overseas. Counties may participate if approval is received from the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State shall also prescribe procedures to allow for digital signatures.
Local Government Impact
The bill would require the Secretary of State’s Office to implement a program to allow the use of electronic mail to provide ballot materials to members in the armed forces that are overseas for general elections for state and county officers. The bill would permit a county to participate in the program only if an early voting clerk makes a request to the Secretary of State to participate. It is assumed that a county would participate in the program only if sufficient funds were available. The costs to counties with a large military population that choose to participate in the program would likely incur costs associated with implementing the provisions of the bill.