- Central voter file contents (amends 16.1‑02‑12)
Lists required data elements to be maintained for each voter, including:
- Full legal name, residential and mailing addresses, unique identifier, precinct and district assignments, date of birth, driver or tribal ID, and other necessary information.
- Voting history retention changed from “four” years (or “Beginning in 2008, four”) to six years of voting history, including the political party associated with any primary ballot furnished under section 16.1‑11‑22.
Access to voter lists and reports (amends 16.1‑02‑15)
Clarifies that reports/lists from the central voter file may be made available to candidates, political parties, or political committees for election-related purposes only.
Explicitly permits release to those entities of the data items identified in subsections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 10 of 16.1‑02‑12 (e.g., name, addresses, unique identifier, eligibility/status, precinct, voting history, and other specified items).
Records designated “secured active” are exempt and not available to candidates/parties except for the limited items in subsections 1, 2, and 7 (name, addresses, and voting history).
Fees collected for producing lists/reports must be deposited in the Secretary of State’s general services operating fund.
Eligibility of organizations to nominate state and legislative candidates (amends 16.1‑03‑21)
Tightens/formalizes conditions under which a political organization may endorse or field candidates for president, Congress, statewide, or legislative offices.
Adds an explicit pathway to qualify an organization to have candidates appear in a separate primary ballot column via petition meeting the signature requirement in 16.1‑11‑30.
Absentee/mail ballot timing and application procedures (amends 16.1‑07‑05 and 16.1‑07‑06(1))
A voter may apply at any time in an election year for an absentee ballot; application forms must allow the applicant to indicate which elections in the calendar year they wish to vote absentee for.
If requesting a primary ballot under 16.1‑11‑22, the application must allow specifying which primary ballot is desired.
County auditors/clerks generally may not issue absentee ballots on election day except for emergency situations; election‑day absentee requests must be through an agent and agents may represent only one individual. Absentee ballots issued under emergency rules must be returned by 4:00 p.m. on election day.
The absentee/mail ballot application form (secretary of state‑prescribed or approved) must include specified fields such as applicant name, current residential address, mailing address, current contact phone (if available), the election requested, and, if applicable, the type of primary requested.
