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Bill

S 6253

Requires state and county boards of elections to post sample ballots online at least twelve days prior to the first day of early voting

2025 Regular Session Introduced by James Skoufis

Requires state and county election boards to post online sample ballots at least 12 days before early voting, boosting transparency and giving voters time to review ballot content.

COMMITTED TO RULES
0
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Bill Summary · S 6253

Legislative Bill Summary: S 6253

Overview

S 6253 would require state and county boards of elections to post sample ballots online at least twelve days prior to the first day of early voting. The bill is currently in the Rules committee stage, having progressed through several committee steps in 2025. The primary sponsor is Senator James Skoufis. A companion Assembly bill is A 6741, with related S 7426 from a prior session.

What the bill would do

  • Mandate online posting of sample ballots by all state and county boards of elections.
  • Establish a minimum lead time: the sample ballots must be posted at least twelve days before the first day of early voting.
  • Intended effect: improve transparency and voter access by allowing voters to review ballot contents well before early voting begins.

Key provisions (as indicated by the bill’s title and status)

  • Scope: Applies to both state-level boards of elections and county boards of elections.
  • Timing: Sample ballots must be publicly posted online no later than twelve days before early voting starts.
  • Public accessibility: Information must be available on official election websites (and potentially in accessible formats), though exact formatting requirements are not detailed in the provided summary.

Who would be affected

  • State Boards of Elections
  • County Boards of Elections
  • Voters: benefit from earlier, online access to sample ballots
  • Election administration: would need to ensure timely posting and maintenance of online ballot materials

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduced: March 7, 2025
  • Committee progression: Referred to Elections on introduction; subsequently amended and recomitted to Elections; various reports (1st and 2nd) and movement to third reading noted.
  • Current status: COMMITTED TO RULES (as of June 2025), indicating it is awaiting scheduling in the Rules calendar before possibly moving to floor consideration.
  • Related actions: Print version 6253A indicates an amended or companion version; S 7426 and A 6741 are related/predecessor or companion measures.

Legislative history and sponsorship

  • Primary sponsor: Senator James Skoufis
  • Related bills: S 7426 (prior-session), A 6741 (companion)

Potential impact and considerations

  • Positives: Increased transparency; more time for voters to study ballot layout and wording; could reduce last-minute confusion before voting.
  • Considerations: Details on implementation (format requirements, translations/language access, accessibility standards, and enforcement) are not provided here. If enacted, agencies would need to establish clear processes for timely posting and ongoing updates.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to incorporate the exact text of the bill’s provisions (once the official bill language is available) or provide a side-by-side comparison with the companion Assembly bill A 6741.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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