Senate Bill 293, approved in committee this week, would eliminate the state’s current four-day grace period for counting mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day. Under the measure, county boards of elections would only count absentee ballots if they are received by the close of polls on Election Day, regardless of when they were mailed.
Supporters of the bill frame it as a necessary step to ensure timely results and enhance public confidence in elections. They argue that the change would streamline vote counting and prevent uncertainty surrounding delayed tallies.
“This is about clarity and accountability,” said Senator Mark Dwyer, the bill’s sponsor. “If voters can get their ballots in on time, we can deliver faster, more transparent results.”
Opponents, however, warn that the proposal could disenfranchise thousands of voters, particularly those relying on mail delivery in rural areas or the military. Voting rights advocates also raise concerns about another provision in the bill that would tighten citizenship verification rules for voter registration. Critics argue that such changes could create unnecessary barriers for eligible voters.
“The state should be expanding access, not creating new hurdles,” said election lawyer Sarah Klein of the Voters First Coalition. “Mail delays are out of voters’ control, and this bill punishes people for that.”
If passed, the bill would align the state’s mail ballot policy with several others that have recently shortened deadlines in the name of election uniformity. The measure now heads to the full Senate for consideration, where a vote could come as soon as next week.