Bill > SB5709

This bill makes several changes to irrigation district elections, including: 1. Allowing irrigation districts to conduct elections using only mail-in ballots instead of polling places and absentee ballots. The district can use its assessment roll, toll and charge roll, or other records to identify qualified electors and provide them with ballots. 2. Modifying the requirements for absentee/mail-in ballots, such as the use of security envelopes and the timeline for receiving ballots. 3. Updating the eligibility requirements for voting in irrigation districts, including allowing agents of corporations, partnerships, and other legal entities to vote on behalf of the land-owning entity. 4. Requiring irrigation districts that have designated their own treasurer to provide annual notice to qualified electors about elections, including information on declaring candidacy and requesting absentee ballots. 5. Establishing security requirements for ballot handling and processing, such as requiring two non-candidate individuals to be present when ballots are being controlled, and procedures for ballot box security and ballot tabulation. 6. Creating penalties, including gross misdemeanors, for violating the new election security requirements. Overall, the bill aims to modernize and standardize irrigation district election procedures, while adding new security measures for districts that manage their own elections.