Bill > SB6035

This bill establishes new requirements for county auditors and the Secretary of State to improve voting access for specific groups, including federally recognized Indian tribes, military personnel, overseas voters, and disabled voters. County auditors are mandated to schedule meetings with federally recognized Indian tribes to discuss election details, such as the placement and operation of voting centers and ballot drop boxes on tribal lands, and to coordinate on election officer recruitment. If direct contact with a tribe is difficult, the Secretary of State's office, through a designated tribal liaison, will assist in facilitating communication. Additionally, the Secretary of State will convene biennial meetings with tribes to address barriers to voting, including voter education, the use of tribal identification for online registration, assistance with tribal voter registration drives, and the establishment of ballot mailing sites and drop boxes on or near tribal lands. The bill also directs the Secretary of State to study the feasibility of an electronic ballot portal for "covered voters" (service, overseas, disabled voters, and tribal members residing on reservations) to return voted ballots, with strict security and privacy requirements, and to report findings and recommendations to the legislature. The provisions related to the electronic ballot portal study will expire after the report is submitted.