Bill > A00370

This bill establishes a temporary state commission on the electoral process, comprised of 13 members appointed by legislative leaders and the governor, to examine and recommend improvements to voting procedures, with a specific focus on new voting technologies. The commission will have the power to employ staff, hold public hearings, and request resources from state agencies, though its members will not be compensated but will receive reimbursement for expenses. The bill also appropriates $25,000,000 to the state board of elections for grants to local election boards to enhance training for poll workers, improve voting machine maintenance, support voter registration efforts like the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act for voting, and improve the process for student voter registration and voting. The commission's work is set to conclude by January 1, 2017, with preliminary and final reports due to the governor and legislature.