PRINCIPLE III :

Restore Election Day, Qualify Absentee Voters; Require Reporting of Results on Election Night

Principle III Checklist for Election Integrity


A. In-Person Voting on Election Day

  1. Designate Election Day as the primary voting period for in-person participation, with all eligible registered voters casting ballots at their assigned neighborhood precinct polling places on the designated Election Day.
  2. Restore a secure, precinct-based election model as the standard for in-person voting to enhance chain of custody, auditability, transparency, and public trust.


B. Limit In-Person Early Voting to 7 Days

  1. Restrict in-person early voting to a maximum of seven (7) days preceding Election Day, ending no later than on the Friday or Saturday before Election Day.
  2. Establish specified hours for early voting and assign all precincts to designated locations during early voting, rather than county-wide voting centers, to maintain security and manageability.
  3. Require early in-person voting to follow strict chain-of-custody and verification procedures similar to Election Day, with ballots securely stored until tabulation on Election Night.
  4. Prohibit extended or indefinite early voting periods that span weeks or months, to minimize administrative risks, chain-of-custody vulnerabilities, and voter confusion.
  5. Prohibit mobile or traveling voting centers.
  6. Prohibit ballots on demand.
  7. Ensure that ballots, pre-printed on secure paper, are prepared and distributed to each early voting location in numbers sufficient to accommodate the registered voters assigned to each early voting location, and ensure proper chain of custody for all ballots distributed and/or used during early voting.  
  8. All early voting shall be treated as Election Day voting for purposes of application of election statutes, including but not limited to procedures for observers. 


C. Vote in Precinct Polling Places, Limit Size of Precincts so All Can Vote on Election Day

  1. Mandate that all in-person voting occur at physical precinct polling places assigned based on the voter's residential eligible voting address, with advance assignment to ensure proper ballot preparation and distribution.
  2. Cap precinct size at a level (e.g., approximately 1,500 eligible voters or as needed) that allows all assigned voters to vote on Election Day without excessive wait times or capacity issues, promoting efficient processing and accessibility.
  3. If multiple precincts share a single physical venue / polling location, require separate processing areas, distinct ballot handling, and independent tabulation/reporting per precinct to preserve chain of custody by precinct for post-election reconciliation and audit purposes.


D. Establish Criteria for Eligibility to Vote Absentee

  1. Replace no-excuse absentee voting with excuse-required (excuse-only) absentee voting, limiting eligibility to specific verifiable categories such as active-duty military/overseas voters, voters with disabilities preventing in-person attendance, illness or hospitalization, necessary absence from the jurisdiction on Election Day and during early voting, or other bona fide hardships, attested under penalty of perjury when applying to vote absentee.
  2. Require absentee ballot applicants to specify their qualifying excuse, with election officials verifying eligibility before issuing absentee ballots.
  3. Require return of absentee ballots to be by USPS mail or commercial or courier mail, or by hand-delivery by the voter, an immediate family member, a designated caregiver, who shall sign a delivery return affidavit upon delivery of the absentee ballot.
  4. Prohibit the use of drop boxes for return of absentee ballots. 
  5. Prohibit the use of any permanent absentee voter lists.

E. Require Verification of Identity, Citizenship, and Residency of All Voters, Using Proper ID; No Vote Can Be Counted Until Verified Eligible Voter

  1. Mandate acceptable photo ID (confirming identity, citizenship, and residency) for all voting methods, including in-person and absentee, with no ballot processed or counted until full verification against voter registration records.

F. Eliminate Same Day Registration

  1. Prohibit same-day or Election Day voter registration in all circumstances, requiring registration to close well in advance (e.g., 30 days before early voting or 45 days before Election Day) to allow full verification of eligibility, residency, and citizenship.
  2. Ensure no on-site registration additions occur during voting periods, with all registrations subject to pre-verification of citizenship, identity, and residency at election offices or DMVs only.
  3. Reject any provisional or emergency registration mechanisms that would bypass advance verification requirements on or near Election Day.

G. Processing and Tabulation of Absentee Ballots Must Be Conducted in Public

  1. Require all steps of absentee ballot processing—including envelope opening, ID verification, ballot removal, and tabulation—to occur in public, with meaningful observation by bipartisan/multipartisan observers permitted throughout.
  2. Establish designated public areas or procedures for observable absentee handling, with detailed chain-of-custody logs, video recording (where feasible), and public records access to enhance accountability.
  3. Mandate that absentee tabulation integrates with overall public observation requirements, ensuring no closed-door or unobserved processing occurs.


H. Absentee Ballots Must Be Received by Close of Polls on Election Day, No Ballot ‘Curing’ or Extended Deadlines for ANY Ballots

  1. Require all absentee ballots (including mail-in and UOCAVA ballots) to be physically received by the election office by the close of polls on Election Day to be eligible for counting. 
  2. Prohibit acceptance, curing (e.g., for signature mismatches, missing ID, or defects), or counting of any ballots received after polls close, with no grace periods, postmark extensions, or late-arrival allowances.
  3. Enforce requirements for all ballots to be received by the close of polls on Election Day, rejecting late ballots outright to ensure finite voting periods and Election Night results. 

 I. Absentee Ballots May Be Processed and Verified in Advance, but Not Tabulated Until n Election Day and Reported on Election Night

  1. Permit advance verification and processing of absentee ballot eligibility (e.g., voter status, signature or other ID match, excuse validation) upon receipt in the election office, with secure storage, retention and chain-of-custody of all absentee ballots and envelopes.
  2. Prohibit any tabulation or counting of absentee ballots prior to opening of polls on Election Day. 
  3. Prohibit reporting of tabulation of absentee ballots until after the close of polls on Election Day 
  4. Mandate that verified absentee ballots be integrated into precinct-level tabulation and publicly reported with in-person early and election day voting on Election Night.
  5. Mandate that once tabulation of ballots has commenced, counting shall continue until completed.
  6. The chief state election official shall publicly announce at 5 pm the day before Election Day the total number of absentee ballots, including UOCAVA ballots, issued by all election jurisdictions in the state.
  7. The chief state election official shall publicly announce by midnight on Election Night the number of absentee ballots received by all election jurisdictions remaining to be tabulated as of the close of the polls on Election Day. 
  8. Unofficial election results shall be published and reported as soon as tabulation is completed after the close of polls on Election Day, with the report of outstanding absentee ballots remaining to be counted.  

 J. Special Procedures for Absentee Voters in Healthcare or Residential Facilities and Voting by Homeless Persons

  1. States should establish a process for protection of voting rights of vulnerable voters to include people who are:
  2. Homeless
  3. Residents of medical or rehabilitation facilities and hospitals
  4. Residents of group homes for mentally disabled persons who are not mentally incapacitated
  5. Residents of facilities for elderly citizens
  6. States should prohibit the ability of advocacy groups to steal the votes of mentally handicapped persons, residents of memory care units, and other vulnerable voters.

  7. States should establish special voting deputies for delivery of absentee ballots to residents of the types of facilities described above and protect the process of absentee voting by eligible residents of the facilities, by requiring designated, bipartisan teams to:
  8. Deliver ballots, observe the voting process by each voter, providing assistance and instructions without advising the vulnerable voter on candidate selection or responses to ballot questions
  9. Collect and/or review the photo ID or other eligibility documents required under state law for voting
  10. Observe the voter’s insertion of the completed ballot in a security envelope and deposit into an official ballot container that cannot be opened by the bipartisan team members
  11. Return the secured container with completed ballots to the election office
  12. Require bipartisan teams to be responsible for maintaining chain of custody of each ballot issued and completed, and preparation of the completed log documenting proper chain of custody.
  13. Allow homeless voters to register and vote in person in an election office and not at an advocacy center or homeless shelter, such that no political party or advocacy organization can improperly influence or apply pressure to homeless voters before or during the voting process.  


Model Laws for Principle III: 

Restore Election Day, Qualify Absentee Voters; Require Reporting of Results on Election Night

Election Day should be the central, visible moment when most citizens cast their ballots and learn the results. This Principle provides Model Laws to restore Election Day as the anchor of in‑person voting, strictly qualify and manage absentee voting, and require timely, precinct‑level reporting of results on Election Night. Together, these measures reduce opportunities for confusion or manipulation and strengthen public confidence in the outcome.


Index – Model Laws for Principle III: Restore Election Day and Election Night Results

  1. Election Day and Limited Early Voting Act
Restores Election Day as the primary in‑person voting period, limits early voting to a short, defined window, and applies full Election Day chain‑of‑custody and observer rules to all early voting.

  2. Neighborhood Precinct‑Based Voting Restoration Act 
Re‑establishes neighborhood, precinct‑based voting for both Election Day and early voting, restricts county‑wide vote centers, and requires ballots, tabulation, and reporting to be organized and reconciled at the precinct level.

  3. Absentee Voting Qualification and Election Night Reporting Act
Returns absentee voting to an excuse‑required system, sets strict rules for eligibility, handling, and deadlines, and requires valid absentee ballots to be received by Election Day and included in precinct‑level results reported on Election Night.

  4. Vulnerable Voter Protection and Special Voting Deputies Act
Protects vulnerable and facility‑based voters through bipartisan special voting deputies, strong chain‑of‑custody requirements, and clear prohibitions on undue influence and ballot harvesting.



Model Law 1: Election Day and Limited Early Voting Act

Section 1. Short Title.

This Act may be cited as the "Election Day and Limited Early Voting Act."


Section 2. Election Day as Primary Voting Period.

(A) Election Day shall be the primary voting period for in‑person participation in all elections held in this State.

(B) All eligible registered voters shall be assigned to a precinct polling place based on their residential address and shall cast their in‑person ballots during the early voting period or on Election Day using the ballot style of their home precinct, except as otherwise provided by law for absentee or provisional voters.

(C) The State shall maintain a secure, precinct‑based election model as the standard for in‑person voting to enhance chain of custody, auditability, transparency, and public confidence in election results.


Section 3. In‑Person Early Voting.

(A) In‑person early voting shall be a maximum of seven (7) consecutive days immediately preceding Election Day, ending no later than the Friday or Saturday before Election Day.

(B) The [Chief Election Official] shall establish specified hours for in‑person early voting during the early voting period.

(C) During the early voting period, each county shall conduct in‑person early voting only at designated early voting locations. Early voting locations may serve more than one precinct, but each voter shall be processed using the voter’s home‑precinct record and ballot style.


Section 4. Chain‑of‑Custody and Ballot Security for Early Voting.

(A) Early in‑person voting shall follow chain‑of‑custody, verification, and observer procedures substantially similar to those in effect on Election Day.

(B) All ballots cast during in‑person early voting shall be securely stored, with sealed ballot containers and documented chain‑of‑custody logs, until tabulation on Election Night.

(C) Ballots used during early voting shall be pre‑printed on secure paper and prepared in numbers sufficient to accommodate the registered voters assigned to each early voting location. All distribution, use, and return of ballots shall be documented to preserve chain of custody.


Section 5. Early Voting Practices.

(A) The use of extended or indefinite early voting periods shall span no more than seven (7) days, or that begin earlier than [X] days before Election Day..

(B) Mobile, traveling, or temporary voting centers that are not permanent or designated early voting locations shall not be utilized..

(C) The use of "ballot‑on‑demand" printing systems for in‑person early voting or Election Day voting shall not be used, except as specifically authorized for emergency replacement ballots under rules adopted by the [Chief Election Official] for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. 


Section 6. Treatment of Early Voting as Election Day Voting.

(A) For purposes of application of election statutes, including but not limited to procedures for observers, challenges, and chain‑of‑custody requirements, all in‑person early voting shall be treated as Election Day voting.

(B) Observers shall be afforded substantially the same rights to observe in‑person early voting as they have to observe in‑person voting on Election Day.


Section 7. Implementation.

(A) The [Chief Election Official] may promulgate rules necessary to implement this Act, including standards for early voting sites, hours, and chain‑of‑custody documentation.

(B) This Act shall be codified in [Title __, Chapter__ of the State Election Code], and any conflicting provision of law is repealed to the extent of the conflict.

(C) This Act shall take effect on [date], and shall apply to all elections held on or after that date.



Model Law 2: Neighborhood Precinct‑Based Voting Restoration Act

Section 1. Short Title.

This Act may be cited as the "Neighborhood Precinct‑Based Voting Restoration Act."


Section 2. Precinct‑Based Voting for Election Day and Early Voting.

(A) All in‑person Election Day voting shall occur at physical precinct polling places to which voters are assigned based on their residential address.
(B) All in‑person early voting shall be conducted using ballot styles, voter lists, and chain‑of‑custody procedures that maintain the precinct assignment of each voter, so that every early ballot is issued, recorded, stored, and reported back to the voter’s home precinct.
(C) Voters shall cast in‑person Election Day ballots only at the polling place for the precinct in which they reside, except as otherwise provided by law for provisional or emergency ballots.
(D) During any in‑person early voting period, counties may consolidate physical locations for administrative efficiency, but each voter shall be processed and recorded under the voter’s home precinct, with ballots packaged, transported, tabulated, and reported by precinct.


Section 3. Precinct Size and Shared Locations.

(A) The [Chief Election Official] shall establish precinct‑size standards to ensure that all assigned voters can reasonably be served during early voting and on Election Day without excessive wait times or capacity issues. As a guideline, each precinct should serve approximately 1,500 eligible voters, or such other number, as necessary to maintain efficient processing and accessibility.
(B) If multiple precincts share a single physical location for early voting or Election Day voting, election officials shall:

(1) Provide clearly separated check‑in processes (including separate electronic or paper pollbooks) for each precinct, or a system that assigns each voter’s ballot and record to the correct precinct at the time of check‑in;
(2) Maintain distinct ballot styles, ballot boxes or containers, and chain‑of‑custody logs for each precinct; and
(3) Ensure that ballots, ballot images, and results are not commingled across precincts, and that each ballot can be attributed to the correct precinct for reconciliation and audit.


Section 4. Use of Vote Centers and Centralized In‑Person Voting.

(A) A county or local jurisdiction shall not replace neighborhood precinct polling places with county‑wide or jurisdiction‑wide vote centers that allow any voter to cast a ballot at any location without preserving the voter’s assignment to a specific precinct, except as explicitly authorized by statute for emergencies.
(B) Any existing authorization for "convenience voting centers," "county‑wide polling places," or similar models is repealed or amended to the extent that it:

(1) Allows voters to cast in‑person ballots that are not assigned to a specific precinct; or
(2) Results in ballots being tabulated or reported only at a central or county‑wide level without precinct‑level reconciliation and reporting.


Section 5. Precinct‑Level Tabulation, Reporting, and Chain of Custody.

(A) Ballots cast in each precinct, whether during early voting or on Election Day, shall be kept as a distinct unit for purposes of tabulation, reconciliation, and audit.
(B) Where tabulation equipment is deployed at polling places, ballots shall be scanned and reported by precinct; where ballots are transported to a central tabulation location, they shall remain clearly identified and segregated by precinct, with separate containers, logs, and results for each precinct.
(C) Official and unofficial election results shall be reported by precinct, and precinct‑level results shall be made available to the public as soon as practicable after tabulation.
(D) Each precinct shall maintain its own list of voters, ballot inventory, and chain‑of‑custody documentation, including reconciliation of ballots issued, spoiled, unused, and counted, for all early voting days and Election Day.


Section 6. Observers and Transparency.

(A) Observers shall be permitted to observe precinct‑level voting, closing procedures, and the sealing of ballot containers, consistent with protection of ballot secrecy and orderly conduct of the polls.
(B) The [Chief Election Official] may adopt rules governing observer access that ensure meaningful observation without disruption of voting.


Section 7. Implementation.

(A) The [Chief Election Official] may promulgate rules necessary to implement this Act, including standards for precinct boundaries, shared polling locations, and precinct‑level tabulation.
(B) This Act shall be codified in [Title __, Chapter__ of the State Election Code], and any conflicting provision of law is repealed to the extent of the conflict.
(C) This Act shall take effect on [date], and each county or local jurisdiction shall adjust precinct boundaries and polling place assignments to comply with this Act no later than [election cycle].


Model Law 3: Absentee Voting Qualification and Election Night Reporting Act

Section 1. Short Title.

This Act may be cited as the "Absentee Voting Qualification and Election Night Reporting Act."


Section 2. Excuse‑Required Absentee Voting Eligibility.

(A) No‑excuse absentee voting is repealed. Absentee voting shall be permitted only for voters who meet one or more of the following verifiable categories:

(1) Active‑duty members of the armed forces of the United States and their eligible family members stationed away from their residence;
(2) United States citizens residing temporarily or permanently outside the United States;
(3) Voters with a disability or medical condition that prevents in‑person attendance at the polls during the early voting period and on Election Day;
(4) Voters who will be absent from the jurisdiction during the entire early voting period and on Election Day due to work, education, or other necessary travel; or
(5) Other bona fide hardships specified by statute or by rule of the [Chief Election Official], attested to under penalty of perjury

(B) An applicant for an absentee ballot shall specify the qualifying excuse on the absentee ballot application, and election officials shall verify eligibility before issuing an absentee ballot


Section 3. Unsolicited Pre-Populated Applications for Absentee Ballots Prohibited. 


(A) No individual, group, or party shall provide to a voter or ‘resident’ an absentee ballot application containing information pre-populated or pre-filled by the third party. Nothing in this section shall be interpreted to prohibit a state or local election authority from assisting an individual voter in completing an application for an absentee ballot. 

(B) It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly distribute an absentee ballot application to a voter which is prefilled with the voter’s name or any other information required on the application form. 

(C) Assistance in the completion of any absentee ballot application is prohibited unless expressly requested or authorized by the voter, seeking the assistance from an immediate relative or a state or local election official.

(D) Violations involving the payment by a third-party to prepare and pre-fill or pre-populate voter information in an absentee ballot application, unless specifically requested as described in this section, shall be punishable as a Class C felony.


Section 4. Return and Delivery of Absentee Ballots.

(A) Absentee ballots shall be returned only by:

(1) United States Postal Service mail;

(2) Commercial or courier delivery services; or

(3) Hand‑delivery by the voter, an immediate family member, or a designated caregiver.

(B) Any person other than the voter who hand‑delivers an absentee ballot shall sign a delivery affidavit under penalty of perjury, stating the person's name, address, relationship to the voter, and a certification that the ballot was not altered or coerced.
(C) There shall not be any use of unattended absentee ballot drop boxes for the return of absentee ballots.
(D) There shall not be any use of permanent or ongoing absentee voter lists that automatically mail ballots to voters for future elections without a new request and verification.


Section 5. Verification of Eligibility and Prohibition on Same‑Day Registration.

(A) No ballot may be processed or counted unless the voter's identity, citizenship, residency, and registration status have been fully verified under state law and matched to the voter registration record.
(B) Same‑day or Election Day voter registration shall not be utilized in any circumstances.
(C) Voter registration shall close not less than [X] days before the first day of early voting or [Y] days before Election Day, whichever is earlier, to allow election officials to complete verification of eligibility, residency, and citizenship for all applicants.
(D) No on‑site registration additions shall occur during any voting period. All registrations must be submitted to and processed by election offices or driver’s license agencies before the (State) registration deadline.
(E) Provisional or emergency registration mechanisms that bypass advance verification requirements on or near Election Day may not be validated.


Section 6. Public Processing of Absentee Ballots.

(A) All steps of absentee ballot processing—including receipt, logging, envelope inspection, identity and eligibility verification, opening of envelopes, and preparation for tabulation—shall occur in public, at designated locations, with meaningful observation by representatives of political parties, candidates, and civic organizations.
(B) Election officials shall establish designated public areas or procedures that allow observers to view absentee ballot processing at a distance that permits meaningful observation without compromising ballot secrecy.
(C) Election officials shall maintain detailed chain‑of‑custody logs for absentee ballots and, where feasible, video record the processing of absentee ballots. Such records shall be public records, subject to inspection under [State Public Records Law], consistent with protection of ballot secrecy.


Section 7. Receipt Deadline and Prohibition on Ballot Curing.

(A) To be counted, all absentee ballots, including ballots from military and overseas voters, must be physically received by the appropriate election office no later than the close of polls on Election Day.
(B) Absentee ballots received after the close of polls on Election Day shall not be counted, regardless of postmark or mailing date. No grace periods, postmark rules, or late‑arrival allowances shall apply.
(C) Post‑election "curing" of absentee or mail ballots for defects such as missing or mismatched signatures, missing identification, or incomplete information is prohibited.
(D) Election officials may notify voters of deficiencies identified before Election Day to allow the voter to correct the issue or vote in person, but no deficiencies may be cured after the close of polls on Election Day.


Section 8. Advance Processing and Election Night Tabulation.

(A) Election officials may begin verifying and processing absentee ballots upon receipt, including:

(1) Confirming voter registration status and eligibility;
(2) Verifying identity, citizenship, and residency;
(3) Validating any required excuse for absentee voting; and
(4) Inspecting envelopes for compliance with statutory requirements.

(B) Verified absentee ballots shall be securely stored in sealed containers with documented chain‑of‑custody until tabulation begins.
(C) No absentee ballot may be tabulated or counted before the opening of polls on Election Day.
(D) No partial or preliminary results from absentee ballot tabulation shall be reported to the public or to candidates until after the close of polls on Election Day.
(E) Verified absentee ballots shall be included in precinct‑level tabulation and reported with in‑person early and Election Day votes on Election Night.
(F) Once tabulation of ballots has commenced on Election Day, counting shall continue without interruption until completed.


Section 9. Public Reporting of Absentee Ballot Volumes.

(A) The [Chief Election Official] shall publicly announce, no later than 5:00 p.m. on the day before Election Day, the total number of absentee ballots, including ballots for military and overseas voters, that have been issued by all election jurisdictions in the State.
(B) The [Chief Election Official] shall publicly announce, no later than midnight on Election Night, the total number of absentee ballots received by all election jurisdictions as of the close of polls and remaining to be tabulated.
(C) Unofficial election results shall be published and reported as soon as tabulation is completed after the close of polls on Election Day, together with a report of any absentee ballots remaining to be counted.


Section 10. Special Procedures for Vulnerable and Homeless Voters.

(A) The State shall establish procedures to protect the voting rights of:

(1) Homeless individuals;
(2) Residents of medical or rehabilitation facilities and hospitals;
(3) Residents of group homes for persons with mental disabilities who are not adjudicated mentally incapacitated; and
(4) Residents of facilities for elderly citizens.

(B) The State shall not allow any person, group, or organization from exerting undue influence or effectively capturing the ballots of mentally incapacitated individuals, residents of memory‑care units, or other vulnerable voters.
(C) The [Chief Election Official] shall establish a program of special voting deputies to deliver absentee ballots to residents of the facilities described in subsection (A). Each bipartisan or multipartisan team of special voting deputies shall:

(1) Deliver ballots to eligible residents and provide assistance and instructions without advising on candidate or ballot‑measure choices;
(2) Review the photo identification or other eligibility documents required under state law for each voter;
(3) Observe the voter’s insertion of the completed ballot into a security envelope and deposit the envelope into a secure ballot container that may not be opened by team members; and
(4) Return the secured container to the election office.

(D) Special voting deputies shall maintain chain of custody for each ballot issued and returned and shall complete a log documenting each step in the process.
(E) Homeless voters may register and vote in person at an election office or designated government facility, but not at advocacy centers or homeless shelters, in order to minimize undue influence by any political party or advocacy organization.


Section 11. Implementation.

(A) The [Chief Election Official] may promulgate rules necessary to implement this Act.
(B) This Act shall be codified in [Title __, Chapter__ of the State Election Code], and any conflicting provision of law is repealed to the extent of the conflict.
(C) This Act shall take effect on [date], and shall apply to all elections held on or after that date.



Model Law 4: Vulnerable Voter Protection and Special Voting Deputies Act


Section 1. Short Title.

This Act may be cited as the "Vulnerable Voter Protection and Special Voting Deputies Act."


Section 2. Purpose.

The purpose of this Act is to protect the voting rights of vulnerable eligible voters while preventing undue influence, vote theft, or ballot harvesting in facilities and settings where voters may be dependent on others for care or housing.


Section 3. Protected Voter Classes and Facilities.

(A) The protections of this Act apply to the following eligible voters:

(1) Homeless individuals;
(2) Residents of medical or rehabilitation facilities and hospitals;
(3) Residents of group homes for persons with mental disabilities who are not adjudicated mentally incapacitated; and
(4) Residents of facilities for elderly citizens, including nursing homes, assisted living, and memory‑care units.

(B) For purposes of this Act, “facility” means any institution, residence, or program that houses or provides ongoing care to the voters described in subsection (A)(2)–(4).


Section 4. Prohibition on Undue Influence and Vote Theft.

(A) No person, organization, or entity may:

(1) Coerce, pressure, or unduly influence a protected voter’s choices on any ballot;
(2) Complete or alter a ballot for a protected voter except as lawful assistance requested by the voter and provided in the voter’s presence; or
(3) Collect or return ballots from protected voters in a manner that circumvents the procedures established in this Act.

(B) Any violation of this section shall be subject to civil penalties, and knowing or intentional violations may be prosecuted as election offenses under [State Election Code citation].


Section 5. Special Voting Deputies Program.

(A) The [Chief Election Official] shall establish a program of Special Voting Deputies (SVDs) to administer absentee voting for residents of facilities described in Section 3(A)(2)–(4).
(B) Special Voting Deputies shall serve in bipartisan or multipartisan teams of two or more individuals appointed from lists submitted by the major political parties and other qualifying organizations, as provided by rule.
(C) Special Voting Deputies shall receive training on:

(1) Voter eligibility and identification requirements;
(2) Permissible and impermissible forms of voter assistance;
(3) Confidentiality and ballot‑secrecy protections; and
(4) Chain‑of‑custody procedures for ballots and related materials.


Section 6. Duties of Special Voting Deputies.

(A) When administering absentee voting in a facility, Special Voting Deputies shall:

(1) Deliver absentee ballots to eligible residents;
(2) Provide neutral instructions on how to mark and return the ballot;
(3) Provide assistance to a voter only at the voter’s request and without suggesting or advocating choices for any candidate or ballot measure;
(4) Review the photo identification or other eligibility documents required under state law for each voter;
(5) Observe each voter insert the completed ballot into the security envelope and place the envelope into an official ballot container that may not be opened by the deputies; and
(6) Return the sealed ballot container, along with required logs and forms, directly to the election office.

(B) Special Voting Deputies shall not:

(1) Mark a ballot for a voter unless the voter is physically unable to do so and expressly directs the deputy how to mark the ballot;
(2) Pre‑select candidates or ballot‑measure positions on any ballot; or
(3) Remove unvoted ballots from the facility except as required to account for spoiled or unused ballots in chain‑of‑custody records.


Section 7. Chain‑of‑Custody and Documentation.

(A) Special Voting Deputies shall maintain a written log documenting:

(1) The date and time of their visit to each facility;
(2) The names of all voters to whom ballots were issued;
(3) Whether each voter cast a ballot, declined to vote, or was unavailable;
(4) The number of ballots issued, spoiled, unused, and returned; and
(5) The time and manner in which completed ballots and materials were returned to the election office.

(B) The ballot container used in each facility shall be sealed and labeled with the facility name, date, and the names of the Special Voting Deputies responsible for the container.
(C) Logs and related documentation shall be retained as part of the election record and made available for inspection and audit under [State Election Code / public records law], consistent with voter‑privacy protections.


Section 8. Voting Procedures for Homeless Voters.

(A) Homeless voters shall be permitted to register and vote in person at an election office or other government facility designated by the [Chief Election Official].
(B) Homeless voters shall not be required or permitted to register or vote at an advocacy center, homeless shelter, or partisan organization’s office, in order to minimize potential undue influence and to preserve neutrality in the voting environment.
(C) The [Chief Election Official] may adopt rules allowing homeless voters to use a descriptive location or shelter address for residency purposes, consistent with state law, while still requiring registration and voting to occur at a neutral government location.


Section 9. Rulemaking and Enforcement.

(A) The [Chief Election Official] may promulgate rules necessary to implement this Act, including:

(1) Appointment and training of Special Voting Deputies;
(2) Scheduling of facility visits; and
(3) Standards for access, observation, and security within facilities.

(B) Violations of this Act may be investigated by the [Attorney General / appropriate enforcement authority] and prosecuted or enforced under existing election‑law penalty provisions, in addition to any civil remedies created by this Act.


Section 10. Implementation.

(A) This Act shall be codified in [Title __, Chapter__ of the State Election Code], and any conflicting provision of law is repealed to the extent of the conflict.
(B) This Act shall take effect on [date], and the Special Voting Deputies program shall be operational no later than [first statewide election date] following the effective date.


Principle 3 Appendix



Short, focused early‑voting models


Kentucky in‑person absentee (3 days).

https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=51074

Oklahoma in‑person absentee (3–5 days).

https://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/DeliverDocument.asp?CiteID=435047

Louisiana early voting (7 days).

https://www.legis.la.gov/Legis/Law.aspx?d=81354

Missouri – RSMo § 115.279(2) (effective 2022): “Notwithstanding section 115.284, no individual, group, or party shall solicit a voter into obtaining an absentee ballot application. Absentee ballot applications shall not have the information prefilled prior to it being provided to a voter. Nothing in this section shall be interpreted to prohibit a state or local election authority from assisting an individual voter.”

Alabama – Code of Alabama § 17-11-4(b)(2): “It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly distribute an absentee ballot application to a voter which is prefilled with the voter’s name or any other information required on the application form.” Violations involving payment or third-party prefilling can rise to a Class C felony.

South Dakota – SDCL § 12-19-1.3: “No person may distribute an absentee ballot application to a voter that is prefilled with the voter’s name and registration address.” (With limited exceptions for authorized assistance and election officials assisting upon voter request.)

Georgia – O.C.G.A. § 21-2-381(a)(1)(C)(ii) (as amended by SB 202, 2021; upheld by federal court in 2025): Prohibits any person or entity (other than certain authorized relatives or assistants) from sending an elector an absentee ballot application that is prefilled with the elector’s required information. The court recognized that prefilled applications “sparked confusion and concern about voter fraud, especially when the prefilled information was incorrect.”


Research and commentary


White House Executive Order 14248 – “Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections.”

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/03/preserving-and-protecting-the-integrity-of-american-elections/

Heritage – “The Costs of Early Voting.”

https://www.heritage.org/election-integrity/report/the-costs-early-voting#_ftnref1

Burden et al., “Election Laws, Mobilization, and Turnout” (AJPS, 2014).

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ajps.12063/full

U.S. Election Project – turnout data.

http://www.electproject.org/home/voter-turnout/voter-turnout-data

Kontorovich & McGinnis – “The Case Against Early Voting.”

http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/01/early-voting-the-case-against-102748

Honest Elections Project – 2024 reform report (early/mail sections).

https://honestelections.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/HEP_2024-Election-Reform-Report_v4.pdf

Voting Integrity Institute – early voting issue brief.

https://votingintegrityinstitute.org/issues/early-voting/

Ballotpedia – arguments on no‑excuse absentee/mail‑in voting.

https://ballotpedia.org/Arguments_for_and_against_no-excuse_absentee/mail-in_voting

Empire Center – no‑excuse mail‑in voting in New York.

https://www.empirecenter.org/publications/history-and-tradition-weigh-against-no-excuse-mail-in-voting-in-new-york/


Georgia-specific model on drop boxes and absentee security


Georgia S.B. 202 (2021) – restricts no-excuse absentee voting expansions and ballot drop boxes (limited to one per 100,000 registered voters, indoors at early-voting sites only).



Reports and model resources


American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) 

The Uniform Election Dates Act

https://alec.org/model-policy/the-homeowners-right-to-choose-inspection-and-review-services-act-2/ 


Mail Voting Deadlines Act

https://alec.org/model-policy/deadlines-for-mail-voting-act/ 


Deadline for Return and Receipt of all Ballots Act

https://alec.org/model-policy/deadline-for-return-and-receipt-of-all-ballots-act/


Honest Elections Project (HEP)

The Uniform Election Dates Act

https://honestelections.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/OLD-HEP_Model-Bill-Uniform-Election-Dates-Act_v2.pdf