Absentee Ballot Marking Pilot Program (5493XD) - Secretary of State

This bill establishes a temporary pilot program allowing voters with disabilities that prevent hand-marking of ballots to independently mark absentee ballots by mail using assistive technology like nonvisual or low-vision tools. It requires the Secretary of State to create rules enabling these voters to request absentee ballots by mail and to report annually to the legislature on the pilot's progress. The program must test feasibility across enough counties if not implemented statewide, and expires on July 1, 2029. The bill directly affects voters with specific disabilities who cannot mark ballots by hand, aiming to improve accessible absentee voting.