limiting how far in advance of an election an absentee ballot may be requested.

HB 288 limits when voters can request absentee ballots by requiring most applications to be received or postmarked within six months before an election. It directly affects voters seeking absentee ballots, except for federal UOCAVA forms (used by military and overseas voters), which can only be submitted starting January of the election year. The bill modifies state law to prevent acceptance of absentee ballot applications received earlier than this six-month window. This creates a specific timeframe for submitting absentee ballot requests, aligning with standard election administration practices.