Relating to the integration of early voting by personal appearance and election day voting, including the manner in which election returns are processed and other related changes.

Contracts

• Election Technology Vendors: Master Service Agreements (MSAs) must be reviewed immediately. Counties will require guarantees that tabulation software can generate reports separating "votes by precinct" and "votes by polling location" without additional custom development fees.
• Facility Leases: Agreements for early voting sites (e.g., community centers, churches) must be amended to include usage rights for Election Day, as the law now mandates these sites remain active through the general election.
• Staffing Agencies: Contracts for temporary election workers must account for the extended 12-hour shifts required during the final four days of early voting.

Hiring/Training

• Machine Security Protocols: Presiding judges and clerks require training on Section 19 mandates, which compel the specific locking and securing of voting machines at the close of *each* early voting day.
• HR Policy (General Employers): Review "Time Off to Vote" policies. With mandatory polling hours extending to 12 hours (e.g., 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM), most employees will now have two consecutive non-work hours to vote, reducing the employer's statutory obligation to provide paid time off for voting.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

• Granular Data Reporting: Post-election reports must now include the total number of voters who cast ballots at *each specific polling location*, distinct from precinct totals.
• Website Compliance: Entities maintaining a website must publicly post results broken down by personal appearance, mail, and polling location.
• Audit Trails: Presiding judges must generate and retain "Zero-Count" tapes immediately before polls open on the first day of early voting and Election Day.

Fees & Costs

• Operational Increases: Expect higher costs for election workers (overtime/longer shifts) and facility utilities due to extended hours.
• Vendor Costs: Potential costs for software patches if current systems cannot handle the new multi-dimensional data reporting requirements.