Assembly committee approves election reform bill

The Assembly Elections Procedures and Ethics Committee Thursday voted unanimously to approve a bill implementing the federal Help America Vote Act.

The bill now goes to a vote of the full Assembly.

Senate Bill 453 is designed to implement a statewide voter registration system and a variety of federal mandates that are intended to open access to more citizens and encourage them to participate in elections.

It allows provisional voting, upgrades voting systems throughout the state and extends the voter registration period by 10 days.

Secretary of State Dean Heller said the bill is required to improve the voting process.

"SB453 will help get more disenfranchised potential voters involved in this greatest of fundamental freedoms while improving the voting process through better technology," said Heller.

The legislation heads for a final vote on the Assembly floor.