Certain candidates, candidate representatives, and political parties permission to observe the work of absentee ballot boards

SF 2696 allows candidates, their representatives, and political parties (those appearing on the ballot) to observe absentee ballot board operations and election recounts. It requires ballot boards to permit one candidate representative during envelope acceptance/rejection and a second during ballot opening and counting, while allowing observation of other election materials handled by the board. For recounts, the bill mandates unsealing/resealing ballots in public view, designates a public observation area (with cell phones permitted if non-disruptive), and lets each candidate have one representative for precinct sorting and an additional one for counting. The bill does not alter voting procedures but establishes specific, structured rules for transparency during these processes. Ballot boards and recount officials must ensure observation does not interfere with ballot handling.