Allows for three weeks of no-excuse absentee voting

HB 972 allows any registered voter in the state to request an absentee ballot without providing a specific reason (like illness, work, or religious conflict) for a three-week period before an election. This change applies to all voters eligible to cast ballots in person on election day, removing the requirement to cite one of the existing reasons listed in the bill. Voters must still provide photo ID when submitting absentee ballots, and the bill specifies that this three-week window begins on the third Tuesday prior to an election. The law expands access to absentee voting by eliminating the need for voters to justify their request with a particular circumstance during this period.