AS PASSED BY THE SENATE

 

                                                   AMENDED

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

RESEARCH STAFF

CHERIE STONE

LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH ANALYST

ELECTIONS COMMITTEE

Telephone: (602) 926 -3171

Facsimile: (602) 926 -3833

 

TO:                  MEMBERS OF THE SENATE

                       

DATE:                        February 27, 2013      

 

SUBJECT:      Strike everything amendment to S.B. 1003, relating to early ballot voting; revisions

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Purpose

 

            Permits a voter to designate any person to return their early ballot, with certain exceptions. Requires the Secretary of State (SOS), in cooperation with county election officials, to select a unique color for all early ballot envelopes for certain specified elections.

 

Background

 

            According to A.R.S. §16-541, any election called pursuant to the laws of this state must provide for early voting and any qualified elector may vote by early ballot.  A qualified elector may make a verbal or signed request to the county recorder, or other officer in charge of elections, to receive an official early ballot.  The county recorder or other officer in charge of elections is required to mail the early ballot and the envelope for its return, postage prepaid, to the address provided by the requesting voter (A.R.S. § 16-542).  Additionally, the elections officer is required to supply printed instructions to early voters that direct them to sign an affidavit, mark the ballot and return both in the enclosed self-addressed envelope.  The instructions state that, in order to be valid and counted, the ballot and affidavit must be delivered to the office of the county recorder or other officer in charge of elections or may be deposited at any polling place in the county no later than 7:00 p.m. on election day (A.R.S. § 16-547). 

 

            There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.

 

Provisions

 

  1. Permits a voter to designate any person to return the voter’s early ballot to the appropriate elections official or polling place.

 

  1. Prohibits any paid or volunteer worker to return an early ballot in service of any political committee, group or organization.

 

  1. Classifies, as a class 6 felony, the return of a voter’s early ballot by an undesignated or prohibited person.

 

  1. Requires the SOS, in cooperation with county election officials, to select a unique color for all early ballot envelopes for certain specified elections.

 

  1. Modifies the early ballot affidavit to include statements related to early ballot collectors.
  2. Makes technical changes.

 

  1. Becomes effective on the general effective date.

 

Amendments Adopted by Committee

 

·         Adopted the strike everything amendment.

 

·         Requires the SOS, in cooperation with county election officials, to select a unique color for all early ballot envelopes for certain specified elections.

 

 

Amendments Adopted by Committee of the Whole

 

·         Permits a voter to designate any person to return their early ballot, with certain exceptions.

 

·         Modifies the felony classification for violations related to the return of a voter’s early ballot by an undesignated or prohibited person, from a class 5 to a class 6.

 

·         Modifies the early ballot affidavit to include statements related to early ballot collectors.

 

Senate Action

 

ELEC              2/12/13     DPA/SE     4-3-0-0

3rd Read           2/25/13                      16-12-2-0

 

Prepared by Senate Research

February 27,

CRS/tf