 |
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fourth Legislature, First Regular Session
emergency voting procedures; board action
Purpose
Delineates procedures for an elector to vote early as the result of an emergency. Allows the county Board of Supervisors (BOS) to authorize emergency voting centers by resolution.
Background
Current statute states that, to receive a ballot at a polling place on election day, an elector must provide valid identification (I.D.) from one of two categories: 1) a valid form of I.D. that bears the photograph, name and address of the elector that reasonably appear to be the same as the name and address in the precinct register; or 2) two different items that contain the name and address of the elector that reasonably appear to be the same as the name and address in the precinct register. If I.D. from the first category does not include an address or match the address in the precinct register, another item from the second category must also be used (A.R.S. § 16-579).
Statute states a qualified elector may request to vote early as the result of an emergency occurring between 5:00 p.m. on the second Friday preceding the election and 5:00 p.m. on the Monday preceding the election. The county recorder regulates the manner in which qualified electors may vote if they have an emergency. Emergency means any unforeseen circumstances that would prevent the elector from voting at the polls (A.R.S. § 16-542).
Statute states that if an elector is unable to visit a voting center due to illness or disability, an elector may request personal ballot delivery and vote a provisional ballot (A.R.S. § 16-549).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires electors requesting to vote early due to an emergency to sign an affidavit under penalty of perjury that:
a) describes the emergency;
b) states the occurrence of the emergency was unavoidable and could not be known in advance; and
c) states that without the emergency provisions, the person would otherwise be unable to vote in the election in any other manner.
2. Requires the county BOS, rather than the county recorder, to designate the manner that an elector requests to vote early in an emergency.
3. Allows the county BOS to authorize the use of emergency voting centers on a specific resolution of the county BOS that is limited to a specific election date and that is voted on by a recorded vote.
4. Requires the county BOS, if authorizing the use of emergency voting centers, to pass a specific resolution stating:
a) the location of the voting centers;
b) the hours of operation; and
c) that a qualified elector voting at an emergency voting center shall provide and confirm sufficient I.D.
5. Requires a person voting early as the result of an emergency to present and confirm I.D. in the same manner that is currently required at a polling place on the day of an election.
6. Makes technical changes.
7. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
January 29, 2019
JA/RC/kja