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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fifth Legislature, First Regular Session
early voting envelopes; party affiliation
Purpose
Prohibits an early ballot envelope from revealing the voter's political party affiliation.
Background
A county board of supervisors prepares early ballots, including ballots-by mail, to be used in federal, statewide, legislative and countywide elections (A.R.S. §§ 16-405 and 16-503). The county recorder must receive and process early ballot requests and provide early ballots to voters (A.R.S. § 16-544). The county recorder must provide printed instructions to early voters directing early voters to sign the affidavit, mark the ballot and return both in the enclosed envelope. The early ballot must be accompanied by an envelope including the name, official title and post office address of the recorder or other officer in charge of elections on the front of the envelope and a printed affidavit on the back of the envelope (A.R.S. § 16-457). The ballot return envelopes must be of a type that does not reveal the voter's selections and that is tamper evident when properly sealed (A.R.S. § 16 -545).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Prohibits an early ballot envelope from revealing the voter's political party affiliation.
2. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
January 27, 2021
MH/HF/gs