ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fifth Legislature, Second Regular Session
early ballots; provisionals; precinct tallies
Purpose
Requires all early ballots, provisional ballots and conditional provisional ballots, regardless of where the ballot was received, to be separated and tabulated by precinct and category of ballot and included as separate line items by category of ballot in the vote totals for the voter's precinct.
Background
The election judge must compare: 1) the number of votes cast as indicated on the machine or tabulator; 2) the number of votes cast as indicated on the poll list; and 3) the number of provisional ballots. This information must be noted on a written report by the officer in charge of elections (A.R.S. § 16-602).
The officer in charge of elections must maintain records that record the chain of custody for all election equipment and ballots during early voting through the completion of provisional voting tabulation (A.R.S. § 16-621). Early ballots must be retrieved from locations on a scheduled basis from ballot retrievers. Designated ballot retrievers retrieve voted early ballots by either placing the voted ballots in a secure ballot transfer container, retrieving the secure ballot container from inside the drop-box or retrieving the staffed drop-box. The ballot retrievers must note the time of retrieval and the time of arrival at the office of the officer in charge of elections who inspect and accepts the ballots (E.P.M. Ch. 11(I)(H)(I)(7)).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires all early ballots, provisional ballots and conditional provisional ballots to be separated and tabulated by precinct and category of ballot and included as separate line items by category of ballot in the vote totals for the voter's precinct regardless of if the ballot was voted or received at:
a) an early voting center;
b) an election day voting center;
c) an emergency voting center;
d) a polling place; or
e) the office of a county recorder.
2. Makes technical changes.
3. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 2, 2022
MH/HW/slp