ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-sixth Legislature

First Regular Session

Senate: ELEC DP 5-3-0-0 | 3rd Read: 16-14-0-0

House: MOE DP 5-4-1-0 | 3rd Read: 31-27-1-0-1

Final Pass: 16-12-2-0

SB1595: early ballots; identification; tabulation

Sponsor: Senator Mesnard, LD 13

Transmitted to the Governor

Overview

Establishes additional requirements for the transmission and tabulation of voted ballots.

History

For an early ballot to be counted and valid, the voted ballot along with the ballot affidavit must be: 1) received by the County Recorder or other officer in charge of elections; or 2) deposited at any polling place in the county by 7:00 p.m. on election day. The voter or voter's agent may deposit the completed ballot and ballot envelope at any polling place in the county (A. R. S. § 16-547).

A voter that surrenders their early ballot to the election board may vote a provisional ballot. For provisional ballots, the ballot must be placed in a separate envelope and the elector must sign a separate signature roster. The envelope must contain the following: 1) the precinct number; 2) a sworn statement of the elector that the elector resides in the precinct, is eligible to vote in the election and has not previously voted in the election; 3) the signature of the elector; and 4) the voter registration number of the elector, if available. The ballot must then be verified by the County Recorder or other officer in charge of elections before being counted (A. R. S. § 16-584).

Provisions

1.   Specifies circumstances in which the County Recorder or other officer in charge of elections may not operate the on-site early voting locations. (Sec. 1)

2.   Lists the following acceptable methods for returning a voted ballot:

a)   Mailed to the County Recorder or other officer in charge of elections;

b)   Delivered to the County Recorder or other officer in charge of elections no later than 7:00 pm on the Friday preceding the election;

c)   Deposited by the voter at any polling place in the county upon presenting identification and signing the signature roster or electronic pollbook; or

d)   Tabulated by use of the on-site tabulation procedure. (Sec. 2)

3.   Requires a voter to present identification to the County Recorder or other officer in charge of elections within a specified timeline for the ballot to be counted and valid if the voter's ballot was delivered by a voter's agent. (Sec. 2)

4.   Defines voter's agent. (Sec. 2)

5.   Instructs an elector that does not present identification to surrender their early ballot to the election board for retention. (Sec. 7)

6.   Clarifies the on-site tabulation procedure is only required if a county is conducting the on-site tabulation of voted early ballots. (Sec. 2)

7.   Adds that early ballots received after a voter's identification is confirmed are exempt from signature comparison. (Sec. 3)

8.   Outlines specified chain of custody requirements for voted early ballots returned on election day. (Sec. 5, 6)

9.   States if a voter presents and confirms valid identification with their issued early ballot or mailed early ballot during the period of early voting or on election day, the voter's early ballot is deemed ready for tabulating and additional signature verification is no longer required. (Sec. 6)

10.  Instructs the election official, once an elector's identification is verified, to stamp the envelope with a stamp that reads ID Verified and to place the early ballot in a secured drop box specifically for verified early ballots. (Sec. 6)

11.  Specifies that any completed early ballot affidavit that is not stamped ID Verified but is in the secured ballot box designated for verified early ballots must go through the signature verification process. (Sec. 6)

12.  Requires the election official in charge of the secured ballot box designated for verified early ballots to maintain a tally of ballots that have been deposited and must sign an affidavit that includes specified information. (Sec. 6)

13.  Requires early voting polling locations to include a minimum of:

a)   One secured ballot box for a voter to deposit their completed early ballot; and

b)   One secured ballot box for ballots that have been ID verified. (Sec. 6)

14.  Defines ID verified. (Sec. 6)

15.  ☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal NoteMakes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1-6)

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19.                    SB 1595

20.  Initials JH/IG         Page 0 Transmitted to the Governor

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