|
BILL # HCR 2016 |
TITLE: voting centers; precinct voting |
|
SPONSOR: Keshel |
|
|
PREPARED BY: Micaela Andrews |
STATUS: House Engrossed |
If approved by voters at the 2026 General Election, HCR 2002 would: 1) Prohibit designating election precincts with more than 2,500 registered voters; and 2) Repeal the authorization of voting centers and in-person early voting sites for primary and general elections.
Estimated Impact
We estimate the resolution would increase the number of required physical voting sites, which would increase county election costs. Election day location, staffing and equipment costs are funded by the counties. Because the measure would not impact election items funded by the state, the resolution is not expected to increase state election costs.
Based on data received last year from the Arizona Association of Counties, we anticipate 1,288 new precincts at an operating cost of $3,477,600 per election day (or $6,955,200 for each election year) and a one-time equipment cost of $10,304,000 for the additional precincts required under the measure.
Our estimate assumes the following:
1) In 2025, the Arizona Association of Counties (AACo) provided data from the counties for HCR 2002 (voting centers; precinct voting). That analysis calculated the prior legislation, which would have required a precinct ratio of no more than 1 per 1,000 voters, would have resulted in the need for 3,957 additional precinct locations statewide.
2) The 2025 analysis also included the following per precinct costs:
· a per precinct operating cost of $2,700 based on 7 poll workers at each location earning approximately $200 per day [which is consistent with the $15.15/hour current minimum wage X 13 hour election day shift], plus ancillary costs such as site rental.
· a one-time equipment cost of $8,000 per precinct. This estimate includes items such as: a standard electric pollbook ($800 each), an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) voting device ($3,700 each) and ancillary items such as signage.
3) For the current measure HCR 2016, this year AACo reported that Maricopa County would require 800 new voting sites under the 1 to 2,500 voter limitation, or a (67.4%) reduction compared to the prior analysis.
4) Based on prorating downward the statewide precinct count in the prior 2025 AACo analysis, we anticipate 1,288 new voting sites to be needed statewide under the measure.
5) Given the need for 1,288 new voting sites, that would result in additional operating costs of $3,477,600 per election day [1,288 locations X $2,700 operating costs per precinct = $3,477,600]. With 2 statewide elections each "election year", that would result in $6,955,200 of operating cost increases in those years.
6) Given the need for 1,288 new voting sites, that would result in one-time equipment costs of $10,304,000 [1,288 locations X $8,000 equipment costs per precinct = $10,304,000].
7) As noted above, the per precinct costs in this analysis were based on operating and equipment costs for a precinct ratio requirement of 1 per 1,000 voters. This approach may underestimate the per precinct operating or equipment costs as it relates to HCR 2016, as the measure requires larger precinct sizes of 1 to 2,500 voters, and these larger precincts are likely to have higher staffing and equipment needs.
8) There is the potential for counties to realize some offsetting savings. For example, counties would see savings from the elimination of early voting locations. In addition, a greater number of election day voting locations could increase in-person voting and thereby reduce county expenses for early mail-in voting. We do not, however, believe that these savings would materially offset the costs noted above.
3/6/26