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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
election procedures manual; consultation
Purpose
Includes county recorders and the chairpersons and ranking members of the committees with jurisdiction over election matters in the House of Representatives and the Senate under the list of persons whom the Secretary of State (SOS) must consult before prescribing the elections instructions and procedures manual (EPM).
Background
After consultation with each county board of supervisors or other officer in charge of elections, the SOS must prescribe rules to achieve and maintain the maximum degree of correctness, impartiality, uniformity and efficiency on the procedures for early voting and voting, as well as ballot production, distribution, collection, counting, tabulation and storage. Additionally, the SOS must adopt rules regarding fax transmittal of unvoted ballots, ballot requests, voted ballots and other election materials to and from absent uniformed and overseas citizens and rules regarding internet receipt of requests for federal postcard applications. The rules must be prescribed in an official instructions and procedures manual that is approved by the Governor and Attorney General, and that is issued by December 31, of each odd-numbered year that immediately precedes the general election (A.R.S. § 16-452).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Adds county recorders and the chairpersons and ranking members of the committees with jurisdiction over election matters in the House of Representatives and the Senate to the list of persons with whom the SOS must consult before prescribing rules in the EPM.
2. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
January 23, 2026
ZD/KS/ci