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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
sample ballots; mailing date
Purpose
Requires a county board of supervisors (county BOS) to mail printed mailer-type sample ballots for both primary and general elections at least 14 days before an election, rather than 11 days before an election, in counties that do not contain a United States Postal Service (USPS) Processing and Distribution Center.
Background
At least 45 days before a primary election, an officer in charge of elections must prepare a sample ballot proof, submit the sample proof to the county, city or town party chair and mail a copy to each candidate who has filed a nomination paper and petitions. Within two calendar days of receiving a proof, party chairs and candidates may suggest corrections and the officer in charge of elections must fix any errors. A county BOS must then print mailer-type sample ballots and mail the sample ballots to each household containing a registered voter of the applicable party at least 11 days before the election (A.R.S. § 16-461).
Before printing general election sample ballots, a county BOS must send a ballot proof to any candidate whose name did not appear on the preceding primary ballot and to the county chair of each political party. Within two calendar days of receipt, those candidates and chairs may suggest corrections and the officer in charge of elections must fix any errors. A county BOS must then print and distribute sample ballots to each polling place as it deems necessary and must also mail at least one mailer-type sample ballot to every household in the county containing a registered voter at least 11 days before the election (A.R.S. § 16-501).
For both primary and general elections, once a county BOS presents a certified claim for the actual costs of printing, labeling and postage for each sample ballot mailed, the Secretary of State (SOS) must direct payment of that authenticated claim from the funds of the SOS's Office (A.R.S. §§ 16-461 and 16-591).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires a county BOS to mail printed mailer-type sample ballots for both a primary and general election at least 14 days before the election, rather than 11 days before the election, in counties that do not contain a USPS Processing and Distribution Center.
2. Requires the SOS to annually determine and publish a list of counties that do not contain a USPS Processing and Distribution Center based on information provided by USPS.
3. Makes technical changes.
4. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
FMAE 1/28/26 DP 5-0-1-1
3rd Read 2/24/26 55-0-5
Prepared by Senate Research
March 6, 2026
ZD/MY/ci