SB 1437: elections; equipment; amendments |
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PRIME SPONSOR: Senator Burges, LD 22 BILL STATUS: House Engrossed
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Relating to elections equipment.
Provisions
1. Repeals statute regarding lever and electromechanical voting equipment. (Sec. 5, 14, 17)
2. Repeals statutory references to ballot labels, ballot cards, write-in ballots, ballot stubs, tally boards, tally lists and other language relating to election supplies and procedures. (Sec. 2, 3, 8, 9, 11-13, 15, 16, 18, 19, 22-24, 26-29, 31-44)
3. Requires an electronic voting system to provide for:
a. The ballot layout to be in the same order of arrangement as provided for paper ballots, to the extent practicable, with specified exceptions; and
b. A color designation for use in the primary election for each political party represented. (Sec. 9)
4. Outlines how candidates and titles of offices may be arranged and displayed on an electronic voting system. (Sec. 9)
5. Authorizes a voter to enter the voting area after depositing a ballot if they are an official observer or assisting another voter. (Sec. 34)
o Currently, only an authorized election official may enter the voting area after voting (A.R.S. § 16-578).
6. Removes language prohibiting a voter from occupying a voting booth for more than five minutes when other voters are waiting. (Sec. 34)
7. Removes language vesting the election marshal with the powers of a constable. (Sec. 25)
8. Places ballot instructions at the beginning of the ballot, rather than after each section heading. (Sec. 16)
9. Modifies the order of the nonpartisan ballot to put:
a. Judges of the superior court for election after those for retention or rejection; and
b. School district officials after judges and justices. (Sec. 16)
10. Allows a ballot to have a place to the left of a candidate's name for a voter to mark their choice. (Sec. 13, 16)
o Currently, statute only permits placement to the right of the candidate's name (A.R.S. § 16-462).
11. Removes the requirement that presidential electors be enclosed in a bracketed list on a ballot. (Sec. 16)
12. Requires the voter to deposit the ballot in the ballot box, rather than the election board official.
a. Permits the voter, upon request, to hand the ballot to the election board official to deposit in the ballot box. (Sec. 34)
13. Removes the requirement for the BOS to make polling place changes that were approved by the U.S. Department of Justice available to the public. (Sec. 4)
14. Removes language prohibiting a person from displaying another person's voter machine on which they voted. (Sec. 46)
15. Removes the requirement for the BOS to print the required notice to voters in English. (Sec. 19)
16. Permits the signature roster, copies of the precinct registers and other election supplies to be returned to the officer in charge of elections. (Sec. 43)
o Currently, the election supplies may only be returned to the BOS (A.R.S. § 16-617).
17. Defines e-pollbook as an electronic system in which a voter is checked in and their signature is recorded to indicate that they have voted. (Sec. 8)
18. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1-4, 6-12, 13, 16, 18-24, 28, 30-32, 34-36, 38, 40-43, 45)
Current Law
Title 16, Chapter 4 outlines requirements for the conduct of elections and includes specifications on voting equipment, ballots, supplies, elections boards and early voting.
Title 16, Chapter 4, Article 3 outlines requirements for the use of lever voting machines at elections. Lever voting machines must meet the statutorily outlined requirements and are permitted to be equipped with devices for printing or photographing the count as shown on the candidate and amendment counters. The device provides a sheet of machine counter readings prior to the opening of the poll and immediately upon close of the polls.
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Fifty-third Legislature SB 1437
Second Regular Session Version 3: House Engrossed
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