ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-fourth Legislature

Second Regular Session

House: ELECT DPA/SE 5-3-1-1

HB 2304: federal only ballots; paper; tabulation

S/E: voter registration; verification; assistance; report

Sponsor: Representative Townsend, LD 16

Caucus & COW

Summary of the Strike-Everything Amendment to HB 2304

Overview

Modifies the verification of voter registration records.

History

A county recorder is authorized to cancel a voter registration based on certain requirements outlined in statute that include:

1) At the request of the registered voter;

2) When the county recorder knows of the death of the person; or

3) If the person has been adjudicated an incapacitated person (A.R.S. § 16-165).

Current statute allows any registered voter, at their option, to be accompanied by a minor who is allowed in the voting booth, be accompanied and assisted by a person of their choice or be assisted by two election officials during any process relating to voting or during the actual process of voting (A.R.S. § 16-580).

Provisions

1. Requires the administrative office of the courts to obtain the following information from each county, city and town of people who were disqualified in the previous month for jury service based on lack of United States citizenship:

a) Name;

b) Date of birth;

c) Residence; and

d) Father's name or mother's maiden name, if available. (Sec. 1)

2. Stipulates that the information obtained from the administrative office of the courts must be transmitted to the Secretary of State and the Attorney General. (Sec. 1)

3. States that the record obtained by the Secretary of State is only to be used for determining whether the people are included in the statewide voter registration database. (Sec. 1)

4. Directs the Secretary of State, after making the determination of whether the person previously provided proof of United States citizenship, to notify the appropriate county recorder if the name of the person is in the statewide voter registration database. (Sec. 1)

5. Instructs the county recorder to determine whether the person is properly registered to vote in that county after reviewing the information provided. (Sec. 1)

6. Mandates the Secretary of State to post on their website the number of people who are disqualified for jury service based on the claim of lack of United States citizenship. (Sec. 1)

7. Authorizes the Attorney General to contract with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services to use a program that verifies citizenship status for agencies that grant benefits to assist Arizona in verifying voter registration information. (Sec. 2)

8. Grants the Attorney General access to the statewide voter registration database in order to verify the information contained within the database. (Sec. 2)

9. Specifies that a registered voter may be accompanied in the voting booth by a person of their choice if the voter requires assistance due to a disability. (Sec. 3)

10. Requires the Secretary of State, the county recorders and the Attorney General to submit a report to each member of the Legislature regarding the following:

a) A description of the efforts of an agency in removing ineligible people from the voter registration rolls;

b) A description of the cooperation of an agency in working with other agencies to remove ineligible voters; and

c) The number of voters removed from the voter registration rolls due to the efforts of an agency and the basis for removal. (Sec. 4)

11. Makes technical changes. (Sec. 3)

Amendments

Committee on Elections

1. Specifies that the Attorney General, in addition to the Secretary of State, must use the records for the accuracy of the statewide voter registration database.

2. Codifies the reporting requirements that is given to each member of the Legislature.

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6. HB 2304

7. Initials SJ Page 0 Caucus & COW

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