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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fourth Legislature, Second Regular Session
mobile polling places; compliance
Purpose
Requires portable or mobile polling places to comply with all requirements that apply to polling places at permanent buildings and facilities.
Background
The county board of supervisors is required to establish a convenient number of election precincts in the county and define the boundaries of precincts on or before October 1 of each year. A polling place is designated by a county board of supervisors within each precinct where an election will be held and must be established no less than 20 days before a general or primary election.
A county chairperson of each party may designate, by written appointment addressed to the election board, a party agent or representative for each precinct (A.R.S. § 16-590). Political party representatives are allowed to observe at voting locations and central counting places for partisan elections (SOS, 2019 Elections Procedures Manual, p. 139).
Voters with disabilities are entitled to receive voting materials that are equivalent to that provided to voters without disabilities. Voting locations must comply with current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Standards for Accessible Design. Signs explaining assistance available for voters with disabilities and that meet the ADA Accessibility Guidelines must be posted at all permanent registration facilities, polling places and vote centers (SOS, 2019 Elections Procedures Manual, p. 101-103).
A polling place is required to allow people to electioneer and engage in other political activity outside of the 75-foot limit of the polling place (A.R.S. § 16-411). A person is prohibited from remaining within a 75-foot limit of a polling place while the polls are open except for the purpose of voting and other enumerated exceptions. A person who violates the 75-foot limit is guilty of a class 2 misdemeanor (A.R.S. § 16-515).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires a portable or mobile polling place to comply with all requirements that apply to polling places at permanent buildings and facilities, including:
a) providing access to political party observers;
b) complying with the ADA; and
c) allowing political activity outside of the 75-foot limit.
2. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 4, 2020
JA/ML/kja