REFERENCE TITLE: countywide elections; vote by mail

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-fifth Legislature

First Regular Session

2021

SB 1313

Introduced by

Senators Bowie: Alston, Engel, Gonzales, Marsh, Mendez, Navarrete, Steele; Representatives Lieberman, Salman

AN ACT

amending section 16-409, Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to conduct of elections.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1.  Section 16-409, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE16-409.  Certain counties, cities, towns and school districts; mail ballot elections; report

A.  Notwithstanding section 16‑558: , 

1.  A city, town or school district may conduct a mail ballot election.

2. A county may conduct a mail ballot election for any election administered by that county, including elections administered for federal and state offices and measures, and elections administered for that county and for a city, town, school district or special district and for any other jurisdiction's election administered by that county.  A countywide mail ballot election may be conducted only after a vote of approval by the county board of supervisors for that county and if sixty percent or more of the county's registered voters are on the permanent early voting list prescribed by section 16‑544.

B.  A mail ballot election shall be conducted as otherwise prescribed by article 8.1 of this chapter.

B. C.  Counties, cities, towns or school districts that conduct mail ballot elections pursuant to subsection A of this section shall report to the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives by January 1 of each year immediately following a mail ballot election.  The report shall include the following:

1.  Changes in voter turnout.

2.  Relative costs of mail ballot elections compared to traditional elections.

3.  Suggestions for improvements or refinements in the mail ballot program.

4.  Frequency and severity of mail ballot irregularities.

5.  Voter satisfaction with the election process.

6.  Number of nondeliverable ballots. END_STATUTE