REFERENCE TITLE: registration; voting; jails; confinement

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-fifth Legislature

First Regular Session

2021

SB 1437

Introduced by

Senator Quezada

AN ACT

amending Title 16, chapter 1, article 3, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 16-140.01; amending Title 16, chapter 4, article 2, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 16-411.01; amending section 16-541, Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to elections and electors.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

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

Section 1.  Title 16, chapter 1, article 3, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 16-140.01, to read:

START_STATUTE16-140.01. Voter registration; state, county confinement

Every person who is otherwise ELIGIBLE to register to vote and who is in the CUSTODY of the state department of corrections or a county jail shall be provided the OPPORTUNITY to register to vote on release from confinement.  The state department of CORRECTIONS and a county jail shall cooperate with the secretary of state and the county recorder of the county in which the person is released and shall provide a state mail in voter registration form to persons who are ELIGIBLE to register.  The state department of corrections and a county jail shall transmit completed voter registration forms to the appropriate county recorder within five days after receipt. END_STATUTE

Sec. 2.  Title 16, chapter 4, article 2, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 16-411.01, to read:

START_STATUTE16-411.01. Voting center; county jail

In a county with a population of more than three hundred THOUSAND persons, the county recorder shall provide for a voting center at the county jail for persons who are temporarily in custody and awaiting trial.  The voting CENTER shall provide for any person who is otherwise ELIGIBLE to vote in that county to receive the appropriate ballot for that person's RESidence and shall operate as OTHERWISE provided by law. END_STATUTE

Sec. 3.  Section 16-541, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE16-541.  Early voting

A.  Any election called pursuant to the laws of this state shall provide for early voting.  Any qualified elector may vote by early ballot.

B.  A qualified elector of a special district organized pursuant to title 48 shall be permitted to vote early in any special district mail ballot election as provided in article 8.1 of this chapter.

C.  A county recorder shall provide a request for an early ballot to each qualified elector who is in the CUSTODY of the county jail or the state DEPARTMENT of corrections in that county and who is otherwise ELIGIBLE to vote.  After the county recorder receives a completed request for an early ballot, the county RECORDER shall provide an early ballot to the qualified elector. END_STATUTE