HB2830 - 551R - Senate Fact Sheet

Purpose

Requires the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) and Department of Public Safety (DPS) to provide a person with a voter registration form or link to the Arizona Department of Transportation's (ADOT's) voter registration web page when the person applies for a hunting, fishing or trapping license or concealed weapons permit.

Background

An Arizona resident is qualified to register to vote if the person: 1) is a U.S. citizen; 2) will be at least 18 years old by the date of the next regular general election; 3) will have been a resident for 29 days before the next election; 4) is able to write the person's name or mark, unless prevented by physical disability; 5) has not been convicted of treason or felony, unless restored to civil rights; and 6) has not been adjudicated an incapacitated person (A.R.S. § 16-101). In order to vote in an election, a person's registration must be received by the county recorder or recorder's designee by midnight of the 29th day before the election (A.R.S. § 16-120).

Every person who applies for a driver license or renewal must be allowed to register to vote at the same time and place if the person is otherwise qualified to register to vote. An applicant is presumed to be properly registered to vote on completion of a registration form that meets statutory requirements and on receipt of the form by the county recorder. The Director of the ADOT and the Secretary of State (SOS) must consult at least every two years regarding voter registration at driver license offices. ADOT must provide applicants with a statement that provides each eligibility requirement for voting and an attestation that the applicant meets each requirement, which must be signed by the applicant under penalty of perjury (A.R.S. § 16-112).

There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.

Provisions

1. Requires AZGFD and DPS to provide assistance with voter registration when accepting applications for a hunting, fishing or trapping license or concealed weapons permit.

2. Requires AZGFD and DPS to provide the following when accepting applications for a hunting, fishing or trapping license or concealed weapons permit:

a) a link to ADOT's voter registration web page for a person that applies online; and

b) a voter registration form for a person that applies in person.

3. Requires the SOS to provide AZGFD and DPS with voter registration forms and instructions to applicants to mail completed voter registration forms to the SOS.

4. Prohibits the voter registration information generated by AZGFD and DPS that is otherwise public information from providing any public indication of the source of the registrations.

5. Requires the SOS to forward a completed voter registration form to the appropriate county recorder to determine the applicant's eligibility and add the applicant's name to the voter registration rolls if the person is determined to be eligible.

6. Asserts that persons from AZGFD and DPS that are not considered to be deputy registrars.

7. Defines each department, license and permit.

8. Becomes effective on the general effective date.

Amendments Adopted by Committee

1. Adopted the strike-everything amendment.

2. Removes the requirement that AZGFD and DPS create a separate form to provide to individuals applying for a hunting, fishing or trapping license or concealed weapons permit for the purpose of registering the applicant to vote and instead requires AZGFD and DPS to provide assistance with voter registration when a person applies for a license or permit.

3. Requires AZGFD and DPS to provide the following when accepting applications for a hunting, fishing or trapping license or concealed weapons permit:

a) a link to ADOT's voter registration web page for a person that applies online; and

b) a voter registration form for a person that applies in person.

4. Requires the SOS to provide AZGFD and DPS with voter registration forms and instructions to applicants to mail completed voter registration forms to the SOS.

5. Removes language deeming an application for a hunting, fishing or trapping license or concealed weapons permit to serve as an application to register to vote unless the person checks the "No" box on the application or does not provide a second signature for the purposes of registering to vote.

6. Removes the requirement that the SOS cooperate with AZGFD and DPS to determine how to retain declination forms and create forms and procedures necessary to implement voter registration requirements.

7. Removes requirements for information that must be included on the separate form provided by AZGFD and DPS for the purpose of registering applicants to vote.

8. Removes language prohibiting a person who is a license dealer for AZGFD or who receives an application for a hunting, fishing or trapping license application for AZGFD or a concealed weapon permit from DPS from:

a) seeking to influence the applicant's political preference;

b) displaying any indicator of political preference or party on the person's body;

c) making any statement to an applicant or taking any action that has the purpose or effect of discouraging the applicant from applying to register to vote; or

d) making any statement to an applicant or taking any action that has the purpose or effect of leading the applicant to believe that a decision to apply to register or not register to vote has any bearing on the availability of services or benefits from AZGFD or DPS.

9. Makes technical and conforming changes.

Senate Action

APPROP 3/31/21 DPA/SE 9-0-1