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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fifth Legislature, Second Regular Session
early ballots; visually impaired voters
Purpose
Requires any Arizona election to provide for voting by the use of a remote accessible vote by mail system for persons with a visual impairment.
Background
The Secretary of State (SOS) must appoint a three-member Committee to investigate and test various types of vote recording and tabulating machines or devices that may be used for elections. The Committee must submit its recommendations to the SOS, who makes final adoption of the types, makes and models of elections machines and devices to be certified for use in Arizona (A.R.S. § 16-442).
On completion of
the certification process, the SOS must require voting systems used by
jurisdictions subject to consolidated election requirements, except for cities
or towns with a population of fewer than 20,000 persons, to provide persons who
are blind or visually impaired with access to voting that is equivalent to that
provided to persons who are not blind or visually impaired. The SOS must
consult with and obtain recommendations from: 1) nonprofit organizations that
represent persons who are blind or visually impaired; 2) persons with expertise
in accessible software, hardware or other technology; 3) county and local
election officials; and
4) other appropriate persons. After receiving recommendations, the SOS must
submit one or more voting systems that provide equivalent access to the
Committee (A.R.S.
§ 16-442.01).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires any Arizona election to provide for voting by the use of a remote accessible vote by mail system for persons with a visual impairment.
2. Requires the SOS to require voting systems used by jurisdictions subject to consolidated election requirements, except for cities or towns with a population of fewer than 20,000 persons, to provide a remote accessible vote by mail system.
3. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 10, 2022
MH/slp