Assigned to GOV                                                                                                              AS PASSED BY COW

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Fifty-Fifth Legislature, Second Regular Session

AMENDED

FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1638

early ballots; visually impaired voters

Purpose

Requires any Arizona election to provide for voting by the use of a remote accessible vote by mail option for persons who are blind or have 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 option for persons who are blind or have 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 option. 

3. Becomes effective on the general effective date.

Amendments Adopted by Committee of the Whole

1. Requires any Arizona election to provide for an accessible vote by mail option, rather than accessible vote by mail system.

2. Specifies that the remote accessible vote by mail option that a jurisdiction must provide is for persons who are blind or have a visual impairment. 

Senate Action

GOV               2/14/22      DP       5-2-0

Prepared by Senate Research

March 7, 2022

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