ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fifth Legislature, Second Regular Session
election procedures manual; statutory conflict
Purpose
Requires the Legislature to provide personnel who are experts in electronic voting system procedures and security to field check and review electronic voting systems and recommend statutory and procedural changes. Deems, as unenforceable, any provision of the Elections Procedures Manual (EPM) that conflicts with statute
Background
The Secretary of State (SOS) must create an EPM on the procedures for early voting and voting, and of producing, distributing, collecting, counting, tabulating and storing ballots. The EPM must be issued by December 31 of each odd-numbered year immediately preceding the general election. The EPM must be approved by the Governor and Attorney General prior to issuance. The SOS must provide personnel who are experts in electronic voting system procedures and security to field check and review electronic voting systems and recommend needed statutory and procedural changes (A.R.S. § 16-452).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires the Legislature, in addition to the SOS, to provide personnel who are experts in electronic voting system procedures and security to field check and review electronic voting systems and recommend needed statutory and procedural changes.
2. Allows the statutory and procedural changes recommended by the Legislature and SOS to include changes to the EPM.
3. Deems, as unenforceable, any provision of the EPM that conflicts with statute.
4. Requires the EPM to provide for transparency and election security to the maximum extent allowed by law.
5. Makes conforming changes.
6. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
GE 1/24/22 DP 7-6-0-0
3rd Read 2/22/22 31-28-1
Prepared by Senate Research
March 2, 2022
MH/slp