REFERENCE TITLE: ballot drop boxes; surveillance; appropriation

 

 

 

 

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-fifth Legislature

Second Regular Session

2022

 

 

 

SB 1571

 

Introduced by

Senator Townsend

 

 

AN ACT

 

amending title 16, chapter 4, article 8, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 16-546; Appropriating monies; relating to early voting.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 


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

Section 1. Title 16, chapter 4, article 8, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 16-546, to read:

START_STATUTE16-546. Early ballot drop boxes; receipt; images; mailing prohibited

NOTWITHSTANDING any other law:

1. for any ballot drop box used in THIS state to receive voted early ballots, the ballot drop box must do all of the following:

(a) Accept only one ballot at a time.

(b) accept not more than seven ballots in a single batch from one person.

(c) Log the receipt of each ballot.

(d) Generate a paper receipt that specifies the number of ballots accepted by the ballot drop box from a person.

(e) Include a functioning camera or video recorder that photographs or VIDEO records each person who deposits one or more early ballots and that links the photographs or video records to the ballots deposited by the person. The images of the person DEPOSITING the early ballots and a copy of the receipt issued shall be retained as an official election record.

(f) If the camera or video recorder stops operating, be PREVENTED from ACCEPTING ballots until the camera or video recorder operates normally again.

2. Voted early ballots may not be mailed to the county recorder or other officer in charge of elections and may only be returned by hand delivery.END_STATUTE

Sec. 2. Supplemental appropriation; secretary of state; ballot drop boxes; photo and video surveillance; exemption

A. In addition to any other appropriations made in fiscal year 2021-2022, the sum of $__________ is appropriated from the state general fund in fiscal year 2021-2022 to the secretary of state to procure, install, operate and maintain twenty-four-hour per day photo and video surveillance for each ballot drop box in this state.

B. The appropriation made in subsection A of this section is exempt from the provisions of section 35-190, Arizona Revised Statutes, relating to lapsing of appropriations.