ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Fifty-sixth Legislature First Regular Session
	Senate: ELEC DP 5-3-0-0 | 3^rd Read: 29-0-1-0 House: MOE DP 7-3-0-0 | 3^rd Read: 37-21-1-0-1

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SB 1518: ballots; election day; identification

Sponsor: Senator Bennett, LD 1

Transmitted to the Governor

Overview

Allows voters to present identification during the period of early voting or on election day if presenting a voted early ballot to have their early ballot deemed ready for tabulating and able to bypass the signature verification requirement. 

History

On receipt of an early ballot, the County Recorder or the officer in charge of elections is required to verify the voter's signature on the affidavit envelope with the voter's signature on file in the voter registration database. If the signature is missing or inconsistent, elections officials must make a reasonable effort to contact the elector to verify a signature or allow the elector to add a missing signature. Signatures can be corrected no later than five business days after the election if the election includes a federal office or three business days after any other election. The tallying of ballots can begin immediately after the early ballot is processed and the signature is verified (A.R.S. § 16-550).

Provisions

1. Allows a voter to present, and an election official to confirm, valid identification at a voting location during the period of early voting, or on election day if the voter is presenting their mailed early ballot, to bypass the signature verification requirement and have their early ballot deemed ready for tabulating. (Sec. 3)

2. Instructs the election official, once an elector's identification is verified, to stamp the envelope with a stamp that reads "ID Verified" and to place the early ballot in a secured drop box specifically for verified early ballots. (Sec. 3)

3. Specifies that any completed early ballot affidavit that is not stamped "ID Verified" but is in the secured ballot box designated for verified early ballots must go through the signature verification process. (Sec. 3)

4. Directs the election official in charge of the secured ballot box designated for verified early ballots to maintain a tally of ballots that have been deposited and must sign an affidavit that includes specified information. (Sec. 3)

5. Allows early ballots returned at voting locations or on election day after the voter's identification is confirmed to be removed from polling places and prescribes the following procedure:

a) Must be removed by two authorized election workers who must each be a member of a different one of the two largest political parties; and

b) The authorized election workers complete a chain of custody log maintained at the voting location that includes the total count of the early ballots being transported and who delivers the ballots to a receiving site that must be an official elections facility. (Sec. 2)

6. Specifies the chain of custody log for early ballots returned at voting locations on election day must be available for inspection by the public, the political parties, committees representing ballot measures on the ballot and candidates on the ballot within 48 hours after election day. (Sec. 2)

7. Requires early voting polling locations to include a minimum of:

a) One secured ballot box for a voter to deposit their completed early ballot; and

b) One secured ballot box for ballots that have been ID verified. (Sec. 3)

8. Defines ID verified. (Sec. 3)

9. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1, 2, 3)

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13.                   SB 1518

14. Initials JH  Page 0 Transmitted to the Governor

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