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ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESFifty-sixth Legislature First Regular Session |
Senate: ELEC DPA 5-3-0-0 | 3rd Read: 16-13-1-0House: MOE DPA/SE 6-4-0-0 | 3rd Read: 31-27-1-0-1 Final Pass: 16-12-2-0 |
SB1598: elections; observers; federal candidates
S/E: elections; observers; federal candidates
Sponsor: Senator Mesnard, LD 13
Overview
Allows candidates for federal office to designate a counting center observer in specified circumstances and outlines procedures and responsibilities for early election board and polling location challengers.
History
Party Challengers
The county chair of each political party represented on the ballot may designate party representatives and alternatives to act as challengers during the processing of ballots by early election boards and on election day at each polling place. A challenger may challenge an elector on the grounds that the person offering to vote is not qualified to do so or the person has already voted at that election (A.R.S. §§ 16-552, 16-590, 16-591).
Party Observers
Statute requires that all proceedings at the counting center be conducted under the observation of political party representatives and the public. Three additional individuals may be appointed to represent a candidate for nonpartisan office or a political committee supporting or opposing a ballot measure, proposition or question. These three observers are determined by a drawing provided notification is provided to the officer in charge of elections at least 17 days before the election (A.R.S. § 16-621).
Provisions
Early Ballot Challengers
1. Requires each party representative to be a registered Arizona voter. (Sec. 1)
2. Specifies that each party representative must be allowed to observe the conduct of election officials. (Sec. 1)
3. Directs party observers to pose any questions concerning procedures to the early election board supervisor. (Sec. 1)
4. Specifies that a candidate who appears on the ballot is prohibited from acting as a party representative. (Sec. 1)
Election Day Challengers
5.
Authorizes challengers to be allowed
within polling places and voting centers to observe the conduct of voters and
election officials. (Sec. 2)
6. Specifies challengers are allowed to be present within polling places to observe the setup of the voting location before the polls open and the closeout procedures after the polls close. (Sec. 2)
7. Instructs challengers to direct any questions concerning polling place procedures to the inspector or officer in charge of elections. (Sec. 2)
8. Prohibits challengers from interacting with voters. (Sec. 2)
9. States candidates who appear on the ballot are prohibited from acting as polling place challengers. (Sec. 2)
10. Allows designated challengers to enter and observe all polling places in the county in which the challenger is designated. (Sec. 2)
Observers for Federal Candidates
11. Allows a specified number of representatives of candidates for President of the United States, United States Senate and United States House of Representatives to be designated as observers of proceedings at the counting center during general elections. (Sec. 4)
12. Directs the observers to pose any questions concerning procedures to the counting center supervisor or officer in charge of elections. (Sec. 4)
13. Requires each observer to be a registered voter in Arizona. (Sec. 4)
Miscellaneous
14. Prohibits party representatives from approaching election check in stations or an election official's table or equipment any closer than is reasonably necessary to perform the representative's functions. (Sec. 1, 2, 4)
15. Stipulates that party representatives must provide their own materials and must not obstruct the orderly conduct of any election, election procedure or ballot processing. (Sec. 1, 2, 4)
16. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1, 2, 3, 4)
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20. SB 1598
21. Initials JH Page 0 Vetoed
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