ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Fifty-sixth Legislature Second Regular Session
	Senate: ELEC DP 5-2-1-0 | 3^rd Read 16-14-0-0 House: MOE DPA 5-4-0-0

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SB1060: federal candidates; observers; elections

Sponsor: Senator Mesnard, LD 13

Caucus & COW

Overview

Permits federal candidates for President of the United States, Senate and House of Representatives to designate observers for counting centers and establishes certain guidelines and minimum requirements for early ballot challengers, voting location challengers and observers.

History

Political parties appearing on the ballot of an election may appoint several mutually agreed upon representatives, that are residents and registered to vote in the state, to act as challengers. Along with appointed challengers, any qualified elector of the county may verbally challenge a person's eligibility to vote. Voter eligibility can be challenged on certain grounds such as the person's identity not matching the precinct register, the person has not been an Arizona resident for at least 29 days before the election or the person has already voted in that election (A.R.S. §§ 16-590, 16-591).

Proceedings at the counting center are managed by the Board of Supervisors or officer in charge of elections and observed by representatives of each political party and the public. Three additional people representing a candidate for non-partisan office or political committee supporting or opposing a ballot measure, proposition or question may be selected to observe the proceedings (A.R.S. § 16-621).

Provisions

1. Outlines certain guidelines and minimum requirements for party representatives acting as early ballot challengers including:

a) requiring challengers to maintain a reasonable distance from an election official's table and equipment;

b) specifying challengers must bring their own materials and refrain from obstructing the administration of any election, early election board procedures or ballot processing;

c) requiring challengers to direct questions about procedures to the supervisor of the early election board;

d) requiring challengers to be a registered Arizona voter; and

e) prohibiting candidates appearing on the ballot from acting as early ballot challengers. (Sec. 1)

2. Establishes certain guidelines and minimum requirements for party representatives acting as challengers at voting locations including:

a) requiring challengers to maintain a reasonable distance from an election official's table and equipment, check-in stations and voting booths;

b) allowing challengers to observe the conduct of electors and officials, including the setup and closure of voting locations at all polling places within the county they are appointed to;

c) specifying challengers must bring their own materials and refrain from obstructing the administration of any election, early election board procedures or ballot processing;

d) prohibiting those acting as challengers from interacting with voters;

e) requiring challengers to direct questions concerning polling place procedures to the voting location inspector or officer in charge of elections;

f) requiring challengers to be a registered Arizona voter; and

g) prohibiting candidates appearing on the ballot from acting as ballot challengers. (Sec. 2)

3. Allows candidates for United States President, Senate and House of Representatives, during the general election, to appoint representatives to observe counting center proceedings. (Sec. 4)

4. Requires a draw by lot if more than one candidate from a political party designates an observer to monitor proceedings at the counting center. (Sec. 4)

5. Prescribes certain guidelines and minimum requirements for counting center observers such as:

a) requiring challengers to maintain a reasonable distance from the election official's table and equipment;

b) specifying challengers must bring their own materials and refrain from obstructing the administration of any election or procedure;

c) requiring challengers to direct questions relating to counting center procedures to the supervisor or officer in charge of elections; and

d) requiring observers to be a registered Arizona voter. (Sec. 4)

6. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1, 2, 3, 4)

Amendments

Committee on Municipal Oversight & Elections

1. Conforms sections of the bill to the now-current law as updated by Laws 2024, Chapter 1, which was an emergency measure signed by the Governor on February 9, 2024.

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5.                   SB 1060

6. Initials JH/CE     Page 0 Caucus & COW

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