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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, Second Regular Session
ballots; ballot paper; custody
Purpose
Requires the county board of supervisors (county BOS), county recorder and county officer in charge of elections to maintain a chain of custody record for ballot paper.
Background
Ballots are prepared and provided by the
county BOS, and in city and town elections, the city or town clerk. Candidates
and their agents print and make ballots ready for inspection at least 10 days
before a general election and at least 5 days before a city or town election.
Ballots must be printed with black ink on white paper of sufficient thickness
to prevent the printing from being discernible from the back and must be headed
official ballot. For candidate races, a ballot must:
1) list the candidates' names and party designations and arrange them in column
form; 2) list the names of each office to be filled; 3) list the district
number, division number or other jurisdictional name next to the office to be
filled; 4) include the designation of how many votes should be cast for each
office; 5) contain a location for a voter to place their mark; and 6) contain
blank lines for write-in candidates. The county BOS, city or town clerk or
governing body of a special district delivers the ballots to each voting
precinct or to the inspector of each election board as determined by the
officer in charge of elections (A.R.S. ยงยง 16-502;
16-503; and 16-509).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires the county BOS, county recorder and county officer in charge of elections to maintain a chain of custody record for ballot paper that begins when the ballot paper is received by the county and continues through the printing process and voting process of an individual voter.
2. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 8, 2024
AN/HS/cs