Arizona Fifty-fifth Legislature - Second Regular Session Status: Enacted

SB 1638 — early ballots; visually impaired voters

Last action — Signed by Governor

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Senate
  4. ✓
    Passed House
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 01, 2022. Enacted.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

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A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Advancing 56% · moderate confidence
  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 2 sponsors

    1 primary, 1 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Mixed recorded votes

    3 passed, 2 failed in recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

71 added · 44 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent amendment to Bill SB 1638 introduces key changes to the eligibility of voters for early ballots, particularly affecting those who have not provided proof of citizenship. Specifically, individuals who are registered but lack sufficient evidence of citizenship will now be ineligible to receive early ballots for federal offices, while still maintaining exceptions for absent uniformed services voters and overseas voters. Additionally, the bill strengthens requirements for accessible voting technology, ensuring that voting systems provide equivalent access for individuals who are blind or visually impaired and include options for remote voting. These changes are important as they aim to enhance voting integrity while also promoting accessibility for all voters.

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Latest
Senate Engrossed early ballots;
House Engrossed Senate Bill early ballots;
visually impaired voters State of Arizona Senate Fifty-fifth Legislature Second Regular Session SENATE BILL 1638 AN ACT AMENDING SECTIONS 16-442.01 AND 16-541, ARIZONA REVISED STATUTES;
visually impaired voters State of Arizona Senate Fifty-fifth Legislature Second Regular Session CHAPTER 174 SENATE BILL 1638 AN ACT AMENDING SECTION 16-127, ARIZONA REVISED STATUTES, AS ADDED BY LAWS 2022, CHAPTER 99, SECTION 5;
AMENDING SECTIONS 16-442.01 AND 16-541, ARIZONA REVISED STATUTES;
Section 16-127, Arizona Revised Statutes, as added by Laws 2022, chapter 99, section 5, is amended to read:
16-127.
Federal only voters;
early ballot;
eligibility;
exemption A.
Notwithstanding any other law:
1.
A person who has registered to vote and who has not provided satisfactory evidence of citizenship as prescribed by section 16-166, subsection F is not eligible to vote in presidential elections.
2.
A person who has not provided satisfactory evidence of citizenship pursuant to section 16-166, subsection F and who is eligible to vote only for federal offices is not eligible to receive an early ballot by mail.
B.
This section does not apply to an absent uniformed services voter or overseas voter as defined in the uniformed and overseas citizens absentee voting act (P.L.
99-410;
100 Stat.
924;
52 United States Code section 20310), as amended by the Ronald W.
Reagan national defense authorization act for fiscal year 2005 (P.L.
108-375).
Sec.
2.
On completion of the certification process pursuant to this section and section 16-442, the secretary of state shall require that voting systems that are used by entities that are governed by section 16-204, but not including cities and towns with a population of less than twenty thousand persons, provide persons who are blind or visually impaired with access to voting that is equivalent to that provided to persons who are not blind or visually impaired AND SHALL PROVIDE A REMOTE ACCESSIBLE VOTE BY MAIL OPTION FOR PERSONS WHO ARE BLIND OR HAVE A VISUAL IMPAIRMENT.
On completion of the certification process pursuant to this section and section 16-442, the secretary of state shall require that voting systems that are used by entities that are governed by section 16-204, but not including cities and towns with a population of less than twenty thousand persons, provide persons who are blind or visually impaired with access to voting that is equivalent to that provided to persons who are not blind or visually impaired AND SHALL PROVIDE AN ACCESSIBLE VOTE BY UNITED STATES MAIL OPTION FOR PERSONS WHO ARE BLIND OR HAVE A VISUAL IMPAIRMENT.
After receiving recommendations, the secretary of state shall submit to the committee established pursuant to section 16-442 one or more voting systems that provide equivalent access pursuant to this section for possible certification for use in this state.
After receiving recommendations, the secretary of state shall submit to the committee established pursuant to section 16-442 - 1 - S.B.
1638 one or more voting systems that provide equivalent access pursuant to this section for possible certification for use in this state.
2.
3.
Any election called pursuant to the laws of this state shall provide for early voting, INCLUDING VOTING BY THE USE OF A REMOTE ACCESSIBLE VOTE BY MAIL OPTION FOR PERSONS WHO ARE BLIND OR HAVE A VISUAL IMPAIRMENT.
Any election called pursuant to the laws of this state shall provide for early voting, INCLUDING VOTING BY THE USE OF AN ACCESSIBLE VOTE BY UNITED STATES MAIL OPTION FOR PERSONS WHO ARE BLIND OR HAVE A VISUAL IMPAIRMENT.
- 1 -
Sec.
4.
Effective date A.
Laws 2022, chapter 99 is effective from and after December 31, 2022.
B.
Section 16-127, Arizona Revised Statutes, as amended by this act, is effective from and after December 31, 2022.
APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR APRIL 22, 2022.
FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE APRIL 22, 2022.
- 2 -
View plain text versions (8)

Action History

  1. Signed by Governor

  2. Transmit to Governor

  3. PASSED

  4. PASSED

  5. Transmit to Senate

  6. PASSED

  7. DPA

  8. DPA

  9. House Second Reading

  10. House First Reading.

  11. Transmit to House

  12. PASSED

  13. DPA

  14. DP

  15. Senate Second Reading

  16. Senate First Reading

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 1 co-sponsors · 91 not signed on · 29 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (1)

Not signed on (91)

91 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 91 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Passed

Passed 24 Yea · 4 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 2201
Unaffiliated 15201
Republican 7000
Total 24402
% of votes cast 80%13%0%7%
How each member voted (30)
Member Party Vote
Christine Marsh — Yea
Juan Mendez — Not Voting
Karen Fann — Yea
Kelly Townsend — Yea
Lisa Otondo — Yea
Martin Quezada — Nay
Michelle B. Ugenti-Rita — Yea
Nancy Barto — Yea
Paul Boyer — Yea
Raquel Terán — Nay
Rebecca Rios — Yea
Rick Gray — Yea
Rosanna Gabaldon — Yea
Sean Bowie — Yea
Sine Kerr — Yea
Sonny Borrelli — Yea
Tyler Pace — Yea
Victoria Steele — Yea
Lela Alston Democrat Nay
Lupe Contreras Democrat Yea
Sally Ann Gonzales Democrat Not Voting
Stephanie Stahl Hamilton Democrat Yea
Theresa Hatathlie Democrat Nay
David Gowan Republican Yea
David Livingston Republican Yea
J.D. Mesnard Republican Yea
Thomas "T.J." Shope Republican Yea
Venden "Vince" Leach Republican Yea
Warren Petersen Republican Yea
Wendy Rogers Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Passed

Passed 32 Yea · 25 Nay · 3 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 151903
Republican 17000
Democrat 0600
Total 322503
% of votes cast 53%42%0%5%
How each member voted (60)
Member Party Vote
Amish Shah — Yea
Andrea Dalessandro — Nay
Andres Cano — Not Voting
Athena Salman — Not Voting
Ben Toma — Yea
Brenda Barton — Yea
Christian Solorio — Nay
César Chávez — Nay
Daniel Hernandez — Nay
David L. Cook — Yea
Diego Espinoza — Nay
Domingo DeGrazia — Nay
Jacqueline Parker — Yea
Jasmine Blackwater-Nygren — Nay
Jennifer Jermaine — Nay
Jennifer Longdon — Nay
Jennifer Pawlik — Nay
Joanne Osborne — Yea
Joel John — Yea
John Fillmore — Yea
Judy Burges — Yea
Judy Schwiebert — Nay
Kelli Butler — Nay
Lorenzo Sierra — Nay
Marcelino Quiñonez — Nay
Melody Hernandez — Nay
Michelle Udall — Yea
Morgan Abraham — Nay
Pamela Powers Hannley — Nay
Regina E. Cobb — Yea
Reginald Bolding — Nay
Richard C. Andrade — Nay
Robert Meza — Not Voting
Russell Bowers — Yea
Steve Kaiser — Yea
Travis W. Grantham — Yea
Walter Blackman — Yea
Alma Hernandez Democrat Nay
Brian Fernandez Democrat Nay
Christopher Mathis Democrat Nay
Denise “Mitzi” Epstein Democrat Nay
Myron Tsosie Democrat Nay
Sarah Liguori Democrat Nay
Beverly Pingerelli Republican Yea
Frank Carroll Republican Yea
Gail Griffin Republican Yea
Jake Hoffman Republican Yea
Jeff Weninger Republican Yea
John Kavanagh Republican Yea
Joseph Chaplik Republican Yea
Justin Wilmeth Republican Yea
Kevin Payne Republican Yea
Leo Biasiucci Republican Yea
Lupe Diaz Republican Yea
Mark Finchem Republican Yea
Neal Carter Republican Yea
Quang H Nguyen Republican Yea
Shawnna Bolick Republican Yea
Teresa Martinez Republican Yea
Timothy "Tim" Dunn Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Passed

Passed 28 Yea · 0 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 16002
Republican 7000
Democrat 5000
Total 28002
% of votes cast 93%0%0%7%
How each member voted (30)
Member Party Vote
Christine Marsh — Yea
Juan Mendez — Not Voting
Karen Fann — Yea
Kelly Townsend — Yea
Lisa Otondo — Yea
Martin Quezada — Not Voting
Michelle B. Ugenti-Rita — Yea
Nancy Barto — Yea
Paul Boyer — Yea
Raquel Terán — Yea
Rebecca Rios — Yea
Rick Gray — Yea
Rosanna Gabaldon — Yea
Sean Bowie — Yea
Sine Kerr — Yea
Sonny Borrelli — Yea
Tyler Pace — Yea
Victoria Steele — Yea
Lela Alston Democrat Yea
Lupe Contreras Democrat Yea
Sally Ann Gonzales Democrat Yea
Stephanie Stahl Hamilton Democrat Yea
Theresa Hatathlie Democrat Yea
David Gowan Republican Yea
David Livingston Republican Yea
J.D. Mesnard Republican Yea
Thomas "T.J." Shope Republican Yea
Venden "Vince" Leach Republican Yea
Warren Petersen Republican Yea
Wendy Rogers Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 1638?
SB 1638 is sponsored by Tyler Pace and Amish Shah.
What is the current status of SB 1638?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 01, 2022. Enacted.
Where can I track SB 1638?
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