SB 1011 — early voting; ballot deadlines; certificates

Section 16-449, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

16-449.

Required test of equipment and programs;

notice;

procedures manual A.

Within the period of time before the election day prescribed by the secretary of state in the instructions and procedures manual adopted pursuant to section 16-452, the board of supervisors or other election - 4 - S.B.

1011 officer in charge OF ELECTIONS, or for an election involving state or federal candidates, the secretary of state, shall have TEST the automatic tabulating equipment and programs tested to ascertain that the equipment and programs will correctly count the votes cast for all offices and on all measures.

Public notice of the time and place of the test shall be given at least forty-eight hours prior thereto BEFORE THE TEST by publication once in one or more daily or weekly newspapers published in the town, city or village using such equipment, if a newspaper is published therein IN THE TOWN, CITY OR VILLAGE, otherwise in a newspaper of general circulation therein.

The test shall be observed by at least two election inspectors, who shall not be of the same political party, and shall be open to representatives of the political parties, candidates, the press and the public.

The test shall be conducted by processing a preaudited group of ballots so marked as to record a predetermined number of valid votes for each candidate and on each measure and shall include for each office one or more ballots that have votes in excess of the number allowed by law in order to test the ability of the automatic tabulating equipment and programs to reject such votes.

If any error is detected, the cause therefor FOR THE ERROR shall be ascertained and corrected and an errorless count shall be made before the automatic tabulating equipment and programs are approved.

A copy of a revised program shall be filed with the secretary of state within forty-eight hours after the revision is made.

If the error was created by automatic tabulating equipment malfunction, a report shall be filed with the secretary of state within forty-eight hours after the correction is made, stating the cause and the corrective action taken.

The test shall be repeated immediately before the start of the official count of the ballots in the same manner as set forth above.

After the completion of the count, the programs used and the ballots shall be sealed, retained and disposed of as provided for paper ballots.

B.

Electronic ballot tabulating systems shall be tested for logic and accuracy within seven days before their use for early balloting pursuant to the instructions and procedures manual for electronic voting systems that is adopted by the secretary of state as prescribed by section 16-452.

The instructions and procedures manual shall include procedures for the handling of ballots, the electronic scanning of ballots and any other matters necessary to ensure the maximum degree of correctness, impartiality and uniformity in the administration of an electronic ballot tabulating system.

C.

Notwithstanding subsections A and B of this section, if a county uses accessible voting equipment to mark ballots and that accessible voting equipment does not independently tabulate or tally votes, the secretary of state in cooperation with the county officer in charge of elections may designate a single date to test the logic and accuracy of - 5 - S.B.

1011 both the accessible voting equipment and electronic ballot tabulating systems.

D.

NOTWITHSTANDING SUBSECTION B OF THIS SECTION, FOR ANY COUNTY THAT PROVIDES FOR ON-SITE TABULATION PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 16-579.01 AND 16-579.02, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OR OFFICER IN CHARGE OF ELECTIONS SHALL TEST THE ELECTRONIC BALLOT TABULATING EQUIPMENT TO BE UTILIZED PURSUANT TO SECTION 16-579.01 FOR LOGIC AND ACCURACY WITHIN FIFTY DAYS BEFORE ELECTION DAY.

THIS DOES NOT IMPACT THE DEADLINES FOR PERFORMING LOGIC AND ACCURACY TESTING ON OTHER EQUIPMENT.

Sec.

3.

Any on-site early voting location or other early voting location shall [BE OPEN AND AVAILABLE FOR USE ON THE SATURDAY AND MONDAY BEFORE ELECTION DAY AND SHALL] require each elector to present identification as prescribed in section 16-579 before receiving a ballot.

Notwithstanding section 16-579, subsection A, paragraph 2, at any on-site early voting location or other early voting location the county recorder or other officer- in6 charge- ofS.B. elections may provide for a qualified elector to update the elector's voter registration information as provided for in the secretary of state's instructions and procedures manual adopted pursuant to section 16-452.

1011 officer in charge of elections may provide for a qualified elector to update the elector's voter registration information as provided for in the secretary of state's instructions and procedures manual adopted pursuant to section 16-452.

52 United States Code section 20310) or a voter whose -5-information Senateis Amendmentsprotected pursuant to S.B.section 16-153 that is received by the county recorder or other officer in charge of elections more than ninety-three days before the election is valid.

1011 information is protected pursuant to section 16-153 that is received by the county recorder or other officer in charge of elections more than ninety-three days before the election is valid.

The county recorder or other officer in charge of elections shall mail the early ballot and the envelope for its return postage prepaid to the address provided by the requesting elector within five days after receipt of the official early ballots from the officer charged by law with the duty of preparing ballots pursuant to section 16-545, except that early ballot distribution shall not begin more than [twenty-seven]twenty-seven [TWENTY-NINE] days before the election.

If an early ballot request is received on or before the thirty-first day before the election, the early ballot shall be distributed not earlier than the [twenty-seventh]twenty-seventh [TWENTY-NINTH] day before the election and not later than the twenty-twenty-fourth fourth day before the election.

If a complete and correct request is made by the elector within [twenty-seven]twenty-seven [TWENTY-NINE] days before the election, the mailing must be made within forty-eight hours after receipt of the request.

In order to be complete and correct and to receive an early ballot by mail, an elector's request that an early ballot be mailed to the elector's residence or temporary address must include all of the information prescribed by subsection A of this section and must be received by the county recorder or other officer in charge of elections not- later7 than- 5:00S.B. p.m.

1011 not later than 5:00 p.m.

on the Friday MONDAY preceding the election at an on-site early voting location OR OTHER EARLY VOTING LOCATION that is established by the county recorder or other officer in charge of elections shall be given a ballot[,ballot SHALL COMPLETE AN EARLY VOTING CERTIFICATE] after presenting identification as prescribed in section 16-579 and shall be allowed to vote at the on-site locationlocation. [WITHOUT ISSUING OR COMPLETING A MAIL AFFIDAVIT ENVELOPE].

-6-Notwithstanding Senatesection Amendments16-579, subsection A, paragraph 2, at any on-site early voting location the county recorder or other officer in charge of elections may provide for a qualified elector to S.B.update the elector's voter registration information as provided for in the secretary of state's instructions and procedures manual adopted pursuant to section 16-452.

1011 Notwithstanding section 16-579, subsection A, paragraph 2, at any on-site early voting location the county recorder or other officer in charge of elections may provide for a qualified elector to update the elector's voter registration information as provided for in the secretary of state's instructions and procedures manual adopted pursuant to section 16-452.

Notwithstanding section 16-579, subsection A, paragraph 2, for any voting pursuant to subsection H of this section, the county recorder or other officer in charge of elections may allow a qualified elector to update the elector's voter registration information as provided for in the secretary- of8 state's- instructionsS.B. and procedures manual adopted pursuant to section 16-452.

1011 secretary of state's instructions and procedures manual adopted pursuant to section 16-452.

-7-K. Senate Amendments to S.B.

1011 K.

4.

Section 16-544, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

16-544.

Active early voting list;

civil penalty;

violation;

classification;

definition A.

Any voter may request to be included on a list of voters to receive an early ballot by mail for any election for which the county voter registration roll is used to prepare the election register.

The county recorder of each county shall maintain the active early voting list as part of the voter registration roll.

B.

In order to be included on the active early voting list, the EARLY MAIL voter shall make a written request specifically requesting that the EARLY MAIL voter's name be added to the active early voting list for all elections in which the applicant is eligible to vote.

A COUNTY WITH A POPULATION OF FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND PERSONS OR MORE SHALL REQUIRE THE EARLY MAIL VOTER, THROUGH AN AFFIRMATIVE ACT ON THE PART OF THE EARLY MAIL VOTER, TO CONFIRM THE EARLY MAIL VOTER'S ADDRESS PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION - 9 - S.B.

1011 EACH ELECTION CYCLE BEFORE RECEIVING AN EARLY BALLOT BY MAIL REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE EARLY MAIL VOTER IS ON THE ACTIVE EARLY VOTING LIST.

A COUNTY WITH A POPULATION OF FEWER THAN FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND PERSONS SHALL REQUIRE AN EARLY MAIL VOTER, THROUGH AN AFFIRMATIVE ACT ON THE PART OF THE EARLY MAIL VOTER, TO CONFIRM THE EARLY MAIL VOTER'S ADDRESS PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION DURING THE FOUR-YEAR PERIOD THAT CONSTITUTES TWO CONSECUTIVE ELECTION CYCLES BEFORE RECEIVING AN EARLY BALLOT BY MAIL REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE EARLY MAIL VOTER IS ON THE ACTIVE EARLY VOTING LIST.

An early MAIL voter request form shall conform to requirements prescribed in the instructions and procedures manual issued pursuant to section 16-452.

The application shall allow for the EARLY MAIL voter to provide the EARLY MAIL voter's name, residence address, mailing address in the EARLY MAIL voter's county of residence, date of birth and signature and shall state that the EARLY MAIL voter is attesting that the voter is a registered voter who is eligible to vote in the county of residence.

The EARLY MAIL voter shall not list a mailing address that is outside of this state for the purpose of the active early voting list unless the EARLY MAIL voter is an absent uniformed services voter or overseas voter as defined in the uniformed and overseas citizens absentee voting act (P.L.

99-410;

52 United States Code section 20310).

In lieu of the application, the applicant may submit a written request that contains the required information.

THE COUNTY RECORDER SHALL ALLOW THE EARLY MAIL VOTER TO PERFORM AN AFFIRMATIVE ACT TO CONFIRM THE EARLY MAIL VOTER'S ADDRESS BY ANY ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING METHODS:

1.

MAILING THE EARLY MAIL VOTER A NOTICE TO CONFIRM OR UPDATE THE EARLY MAIL VOTER'S ADDRESS.

2.

CALLING THE EARLY MAIL VOTER OR NOTIFYING THE EARLY MAIL VOTER TO CALL THE COUNTY RECORDER TO CONFIRM OR UPDATE THE EARLY MAIL VOTER'S ADDRESS.

ALLOWING THE EARLY MAIL VOTER TO CONFIRM OR UPDATE THE EARLY MAIL VOTER'S ADDRESS BY WAY OF A COUNTY WEBSITE PORTAL.

A COUNTY WEBSITE PORTAL FOR THIS PURPOSE SHALL PROMPT THE EARLY MAIL VOTER TO CONFIRM OR UPDATE THE EARLY MAIL VOTER'S ADDRESS EACH TIME THE EARLY MAIL VOTER LOGS IN IF THE VOTER'S ADDRESS HAS NOT YET BEEN CONFIRMED FOR THAT ELECTION CYCLE.

C.

A NOTICE SENT TO A VOTER TO CONFIRM THE VOTER'S ADDRESS PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION B, PARAGRAPH 1 OF THIS SECTION SHALL BE IN THE FOLLOWING FORM AND INCLUDE CHECK BOXES:

______ [CHECK BOX] I AFFIRM THAT I HAVE NOT MOVED AND MY ADDRESS IS THE SAME AS THE ADDRESS INDICATED ON THE FRONT OF THE ENVELOPE.

______ [CHECK BOX] MY ADDRESS HAS CHANGED AND I WOULD LIKE TO UPDATE MY ADDRESS:

___________________________________ - 10 - S.B.

1011 D.

ADDRESS CONFIRMATION RECEIVED AFTER THE LAST DAY TO REQUEST AN EARLY BALLOT WILL BE PROCESSED FOR THE NEXT UPCOMING ELECTION FOR WHICH THE EARLY MAIL VOTER IS ELIGIBLE IN THE CURRENT ELECTION CYCLE.

C.

E.

On receipt of a request to be included on the active early voting list, the county recorder or other officer in charge of elections shall compare the signature on the request form with the voter's signature on the voter's registration form and, if the request is from the voter, shall mark the voter's registration file as an active early ballot request.

D.

F.

Not less than ninety days before any polling place election scheduled in March or August, the county recorder or other officer in charge of elections shall mail to all voters who are eligible for the election and who are included on the active early voting list an election notice by nonforwardable mail that is marked with the statement required by the postmaster to receive an address correction notification.

If an election is not formally called by a jurisdiction by the one hundred eightieth day before the election, the recorder or other officer in charge of elections is not required to send the election notice.

The notice shall include the dates of the elections that are the subject of the notice, the dates that the voter's ballot is expected to be mailed and the address where the ballot will be mailed.

If the upcoming election is a partisan open primary election and the voter is not registered as a member of one of the political parties that is recognized for purposes of that primary, the notice shall include information on the procedure for the voter to designate a political party ballot.

The notice shall be delivered with return postage prepaid and shall also include a means for the voter to do any of the following:

1.

Change the mailing address for the voter's ballot to another location in the voter's county of residence.

2.

Update the voter's residence address in the voter's county of residence.

3.

Request that the voter not be sent a ballot for the upcoming election or elections indicated on the notice.

E.

G.

If the notice that is mailed to the voter is returned undeliverable by the postal service, the county recorder or other officer in charge of elections shall take the necessary steps to contact the voter at the voter's new residence address in order to update that voter's address or to move the voter to inactive status as prescribed in section 16-166, subsection A.

If a voter is moved to inactive status, the voter shall be removed from the active early voting list.

If the voter is removed from the active early voting list, the voter shall only be added to the active early voting list again if the voter submits a new request pursuant to this section.

F.

H.

Not later than the first day of early voting, the county recorder or other officer in charge of elections shall mail an early - 11 - S.B.

1011 ballot to all eligible voters included on the active early voting list in the same manner prescribed in section 16-542, subsection C.

If the voter has not returned the notice or otherwise notified the election officer within forty-five days before the election that the voter does not wish to receive an early ballot by mail for the election or elections indicated, the ballot shall automatically be scheduled for mailing.

G.

I.

If a voter who is on the active early voting list is not registered as a member of a recognized political party and fails to notify the county recorder of the voter's choice for political party ballot within forty-five days before a partisan open primary election, the following apply:

1.

The voter shall not automatically be sent a ballot for that partisan open primary election only and the voter's name shall remain on the active early voting list for future elections.

2.

To receive an early ballot for the primary election, the voter shall submit the voter's choice for political party ballot to the county recorder.

H.

J.

After a voter has requested to be included on the active early voting list, the voter shall be sent an early ballot by mail automatically for any election at which a voter at that residence address is eligible to vote until any of the following occurs:

1.

The voter requests in writing to be removed from the active early voting list.

2.

The voter's registration or eligibility for registration is moved to inactive status or canceled as otherwise provided by law.

3.

The notice sent by the county recorder or other officer in charge of elections is returned undeliverable and the county recorder or officer in charge of elections is unable to contact the voter to determine the voter's continued desire to remain on the list.

4.

The voter fails to vote an early ballot in all elections for two consecutive election cycles.

For the purposes of this paragraph, "election" means any regular primary or regular general election for which there was a federal race on the ballot or for which a city or town candidate primary or first election or city or town candidate second, general or runoff election was on the ballot.

This paragraph does not apply to:

(a) A special taxing district that is authorized pursuant to section 16-191 to conduct its own elections.

(b) A special district mail ballot election that is conducted pursuant to article 8.1 of this chapter.

I.

K.

A voter may make a written request at any time to be removed from the active early voting list.

The request shall include the voter's name, residence address, date of birth and signature.

On receipt of a completed request to remove a voter from the active early voting list, the - 12 - S.B.

1011 county recorder or other officer in charge of elections shall remove the voter's name from the list as soon as practicable.

J.

L.

An absent uniformed services voter or overseas voter as defined in the uniformed and overseas citizens absentee voting act (P.L.

99-410;

52 United States Code section 20310) is eligible to be placed on the active early voting list pursuant to this section.

K.

M.

A voter's failure to vote an early ballot once received does not constitute grounds to remove the voter from the active early voting list, except that a county recorder shall remove a voter from the active early voting list if both of the following apply:

1.

The county recorder or other officer in charge of elections complies with subsection M O of this section.

2.

The voter fails to vote using an early ballot in all of the following elections for two consecutive election cycles:

(a) A regular primary and regular general election for which there was a federal race on the ballot.

(b) A city or town candidate primary or first election and a city or town candidate second, general or runoff election.

L.

N.

On or before January 15 of each odd-numbered year, the county recorder or other officer in charge of elections shall send a notice to each voter who is on the active early voting list and who did not vote an early ballot in all elections for two consecutive election cycles as prescribed by subsection K M of this section.

If the voter has provided the voter's telephone or mobile phone number or email address to the county recorder, the county recorder may additionally provide the notice to the voter by telephone call, text message or email.

The notice shall inform the voter that if the voter wishes to remain on the active early voting list, the voter shall do both of the following with the notice received:

1.

Confirm in writing the voter's desire to remain on the active early voting list.

2.

Return the completed notice to the county recorder or other officer in charge of elections within ninety days after the notice is sent to the voter.

The notice shall be signed by the voter and shall contain the voter's address and date of birth.

M.

O.

If a voter receives a notice as prescribed by subsection L N of this section and the voter fails to respond within the ninety-day period, the county recorder or other officer in charge of elections shall remove the voter's name from the active early voting list.

N.

P.

A candidate, political committee or other organization may distribute active early voting list request forms to voters.

If the active early voting list request forms include a printed address for return, that address shall be the political subdivision that will conduct the election.

Failure to use the political subdivision as the return addressee is punishable by a civil penalty of up to three times the cost - 13 - S.B.

1011 of the production and distribution of the active early voting list request.

O.

Q.

All original and completed active early voting list request forms that are received by a candidate, political committee or other organization shall be submitted within six business days after receipt by a candidate or political committee or eleven days before the election day, whichever is earlier, to the political subdivision that will conduct the election.

Any person, political committee or other organization that fails to submit a completed active early voting list request form within the prescribed time is subject to a civil penalty of up to $25 per day for each completed form withheld from submittal.

Any person who knowingly fails to submit a completed active early voting list request form before the submission deadline for the election immediately following the completion of the form is guilty of a class 6 felony.

P.

R.

A person who receives an early ballot at an address at which another person formerly resided, without voting the ballot or signing the envelope, shall write "not at this address" on the envelope and place the mail piece in a United States postal service collection box or other mail receptacle.

On receipt the county recorder or other officer in charge of elections shall proceed in the manner prescribed in subsection E G of this section.

Q.

S.

When the county recorder receives confirmation from another county that a person registered has registered to vote in that other county, the county recorder shall remove that person from the active early voting list.

R.

T.

If the county recorder receives credible information that a person has registered to vote in a different county, the county recorder shall confirm the person's voter registration with that other county and, on confirmation, shall remove that person from the county's active early voting list pursuant to subsection Q S of this section.

S.

U.

For the purposes of this section, "election cycle" means the two-year period beginning on January 1 in the year after a statewide general election or, for cities and towns, the two-year period beginning on the first day of the calendar quarter after the calendar quarter in which the city's or town's second, runoff or general election is scheduled and ending on the last day of the calendar quarter in which the city's or town's immediately following second, runoff or general election is scheduled, however that election is designated by the city or town.

Sec.

5.

early voting certificate;

I- declare14 the- followingS.B. under penalty of perjury:

1011 I declare the following under penalty of perjury:

_____________________________ -8-Address Senateof Amendmentsvoter toassistant: S.B.

1011 Address of voter assistant:

In order to be valid and counted, the ballot and mail affidavit must be delivered to the office of the county recorder or other officer in charge of elections or may be deposited at any polling place in the county not later than 7:00- p.m.15 - S.B.

1011 7:00 p.m.

Beginning in 2026, the instructions FOR A COUNTY THAT PROVIDES ON-SITE TABULATION OF BALLOTS PURSUANT TO SECTION 16-579.01 OR 16-579.02 shall include the following statement:

(a) Delivering MAILING it to the office of the county recorder or other officer in charge of elections WHERE IT MUST BE RECEIVED not later than 7:00 p.m.

(b) Depositing it at any polling place VOTING LOCATION in the county not later than 7:00 p.m.

on THE FRIDAY BEFORE election day.

[(c)HAND BringingDELIVERING theIT ballotTO toTHE anyOFFICE pollingOF placeTHE inCOUNTY theRECORDER countyOR notOFFICER laterIN thanCHARGE OF ELECTIONS NOT LATER THAN 7:00 p.m.P.M.

onON electionELECTION dayDAY. and choosing to present valid identification that complies with section 16-579, subsection A, paragraph 1, Arizona Revised Statutes.] (WARNING — It is a felony to offer or receive any compensation for a ballot.) -9- Senate Amendments to S.B.

1011(c) [E.Bringing the ballot to any polling place in the county not later than 7:00 p.m.

BEGINNINGon INelection 2026,day Aand PERSONchoosing WHOto APPEARSpresent PERSONALLYvalid ATidentification ANthat EARLYcomplies VOTINGwith LOCATIONsection DURING THE PERIOD OF EARLY VOTING, INCLUDING ON THE SATURDAY AND MONDAY BEFORE ELECTION DAY, SHALL BE GIVEN A BALLOT AFTER PRESENTING IDENTIFICATION AS PRESCRIBED BY SECTION 16-579, SHALLsubsection COMPLETEA, ANparagraph EARLY1, VOTINGArizona CERTIFICATERevised ANDStatutes. SHALL BE ALLOWED TO VOTE AT THE EARLY VOTING LOCATION WITHOUT ISSUING OR COMPLETING A MAIL AFFIDAVIT ENVELOPE.

THE(c) EARLYDEPOSITING VOTINGIT CERTIFICATEAT SHALLANY BEVOTING LOCATION IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE FOLLOWINGCOUNTY FORM:BY 7:00 P.M.

EARLY VOTING CERTIFICATE I, _________________________________, A QUALIFIED ELECTOR FOR THIS ELECTION AND REGISTERED VOTER IN ____________________ COUNTY, ARIZONA, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM THAT I AM THE PERSON LISTED ON THE VOTERFRIDAY REGISTRATIONBEFORE ROLLSELECTION OFDAY. _________________ COUNTY AND THAT I RESIDE AT THE LISTED ADDRESS.

I(d) UNDERSTANDAFTER THAT7:00 IFP.M. I COMMIT OR ATTEMPT TO COMMIT FRAUD IN CONNECTION WITH VOTING, VOTE A FRAUDULENT BALLOT OR VOTE MORE THAN ONCE IN AN ELECTION, I COULD BE CONVICTED OF A FELONY AND FINED OR IMPRISONED, OR BOTH.

ION UNDERSTANDTHE THATFRIDAY MYBEFORE FAILUREELECTION TODAY, SIGNBRINGING THISTHE CERTIFICATEBALLOT INVALIDATESTO MYANY BALLOT.]VOTING [E.]LOCATION [F.]IN TheTHE printedCOUNTY instructionsTHAT prescribedOFFERS byON-SITE subsectionTABULATION DAND ofSUBMITTING thisIT sectionTO shallTHE alsoELECTION includeOFFICIALS theFOR followingSEPARATION informationFROM regardingTHE sectionENVELOPE 16-1005,AND subsectionsPROCESSING HAS andREQUIRED IBY inTHE substantiallyCOUNTY. the following form:

3.

BEGINNING IN 2026, THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR A COUNTY THAT DOES NOT PROVIDE ON-SITE TABULATION OF BALLOTS PURSUANT TO SECTION 16-579.01 OR 16-579.02 SHALL INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT:

IN ORDER TO BE VALID AND COUNTED, THE MAIL AFFIDAVIT THAT CONTAINS THE MAIL BALLOT MUST HAVE THE VOTER'S SIGNATURE ON THE ENVELOPE AND MUST BE RETURNED TO THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY RECORDER BY ANY ONE OF THE FOLLOWING METHODS:

(a) MAILING IT TO THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY RECORDER OR OTHER OFFICER IN CHARGE OF ELECTIONS, WHICH MUST BE RECEIVED NOT LATER THAN 7:00 P.M.

ON ELECTION DAY.

(b) HAND DELIVERING IT TO THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY RECORDER OR OFFICER IN CHARGE OF ELECTIONS NOT LATER THAN 7:00 P.M.

ON ELECTION DAY.

- 16 - S.B.

1011 (c) DEPOSITING IT AT ANY VOTING LOCATION IN THE COUNTY NOT LATER THAN 7:00 P.M.

ON THE FRIDAY BEFORE ELECTION DAY.

(d) AFTER 7:00 P.M.

ON THE FRIDAY BEFORE ELECTION DAY, BRINGING THE BALLOT TO ANY POLLING PLACE IN THE COUNTY BUT NOT LATER THAN 7:00 P.M.

ON ELECTION DAY BY PRESENTING IDENTIFICATION THAT COMPLIES WITH SECTION 16-579, SUBSECTION A, PARAGRAPH 1, ARIZONA REVISED STATUTES.

(WARNING — It is a felony to offer or receive any compensation for a ballot.) E.

The printed instructions prescribed by subsection D of this section shall also include the following information regarding section 16-1005, subsections H and I in substantially the following form:

4.6.

The early voter shall fold the ballot, if a paper ballot, so as to conceal the vote,vote and deposit the voted ballot in the envelope provided for that purpose, which shall be securely sealed and, together with the affidavit, delivered or RETURN THE VOTED BALLOT BY ONE OF THE FOLLOWING METHODS:

HAND DELIVER THE VOTED BALLOT TO THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY RECORDER OR OTHER OFFICER IN CHARGE OF ELECTIONS OF THE POLITICAL SUBDIVISION IN WHICH THE VOTER IS REGISTERED.

IN ORDER TO BE COUNTED AND VALID, THE BALLOT -10-MUST SenateBE AmendmentsRECEIVED toBY S.B.THE COUNTY RECORDER OR OTHER OFFICER IN CHARGE OF ELECTIONS NOT LATER THAN 7:00 P.M.

1011 MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE COUNTY RECORDER OR OTHER OFFICER IN CHARGE OF ELECTIONS NOT LATER THAN 7:00 P.M.

A PERSON WHO APPEARS PERSONALLY AT AN EARLY VOTING LOCATION DURINGESTABLISHED THEPURSUANT PERIODTO OF EARLY VOTING, INCLUDING ON THE SATURDAY AND MONDAY BEFORE ELECTION DAY, SHALL PRESENT IDENTIFICATION AS PRESCRIBED BY SECTION 16-579,16-542 SIGNDURING THE EARLYPERIOD VOTEROF [CERTIFICATE] [AFFIDAVIT], MARK THE BALLOT IN A MANNER THAT THE EARLY VOTER'SVOTING, VOTE- CANNOT17 BE- SEENS.B. AND RETURN THE VOTED BALLOT TO THE ELECTION OFFICIAL AT THE EARLY VOTING LOCATION.

[A1011 MAILINCLUDING AFFIDAVITON ENVELOPETHE MAYSATURDAY, NOTSUNDAY BEAND REQUIRED.]MONDAY [FORBEFORE AELECTION COUNTYDAY, THATSHALL PROVIDESPRESENT FORIDENTIFICATION ON-SITEAS TABULATIONPRESCRIBED OFBY BALLOTSSECTION PURSUANT16-579, TOSIGN SECTIONSTHE 16-579.01EARLY ANDVOTER 16-579.02AFFIDAVIT, DURINGMARK THE SATURDAYBALLOT ORIN MONDAYA IMMEDIATELYMANNER PRECEDINGTHAT THE EARLY VOTER'S VOTE CANNOT BE SEEN AND RETURN THE VOTED BALLOT TO THE ELECTION DAY,OFFICIAL AT THE FOLLOWINGEARLY APPLY:VOTING LOCATION.

FOR A COUNTY THAT PROVIDES FOR ON-SITE TABULATION OF BALLOTS PURSUANT TO SECTION 16-579.01 DURING THE SATURDAY, SUNDAY OR MONDAY IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING ELECTION DAY, THE FOLLOWING APPLY:

THE EARLY VOTER SHALL APPEAR PERSONALLY AT THE ON-SITE TABULATION LOCATION AND SURRENDERSUBMIT THE VOTER'S EARLY BALLOT AND AFFIDAVIT.

THE ELECTION OFFICIAL SHALL ALLOW THE EARLY VOTER TO TABULATE THE EARLY BALLOT ON-SITE AS PRESCRIBED BY SECTIONS 16-579.01 AND 16-579.02.]16-579.02. [C.

FORC. EARLY BALLOTS THAT ARE CAST IN PERSON PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION B OF THIS SECTION, THE OFFICER IN CHARGE OF ELECTIONS SHALL ENSURE THAT CHAIN OF CUSTODY PROCEDURES FOR THESE EARLY BALLOTS ARE IDENTICAL TO THOSE PRESCRIBED FOR IN-PERSON ELECTION DAY VOTING.] B.

[C.]FOR [D.]EARLY IfBALLOTS theTHAT earlyARE voterCAST isIN anPERSON overseasPURSUANT citizen,TO aSUBSECTION qualifiedB electorOF absentTHIS fromSECTION, theTHE UnitedOFFICER StatesIN orCHARGE inOF theELECTIONS UnitedSHALL StatesENSURE service,THAT aCHAIN spouseOF orCUSTODY dependentPROCEDURES residingFOR withTHESE theEARLY earlyBALLOTS voterARE orIDENTICAL aTO qualifiedTHOSE electorPRESCRIBED ofFOR aIN-PERSON specialELECTION districtDAY mailVOTING. ballot election as provided in article 8.1 of this chapter, the early voter may subscribe to the affidavit before and obtain the signature and military identification number or passport number, if available, of any person who is a United States citizen eighteen years of age or older.

<<Sec.B.

5.D.

If the early voter is an overseas citizen, a qualified elector absent from the United States or in the United States service, a spouse or dependent residing with the early voter or a qualified elector of a special district mail ballot election as provided in article 8.1 of this chapter, the early voter may subscribe to the affidavit before and obtain the signature and military identification number or passport number, if available, of any person who is a United States citizen eighteen years of age or older.

Sec.

7.

The inspector and judges -11-shall Senatebe Amendmentsappointed toin S.B.the same manner by party as provided in section 16-531.

1011 shall be appointed in the same manner by party as provided in section 16-531.

Beginning in 2026, all early ballots that are delivered by a voter to a voting location without presenting identification- that18 complies- withS.B. section 16-579, subsection A, paragraph 1 must be signature verified.

1011 identification that complies with section 16-579, subsection A, paragraph 1 must be signature verified.

[TheEXCEPT IN COUNTIES THAT TABULATE EARLY BALLOTS ON-SITE PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 16-579.01 AND 16-579.02, the county recorder or other officer in charge of elections shall count the number of early ballots that are returned at voting locations on election day and shall post on its website those totals with the last unofficial results that are released on election night pursuant to section 16-622.]16-622. Beginning with the day following the election, the county recorder or other officer in charge of elections shall enter into the county's ballot tracking system, if established, early ballots that were returned at the voting location on election day.

Beginning with the day following the election, the county recorder or other officer in charge of elections shall enter into the county's ballot tracking system, if established, early ballots that were returned at the voting location on election day.

>> Sec.

6.8.

EXCEPT FOR A PERSON WHO VOTES PERSONALLY AT AN EARLY VOTING LOCATION DURING THE PERIOD OF EARLY VOTING AS PRESCRIBED BY SECTION 16-548, SUBSECTION B, the early election board shall check the voter's -12-mail Senateballot Amendmentsaffidavit toon S.B.the envelope containing the early ballot.

1011 mail ballot affidavit on the envelope containing the early ballot.

Beginning in 2026, for an early ballot that is received and verified as prescribed by section- 16-579,19 subsection- A,S.B. paragraph 4, additional signature verification is not required.

1011 section 16-579, subsection A, paragraph 4, additional signature verification is not required.

The fact that the voter fails to appear shall not be deemed to -13-be Senatean Amendmentsadmission toof S.B.the validity of the challenge.

1011The beearly anelection admissionboard ofor theother validityofficer in charge of theearly challenge.ballot processing is not - 20 - S.B.

The1011 early election board or other officer in charge of early ballot processing is not required to provide the notices described in this subsection if the written challenge fails to set forth at least one of the grounds listed in section 16-591 as a basis for the challenge.

<<Sec.Sec.

7.9.

Section 16-558.01, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

16-558.01.

Mailing of ballots Not more than [twenty-seven] [TWENTY-NINE] days before the election and not fewer than fifteen days before the election, the county recorder or other officer in charge of elections for the special district shall send by nonforwardable mail all official ballots with printed instructions and a return envelope bearing a printed ballot affidavit as described in section 16-547 to each qualified elector entitled to vote in the election.

The envelope in which the ballot is mailed shall be clearly marked with the statement required by the postmaster to receive an address correction and notification.

The district governing board shall determine whether the voter or the district governing board will pay for the postage for the return of electors' marked ballots.

An elector who votes in a special district mail ballot election shall return the elector's marked ballot to the recorder or other officer in charge of the election or to a -14- Senate Amendments to S.B.

1011 designated depository site as provided in section 16-411 no later than 7:00 p.m.

on the day of the election.

>> <<Sec.

8.

Every county recorder or other officer in charge of elections may provide for a qualified elector who appears at that elector's designated polling location or at a voting center [ATAT ANY TIME DURING THE PERIOD OF EARLY VOTING AND]AND on election day with the elector's voted early ballot to have the elector's voted early ballot tabulated as prescribed in section 16-579.02.

2.- 21 - S.B.

1011 2.

Reconcile for that polling place or voting center the number of electors who appear on the signature roster or e-pollbook ELECTRONIC POLLBOOK with the number of completed early ballot affidavits and the voted early ballots tabulated on-site.

>>Sec. <<Sec.

9.10.

If the elector does not present identification that complies with section 16-579, subsection A, paragraph 1, [thethe elector shall either deposit the elector's voted early ballot in its affidavit envelope in an official drop box or]or proceed to the area designated for election day voting to surrender the early ballot to the election board for retention and not for tabulating.

An election official may not allow for the on-site tabulation of an early ballot if the elector -15-does Senatenot Amendmentspresent toidentification S.B.that complies with section 16-579, subsection A, paragraph 1.

1011 does not present identification that complies with section 16-579, subsection A, paragraph 1.

C.- 22 - S.B.

1011 C.

>>Sec. 45 Enroll and engross to conform Amend title to conform -16- WENDY ROGERS 1011ROGERS2.docx 01/14/2025 03:55 PM C:

NS11. - 17 -

Severability If a provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of the act that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this act are severable.

Sec.

12.

Legislative findings The legislature finds that:

1.

Arizona takes far longer than most other states to report its final vote tabulations for elections.

2.

The most significant causal factor in Arizona's delayed vote count is matching signatures to the signatures in the voter file for envelopes for early ballots that are returned on or shortly before election day, sometimes called "late early ballots".

3.

Another cause of administrative delays in Arizona elections is the recent surge in emergency voting during the weekend before election day.

Originally intended to accommodate voters with bona fide last-minute emergencies that would otherwise interfere with voting, emergency voting - 23 - S.B.

1011 has recently shifted to an unauthorized expansion of the early voting period without any meaningful confirmation that voters are, in fact, burdened by a last-minute emergency that would otherwise prevent them from voting.

This recent expansion of emergency voting diverts scarce resources from elections officials' offices at the very end of the election cycle, when time and manpower are most precious, that otherwise could be used to fully process early ballots, ensure smooth operations on election day and facilitate the prompt reporting of election results.

4.

Arizona's delayed results are sometimes perceived as evidence of election worker incompetence or inefficiency or as an opportunity for unscrupulous participants to affect the ballot tabulation process improperly.

In this way, Arizona's delay in reporting final numbers reduces public confidence in Arizona's voting system.

5.

By decentralizing and streamlining the process for confirming voter identity associated with late early ballots and eliminating emergency voting during the days immediately before election day, Arizona can substantially reduce administrative burdens, speed up the ballot tabulation process and increase confidence in the electoral system.

6.

By enlarging the overall early voting period and maintaining other voting rights and processes such as in-person early voting, in-person election day voting, early voting by mail through the Friday before election day, special election boards, accessible voting systems and translations for protected language groups, the proposed changes in Arizona election administration processes will not have a substantial net effect on either access to or the ease of voting in Arizona.

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