Assigned to GOV AS PASSED BY COW
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fifth Legislature, Second Regular Session
AMENDED
FACT SHEET FOR H.B. 2786
voter registrations; ballot requests; source
Purpose
Prohibits the use of a drop box for voted ballots in a county with a population of more than
1,000,000 persons. Prohibits a county recorder or other officer in charge of elections, in a county
with a population of 1,000,000 persons or fewer, from using an unmonitored drop box for the
receipt of early ballots, with outlined exceptions. Removes the ability for a candidate, political
committee or other organization to distribute early ballot request forms or Active Early Voter List
(AEVL) request forms to voters.
Background
Counties or municipalities that establish ballot drop-off locations or drop-boxes must
develop and implement procedures to ensure the security of the drop-off location or drop box.
Additionally, the use of drop-off locations or drop-boxes must comply with specified security and
chain of custody requirements outlined in the Elections Procedures Manual (EPM, Ch. 2 (I)). If a
county board of supervisors (county BOS) determines that a polling place is inaccessible to elderly
persons or persons with disabilities, the county BOS must provide for alternative voting according
to procedures established by the Secretary of State pursuant to the Voting Accessibility For the
Elderly and Handicapped Act (A.R.S. § 16-581). Alternative means of voting may only be used if
no accessible sites are available and no temporary measures can make them available. (EPM, Ch.
5 (IV)).
A candidate, political committee or other organization may distribute early ballot request
forms or AEVL request forms to voters. If a candidate, political committee or organization collects
an early ballot request form or AEVL request form, the candidate, political committee or
organization must return any completed request forms to the appropriate county recorder within 6
business days of receipt or 11 days before the election, whichever is earlier (A.R.S. §§ 16-542 and
16-544).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
legislation.
Provisions
1. Prohibits the use of a drop box for voted ballots in a county with a population of more than 1,000,000
persons.
2. Prohibits a county recorder or other officer in charge of elections, in a county with a population of
1,000,000 persons or fewer, from using an unmonitored drop box for the receipt of voted ballots, unless
a drop box is located inside: FACT SHEET – Amended
H.B. 2786
Page 2
a) a polling place, voting center or other location at which persons are voting and election staff is
present and monitoring the drop box; or
b) an office or other facility that is used by a county recorder or other officer in charge of elections
and at which election staff is present and monitoring the drop box.
3. Requires a county with a population of 1,000,000 persons or fewer to provide and maintain 24-hour
video surveillance each day for a location where it is not practicable for election staff to be present.
4. Requires video recordings of the surveillance to be retained by the county for four years.
5. Exempts post office boxes, privately owned mailboxes or cluster mail units intended for the receipt and
delivery of U.S. mail from the prohibition on and requirements related to ballot drop boxes.
6. Prohibits a county recorder or other officer in charge of elections from providing for or allowing a voter
to receive a ballot and vote from a vehicle or other conveyance, unless required for compliance with:
a) statutory requirements for polling places that are inaccessible to elderly persons or persons with
disabilities;
b) the statutory prohibition against discrimination in voting rights or public accommodations;
c) the ADA; or
d) federal law.
7. Removes the ability of a candidate, political committee or other organization to distribute an
early ballot or AEVL request form to a voter.
8. Allows only a political party, county recorder or election official to distribute early ballot
request forms or AEVL request forms to voters.
9. Prohibits a county recorder, for any signed and preprinted request to amend a voter's
registration or request an early ballot on a form that is not on an official form printed by the
county recorder or other officer in charge of elections, from using the signature of the voter on
the request as the sole exemplar for subsequent comparison.
10. Exempts an election held by a special taxing district formed for the purpose of protecting or
providing services to agricultural lands or crops from statutory requirements and restrictions
related to the distribution of early voting request forms or AEVL request forms and to return
completed request forms within the statutory deadline.
11. Makes technical and conforming changes.
12. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by Committee
• Exempts an election held by a special taxing district formed for the purpose of protecting or
providing services to agricultural lands or crops from statutory requirements and restrictions
related to the distribution of early voting request forms or AEVL request forms and to return
completed request forms within the statutory deadline.
FACT SHEET – Amended
H.B. 2786
Page 3
Amendments Adopted by Committee of the Whole
1. Prohibits the use of a drop box for voted ballots in a county with a population of more than
1,000,000 persons.
2. Prohibits a county recorder or other officer in charge of elections, in a county with a population
of 1,000,000 persons or fewer, from using an unmonitored drop box for the receipt of voted
ballots, unless a drop box is located inside:
a) a polling place, voting center or other location at which persons are voting and election
staff is present and monitoring the drop box; or
b) an office or other facility that is used by a county recorder or other officer in charge of
elections and at which election staff is present and monitoring the drop box.
3. Requires a county with a population of 1,000,000 persons or fewer to provide and maintain
24-hour video surveillance each day for a location where it is not practicable for election staff
to be present.
4. Requires video recordings of the surveillance to be retained by the county for four years.
5. Exempts post office boxes, privately owned mailboxes or cluster mail units intended for the
receipt and delivery of U.S. mail.
6. Prohibits a county recorder or other officer in charge of elections from providing for or
allowing a voter to receive a ballot and vote from a vehicle or other conveyance, unless
required for compliance with:
a) statutory requirements for polling places that are inaccessible to elderly persons or persons
with disabilities;
b) the statutory prohibition against discrimination in voting rights or public accommodations;
c) the ADA; or
d) federal law.
House Action Senate Action
GE 2/16/22 DP 7-6-0-0 GOV 3/21/22 DPA 4-3-0
3
rd
Read 3/1/22 31-26-3
Prepared by Senate Research
June 22, 2022
MH/MF/slp