Assigned to GOV FOR COMMITTEE
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fifth Legislature, Second Regular Session
FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1573
hand count; political parties; employees
Purpose
Increases the minimum number of precincts included in post-election hand count audits.
Requires a county employee of the same political party to select precincts for the hand count if a
political party does not provide members for the selection. Prohibits an election canvass from being
completed unless the hand count audit is conducted.
Background
The county officer in charge of elections must conduct a limited hand count audit for each
countywide primary, special, general and presidential preference election. The hand count must be
conducted pursuant to statute and in accordance with procedures established by the Secretary of
State (SOS) in the Elections Procedures Manual. The hand count must be conducted on at least the
greater of two percent of the precincts in the county or two precincts. The county political party
chair for each political party entitled to continued representation on the state ballot or a designee
must conduct the selection of precincts to be hand counted. The precincts must be selected by lot
without the use of a computer. The hand count audit must begin within 24 hours of the closing of
the polls and be completed before the canvassing of the election for that county. The results of the
hand count audit must be provided to the SOS and made publicly available on the SOS's website
(A.R.S. ยง 16-602).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires the county officer in charge of elections to conduct a hand count audit on at least the
greater of five precincts or five percent of precincts in the county, rather than the greater of
two precincts or two percent of the county precincts.
2. Requires, if one or more of the political parties do not provide members to select precincts to
be included in the hand count audit, a county recorder or a designee to select a county employee
who is a member of the designated political party to participate in selecting the precincts.
3. Prohibits an election canvass from being completed unless the hand count audit is conducted
and the results are conspicuously posted on the county recorder's website.
4. Makes a technical change.
5. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 8, 2022
MH/slp