Assigned to GOV AS PASSED BY COW
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fifth Legislature, Second Regular Session
AMENDED
FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1638
early ballots; visually impaired voters
Purpose
Requires any Arizona election to provide for voting by the use of a remote accessible vote
by mail option for persons who are blind or have a visual impairment.
Background
The Secretary of State (SOS) must appoint a three-member Committee to investigate and
test various types of vote recording and tabulating machines or devices that may be used for
elections. The Committee must submit its recommendations to the SOS, who makes final adoption
of the types, makes and models of elections machines and devices to be certified for use in Arizona
(A.R.S. § 16-442).
On completion of the certification process, the SOS must require voting systems used by
jurisdictions subject to consolidated election requirements, except for cities or towns with a
population of fewer than 20,000 persons, to 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. The SOS must consult with and obtain recommendations from: 1) nonprofit
organizations that represent persons who are blind or visually impaired; 2) persons with expertise
in accessible software, hardware or other technology; 3) county and local election officials; and
4) other appropriate persons. After receiving recommendations, the SOS must submit one or more
voting systems that provide equivalent access to the Committee (A.R.S. § 16-442.01).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires any Arizona election to provide for voting by the use of a remote accessible vote by
mail option for persons who are blind or have a visual impairment.
2. Requires the SOS to require voting systems used by jurisdictions subject to consolidated
election requirements, except for cities or towns with a population of fewer than 20,000
persons, to provide a remote accessible vote by mail option.
3. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
FACT SHEET – Amended
S.B. 1638
Page 2
Amendments Adopted by Committee of the Whole
1. Requires any Arizona election to provide for an accessible vote by mail option, rather than
accessible vote by mail system.
2. Specifies that the remote accessible vote by mail option that a jurisdiction must provide is for
persons who are blind or have a visual impairment.
Senate Action
GOV 2/14/22 DP 5-2-0
Prepared by Senate Research
March 7, 2022
MH/slp