Arizona 2022 2022 Regular Session

Arizona Senate Bill SB1638 Comm Sub / Analysis

Filed 03/21/2022

                      	SB 1638 
Initials SJ/BSR 	Page 1 	Government & Elections 
 
ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Fifty-fifth Legislature 
Second Regular Session 
Senate: GOV DP 5-2-0-0 | 3
rd
 Read 28-0-2-0 
 
SB 1638: early ballots; visually impaired voters 
Sponsor: Senator Pace, LD  25 
Committee on Government & Elections 
Overview 
Adds a remote accessible vote by mail option for blind or visually impaired individuals. 
History 
To provide equivalent access to voters who are blind or visually impaired, the Secretary of State 
(SOS) is required to consult and obtain recommendations from the following: 1) nonprofit 
organizations that represent blind or visually impaired individuals; 2) persons with expertise in 
hardware, accessible software and other technology; and 3) county and local election officials 
and other persons deemed appropriate by the SOS. The SOS must then s ubmit 
recommendations to the committee that adopts vote tabulating equipment for possible certification 
in Arizona (A.R.S. § 16-442.01). 
Provisions 
1. Requires the implementation of a remote accessible vote by mail option for persons who are 
blind or have a visual impairment. (Sec. 1) 
2. Includes the use of a remote accessible vote by mail option for early voting for persons who 
have a visual impairment or are blind. (Sec. 2) 
☐ Prop 105 (45 votes)     ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes)      ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note