HB 2591
Initials JH Page 1 Municipal Oversight & Elections
ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Fifty-sixth Legislature
First Regular Session
HB 2591: elections; early ballot drop boxes
Sponsor: Representative Griffin, LD 19
Committee on Municipal Oversight & Elections
Overview
Establishes specified minimum requirements for the use of early ballot drop boxes.
History
The County Recorder or officer in charge of elections can begin mailing out early ballots 27 days
before the election. An early election board can tabulate early ballots as soon as they are
received. In Arizona, mailed early ballots must be received by the County Recorder or officer in
charge of elections no later than 5:00 pm 11 days before the election (A.R.S. § 16-542).
A voter may also drop off a voted early ballot on election day. Before the early ballot can be
tabulated, election officials must compare the signature on the ballot affidavit with the signature
on the voter's registration record. Provided the County Recorder or officer in charge of elections
allows for the on-site tabulation of voted early ballots, a voter may, upon presentation of valid
identification and while under the supervision of an election official, remove the early ballot from
the completed affidavit envelope and insert it into a tabulating machine (A.R.S. §§ 16-550, 16-
579.02).
Provisions
1. Authorizes the use of ballot drop boxes used to receive voted early ballots, if the drop boxes
are:
a) Located inside a county building or secured to a building or footing if located outside;
b) Usable only during specified days and times and locked in a manner that prevents the
deposit of ballots during off hours; and
c) Monitored by a functioning camera or video recorder that meets specified requirements.
(Sec. 1)
2. Modifies the penalty for a person who knowingly marks a ballot or ballot envelope with the
intent to fix an election to include a fine of $1,000 for each ballot. (Sec. 2)
3. States a person who unlawfully possesses voted or unvoted ballots for sale is subject to a fine
of $1,000 for each ballot. (Sec. 2)
4. Asserts a person who knowingly collects voted or unvoted early ballots is subject to a $100
fine for each ballot unlawfully collected from a voter or unlawfully delivered to a ballot drop
box. (Sec. 2).
5. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 2)
☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note