Assigned to ELEC AS VETOED
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, First Regular Session
VETOED
AMENDED
FACT SHEET FOR H.B. 2722
elections; option; full hand count
Purpose
Authorizes the county recorder or any person who is designated by the county board of
supervisors (county BOS) to count all or any portion of the ballots in an election by hand.
Background
For each countywide primary, special, general and presidential preference election, the
county officer in charge of the election must conduct a hand count audit at a minimum of one
secure facility. The hand count audit must be conducted as outlined by statute and in accordance
with the official instructions and procedures manual (A.R.S. § 16-602).
All proceedings at a counting center must be under the direction of the county BOS or other
officer in charge of elections. If for any reason it becomes impracticable to count all or part of the
ballots with tabulating equipment, then the officer in charge of elections may direct the ballots to
be counted manually while following the requirements relating to the counting of paper ballots
(A.R.S. § 16-621). No valid ballot may be left uncounted (EPM Ch. 10 (I)(C)).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
legislation.
Provisions
1. Authorizes the county recorder or any person who is designated by the county BOS to count
all or any portion of the ballots in an election by hand.
2. Requires, for a hand count of fewer than 100 percent of all ballots, the specific ballots being
counted to be randomly selected.
3. Contains a statement of legislative intent.
4. Makes technical and conforming changes.
5. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by Additional Committee of the Whole
• Removes the authority of the officer in charge of elections to count all or any portion of the
ballots in an election by hand. FACT SHEET – Amended/Vetoed
H.B. 2722
Page 2
Governor's Veto Message
The Governor indicates in her veto message that hand counting ballots is unquestionably
less accurate and more time consuming than machine tabulation.
House Action Senate Action
MOE 2/15/23 DPA 6-4-0-0 ELEC 3/27/23 DP 5-3-0
3
rd
Read 3/1/23 31-28-1 3
rd
Read 5/15/23 16-12-2
Final Read 6/12/23 31-29-0
Vetoed by the Governor on 6/16/23
Prepared by Senate Research
July 19, 2023
AN/CS/slp