SB 1140
Initials JH Page 1 Caucus & COW
ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Fifty-sixth Legislature
First Regular Session
Senate: ELEC DP 5-3-0-0 | 3
rd
Read: 16-13-1-0
House: MOE DPA 6-4-0-0
SB 1140: elections; voting centers; polling places
Sponsor: Senator Hoffman, LD 15
Caucus & COW
Overview
Requires certain public offices, including public schools with gymnasiums, to serve as polling
places when requested to do so by the officer in charge of elections.
History
Public Schools as Polling Places
Public schools are required to serve as polling places when requested to do so by the officer in
charge of elections unless the principal provides a written statement indicating a reason the
election cannot be held in the school. Specifically, public schools are exempt from serving as a
polling place if sufficient space is not available or if doing so would jeopardize the safety or welfare
of the children (A.R.S. § 16-411).
Designation of Voting Centers
The Legislature authorized the use of voting centers in lieu of or in addition to specifically
designated polling places in 2011. Polling places are specifically designated locations where
voters in a particular precinct must vote. Voting centers are locations within a county where
registered voters may vote regardless of which precinct the individual lives in. The Board of
Supervisors may establish polling places, voting centers or any combination of the two, including
co-location of precinct-based polling places or voting centers that also serve as polling places for
specific precincts (A.R.S. § 16-411).
Provisions
Public School Holidays
1. Designates every primary and general election day as a holiday for public schools, except for
teachers and staff who will receive or conduct in-service training or development activities.
(Sec. 1)
2. Prohibits teachers and staff from using personal, vacation or other leave time on primary and
general election days. (Sec. 1)
3. Clarifies that teachers and staff will receive compensation for working on primary and general
election days. (Sec. 1)
4. Clarifies that school districts are permitted to provide employees time off to vote on primary
and general election days. (Sec. 1)
Public Offices & Schools as Polling Places
5. Instructs state, county, municipal and school district offices to provide sufficient space for use
as a polling place when requested by the officer in charge of elections. (Sec. 2)
☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note SB 1140
Initials JH Page 2 Caucus & COW
6. Requires public schools with gymnasiums to provide sufficient space for use as a polling place
when requested by the officer in charge of elections. (Sec. 2)
7. Exempts public schools from any state, local or school district requirements that would prevent
or limit the school from serving as a polling place if requested to do so by the officer in charge
of elections. (Sec. 2)
8. Repeals statute allowing the principal of a school to deny a request to provide space for use
as a polling place in specified circumstances. (Sec. 2)
Designation of Voting Locations
9. States voting centers are locations at which an individual who is a registered voter and
resident anywhere in the county is allowed to receive the appropriate ballot for that specific
voter. (Sec. 2)
10. Specifies polling places are located in election districts. (Sec. 2)
11. Modifies the authorized use of voting centers to specify voting centers may only be established
in addition to specifically designated polling places. (Sec. 2)
Miscellaneous
12. Defines gymnasium. (Sec. 2)
13. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1, 2, 3)
Amendments
Committee on Municipal Oversight & Elections
1. Exempts charter schools from the requirement to serve as a polling place when requested by
the officer in charge of elections.