SB 1175
Initials JH/IG 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 DP 6-4-0-0
SB1175: registrations; observers; counting procedures; verification
Sponsor: Senator Kavanagh, LD 3
Caucus & COW
Overview
Authorizes the expanded use of precinct registers and voter registration forms. Entitles ballot
observers and party representatives to additional privileges. Outlines the procedures if a political
party provides an insufficient amount of election board workers to conduct a hand count audit.
History
Precinct Registers
Information derived from precinct registers and voter registration forms are only to be used for the
purposes authorized by law, such as political party campaigning or revising election district
boundaries. Precinct registers contain the full name, party preference, date of registration and
residential address of each qualified elector in that respective precinct. The County Recorder and
Secretary of State (SOS) are required to prepare copies and distribute them upon the request for
an authorized use. Precinct registers or lists may not be used, bought, sold or transferred for any
non-authorized purposes (A. R. S. § 16-168).
Ballot Observers
The county chairman of each party, by written appointment to the election board, may designate
party representatives in each precinct to act as ballot challengers for the party. The number of
representatives for each party must be mutually agreed upon by each political party. If an
agreement cannot be reached, the number will be limited to one representative for each political
party at the polling place (A. R. S. § 15-590).
Hand Count Audit
The county officer in charge of elections is required to conduct a hand count of a sample of ballots
to test the accuracy of the vote tabulation equipment if there is equal participation from the county
political parties. Following the 2022 general election, 12 of Arizona's 15 counties completed a
hand count audit. Each of the 12 participating counties passed the hand count audit with minor
discrepancies that were deemed acceptable. Apache, Graham and La Paz did not conduct a hand
count because the County Chairs of two political parties did not designate the required number of
members for the hand count election board (A. R. S. § 16-602).
Provisions
Authorized Use of Precinct Registers and Registration Forms
1. States precinct registers and other information derived from voter registration forms may not
be used for any commercial purposes. (Sec. 1)
2. Requires the County Recorder, SOS or other officer in charge of elections to provide electronic
access to voter registration information for any person who:
a) Establishes an electronic profile with the information provider;
b) Attests that the information will not be used for a commercial purpose; and
☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note SB 1175
Initials JH/IG Page 2 Caucus & COW
c) Pays a fee. (Sec. 1)
3. Repeals statute that prohibits a person from distributing, transferring or posting the information
from a precinct register or voter registration form. (Sec. 1)
4. Allows for public posting of voter registration records under specified circumstances. (Sec. 1)
Ballot Challengers and Observers
5. Expands the locations that allow designated ballot challengers to include voting centers and
any location where the electronic processing of ballots occurs. (Sec. 5)
6. Directs the state party chairperson to appoint a party representative for a voting location if the
county party chairperson fails to do so. (Sec. 5)
7. Instructs the legislative district chairperson to appoint a party representative for a voting
location if the state party chairperson fails to do so. (Sec. 5)
8. Allows for the observation of the electronic vote adjudication board's activities. (Sec. 7)
9. Grants the county chairman of each party to designate a party representative to observe the
proceedings at a third-party vendor that processes returned affidavit envelopes on behalf of a
county. (Sec. 8)
10. Directs the state party chairman to designate a party representative if more than one county
contracts with the same vendor or if the county party chairman fails to make the designation.
(Sec. 8)
Hand Count Procedures
11. Requires the county officer in charge of the election to publish the procedures for the hand
count on the county's website no later than the Tuesday before election day. (Sec. 6)
12. Directs the state party chairperson to designate qualified electors to be board workers if the
county party chairperson fails to designate a sufficient number. (Sec. 6)
13. Instructs the legislative district chairperson of the district in which the hand count will occur to
designate qualified electors to be board workers if the state party chairperson fails to
designate a sufficient number. (Sec. 6)
14. Outlines specified procedures if the number of persons provided by the political parties is
determined to be insufficient to perform the hand count by 9:00 am on the Thursday before
the election. (Sec. 6)
15. Requires the county to make the results of the hand count available on the county's website.
(Sec. 6)
16. Expands language to include the hand count locations regarding proceedings at the counting
center. (Sec. 7)
Miscellaneous
17. Allows a voter to make a verbal request to be removed from the active early voting list. (Sec.
2)
18. Prohibits signature images that are submitted for verification purposes from indicating the
voter's designated political party. (Sec. 3)
19. Requires the County Recorder to provide an early ballot tracking system that is accessible to
voters on the county's website. (Sec. 3)
20. Contains a delayed effective date of January 1, 2024. (Sec. 9)
21. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1-3, 5-7)