Assigned to ELEC AS VETOED
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, First Regular Session
VETOED
FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1201
early ballots; signatures; electronic pollbooks
Purpose
Prohibits a county recorder or officer in charge of elections from comparing the signatures
on the voter's early ballot affidavit with the signatures from the electronic pollbook (e-pollbook).
Background
Any election called pursuant to Arizona law must provide for any qualified elector to vote
by early ballot (A.R.S. § 16-541). An early ballot must be accompanied by an envelope containing
a printed affidavit, which requires the voter to declare under penalty of perjury that the voter: 1) is
registered in the applicable county; 2) has not and will not vote in any other county or state;
3) understands that knowingly voting more than once in any election is a class 5 felony; and
4) voted the enclosed ballot and signed the affidavit personally, unless the voter was assisted by
another person marking the ballot (A.R.S. § 16-547).
On receipt of an envelope containing an early ballot and ballot affidavit, a county recorder
or other officer in charge of elections must compare the affidavit signature with the signature on
the elector's registration record. Additionally, the county recorder or other officer in charge of
elections must verify the signature and attempt to cure the ballot in the case of mismatching
signatures. If satisfied that the signatures correspond, the county recorder or other officer in charge
of elections must safely keep the envelope containing the early ballot and completed affidavit
unopened and may deliver the early ballot and affidavit for tallying (A.R.S. § 16-550).
An e-pollbook is an electronic system in which a voter is checked in and through which a
voter's signature is recorded to indicate that the voter has voted (A.R.S. § 16-444).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
legislation.
Provisions
1. Prohibits a county recorder or officer in charge of elections from comparing the signatures on
the voter's early ballot affidavit with the signatures from the e-pollbook.
2. Makes a technical change.
3. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
FACT SHEET – Vetoed
S.B. 1201
Page 2
Governor's Veto Message
The Governor indicates in her veto message that limiting which signatures may be
reviewed without a legitimate security or accuracy concern only harms Arizona voters and that
S.B. 1201 would create real challenges for Arizona's elections.
Senate Action House Action
ELEC 2/6/23 DP 5-3-0 MOE 3/8/23 DP 5-4-0-1
3
rd
Read 2/28/23 16-14-0 3
rd
Read 5/15/23 31-27-1-0-1
Vetoed by the Governor on 6/5/23
Prepared by Senate Research
June 6, 2023
AN/CS/slp