Assigned to ELEC AS PASSED BY COW
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, First Regular Session
AMENDED
FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1273
early ballot delivery; instruction requirements
Purpose
Prescribes a statement relating to ballot abuse that must be included in the early ballot
affidavit instructions and voter guidance instructions.
Background
Statute outlines terms relating to ballot abuse, including the classification of felonies for
acts with the intent to fix an election. A person who knowingly collects voted or unvoted early
ballots from another person, except for a family member, household member and caregiver, is
guilty of a class 6 felony (A.R.S. § 16-1005).
A county board of supervisors (county BOS) must prepare instructions for the guidance of
voters and election officers at the election according to the election to be conducted. The
instructions must govern the voters and election officers as provided in the Secretary of State's
Instructions and Procedures Manual, commonly referred to as the Election Procedures Manual
(EPM) (A.R.S. § 16-513).
A county recorder or other officer in charge of elections must supply printed instructions
to early voters that direct them to: 1) sign the affidavit; 2) mark the ballot; and 3) return the affidavit
and ballot in the enclosed self-addressed envelope. The instructions must outline that, in order to
be counted, the ballot and affidavit must: 1) be delivered to the office of the county recorder or
other officer in charge of elections no later than 7:00 p.m. on election day; and 2) include the
voter's signature on the envelope. The instructions must issue a warning outlining that it is a felony
to offer or receive compensation for a ballot (A.R.S. § 16-547).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
legislation.
Provisions
1. Prescribes a statement that must be included in the early ballot affidavit instructions and the
voter guidance instructions.
2. Makes technical changes.
3. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
FACT SHEET – Amended
S.B. 1273
Page 2
Amendments Adopted by Committee of the Whole
• Prescribes the statement that must be included in the early ballot affidavit instructions and
voter guidance instructions.
Senate Action
ELEC 2/6/23 DP 5-3-0
Prepared by Senate Research
March 8, 2023
AN/CS/slp