Assigned to ELEC FOR COMMITTEE
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, Second Regular Session
FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1656
ballots; ballot paper; custody
Purpose
Requires the county board of supervisors (county BOS), county recorder and county officer
in charge of elections to maintain a chain of custody record for ballot paper.
Background
Ballots are prepared and provided by the county BOS, and in city and town elections, the
city or town clerk. Candidates and their agents print and make ballots ready for inspection at least
10 days before a general election and at least 5 days before a city or town election. Ballots must
be printed with black ink on white paper of sufficient thickness to prevent the printing from being
discernible from the back and must be headed official ballot. For candidate races, a ballot must:
1) list the candidates' names and party designations and arrange them in column form; 2) list the
names of each office to be filled; 3) list the district number, division number or other jurisdictional
name next to the office to be filled; 4) include the designation of how many votes should be cast
for each office; 5) contain a location for a voter to place their mark; and 6) contain blank lines for
write-in candidates. The county BOS, city or town clerk or governing body of a special district
delivers the ballots to each voting precinct or to the inspector of each election board as determined
by the officer in charge of elections (A.R.S. ยงยง 16-502; 16-503; and 16-509).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires the county BOS, county recorder and county officer in charge of elections to maintain
a chain of custody record for ballot paper that begins when the ballot paper is received by the
county and continues through the printing process and voting process of an individual voter.
2. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 8, 2024
AN/HS/cs