Bill Text: AZ HB2305 | 2023 | Fifty-sixth Legislature 1st Regular | Engrossed
Bill Title: Ballots; signature verification; observers
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 11-0)
Status: (Vetoed) 2023-05-19 - Governor Vetoed [HB2305 Detail]
Download: Arizona-2023-HB2305-Engrossed.html
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Senate Engrossed House Bill
ballots; signature verification; observers |
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State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-sixth Legislature First Regular Session 2023
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HOUSE BILL 2305 |
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An Act
amending title 16, chapter 4, article 8, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 16-546; relating to conduct of elections.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Title 16, chapter 4, article 8, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 16-546, to read:
16-546. Signature verification; political party observers; challenge review; violation; classification
A. For the avoidance of doubt and notwithstanding any other law, the county recorder and county officer in charge of elections shall allow representatives of the two largest political parties entitled to continued representation on the ballot to observe each stage of the signature verification process for early, provisional and conditional provisional ballots.
B. For the avoidance of doubt, observers shall be allowed to observe from a distance of six feet so that they can reasonably, comfortably and clearly view the contents of any screens or monitors that are used to display information or other materials related to signature verification, including observers who are in an area separate from the area where signature VERIFICATION is occurring and who are observing the signature verification process by viewing it on a screen or other similar monitor. For any election workers who are conducting signature verification activities while working from home, observers shall not be allowed to observe in the election worker's home.
C. Observers prescribed by this SECTION shall not note, transcribe or otherwise hold or DISCLOSE any voter's personal identifying information, including the voter's month and day of birth, driver license number, nonoperating IDENTIFICATION LICENSE number, father's name, mother's MAIDEN name and state and county of birth, the records that contain a voter's signature and the voter's email address.
D. FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT, THE COUNTY RECORDER AND COUNTY OFFICER IN CHARGE OF ELECTIONS SHALL MAINTAIN ELECTION BOARD WORKER AND EMPLOYEE DOCUMENTATION IN THE FORM OF A LOG AT EACH STAGE OF THE SIGNATURE AND AFFIDAVIT VERIFICATION PROCESS BY ALL ELECTION BOARD WORKERS AND EMPLOYEES INVOLVED IN EACH PHASE OF REVIEW AND SHALL PROVIDE FOR FULL ACCOUNTING AND DISCLOSURE OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF SIGNATURE VERIFICATIONS PERFORMED BY EACH ELECTION BOARD WORKER AND EMPLOYEE INCLUDING THE DETERMINATION MADE BY EACH ELECTION BOARD WORKER AND EMPLOYEE INCLUDING, THE NAME OF THE ELECTION BOARD WORKER WHO CONDUCTED THE SIGNATURE VERIFICATION, THE DATE THE REVIEW WAS CONDUCTED, THE BATCH NUMBERS AND THE TOTAL NUMBER OF SIGNATURE VERIFICATIONS PERFORMED AND THE TOTAL NUMBER OF DETERMINATIONS IN EACH CATEGORY, ACCEPTED, REJECTED, SENT FOR FURTHER REVIEW, AND THE FINAL DETERMINATION MADE AT SUBSEQUENT PHASES OR LEVELS OF REVIEW. THE COUNTY RECORDER AND COUNTY OFFICER IN CHARGE OF ELECTIONS SHALL MAINTAIN COMPLETE LOGS OF ALL SIGNATURE VERIFICATIONS PROCESSED DAILY AND THESE MUST BE MADE AVAILABLE DAILY TO ANY POLITICAL PARTY AND ALL CANDIDATES ON REQUEST.
E. A person who violates this section is guilty of a class 5 felony.
