Bill Text: AZ SB1594 | 2021 | Fifty-fifth Legislature 1st Regular | Introduced
Bill Title: Ballots; delivery receipts; custody
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-02-02 - Senate read second time [SB1594 Detail]
Download: Arizona-2021-SB1594-Introduced.html
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REFERENCE TITLE: ballots; delivery receipts; custody |
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State of Arizona Senate Fifty-fifth Legislature First Regular Session 2021
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SB 1594 |
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Introduced by Senator Gowan
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AN ACT
amending sections 16-608 and 16-615, Arizona Revised Statutes; 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. Section 16-608, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
16-608. Delivery of ballots; electronic voting system
A. After the close of the polls and after compliance with section 16-602 the members of the election board shall prepare a report in duplicate of the number of voters who have voted, as indicated on the poll list, and place this report in the ballot box or metal container, in which the voted ballots have been placed, which thereupon shall be sealed with a numbered seal and delivered promptly by two members of the election board of different political parties to the central counting place or other receiving station designated by the board of supervisors or officer in charge of elections, which shall not be more than fifty miles from the polling place from which the ballots are delivered. The person in charge of receiving ballots shall give a numbered receipt acknowledging that acknowledges receipt of such the ballots to the person in charge who delivers such the ballots and that notes the name of the person who received the ballots.
B. The chairman of the county committee of each political party represented on the ballot may designate a member of his the chairman's party to accompany the ballots from each polling place to the central counting place. Such The party representative shall serve without compensation.
Sec. 2. Section 16-615, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
16-615. Delivery of returns
A. Before it adjourns, the election board shall enclose and seal in a strong envelope provided for that purpose one of the poll lists, signed as required.
B. The envelope containing the poll list shall constitute the official returns of the election and, together with the envelope containing the voted ballots, shall be delivered to one of the members of the election board, previously determined by lot, unless otherwise agreed on, and such member shall by himself, or by an agent agreed on by the board and sworn by a member thereof, in the presence of the board to faithfully perform the duties of election messenger, without delay, and by the most expeditious means and route, deliver the packages and envelopes, without opening them, to the officer in charge of the election at his office, or to the nearest postmaster or sworn express agent, who shall endorse on the packages and envelopes the name of the person delivering them, and the hour and date of the delivery, and forward the packages and envelopes by the first mail or express to the officer in charge of the election at the county seat.
c. Every person delivering the official returns and the voted ballots and every person receiving the official RETURNS and the voted ballots shall sign the person's name on a receipt and tracking document to substantiate the chain of custody of the returns and ballots. The tracking document with the official returns and the voted ballots shall be delivered to and RETAINED at the central counting center.
