HB2703

THE CONTEXT: 'Late Early' Ballots The term late early refers to instances where a voter returns their mailed early ballot on election day. Late early ballots are often processed last by counties since they are subject to signature verification and curing deadlines.

WHAT THE BILL DID: The final vetoed version would repeal provisions allowing the Board of Supervisors to authorize County Recorders to use emergency voting centers, require an early mail voter, regardless of whether the voter is on AEVL, to confirm their address through an affirmative act on the part of the voter: a) every election cycle for counties with a population of 500,000 or more; or b) every four year period constituting two consecutive election cycles for counties with a population of 500,000 or fewer, and provide the County Recorder specified options through which an early mail voter may confirm their address.

WHY IT MATTERED: The practical reason for this bill was to give Arizonans and public officials a defined option for early voting under state law. It would repeal provisions allowing the Board of Supervisors to authorize County Recorders to use emergency voting centers, and would also require an early mail voter, regardless of whether the voter is on AEVL, to confirm their address through an affirmative act on the part of the voter: a) every election cycle for counties with a population of 500,000 or more; or b) every four year period constituting two consecutive election cycles for counties with a population of 500,000 or fewer, rather than leave the current rule unchanged.