Assigned to GOV                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       FOR COMMITTEE

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Fifty-Fifth Legislature, Second Regular Session

FACT SHEET FOR H.B. 2170

election mailings; third-party disclosures

Purpose

Requires any nongovernmental person or entity that provides an official election-related document by mail, email or a digital link to include the words not from a government agency on the envelope or in the message.

Background

The Secretary of State (SOS) and a county recorder or other officer in charge of elections are responsible for supplying voter registration forms to any qualified person requesting registration information. A county recorder must also distribute state mail-in registration forms at locations throughout the county, including government offices, fire stations, public libraries and other locations open to the general public. A county recorder may provide voter registration forms to groups and individuals that request forms for conducting voter registration drives (A.R.S.   16-131). A candidate, political committee or other organization may distribute early ballot request forms to voters (A.R.S.   16-542).

There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.

Provisions

1.   Requires any nongovernmental person or entity who provides an official election-related document by mail, email or a digital link from a county recorder, county officer in charge of elections or the SOS, including a voter registration application or early ballot request, to include the words not from a government agency in boldface and clearly legible print on:

a)   the outside of the envelope; or

b)   prominently placed in the electronic or digital message.

2.   Requires, for an electronic or digital delivery of an official election-related document, the disclosure to be clearly readable.

3.   Requires, for a delivery of an official election-related document by mail or by hand, the disclosure to be displayed in a height that is at least 10 percent of the vertical height of the document.

4.   Becomes effective on the general effective date.

House Action

GE                                     1/18/22           DPA             7-6-0-0

3^rd Read                   2/22/22                                         32-27-1

Prepared by Senate Research

March 9, 2022

MH/HW/slp