The bill SB1518 amends Arizona's election laws to streamline the process for early ballots and enhance election security. It allows early ballots to be considered ready for tabulation without signature verification if voters present valid identification during early voting. Additionally, it requires county election officials to submit all ballot images and cast vote records to the Secretary of State in a sortable format within 48 hours of the county canvass, and mandates that the chain of custody log for early ballots returned on election day be publicly accessible within the same timeframe.

Key changes from current law include the removal of the deadline for early ballot receipt and the elimination of the identification requirement for voters delivering their own early ballots. The bill also extends the period for contesting election results from five to seven days post-canvass and introduces a class 5 felony for violations related to accessing ballot image materials. Overall, the bill aims to improve the management and transparency of election materials while enhancing the integrity of the election process.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 16-548, 16-550, 16-552, 16-579, 16-1005, 16-579.02, 16-551, 16-191, 16-591, 16-594, 16-672, 16-584, 16-452
Senate Engrossed Version: 16-550, 16-572, 16-579, 16-579.02, 16-551, 16-191
House Engrossed Version: 16-550, 16-572, 16-579, 16-579.02, 16-551, 16-191
Conference Engrossed Version: 16-407.04, 16-550, 16-572, 16-579, 16-673, 16-579.02, 16-551, 16-191, 16-584, 16-452