The bill SB1651 amends Arizona Revised Statutes section 16-602, changing the process for selecting tabulated early ballots for post-election hand count audits. Under current law, the selection is done randomly by the chairpersons of political parties. The new bill requires that the selection be made by lot instead of randomly, which aims to enhance the transparency and integrity of the election audit process. Additionally, the bill specifies that the selection of batches of early ballots must also be conducted by lot, ensuring consistency in the method of selection throughout the auditing process.

Furthermore, the bill updates terminology by replacing "chairman" with "chairperson" throughout the text, reflecting a more gender-neutral language. It also clarifies that the selection of precincts and individual races for hand counting must be done by lot, and it maintains the requirement for a manual audit of early ballots to be conducted in the same manner as the hand count for non-early ballots. Overall, the bill seeks to standardize the selection process for election audits while promoting fairness and accountability in the electoral system.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 16-602