HB2851 is a bill that amends sections of the Arizona Revised Statutes related to the conduct of elections. The bill introduces several new requirements to enhance the chain of custody and transparency of ballots during elections. It mandates that the county board of supervisors provide a chain of custody record for every ballot printed, starting from the printing location and continuing through transportation, storage, and delivery to the county recorder and voting locations. The record must include the date, time, location, and signatures for each point of contact, including when ballots are received for voting or prepared for mailing. Additionally, if unvoted ballots are delivered to an unoccupied voting location, the deliverer must note that the ballots were secured without a designated recipient.

The bill also requires the county recorder or other election officer to maintain a record of all voting irregularities, describing the irregularity, its location, the persons present, and any official response. This record must be provided to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives within 30 days after election day, with a copy to the Secretary of State. Other provisions include the requirement for live video recording of ballot custody, including signature verification stages, and the stipulation that ballot boxes must be locked with a tamper-evident seal. The bill removes the condition that law enforcement aid in the transfer of a ballot box only if practicable and available, making it a requirement.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 16-503, 16-564, 16-608, 16-621, 16-602
House Engrossed Version: 16-503, 16-564, 16-608, 16-621, 16-602