The proposed bill would update current Arizona election statutes by introducing new requirements for ballot management and tracking. Specifically, it mandates that all ballots, except provisional ones, be individually numbered or prenumbered in batches, ensuring nonsequential distribution to maintain ballot secrecy. Additionally, it requires the creation of a publicly accessible master log to record the range of prenumbered ballots and mandates election officials to track their distribution to specific voting locations. The officer in charge of elections would also be required to maintain a count of all physical ballots printed and generated, categorized by type, and post this information on the county's website within a specified timeframe.

Moreover, the bill enhances procedures for hand counting ballots and conducting manual audits, including the formation of a vote count verification committee to address discrepancies between hand counts and electronic tabulations. It emphasizes the importance of preventing the linking of unique identifiers to voters and prohibits involuntary disclosure of these identifiers. To facilitate compliance with these new requirements, the bill appropriates $6,000,000 to assist counties. Overall, these updates aim to improve the transparency and security of the election process in Arizona while safeguarding voter anonymity.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 16-502, 16-602, 16-663, 16-341, 19-125, 16-400, 16-452, 16-621, 16-248
Senate Engrossed Version: 16-502, 16-602, 16-663, 16-341, 19-125, 16-400, 16-452, 16-621, 16-248