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, with a focus on maintaining ballot secrecy through nonsequential distribution. Additionally, it requires the creation of a publicly accessible master log to record the range of prenumbered ballots and mandates that election officials track their distribution to specific voting locations. The bill also stipulates that each ballot must have a unique identifier while prohibiting any database that links voters to their ballots.

Moreover, the bill requires the county recorder or election officials to maintain a detailed count of all physical ballots printed and generated, categorized by type, and to post this information on the county's website within a specified timeframe. It modifies procedures for hand counting ballots, including the selection process for precincts and conditions for additional counts based on discrepancies. The bill also clarifies the role of the vote count verification committee and introduces a definition for "involuntary" disclosure of unique identifiers. To support these changes, it allocates $6 million to assist counties in compliance.

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