This bill proposes significant updates to current statutes related to elections in Arizona. It introduces new provisions regarding voter registration forms for applicants seeking benefits from the Arizona health care cost containment system, which must be signed in person. Additionally, it mandates that ballots for all elections be printed and available at least seventy-five days before election day and establishes new requirements for handling early ballots, including signature verification and timely processing of ballots from different counties. The bill also allows for online signature collection for statewide initiatives and enhances transparency by requiring daily updates to political parties regarding voters with inconsistent signatures. Moreover, the bill modifies the timeline for legal challenges to the certification of initiatives and referendums. It specifies that the superior court must hear and render a decision within ten days after the action is filed and allows either party to appeal to the supreme court within five calendar days after judgment, which must also render a decision within five calendar days after the notice of appeal is filed. The bill clarifies that actions contesting the validity of an initiative or referendum based on the secretary of state's actions must be filed within five calendar days and consolidates multiple actions into a single venue, ensuring timely resolutions in electoral matters.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 16-140, 16-320, 16-341, 16-405, 16-407, 16-544, 16-548, 16-550, 16-551, 16-558.01, 16-558.02, 16-602, 16-801, 16-802, 19-112.01, 19-113, 19-121, 19-121.03, 19-122, 103-31, 16-804, 16-153, 16-311, 16-452, 16-545, 99-410, 16-166, 16-542, 16-191, 16-579.02, 16-579, 16-550.01, 16-168, 16-449, 16-531, 16-622, 16-547, 16-411, 16-621, 16-248, 16-315, 16-803, 19-203, 19-121.02