This bill proposes updates to sections 16-642 and 16-646 of the Arizona Revised Statutes regarding the conduct of elections. Key changes include the insertion of the phrase "acknowledge without prejudice" in multiple sections, emphasizing the non-prejudicial nature of the canvass acknowledgment by governing bodies, including county boards, the secretary of state, and city or town governing bodies. Additionally, the bill clarifies that the acknowledgment of the canvass is a necessary step before the official canvass is recorded and mandates that the acknowledgment be included in the certified permanent copy sent to the secretary of state and filed with the appropriate clerks.

The bill also modifies the process for handling missing polling place returns, specifying that the acknowledgment of the canvass will be postponed until all returns are received or until a maximum of six postponements occur. It removes the previous language that exempted the county board of supervisors from this postponement rule for primary and general elections. Overall, these updates aim to enhance the clarity and procedural integrity of election canvassing in Arizona.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 16-642, 16-646, 16-673