The proposed bill would amend current statutes related to election systems and software by introducing new requirements for internal timekeeping functions. Specifically, it would mandate that all election systems and software maintain accurate internal clocks set to within 60 seconds of the official time provided by the National Institute for Standards and Technology, adjusted for local Arizona time. This requirement would apply throughout the election period and encompass all timestamps generated for various election-related activities, including logs, records, and audits. Additionally, the bill would require county boards of supervisors and recorders to verify compliance with these timekeeping standards during pre-election preparations, testing, and throughout the election process.

Furthermore, the bill would classify violations of these timekeeping requirements as a class 2 misdemeanor and necessitate that any deviations from the prescribed time accuracy be corrected and retested. It would also require documentation of compliance procedures in the Elections Procedures Manual, detailing methods, frequency, and responsible personnel. The bill aims to enhance the integrity and reliability of election systems by ensuring that timekeeping functions are consistently accurate and verifiable.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 16-542, 16-550, 16-804, 16-579, 16-452, 99-410, 16-153, 16-545, 16-544, 16-409
Senate Engrossed Version: 16-449, 16-449.01, 16-452