This bill proposes several updates to the Arizona Revised Statutes regarding the restoration of civil rights, particularly the right to vote for individuals with felony convictions. Under the new provisions, individuals will automatically regain their right to vote upon release from imprisonment, regardless of whether the conviction was in Arizona or another jurisdiction. This contrasts with the current law, which stipulates that individuals must complete probation or be discharged from imprisonment before their civil rights are restored, and does not provide for automatic restoration of voting rights during imprisonment. Additionally, the bill mandates that courts inform individuals of their voting rights at sentencing and requires the probation department and the state department of corrections to notify individuals of their voting rights while on probation or upon release.

The bill also modifies existing statutes by clarifying the process for restoring civil rights for those who have not previously been convicted of a felony and introduces new language to ensure that individuals are not required to file applications for restoration of voting rights if they are automatically eligible. Furthermore, it updates definitions and procedures related to voter registration and cancellation, ensuring that individuals currently serving a term of imprisonment for a felony conviction are appropriately managed in the voter registration database. Overall, the bill aims to simplify and enhance the process of restoring civil rights, particularly the right to vote, for individuals with felony convictions.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 13-904, 13-907, 13-908, 13-926, 16-101, 16-128, 16-165, 8-341, 13-3101, 13-704, 13-706, 13-910, 16-166, 16-126, 14-5101