2021 will likely see significant changes to legislation regarding Voting and Voter Registration. Bills presented as well as some already passed bills. These bills impact when and where voter registration drives can take place. Other bills will let the state periodically stop sending early voting ballots to some voters. Voting through mail-in ballots also will be affected by the state’s new legislation.

Senate Bill(SB)1485 would periodically remove infrequent mail-in voters from the state’s ballot list. A portion of the bill states that it will change the name of the list from Permanent Early Voting List (PEVL) to Active Early Voting list (AEVL). With the name change comes changes to who remains on the early voting list. If a resident votes every year, they will continue to receive early mail-in ballots. If a voter does not vote in any elections over a four-year period, they will receive a postcard asking if they would like to continue to receive an early ballot. In an effort to not block anyone from voting, the state legislature has included language that would still allow a person not on the AEVL to request an early ballot or vote in person. In a signing letter from Governor Ducey, he states, “There will be absolutely no purging of voter registration despite what some have said in an attempt to mislead the public.”

The governor signed a handful of other bills regarding early voting ballots, including SB1002 which stipulates for the officer who prepares election ballots to return envelopes that do not reveal political affiliation. SB1003 states that an election official must make a reasonable effort to contact mail-in ballot voters and provide printed instructions, including explaining that the mail-in ballot will not be counted unless an affidavit is signed. The ballot will be returned if the envelope reveals the voters’ political affiliation.

.Another bill signed into law concerning early voter ballots aims to clarify the instructions for early mail-in ballots. SB1530 states, “An early ballot is one that is prepared for use in the precinct in which the applicant resides. The Ballot must be identical to the regular official ballots, except that it must have printed or stamped on it ‘Early’.” The bill also mandates that the early ballot must arrive at the recorder no later than the 33rd day before the election.

Those opposed to the bill include House Democratic Leader Bolding, who says SB1485 would impede voters and kick nearly 100,000 people off the Permanent Early Voter List, now named the Active Early voter list. Bolding said in a press release in April, “This bill is not about election security. It’s not about election integrity; it’s about trying to game the system.” Bolding stated in a press release posted on the Arizona House Democrat website that he feels that the bill would have a devastating effect on the ability of those of color to vote.  

On her campaign website across the aisle, Republican Senator Kelly Townsend also opposed SB1485. She said, “I declare that I would vote ‘no’ on further election bills until we addressed the unresolved issues. They did not take me seriously and put the bill upon the board to test my resolve.” Townsend also said that we would not see the effects of SB1485 for several years, stating the need for elections laws that would be effective for the 2022 election. 

Gov. Ducy signed Bills SB1485, SB1002, SB1003, and SB1530 along with nine other bills into law on May 11.

To read and track the progress of bills making their way through the legislature, go to www.azleg.gov. There, you can find versions of the bill in each stage of the process, along with press releases and letters from the state’s Senate, House, and Governor.

Chad Walker