ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Phoenix, Arizona
voter
registration; access; security
Alters existing regulations relating to voter registration record information protection and use.
Presently, statute allows specified individuals to request to have their voter registration records sealed. This legislation includes prosecutors and public defenders, as well as any individual under an order of protection or injunction against harassment, as persons whose records can be sealed. This legislation also establishes a new structure for the release of voter registration information over the internet and via other alternative means in place of the present system where voter approval must be received prior to distribution or provision of access.
This legislation has no direct fiscal impact to the state general fund.
1. Includes prosecutors, public defenders, persons protected by an order of protection or an injunction against harassment and any registered voters who reside with them as parties who may request that the public be prohibited from accessing their personally identifying information from the voter registration record. Removes “domestic violence victims” from this option.
2. Reduces the period in which a county recorder must seal the voter registration of protected persons from no later than 150 to 120 days after receipt of a court order sealing the information.
3. Prohibits the use of precinct registers and other voter registration information for non-authorized commercial purposes.
4. Stipulates that voter registration records can be inspected by the public at the office of the county recorder for authorized purposes.
5. Prohibits access to or reproduction of the following information stemming from voter registration records except by the voter, an authorized government official in the scope of their official duties, for signature verification, for election purposes, for news gathering purposes or pursuant to a court order:
a. month and day of birth
b. social security number
c. Indian census number
d. father’s name or mother’s maiden name
e. state or country of birth
f. records containing the voters signatures
6. Establishes violation of voter registration record information restrictions as a class 6 felony.
7. Requires county recorders to protect access to voter registration information in an auditable format and method specified in the Secretary of State’s electronic voting system instructions and procedures manual.
8. Removes requirement that voter approval be received before posting or distributing information on the internet.
9. Alters precinct register copy information to include the birth year rather than the birth date.
10. Prescribes definitions.
11. Makes conforming changes.
12. Provides for a general effective date.
JUD 1/30/01 DPA 9-0-1-0-0
3rd Read 2/19/01 52-6-2-0
Prepared by Senate Staff
March 30, 2001