ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Phoenix, Arizona
military and
overseas voting assistance
Allows absent uniformed services voters and overseas voters to request ballot materials by way of a toll free telephone number or the internet and allows these voters to return ballots by fax.
The Federal Voting Assistance Office administers the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act of 1986. The Act requires each state to permit absent uniformed services voters and overseas voters to use absentee registration procedures and to vote by absentee ballot in general, special, primary and runoff elections for federal office. States are required to accept and process any otherwise valid voter registration application from an absent uniformed services voter or overseas voter, if the application is received by the appropriate state election official not less than 30 days before the election. States are also required to permit overseas voters to use federal write-in absentee ballots in general elections for federal office.
Arizona statutes allow an absent uniformed services voter or overseas voter to request an early ballot with an official postcard that contains an early voter registration application and an early ballot application. The county recorder or officer in charge of elections is required to send the applicant a regular early ballot. An overseas voter may use a federal write-in early ballot in a general election for the offices of presidential elector, U.S. Senator and Representative in Congress, if the voter applies for a regular early ballot at least 30 days before the general election and does not receive the early ballot in time to vote.
Currently, requests for a voter registration application and early ballot application must be conducted by mail or over the phone. Voters are also required to mail voted early ballots to the appropriate county recorder. S.B. 1312 allows absent military voters and overseas voters to request voting materials over the internet or by way of a toll free telephone number.
According to the Secretary of State, there is an unknown cost to provide an international toll free telephone number for military voters requesting voting materials.
1. Requires the county recorder or other election officer to provide early ballot materials for each election held in the 12 month period immediately following receipt of the request of an absent uniformed services or overseas voter.
2. Requires the county recorder or other election officer to transmit by fax early ballot request forms, unvoted ballots and ballot information to eligible absent uniformed services voters and overseas voters.
3. Requires the county recorder or other election officer to provide for receipt of completed early ballot requests and voted early ballots by fax.
4. Requires the Secretary of State to provide for a centralized system for receiving federal postcard applications via the internet, a toll free telephone number and transmitting appropriate ballot materials in response to telephone and internet requests for federal postcard applications.
5. Requires the Secretary of State to adopt rules regarding internet receipt of requests and faxing of election materials to and from absent uniformed and overseas citizens.
6. Requires the Secretary of State to meet, at least annually, with personnel from the Federal Voting Assistance Office of the U.S. Department of Defense, Arizona county recorders and other county election officers to coordinate the delivery and return of registrations, ballot requests, voted ballots and other election materials to and from absent uniformed and overseas citizens.
7. Requires the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Federal Voting Assistance Office, Arizona county recorders and other county election officials, to submit recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature on the delivery of voter registration and early ballots materials and laws to allow for greater participation by absent uniformed service personnel and overseas voters by December 15, 2003.
8. Declares this act as the “Military and Overseas Voting Assistance Act.”
9. Provides for a general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Staff
February 14, 2002