Grand Canyon Times

The Arizona Senate has passed a bipartisan bill aimed at reforming the state's election systems. The legislation, supported by Senate Republicans, is designed to enhance efficiency, transparency, and integrity in the electoral process. Known as HB 2785, the bill seeks to resolve conflicts arising from previous election laws enacted in 2022.

The reforms proposed in HB 2785 include extending the primary and general election calendars by 19 and 17 days respectively. This change aims to help county elections officials meet critical federal deadlines. Additionally, the bill ensures that military personnel serving overseas can participate in elections.

A significant aspect of the bill is the introduction of statutory signature verification standards for mail-in ballots. It also mandates a hard count of early ballots submitted on election day to bolster security and voter confidence.

From 2026 onward, voters will have the option to bring their early ballots to polling stations on election day for immediate counting after identification verification. This measure eliminates the need for signature verification, allowing quicker result tabulation.

Moreover, starting in 2026, state and county buildings will serve as official polling locations, providing voters with more options.

Senate Elections Committee Chair Wendy Rogers stated: "This legislation is a major win for Arizona voters and important in restoring voter confidence in election integrity." She emphasized that it was developed through extensive discussions involving lawmakers, election experts, administrators, county officials, and executive branch members.

For further details about this legislation, contact Kim Quintero at kquintero@azleg.gov.