Arizona Senate Bill 1011 (SB1011), introduced by Senate President Warren Petersen (R-Gilbert) and other Republican legislators, proposes significant changes to the state’s early voting procedures to expedite election result reporting. The Judiciary and Elections Committee, chaired by Senator Wendy Rogers (R-Flagstaff), reviewed the bill yesterday.

Rogers told the Globe, “We have started this legislative session with possibly the most seminal bill in years, responding to constituent concerns… so important that Senate President Warren Peterson sponsored it with collaboration from Florida who does it right. We are proud to be the party of solutions, but moreover, we have the support of key recorders like Maricopa Co and Pinal Co and AACO, which shows how practical our solutions are for increased efficiency and access to restore Arizona’s faith in our elections.”

Key Provisions of SB1011:

• Early Ballot Submission Deadline: The bill mandates that early ballots must be returned on the Friday before Election Day no later than 7:00 p.m. Currently, voters can submit early ballots up to and including Election Day.
• Extended Early Voting Period: SB1011 proposes adding two extra days to the early voting period to compensate for the earlier deadline, ensuring voters have ample opportunity to cast their ballots.
• In-Person Early Voting: Voters who miss the Friday deadline can still vote in person at early voting locations on the Saturday and Monday before Election Day, provided they present valid identification and complete an early voting certificate.
• Ballot Handling Restrictions: The bill stipulates that only the voter, their family members, household members, or caregivers may handle or return their ballot, aiming to enhance ballot security.
• Public Schools & Govt Buildings: These are to be used as polling sites with no opt-out and absent emergency.

Rationale and Support:

Proponents, including Senate President Petersen, argued in the hearing that these measures would streamline ballot processing and lead to more timely election results. Petersen highlighted that Arizona was the last state to project a winner in the 2024 presidential race, stating, “This legislation will end the frustration. It will increase confidence in our system.”

Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Thomas Galvin published a statement immediately after the hearing: “People want election results faster and, when misinformation has more time to fester, it breeds mistrust in our system. He continued, “President Petersen has been instrumental in pushing these reforms forward, and I thank him for his leadership. I support SB 1011 as amended by the Judiciary Committee, and I look forward to working with the Legislature and the Governor to get this done on behalf of voters.”

Criticism and Concerns:

The Democrats oppose SB1011 and offer an alternative four-part plan articulated by Senator Analise Ortiz in a video available here.

During the hearing, the Democratic Senators presented a series of hypotheticals highlighting why SB1011 is not feasible. Senator Lauren Kuby expressed her concerns: “I don’t understand why we would remove the ability of our principals to deny access when they have safety concerns.” She further noted, “With the increasing political violence and threats of political violence in our state and country,” indicating that public facilities should have the option to opt out of being polling locations. Senator Kuby argued that this could lead to uncomfortable situations for students, as “electioneering could occur that would be unpleasant for them.”

Senator Ortiz elaborated on a hypothetical scenario under SB1011, stating, “If the line was long and the constituent is not aware of the change in the law—say they need to get their child to a doctor’s appointment. After the doctor’s appointment, they have a double shift at a local restaurant and won’t get off work until 10 or 11 at night. Would that person still be able to vote under SB1011?”

These were just two of the many hypotheticals that Democrats claim might cause voter disenfranchisement.

Surprisingly, former Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer, now an opinion columnist, may have undermined Democrat objections with his first op-ed. In it, he argues, “It’s time to change Arizona’s law to put the early back in early ballots.” Richer directly addresses concerns about disenfranchisement, stating clearly, “Changes won’t disenfranchise Arizona voters.”

Richer critiques arguments against reform, pointing to a survey from Progress Arizona often used to justify the status quo. “Those who defend the status quo point to the opinion survey from Progress Arizona that shows Arizonans like being able to drop off early ballots on Election Day. But the Progress Arizona study doesn’t frame the situation as a tradeoff with slower results,” he explained. He further counters claims of voter disenfranchisement, saying, “Others say that doing away with en masse ‘late earlies’ will disenfranchise voters who have been using this method for many years. But there’s no evidence to support that claim.”

In one op-ed, Richer dismantles several Democratic talking points, making an unexpected case supporting Republican election reform efforts.

The hearing on SB1011 included testimony from Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap and recorders from Pima and Pinal counties. Each highlighted the widespread engagement with this proposed legislation.