A number of election law changes signed into law

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

This has been a very active year for election law changes in the Arizona legislature. I would recommend that state and county political parties request that the Arizona Secretary of State provide a refresher course to update everyone on these election law changes. Public education is part of the duties of that office.

Here are some of the election law changes to date.

Pima County Election Integrity advocates will be happy to learn that a scanned-ballot election-auditing pilot program has been approved in this bill:

HB 2304, the "omnibus state elections" bill, makes numerous changes to election procedures, including allowing a permanent early voter to list a mailing address outside of the county of their residence; permits a candidate who has established an exploratory committee to collect contributions [the courts effectively eviscerated Arizona's "Resign to Run" law in 2010 in John Huppenthal's case; this makes it official]; allows corporations and unions to donate to an independent expenditure committee [the Citizens United v. FEC fallout]; defines electioneering as express support or opposition of a candidate, proposition or political party on the ballot; and allows the Secretary of State to establish a scanned-ballot election-auditing pilot program.

HB 2303 which permits a county to use voting centers instead of or in addition to designated polling places. Voting centers must allow any voter in that county to lawfully cast a ballot there. This is in recognition of the fact that vote-by-mail in Arizona has rendered precinct polling locations a costly burden for the few number of votes cast at precincts. It has also become more difficult for counties to obtain ADA-compliant polling locations available to contract as a precinct polling location.

HB 2701, a strike everything amendment which makes numerous changes to election law, including requiring the Secretary of State (SOS) to create a single voter-registration form for all counties to use and to develop a standardized training program for election workers across the state.

SB 1472 which requires the Secretary of State (SOS) to post information online regarding Arizona Supreme Court justices and Court of Appeals judges prior to their elections for retention.

Howard Fischer reported that Governor Brewer signed a bill giving candidates the right to place campaign signs in the public right-of-way regardless of local ordinances. Brewer vetoes health insurance proposal, other measures (how about including the bill number, Howard). This bill originally was SB1307 but appears to have been folded into another bill or as a strike everything amendment (this is not the signed bill). I believe the language probably remains the same.

The editors of the Arizona Daily Star are clutching their pearls in horror. What is up with the Star's obsession over campaign signs? There goes half of their election coverage complaining about campaign signs.

SB 1473 which requires facilities that offer early voting to allow people to electioneer outside the 75-foot limit in public areas and parking lots used by voters, except in the case of an emergency.

HB 2335 which adds the name of vice presidential candidates below that of presidential candidates on the ballot. I undestand that this will be amended by the legislature because it creates confusion: you actually vote for a slate of presidential electors, you do not directly vote for the president and no vote is directly cast for vice president. Doh! Arizona Capitol Times » Brewer signs bill adding VP candidates to ballots (subscription required).

SB 1318 which modifies the method of filling vacant seats on city and town councils, based on when the vacancy occurs.

SB 1365 which prohibits any public or private employer from making a payroll deduction for political purposes without first obtaining specific authorization from the affected employee. Arizona Capitol Times » Brewer signs bill targeting union paycheck deductions (subscription required).

h/t The Arizona Republic