New Restrictions on Early Ballot Drop-Offs Set to Resurface in AZ

The Arizona Senate has introduced its first bill for the upcoming legislative session, which seeks to impose new restrictions on voters returning early ballots at polling places. The key change would limit the time frame in which voters can drop off their ballots, a move that faces significant opposition.

Senate Bill 1001, sponsored by Chandler Republican Sen. J.D. Mesnard, is nearly identical to a bill vetoed by Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs earlier this year. Under this proposal, voters dropping off ballots after the Friday before Election Day would be required to present identification. In the latest election cycle, Maricopa County reported over 225,000 early ballots submitted on Election Day alone.

Mesnard introduced the legislation to establish a “good starting point” for negotiations, hoping to find common ground with lawmakers and the governor. However, he acknowledged a lack of optimism regarding the governor’s willingness to engage with the issue, citing comments from her office. A spokesperson for Hobbs did not respond to inquiries regarding the bill.

The proposed changes arise from frustrations about the speed of ballot counting in Arizona, which Mesnard and others perceive as unacceptably slow compared to Florida, where results are typically posted by the end of Election Night. Arizona’s ballot counting process tends to lag, particularly in Maricopa County, due in part to the large volume of mail-in ballots returned on Election Day and the preceding Friday.

The system in Arizona allows voters to drop off ballots at any polling location. In contrast, Florida restricts drop-offs to county elections offices. The process of signature verification and necessary voter outreach contributes to longer delays in the final election results in Arizona, unlike Florida’s much stricter deadline for early ballot counts.

Some lawmakers, including Mesnard, believe public perceptions have shifted following delays in announcing election outcomes. He remarked on the need to restore confidence in the electoral process, expressing a desire to return to immediate counting of votes cast on Election Day.

However, voting rights advocates warn that the proposed measures could hinder ballot access. Alex Gulotta, Arizona State Director for All Voting is Local Action, criticized the bill as misguided. He argued that legislative inefficiencies, including a high number of proposals sent to voters, contributed to delays in counting, rather than any deficiencies in the existing ballot system.

The increase in workload, largely due to new measures on the ballot this year, resulted in a two-sheet format—something Arizona hasn’t seen since 2006. This led to extensive work hours for Maricopa County officials, who counted over four million ballot sheets, often working overnight to meet certification deadlines.

Gulotta contended that adding identification requirements for lower-income voters unfairly burdens those who often vote last minute. He further questioned the justification behind making voting more difficult when many politicians themselves are elected based on signature verifications.

Mesnard maintains that the push for voter identification is meant to standardize voter expectations rather than create obstacles. He claims to have garnered more support since the last session, noting endorsements from Maricopa County Recorder-elect Justin Heap and newly seated GOP members on the Board of Supervisors. Meanwhile, Gulotta urged lawmakers to consider bipartisan solutions suggested by Hobbs’ election task force, which included proposals targeting voter registration issues.

Finally, Gulotta raised concerns about comparisons to Florida’s election practices, citing instances of election-related intimidation and aggressive policing of supporters for certain initiatives. He emphasized the need for Arizona to pursue effective election administration without resorting to controversial measures.