TL/DR –
A bill, Senate Bill 1011, has been introduced in the Arizona Legislature aiming to expedite the time it takes to count votes in the state. The proposed legislation would move the deadline for early voting drop-offs to 7 p.m. on the Friday before the election, allowing early votes to be processed and counted ahead of time. Critics of the bill, mostly Democrats, argue that it is a power grab and a voter suppression attempt, making it harder for people to drop off early ballots.
Election Day 2024: 2.5M Early Voting Ballots in Arizona
A bill to advance the early voting timeframe in Arizona is being met with fierce opposition from Democrats, who are labeling it as a “power grab” and a “voter suppression bill”.
This legislation, known as Senate Bill 1011, has been criticized as an attempt to make it more difficult to drop off early ballots.
However, proponents argue that the bill is designed to expedite election results, which have traditionally taken between 10 to 13 days to count in Arizona.
Early Ballots Delaying Election Results
The delayed election results in Arizona are largely due to the large number of voters who submit their early ballots at polling locations up to 7 p.m. on Election Day. SB 1011 aims to address this issue by cutting off early voting drop-offs at 7 p.m. on the Friday before the election, allowing for earlier processing and counting of ballots.
Despite the uproar from Democrats, if the bill passes, Arizonans will still have several voting options. They could drop off early ballots at the County Recorder’s Office or any early voting center before the election. Alternatively, they could wait in line at the polls on Election Day, or vote early by mailing in their ballots before the deadline.
Democratic Governor Opposes the Bill
Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs has expressed her opposition to the bill, stating that any legislation making it harder for Arizonans to vote is a ‘no’ for her. Despite the criticism, SB 1011 has already passed the Senate Judiciary and Elections Committee and is expected to do the same on the Senate floor and in the House.
While critics argue the bill suppresses voters, supporters insist it merely requires voters to put in a minimal amount of effort. The debate continues as Election Day 2024 approaches.
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