voter registration; same day

57th Legislature - Second Regular Session Introduced by Stacey Travers

Allows same-day or 28-day pre-election voter registration in Arizona, with provisional voting, but only for federal, statewide, county, and legislative races (no primaries).

House First Reading.

Overview

HB 2036 proposes same-day voter registration in Arizona, allowing individuals to register either during a 28-day pre-election period or on election day, with certain eligibility and voting limitations. The bill specifies provisional voting for registrants under this framework and restricts the registration-driven voting to federal offices, statewide/county offices, and the Arizona Legislature (not partisan primaries).

Main purpose and intent

Create a formal framework for registering to vote on election day or during the 28 days immediately preceding an election.

Enable eligible residents to participate in federal, statewide, countywide, and legislative elections by granting provisional ballot voting rights to new registrants under this regime.

Limit registrations under this provision to non-primary (federal and non-partisan) electorates, excluding participation in partisan primary elections.

Key provisions and changes

Eligibility for registration

A person who is otherwise qualified may register during the 28 days before an election if:
They have resided in the county and precinct for at least 29 days immediately before the election; and
They complete the required registration form.
A person may register on election day at the polling place for their residence, complete the registration form, and provide proof of residence.

Voting with a new registration

Individuals who register under this section may vote on election day or during the 28 days preceding the election only by provisional ballot (per existing provisional-ballot rules).
They may vote in elections at least 29 days after the election day for which they registered, as provided by law, and for elections consistent with provisional voting rules.

Scope of eligible elections for new registrants

Registration under this act enables voting only for:
Federal offices (including presidential electors)
Statewide and countywide offices
The Arizona Legislature
Registrants are not eligible to vote in partisan primary elections under this provision.

Implementation

The Secretary of State and county election officials are required to promptly implement the article.

Who/what would be affected

Voters who are residents of Arizona and meet the residency duration requirements could register on election day or in the 28 days prior.

Voters gaining eligibility for federal, statewide, countywide, and legislative races through same-day registration.

The process of provisional voting would be used for these new registrations, shifting how some new registrants participate in elections.

Partisan primary participation would remain unavailable to those registering under this act.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Implementation timeline: The bill directs the Secretary of State and county election officials to promptly implement the provisions once enacted.

Election day and 28-day pre-election windows are defined as the periods during which same-day or 28-day pre-election registrations may occur, with provisional ballots used for voting by those registrants.

The bill does not alter existing residency or proof-of-residence requirements beyond enabling same-day or early registration under the specified windows.

Notes

The bill is labeled as a jurisdiction-specific reform for the Arizona 57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session.

It includes a co-sponsor, Stacey Travers, and has been introduced with an effective mechanics for implementation by election administrators.

The bill explicitly excludes participation in partisan primaries for those registering under this provision.