election procedures manual; consultation

Plain English Breakdown

The bill status is 'Vetoed,' meaning it did not become law unless a legislative override occurred, which is unknown based on the provided metadata.

SB1237: Rules for Election Procedures Manual

This bill requires the secretary of state to create an election manual after consulting with county officials and legislative leaders, have it approved by top state leaders before each general election, and make breaking these rules a crime.

What This Bill Does

• Requires the secretary of state to consult with county boards of supervisors or other officers in charge of elections, county recorders, and specific House and Senate committee members before writing new election rules.
• Creates an official manual that covers procedures for early voting, producing, distributing, collecting, counting, tabulating, and storing ballots.
• Sets a deadline to submit the manual by October 1 and issue it by December 31 of each odd-numbered year preceding a general election.
• Requires approval from both the governor and the attorney general before the manual is issued.
• Makes violating any rule adopted under this section a class 2 misdemeanor.

Who It Names or Affects

• The secretary of state
• County boards of supervisors or other officers in charge of elections
• County recorders
• Chairpersons and ranking members of House and Senate committees with jurisdiction over election matters
• Any person who violates the rules created under this section

Terms To Know

Class 2 misdemeanor

A type of crime defined by state law for violating these specific election rules.

Secretary of state

The official responsible for creating the election procedures manual and related rules.

Limits and Unknowns

• This bill was vetoed by the governor on May 22, 2026.
• It is not known if lawmakers voted to override the veto and make this law active.
• The text does not list specific changes to voting rules other than requiring a manual.

Official Summary Text

SB1237 - election procedures manual; consultation

Current Bill Text

SB1237 - 572R - S Ver

Senate Engrossed

election procedures
manual; consultation

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

SENATE BILL 1237

AN
ACT

Amending Section 16-452, Arizona Revised Statutes;
relating to the conduct of elections.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it
enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Section 16-452, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE
16-452.

Rules; instructions and procedures manual; approval of manual;
field check and review of systems; violation; classification

A. After consultation with each county board of
supervisors or other officer in charge of elections,
county
recorders and the chairpersons and ranking members of the house of
representatives and senate committees with jurisdiction over election matters,
the
secretary of state shall prescribe rules to achieve and maintain the maximum
degree of correctness, impartiality, uniformity and efficiency on the
procedures for early voting and voting, and of producing, distributing,
collecting, counting, tabulating and storing ballots.� The secretary of state
shall also adopt rules regarding fax transmittal of unvoted ballots, ballot
requests, voted ballots and other election materials to and from absent
uniformed and overseas citizens and shall adopt rules regarding internet
receipt of requests for federal postcard applications prescribed by section 16-543.

B. The rules shall be prescribed in an official
instructions and procedures manual to be issued not later than December 31 of
each odd-numbered year immediately preceding the general election.�
Before its issuance, the manual shall be approved by the governor and the
attorney general.� The secretary of state shall submit the manual to the
governor and the attorney general not later than October 1 of the year before
each general election.

C. A person who violates any rule adopted pursuant
to this section is guilty of a class 2 misdemeanor.

D. The secretary of state shall provide personnel
who are experts

in
electronic voting systems and procedures and in electronic voting system
security to field check and review electronic voting systems and recommend
needed statutory and procedural changes.
END_STATUTE