voter registration changes; text notices

Plain English Breakdown

The bill text confirms the four specific items requiring notification but does not detail procedures for other types of data updates beyond removing the requirement to notify.

SB1470: Changes to Voter Registration Notices

This bill requires county recorders in Arizona to send alerts only when specific details like address or party preference change, instead of for every update.

What This Bill Does

• Requires county recorders to notify voters only about changes to four items: active early voting list status, political party choice, residence address, and mailing address.
• Stops the requirement for counties to send notices when other parts of a voter registration form are updated.
• Keeps the rule that subscribed voters get a text or email alert within 24 hours after one of these specific changes is made.
• Requires written notice within 10 days for voters who have not signed up for electronic alerts if their address, party preference, or early voting status changes.
• Mandates that all notices include instructions on how to check registration details and report unauthorized changes.

Who It Names or Affects

• County recorders in Arizona
• Registered voters whose specific information items change

Terms To Know

Elector

A person who is registered to vote.

County Recorder

The local government official responsible for keeping voter registration records.

Limits and Unknowns

• This bill does not explain how the state will pay for any new costs, though it states there is no expected impact on the General Fund.
• The text does not specify what happens if a change occurs to information other than the four listed items.

Official Summary Text

SB1470 - 572R - Senate Fact Sheet

Assigned to
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COMMITTEE

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Fifty-Seventh
Legislature, Second Regular Session

FACT SHEET FOR
S.B. 1470

voter
registration changes; text notices

Purpose

Requires county recorders to notify electors of changes made to only
specified items contained in the elector's voter registration, rather than all
items contained in the elector's voter registration.

Background

A person registering to vote must provide their identifying information
on the voter registration form, including the registrant's full legal name,
residence address, mailing address if different, date of birth and an
attestation of United States citizenship. The registrant must also indicate a
political party preference, provide identifying information such as a driver
license number, non-operating identification license number or the last four
digits of a social security number and affirm under penalty of perjury that the
information provided is true and correct (
A.R.S.
� 16-152
).

When the county recorder makes a change to voter registration information
prescribed in the voter registration form for an existing registered voter, the
county recorder must notify the elector of the change. If an elector has
subscribed to the voter registration alert system, a county recorder is
required to send a text message or email alert within 24 hours after making the
change. If an elector has not subscribed to the alert system, a county recorder
is required to notify the elector in writing within 10 days after the change is
made (
A.R.S.
� 16-163
).

There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund
associated with this legislation.

Provisions

1.

Requires
the county recorder to notify an elector of changes made to the elector's voter
registration for the following items only, rather than any item contained in
the elector's voter registration:

a)

active early voting list;

b)

party preference;

c)

residence address; and

d)

mailing address.

2.

Makes
technical and conforming changes.

3.

Becomes
effective on the general effective date.

Prepared by Senate Research

February 9, 2026

ZD/MY/ci

Current Bill Text

SB1470 - 572R - I Ver

REFERENCE TITLE:
voter registration changes; text notices

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

SB 1470

Introduced by

Senator
Kavanagh

AN
ACT

amending section 16-163, Arizona Revised
Statutes; RELATING to voter registration rolls.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

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

Section 1. Section 16-163, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE
16-163.

Assignment of registrations to general county register;
exception; notification to elector; electronic storage of registration forms;
voter information change; notice

A. The county recorder, on receipt of a registration
in proper form, shall assign the registration record to its proper precinct and
alphabetical arrangement in the general county register. The general
county register shall be preserved permanently to reflect the registration as
of each general election. After the general county register is
revised to reflect the valid registrations for the general election, the county
recorder shall provide the Arizona state library, archives and public records
with a copy of the revised county register.

B. After placing the record of registration in the
county general register, the county recorder shall notify the elector within
thirty days in writing that the elector's name appears in the general register.

C. If the notice that is sent is returned
undeliverable, the county recorder may send an additional notice as prescribed
by section 16-166, subsection A and that notice shall indicate that the
elector must respond not later than thirty-five days after the mailing of
the notice.

D. Images of original registration forms shall be
stored electronically in the voter registration database. All
original registration forms that are canceled, and all original applications
for cancellation of registration received since the preceding general election,
also shall be maintained in the voter registration database.� Computer output
microfilm, listings or other electronic format media containing the information
from the general county register after each general election shall be provided
to the Arizona state library, archives and public records and shall serve to
fulfill the requirements of this section and section 16-164, subsection
A.

E. When the county recorder makes a change to the
information prescribed by section 16-152 for an existing registered
voter:

1. The county recorder shall notify the elector of
any changes made to the
following
information prescribed
by section 16-152 for the elector
:
by
sending a text message or email alert within twenty-four hours after
making the change as requested by the elector's subscription preferences

(
a
) Active
early voting list status.

(
b
) Party
preference.

(
c
) Residence
address.

(
d
) Mailing
address
.

2. the county recorder shall make the
notification prescribed in paragraph 1 of this subsection by either:

(
a
) Sending a
text message or email alert within twenty-four hours after making the
change as requested by the elector's subscription preferences.

2.

(
b
)
If the elector has not subscribed to the voter
registration alert system,
the county recorder shall notify

notifying
the elector in writing within ten days after
the change
in the information prescribed by section 16-152
for the elector
.

F.
The notice
prescribed
by subsection E of this section
shall include instructions on how the
elector may check the elector's voter registration status, make any revisions
to the elector's voter registration information and notify the county recorder
if the elector did not request or authorize the change to the information
prescribed by section 16-152 for the elector's voter registration.
END_STATUTE