SB 1638 Summary

• Persons who have not provided satisfactory evidence of citizenship and are eligible only for federal offices are prohibited from receiving early ballots by mail, effective December 31, 2022.

• Voting systems used by counties and cities with populations of 20,000 or more must provide an accessible vote-by-mail option for persons who are blind or visually impaired.

• Blind and visually impaired voters must have access to voting methods equivalent to non-impaired voters, including through synthesized speech, braille, and other nonvisual output methods.

• The Secretary of State shall consult with advocacy organizations representing blind and visually impaired persons and election officials when certifying voting systems that meet accessibility requirements, applicable to systems purchased or upgraded after January 1, 2006.

• All elections in Arizona must provide early voting, including an accessible vote-by-mail option for persons who are blind or visually impaired.