By Daniel Stefanski |
An election-related bill may have a good chance of becoming law in Arizona thanks to an overwhelming result in one legislative chamber.
Last week, the Arizona House of Representatives passed HB 2482, which “establishes a voter registration alert system requiring the County Recorder to notify voters of specified changes, such as change of party affiliation, telephone number or address to their voter registration record” – according to the overview provided by the chamber. The vote in the State House was 57-0 – with two members not voting and one seat vacant.
Republican State Representative Barbara Parker, the sponsor of the bill, issued a statement following the successful passage of her proposal. She wrote, “We now live in a digital age where the tiny glowing rectangle in our pocket can communicate any information to us at any given time. Admittedly, government communication isn’t always top-notch. However, it absolutely should be, especially when it comes to voting! That’s why our County Recorders should uniformly communicate with Arizona’s constituents regarding changes such as party affiliations, phone numbers, or addresses. And what’s the easiest way to do that? Via text message.”
Parker added some final thoughts on the importance of this bill for the voter registration and election landscape across the state, saying, “With the passage of HB 2482, and through the creation of a voter registration alert system, they will be required to do just that. Remember: Education and information are always key. And with a little legislative nudge, we’ll get there.”
Last month, the legislation was approved by the House Committee on Municipal Oversight & Elections. The vote in committee was unanimous – 9-0.
On the Arizona Legislature’s Request To Speak system, representatives from AZ National Organization for Women, State Conference NAACP, and the Sierra Club – Grand Canyon Chapter, indicated their support for the legislation.
A representative from the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office signed in as neutral to the bill.
HB 2482 now heads to the Arizona Senate for consideration.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
