SB 1097 Arizona Senate · 57th Legislature - First Regular Session

elections; voting centers; polling places

SB 1097 requires Arizona schools to close on election days, with teachers and staff attending in-service training instead of taking leave, while allowing school districts to provide time off for voting. It updates election rules to permit counties to establish voting centers (where any registered voter in the county can cast a ballot) and emergency voting centers for specific elections, with clear guidelines for location changes and voter identification. The bill also provides criteria for consolidating polling places when early voting patterns suggest reduced turnout at certain locations, mandating advance voter notifications about changes. These provisions directly affect voters, school districts, and county election boards by streamlining election logistics.

Bill status vetoed 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House Passage

May 2025

Vetoed

May 2025

Introduced Jan 16, 2025 Vetoed May 13, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Version → Senate Engrossed Version · 7 edits · Mar 5, 2025

MODERATE

This bill updates Arizona election laws to clarify voting center procedures, expand polling place options in schools, and add new requirements for emergency voting centers. It also modernizes election board staffing rules to allow minors to serve as clerks under supervision and clarifies electioneering restrictions at polling places.

REQUIREMENT

Added new subsection allowing public school gymnasiums to serve as polling places when requested, with exemptions from school requirements that would limit their use.

Added emergency voting center provisions allowing county recorders to change locations with public notification when original sites become unavailable.

Added new electioneering rules requiring polling places to allow political activity outside 75-foot limits unless emergency conditions exist, with website transparency requirements.

Added requirement for state agencies to coordinate with counties to provide state-owned facilities for voting locations beginning in 2026.

Modified election board staffing rules to clarify appointment procedures for small precincts and nonpartisan elections.

Added wait time management requirements for election boards to consider historical voting data when staffing polling places.

ELIGIBILITY

Added provision allowing minors aged 16+ to serve as election clerks under adult supervision with parental consent.

Floor votes · House May 6, 2025

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 13, 2025

Vetoed

Vetoed by Governor

executive

May 6, 2025

Lower · Passed

PASSED

lower

Apr 1, 2025

Lower · Passed

lower

Mar 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

lower

Mar 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

PASSED

upper

Mar 3, 2025

Upper · Passed

upper

Feb 19, 2025

Upper · Passed

upper

1 primary · 3 co-sponsors