On Wednesday, Arizona State Senators Michelle Ugenti-Rita and Paul Boyer killed an election integrity bill, SB1119, offered by Senator Sonny Borrelli.
The bill, supported by both Democrat and Republican election integrity organizations, would require online copies of any digital ballot images to be made available to the public in a manner that is searchable by precinct and precludes alteration.
The bill also specifies that ballot images are public records.
Experts say, the simple matter of making ballot images public, increases the ability to audit an election, and builds trust in the election process.
Currently, government officials in charge of elections must ensure that electronic or digital ballot images are protected from physical or electronic access, including unauthorized copying or transferring, and that all security measures are at least as protective as those for paper ballots.
SB1119 provisions:
- Requires the officer in charge of elections, after the polls are closed, to make an online copy of any digital ballot images available to the public in a manner that is searchable by precinct and precludes any alteration.
- Requires the officer in charge of elections to ensure electronic or digital ballot images are protected from physical or electronic alteration or destruction, rather than physical or electronic access.
- Asserts that digital ballot images are public records.
- Exempts, from digital ballot image posting requirements, an election held by a special taxing district formed for the purpose of protecting or providing services to agricultural lands or crops and that is authorized to conduct elections.
- Exempts, from digital ballot image posting requirements, an election held by a special taxing district formed for the purpose of protecting or providing services to agricultural lands or crops and that is authorized to conduct elections.
Boyer routinely votes against election integrity efforts since personality conflicts in 2021 drove him to embrace the County Supervisors’ and County Recorder’s position that the 2020 election was devoid of error and unworthy of auditing. Ugenti-Rita’s vote is more unexpected as she is campaigning for Secretary of State and campaigns as an election integrity hawk, in spite of similar votes against election integrity efforts.
Ultimately, Sen. Borrelli voted against his own bill in order to reserve his right to bring it back for reconsideration by the Senate.