PHOENIX β Republican lawmakers approved a measure Thursday that would make felons out of people who return the early ballots of others to the polls.
The 34-23 House vote, with every Democrat present opposed, was propelled by arguments that the current system is ripe for fraud. Rep. Heather Carter, R-Cave Creek, also voted against the measure.
Rep. J.D. Mesnard, R-Chandler, cited testimony from Maricopa County Elections Director Karen Osborne who spoke during a prior attempt to enact this provision. She told lawmakers there have been situations where individuals claiming to be county election workers have gone door-to-door trying to pick up ballots.
βThis is a problem,β he said.
Rep. Bob Thorpe, R-Flagstaff, said allowing strangers to take someoneβs ballot would allow them to decide which ones to keep and which ones to throw away. In fact, he said someone might decide to throw away the ballots of all women.
By contrast, Rep. Debbie McCune Davis said the state should not be erecting barriers to voting.
HB 2023 makes it a Class 6 felony to handle anyone elseβs voted or unvoted ballot. There are exceptions for family members, those in the same household and professional caregivers.
βThis bill criminalizes the act of assisting a person in casting a ballot unless they fit into a designated category,β she said. βThe practical impact of this legislation may be to suppress voting and should be examined.β
Rep. Lisa Otondo, D-Yuma, said itβs not always easy for people to get their ballots back in the mail on time. She said there are many areas of the state where people have to go to the post office to get their mail.
The measure now goes to the Senate.
