YUMA — County lobbyist Alexis Sussdorf and elections staff briefed the Yuma County Board of Supervisors on state bills prefiled for the 2025 legislative session that would change early‑voting deadlines, drop‑off rules and precinct requirements, and supervisors discussed local operational impacts.

Sussdorf told the board she expects a heavy legislative session with roughly 1,600–1,800 bills published and noted some high‑profile items likely to draw attention, including proposals to extend use of state trust funds for K‑12, water‑policy bills and election‑related measures. “I fully expect to see 1,600 to 1,800 bills published,” she said.

County staff flagged specific election measures for the board’s attention, including bills that would restrict certain voter‑registration mailings, create new early‑voting deadlines, and require on‑site early voters to present identification and sign an early‑voting certificate. Staff summarized SB 1011 (a bill to restrict election‑day drop‑off and prescribe on‑site early‑voting windows) and multiple House bills from Representative John Gillette addressing voter registration and early ballot handling.

Elections director Kika Guzman and elections staff described operational challenges from a large number of late early ballots during recent elections and the work required to process those ballots after Election Day. Guzman explained Yuma County’s use of accessible ballot‑marking devices and live signing during early voting; staff said those practices enable compliance with ADA requirements but contribute to late processing workloads.

Supervisors discussed the tradeoffs between faster results and access. One supervisor proposed increasing the number of early‑voting sites in the county — naming sites in Foothills and South County as possible locations — to reduce late‑arrival ballots concentrated at the recorder’s office. "I'd like to request that the recorder look into opening up additional early voting sites for the next election," a supervisor said. The board asked staff to analyze the bills' operational impacts and follow up with recommendations.

County staff will continue to monitor prefiled bills — staff reported dozens already filed — and work with the recorder’s office and elections services on options to expand early‑voting locations and voter‑education steps to reduce processing delays.