Committee advances bill to add county recorders and legislative committee leaders to EPM consultation list

The committee returned Senate Bill 1237 with a due‑pass recommendation after testimony from county recording officials who asked that recorders be explicitly included in drafting the Elections Procedures Manual (EPM).

Staff told the committee SB1237 would add county recorders and the chairpersons and ranking members of both the house and senate committees with jurisdiction over elections to the list of public officers the Secretary of State must consult before prescribing rules in the EPM. Jordy Clark, representing the Arizona Association of Counties, said the change would codify recorders’ input into drafting of the EPM and ensure their perspective on functions such as voter registration, early voting and provisional voting is included.

Pinal County Recorder Dana Lewis testified she supports the bill and said recorders are often involved in drafting but sometimes lack influence when the final EPM is produced; codifying the role would create a "cleaner pathway" and, she said, could reduce litigation. "Of course, the recorders are currently involved in the drafting...Not always are all of our opinions heard," Lewis told the committee.

Committee members generally supported the measure and discussed that the EPM carries the force of law in practice; one member proposed requiring legislative committee approval of the manual in the future. The committee voted 4–3 to return SB1237 with a due pass.