An Arizona House panel passed a bill Wednesday that prevents ballots dropped at some unmonitored boxes from being counted.
House Bill 2238 was amended to exclude boxes at polling places and voting centers where voting staff are present or at facilities used by county recorders. Bill sponsor Rep. Jake Hoffman argues the bill is about safeguarding voting.
“This bill doesn’t prohibit ballot drop boxes as long as they are staff monitored. As long as they have someone there, we have existing laws in place regarding and governing the dropping off of early ballots," Hoffman said.
The bill did raise concerns from the League of Women Voters that it could make it harder for rural and tribal voters to cast a ballot as they have fewer voting locations. The bill will now move on to the House Rules Committee.
