Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 11, 2021
CONTACT: press@secure-democracy.org
Governor Ducey Signs S.B. 1485, Restricts Arizona Early Voting
Seven in 10 Republican votes cast in the 2020 general election were cast by voters on the PEVL
PHOENIX— In response to the passage and signing of S.B. 1485 this afternoon, Secure Democracy issued the following statement:
“Nearly 7 in 10 Republican votes cast in the 2020 general election were cast by voters on the PEVL,” said Sarah Walker, executive director of Secure Democracy. “Between restricting this voting option that millions of Arizonans rely on — including their own voters — and pursuing a partisan audit based on fraudulent claims about the 2020 election, Republican lawmakers have shown that they are more willing to undermine democracy than to actually make Arizona elections more accessible, transparent, and accountable for all voters in the state.”
ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND
The Arizona Senate passed S.B. 1485 early afternoon on Tuesday. It was signed by Governor Doug Ducey shortly after passage.
Arizona’s Republican lawmakers established the Permanent Early Voting List (PEVL) nearly 15 years ago to allow voters to sign up to automatically receive their ballot in the mail for every election. With 3.17 million people enrolled in the PEVL, nearly three-quarters (73%) of the votes cast in the 2020 general election were cast by those on the PEVL. S.B. 1485 would purge voters from the PEVL if they do not vote an early ballot in both the primary and general election for two consecutive election cycles.
Secure Democracy’s research found that S.B. 1485 would disproportionately impact Republican voters. In the 2020 general election, nearly 7 in 10 (68%) Republican votes were cast by voters on the PEVL.
In Arizona, nearly all voters exercise their freedom to vote by mail. In the 2020 general election in Arizona, nearly 9 in 10 voters (89%) cast their ballot by mail. A Secure Democracy analysis of Arizona Secretary of State data from the 2020 general found:
Only around 1 in 10 Arizona Republicans voted on Election Day;
85% of total Republican votes were cast absentee;
93% of Republican donors cast absentee ballots;
Republicans cast 60% of all early votes in the 2020 general election in Arizona;
Republicans cast 51% of all absentee votes in the 2020 general election in Arizona;
More than 9 in 10 (91%) of all military voters in Arizona voted absentee; and
Fewer than 1 in 10 (7%) Republican military voters in Arizona voted on Election Day.
A Secure Democracy statewide poll found that 73% percent of Arizonans feel very confident that Arizona’s 2020 elections were fair and accurate, and 84% reported a good personal experience voting. The poll also found widespread support for current policies that expand voting access, with 88% of voters supporting options to return their vote-by-mail ballot in person at a polling place, in the mail, or at a secure ballot drop box.
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About Secure Democracy
Secure Democracy is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that works to improve election integrity across the United States. We educate policymakers and the public about what it takes to safeguard our voting systems. We collaborate with state leaders, election administrators, election integrity experts, and allies to ensure that all eligible citizens have the freedom to vote how they choose.