The new bill authored by State Rep. Keshel in the Arizona House seeks to regulate the presence and appointment of political party challengers at voting locations across the state, according to the Arizona State House.
The bill, introduced as HB2153 on Jan. 13, during the first regular session of the 57th Legislature, was formally listed with the short title: ‘voting locations; political party observers’.
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, the bill amends section 16-590 of the Arizona Revised Statutes concerning the appointment and presence of political party challengers and representatives at voting locations. It allows the county chairman of each political party to designate a party agent or representative, and alternates, for each precinct or voting location, including on-site, emergency, and other early voting locations. One challenger from each political party is allowed to be present at a voting location but cannot enter a voting booth except to mark their ballot. The bill stipulates that the number of party representatives present at a location must be mutually agreed upon by all political parties on the ballot; if no agreement is reached, it defaults to one representative per party. Additionally, challengers and party representatives must be state residents and registered voters in Arizona.
The bill was co-sponsored by John Gillette (Republican-30th District), Alexander Kolodin (Republican-3rd District), and David Marshall, Sr. (Republican-7th District).
Since the beginning of the session, Keshel has proposed another three bills, with two of them being adopted.
Jones graduated from Metropolitan State the University of Denver in 2002 with a BA.
Rachel Jones is currently serving in the Arizona State House, representing the state’s 17th House District. She replaced previous state representative Jennifer Pawlik in 2023.
In Arizona, the legislative process begins when a bill is introduced in either the House of Representatives or the Senate. It is then assigned to one or more committees for discussion and possible amendment. If approved by committee, the bill proceeds to floor debate and voting in both chambers. If both chambers pass the bill, it is sent to the governor, who may sign it into law, veto it, or allow it to become law without a signature. The Arizona Legislature convenes annually in regular session starting the second Monday in January. Lawmakers introduce hundreds of bills each session, though only a portion make it into law. You can learn more about the legislative process on the Arizona State Legislature website.
| Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|
| HB2153 | 01/13/2025 | The bill amends section 16-590 of the Arizona Revised Statutes concerning the appointment and presence of political party challengers and representatives at voting locations. It allows the county chairman of each political party to designate a party agent or representative, and alternates, for each precinct or voting location, including on-site, emergency, and other early voting locations. One challenger from each political party is allowed to be present at a voting location but cannot enter a voting booth except to mark their ballot. The bill stipulates that the number of party representatives present at a location must be mutually agreed upon by all political parties on the ballot; if no agreement is reached, it defaults to one representative per party. Additionally, challengers and party representatives must be state residents and registered voters in Arizona. |
| HB2152 | 01/13/2025 | The bill amends Arizona law to allow either party in domestic relations proceedings, such as marriage dissolution or custody cases, to request a jury trial. The request must be in writing and filed with the court, scheduling a trial at least 30 days after the request. A jury can determine factual issues including property classification, the value of community assets, child custody, potential relocations, spousal maintenance, and other statutory findings, such as domestic violence or abuse allegations. The court will issue orders on parenting time, child support, and spousal maintenance, incorporating the jury’s factual findings. A jury’s verdict is binding on the court, and the Arizona Supreme Court can establish rules for these jury trials. |
| HB2017 | 01/03/2025 | This bill amends various sections of the Arizona Revised Statutes relating to the conduct of elections. It prohibits the use of voting centers, requiring polling places to be established within each precinct before an election. As of 2026, the Department of Administration must coordinate with state agencies to make state-owned facilities available for elections, and public schools must provide space unless valid reasons are given. The bill mandates that election precincts contain no more than 1,000 registered voters, and adjusts procedures for appointing election boards, early voting, and on-site ballot tabulation. Several unlawful acts concerning voting behaviors, such as electioneering and ballot handling within a designated proximity of the polls, are outlined as misdemeanors. An effective date for changes made by the bill is not specified in the text. |
| HB2016 | 01/03/2025 | This bill amends Arizona’s legal requirements on reporting child abuse, specifying that any person who reasonably believes a minor is a victim of physical injury, abuse, neglect, or denial of medical care must report this to authorities. The bill includes exceptions where clergy members may withhold reporting information received during confessions under specific religious tenets, but not in cases of personal observations. The requirement to report does not apply to consensual activities among minors aged 14 to 17 or accidental injuries during typical school activities when documented by the school. Health professionals must report if a newborn is suspected to be affected by drugs. Immunity is provided to those reporting in good faith, and violations of these reporting duties can result in misdemeanor or felony charges. The amendments also clarify definitions of abuse, neglect, and reportable offenses, extending reporting duties to include supervisors and administrators of mandated reporters. |
