Sec. of State, Atty. Gen. & Legislative Leaders Agree on Voter ID at Polls

New Procedure Requires all Voters to Provide Identification at the Polls

PHOENIX -- Secretary of State Jan Brewer today announced an agreement has been reached between Attorney General Goddard, Speaker Weiers, Representative Pearce, Senate President Bennett, and her office that will require all voters to show proof of identification when voting at the polls. The agreement is in line with the provisions of Proposition 200 as passed by the voters this past November.

“After several hours of meetings directly between the elected officials, I am gratified that we have come to a resolution on this important matter,” stated Secretary of State Brewer, “it took pulling up our sleeves and pounding out an election procedure that incorporates what the voters clearly support.”

The agreement between the Secretary of State, Attorney General and Legislative leaders expands what forms of identification are acceptable and requires all voters to show ID before receiving a ballot. The proposed procedure also puts in place that a voter without appropriate identification will not be given a ballot. In addition, a voter who presents appropriate identification as required in Proposition 200, but whose name does not appear on the precinct register will be permitted to vote a provisional ballot that is verified by the County Recorder before being counted. Lastly, the agreement adds that either a person's mailing address or residence address are acceptable.

Pursuant to Arizona Revised Statutes, any election procedure put forward by the Secretary of State must ultimately be approved by both the Attorney General and the Governor. 

Added Secretary Brewer, “I truly believe that the Governor will be agreeable with the Attorney General, the Speaker, President, and myself that this is clearly what the voters support and is a very workable election procedure that complies with federal and state law.” 

“I want to commend Attorney General Goddard, Speaker Weiers and President Bennett for putting politics aside and working side by side to solve this issue,” said Secretary Brewer. 

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