Secretary Fontes and Legislative Leaders Introduce the “Voters First Act”

PHOENIX – Today, the Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes and Legislative leaders introduced a new bill for the Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session. The “Voters First Act” is a comprehensive proposal to modernize, standardize, and prioritize the voting process for every eligible voter in Arizona, sponsored by Democratic Leaders Senator Priya Sundareshan (LD18) and Representative Oscar De Los Santos (LD11).

Full Press Conference: State of Elections - Introducing the Voters First Act  

Ensuring secure elections and expanding voter access are not competing goals, but complementary priorities. This legislation calls for long-overdue investments in the cybersecurity and election infrastructure our state depends on to administer elections across all 15 counties.

The “Voters First Act” makes clear that settling for minimal election funding is no longer acceptable. Arizona can deliver elections that are both accessible and secure but doing so requires the Legislature to make the necessary financial commitment.

Secretary Fontes stated, “For years now, election administrators and experts have raised alarms that the swirling misinformation and disinformation surrounding our elections would turn into devastating policy decisions, and they were right—we have seen it right here at home.

These false narratives have led to the near constant framing that we hear, that Arizona should just “run our elections like Florida,” and then they would be secure or whatever other promise of the day pops up. But we need to consider that for every vote cast in Florida there is roughly $20 dollars invested compared to just $9 invested per vote here in Arizona. I have a message for those who are not taking this moment seriously: If you are going to tear down the trust in our system and simultaneously fail to invest to protect our voters' privacy and access to the ballot box—you shouldn’t be taken seriously when claiming to care about our voters. The Voters First Act is a research-backed, commonsense proposal to modernize, standardize, and prioritize the voting process across all 15 counties in Arizona. It is built on a simple truth: access and security are not mutually exclusive. In fact, strong elections require both.”

The bill will introduce 10 key points that represent a comprehensive election modernization and voter protection framework:

Reduce Lines & Ensure Your Legal Vote Is Counted

1. Use vote centers statewide.

2. Restore the “Permanent Early Vote List” (PEVL).

3. Extend early voting though 5pm on the Monday before the election.

4. Count early ballots accidently returned to the wrong county.

5. Allow the collection and processing of ballots continuously on Election Day.

Election Security & Infrastructure

1. Modernize the 75-Foot Voter Protection Zone for drop boxes and voting locations.

2. Mandate Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) participation to ensure accurate voter registration lists (With Funding).

3. Provide Election IT & Cybersecurity Funding (Create a new special line item of no less than $1M in the SOS budget to support IT and cybersecurity programs).

Voter Communications & Transparency

1. Provide Early Ballot Tracking & Curing Notifications (Require counties to send automated early-ballot tracking and curing updates via text/email with funding).

Provide Adequate Election Funding

1. Allow the SOS and counties to accept privately funded grants supporting elections, voter education, and innovative programs as previously allowed and utilized by countless other government agencies.

“I appreciate Secretary Fontes’ leadership and focus on making sure every eligible Arizonan can vote and have that vote securely counted,” said Attorney General Kris Mayes. “The Voters First Act recognizes that strong election security and meaningful voter access go hand in hand. By investing in modern election infrastructure, cybersecurity, and clear voter communication, this legislation helps ensure Arizona’s elections remain secure, transparent, and worthy of the public’s trust.”

“The Voters First Act builds on what’s already working in Arizona. It standardizes and codifies best practices that many counties are already using successfully, it restores policies that are popular with voters of all political parties, and it makes significant investments in election security and cybersecurity, recognizing that modern elections require modern protections,” Senate Democratic Leader Priya Sundareshan (LD18) added. “These are not radical ideas. They are popular, common-sense proposals that modernize and standardize our elections while keeping the focus where it belongs, on voters.”

Alex Gulotta, Arizona State Director of All Voting Is Local Action, said, “I will cut to the chase here: over the past several legislative sessions, election deniers in our legislature have intensified efforts to limit common-sense voter protections and options, such as vote-by-mail and vote centers.

This year, in contrast, Arizona voters are being given an affirmative vision that supports improved voter access while protecting free and fair elections. The Voters First Act is a reason for hope.”

“Arizona is not a state that can afford to be led by extremes. We are a state with many viewpoints, and our democracy works best when all of them are respected. Despite our diversity, there are a few basic things that most Arizonans can agree on,” House Democratic Leader Oscar De Los Santos (LD11) added. “First, people who are legally qualified to vote should be able to cast a ballot without unnecessary obstacles. Second, people who are not legally qualified to vote should be prevented from doing so. And third, voters should be protected from intimidation or threats at polling places and ballot drop boxes. The Voters First Act delivers those shared expectations.”

“A strong democracy thrives when voters have robust and equal access to the ballot. The Voters First Act moves Arizona closer to that goal,” said Katelynn Contreras, policy strategist at the ACLU of Arizona. “Investing in election infrastructure and enhancing pathways to vote ensures voters across the state can participate in this most fundamental right.”

“Working people in rural Arizona face barriers to voting that folks in urban and suburban communities do not. Distance and under-resourced local election departments mean that the mere act of voting takes extra time and special effort. By protecting vote centers, restoring the Permanent Early Voter List, and extending early voting, The Voters First Act assures that rural voters will have the same access to the ballot box as voters in the cities. Also, the act provides the additional funding that rural communities need to assure that everyone who is entitled to vote can do so,” said Tom Prezelski, Senior Political Advisor for Rural Arizona Action.