STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX – The Arizona House of Representatives has passed HB2703, a key election integrity measure championed by the House Republican Majority to improve election security, streamline early voting, and ensure ballots are counted in a timely and secure manner.

“We’re bringing common sense back to the process,” said Representative Alex Kolodin, who spearheaded the effort behind this reform. “Every election, we see massive delays because hundreds of thousands of ballots flood in at the last minute, overwhelming election officials and leaving voters in the dark for days. That’s unacceptable. This reform makes sure ballots are processed on time, votes are counted faster, and Arizonans get the election results they deserve—without unnecessary chaos. It also ensures that mail-in ballots go to the right place by requiring voters to confirm their address, preventing voters from receiving the wrong ballot and not receiving their own ballot in a timely fashion.”

Arizona’s 2024 general election saw more than 260,000 late-returned early ballots, causing delays in processing and counting. HB2703 aligns Arizona with states like Florida, where similar measures have resulted in faster, more secure elections.

“Arizonans deserve an election system that is transparent, secure, and free of unnecessary delays,” said Representative Hendrix, sponsor of the legislation. “HB2703 delivers exactly that—eliminating unnecessary delays and reinforcing the integrity of our elections.”

HB2703 makes several key changes, including:

• Setting a firm deadline for early ballots returned at voting locations—7:00 PM on the Friday before Election Day—to ensure prompt processing and reduce late ballot backlogs.
• Allowing counties to provide on-site tabulation during early voting, including on the Saturday and Monday before Election Day.
• Ensuring chain-of-custody procedures for in-person early ballots match those used for Election Day ballots.
• Requiring early mail voters to confirm their address before receiving a ballot—every election cycle in larger counties and every four years in smaller counties—to ensure voter rolls remain accurate and ballots are sent to the correct addresses.
• Removing bureaucratic hurdles that prevent schools from serving as polling places.

HB2703 is a key part of the House Republican Majority Plan, which prioritizes securing elections, protecting individual rights, and ensuring government accountability. House Republicans are committed to restoring voter confidence by enforcing election deadlines and reducing opportunities for chaos and confusion at the ballot box.

“Arizona voters are tired of waiting days—sometimes weeks—for election results,” said House Speaker Steve Montenegro. “That’s why House Republicans made fixing this problem a top priority. This bill cuts through the confusion and delays, making sure ballots are counted faster and with greater security. We’re delivering real election reforms that make sense, and I appreciate our Republican members—especially Representatives Kolodin and Hendrix—for leading the charge to get this done.”

The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.

Steve Montenegro is the Speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives and serves Legislative District 29 in the West Valley, Goodyear, and Surprise. Follow him on X at @SteveMontenegro.