early ballot return; voter intimidation

HB 2475 makes specific voter intimidation and ballot handling practices a class 2 misdemeanor in Arizona. It directly affects voters, election officials, and anyone near polling places or early voting locations during voting hours. Key provisions prohibit knowingly failing to return a ballot before leaving a polling place, showing another voter’s ballot, interfering with ballot delivery, or harassing people transporting voted ballots. The law also clarifies that voters sharing their ballot online is deemed consent for sharing, removing that act as a violation. These changes aim to protect ballot secrecy and prevent intimidation during the voting process.