ballot delivery; collection

Arizona's HB 2628 amends election laws to clarify ballot handling rules and delivery requirements for mail-in ballots. It requires election officials to include specific instructions (in voter guides and mail ballot envelopes) stating that only voters, family members, household members, or caregivers may handle or return ballots, with violations classified as a class 5 felony under Section 16-1005. The bill mandates that mail ballots must include a signed affidavit and be returned by 7:00 p.m. on election day to a county recorder’s office, polling place, or via in-person drop-off with ID (starting 2026), with explicit warnings about felony penalties for improper handling. These changes directly affect voters, election officials, and ballot returners by standardizing delivery procedures and reinforcing penalties for unauthorized ballot collection.