Legislation to revamp how Arizona conducts elections and to make it eligible for $58 million in federal funding is headed to Gov. Janet Napolitano after receiving overwhelming Senate approval.
The legislation, approved 27-1 on Thursday, replaces a previous bill vetoed by Napolitano. The new version does not include the provision that Napolitano said prompted her veto.
SB1075 would provide optical scanners or other new voting systems to replace punch cards still used in nine rural counties.
It also would require new voters to provide identification when registering for the first time.
Additionally, the bill would create a statewide voter registry, set up a voter fraud hotline, increase voter education programs and provide new training for election workers.
The legislation would make state election systems comply with a federal law passed in the wake of troubles with the 2000 presidential election in Florida.
Secretary of State Jan Brewer called the legislation ‘‘the biggest election reform ever’’ in Arizona.
‘‘Arizonans will be proud of the work we’ve done to improve our electoral process,’’ she said
When Napolitano vetoed the earlier version, she said it was because of a provision setting a Sept. 1 deadline for the state to award contracts could open the door to lawsuits by losing bidders.
