State SealARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 

HB 2604: consolidated elections; voter turnout

PRIME SPONSOR: Representative Mesnard, LD 17

BILL STATUS: House Engrossed

Legend: Amendments – BOLD and Stricken (Committee)

Abstract

☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal NoteRelating to voter turnout on consolidated and nonconsolidated election dates.

Provisions

1.       Requires a political subdivision to hold its elections on consolidated election dates if its previous elections on a non-statewide election date resulted in a significant decrease in voter turnout. (Sec. 1)

2.       Specifies that if a significant decrease in voter turnout occurs in a political subdivision, beginning in 2019, the subdivision must hold its subsequent elections on statewide election dates beginning three years after the decrease occurred. (Sec. 1)

3.       Defines a significant decrease in voter turnout to mean voter turnout in the following elections that are at least 25% lower than the lesser of the voter turnout in that jurisdiction during the two preceding statewide elections of the same type:

a.       A primary, first, second, runoff or general election for a city, charter city or town; and

b.       A candidate or ballot issue election in other specified political subdivisions. (Sec. 1)

4.       Asserts that these requirements preempt all local laws, ordinances and charter provisions to the contrary. (Sec. 1)

5.       Permits a political subdivision to extend the terms of office for its elected officials in order to transition to holding elections on statewide election dates. (Sec. 1)

6.       Exempts municipalities whose alternative expenditure limitation is scheduled to expire following a consolidation of its election dates from excess expenditure penalties, if:

a.       For a city or town whose limitation is scheduled to expire in spring of the year immediately following consolidation, the municipality seeks voter approval of an alternative expenditure limitation in the fall of the year immediately following its consolidation.

i.         Specifies that the exemption applies for the fiscal year in which the limit is scheduled to expire

b.       For a city or town whose limitation is scheduled to expire in the second or third years after consolidation, the municipality seeks voter approval of an alternative expenditure limitation at the next eligible regular election in the three years following consolidation,

i.         Specifies that the exemption applies for the three fiscal years following consolidation and the alternative limitation remains level. (Sec. 1)

7.       Defines political subdivision, statewide election date and voter turnout. (Sec. 1)

8.       Contains legislative findings provisions. (Sec. 1)

Current Law

Elections held by political subdivisions are only permitted to be held on certain dates in even-numbered years.  For candidate elections, the election must occur on either the 10th Tuesday before the 1st Tuesday after the 1st Monday in November or the 1st Tuesday after the 1st Monday in November.  If the political subdivision holds a primary, first or preliminary election, it must be held on the first date.  The second election, including general and runoff elections, or any single election must be held on the second date.

Noncandidate political subdivision elections must be held on the two candidate election dates, the 2nd Tuesday in March or the 3rd Tuesday in May (A.R.S. § 16-204).

 

 

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Fifty-third Legislature                  HB 2604

Second Regular Session                               Version 3: House Engrossed

 

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