ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

HB 2604: consolidated elections; voter turnout
PRIME SPONSOR: Representative Mesnard, LD 17 BILL STATUS: Chaptered

Abstract

Relating 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 with elections held in 2018, the subdivision must hold subsequent elections on statewide election dates beginning three years after the decrease occurs. (Sec. 1)

3. Defines a significant decrease in voter turnout to mean voter turnout for the office that received the highest number of votes in the most recent candidate election for a political subdivision (or portion of a political subdivision if candidates are not elected at large) that is at least 25% less than the voter turnout in that same jurisdiction for the most recent election in which the office of Governor was on the ballot. (Sec. 1)

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

5. Requires the terms of office for elected officials to be lengthened at the time a political subdivision transitions to consolidated election dates in order to align with consolidated elections. (Sec. 1)

6. Exempts a municipality whose alternative expenditure limitation is scheduled to expire at any time after consolidation of its election dates from excess expenditure penalties if it seeks voter approval of an alternative expenditure limitation at the next eligible regular election date following its consolidation.

a. Maintains the alternative expenditure limitation amount as established before its expiration if voter approval is sought in the next eligible regular election. (Sec. 1)

7. Requires the BOS to require the county recorder or other officer in charge of elections to:

a. Calculate voter turnout for candidate races;

b. Determine whether a political subdivision is required to consolidate its election dates;

c. Announce its determination and the implementation date for consolidation at a public meeting held within 90 days after the issuance of the official county canvass. (Sec. 2)

8. Specifies that after the implementation date for consolidation, the BOS is prohibited from calling, authorizing the call for or authorizing the county to administer an election for the political subdivision except pursuant to consolidated election requirements. (Sec. 2)

9. Specifies that an elector that is not registered as a member of a political party that is entitled to continued representation on the ballot may either designate to receive and vote:

a. The ballot of only one political party that is entitled to continued representation on the ballot, which must include any nonpartisan offices and ballot questions; or

b. A ballot for nonpartisan offices and ballot questions only. (Sec. 3)

o Currently, the elector may designate the ballot of only one of the political parties entitled to continued representation on the ballot and receive and vote the ballot of only that one party (A.R.S. § 16-542).

10. Requires the county recorder or other officer in charge of elections to process any request for an early ballot for a municipal election pursuant to statutory requirements. (Sec. 3)

11. Requires the official canvass of an election to include the number of ballots cast and number of active registered voters for each candidate race in each political subdivision or portion of a political subdivision with a nonconsolidated election date. (Sec. 4)

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

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

14. Contains a severability clause. (Sec. 5)

15. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 2, 4)

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 10^th Tuesday before the 1^st Tuesday after the 1^st Monday in November or the 1^st Tuesday after the 1^st 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 2^nd Tuesday in March or the 3^rd Tuesday in May (A.R.S. § 16-204).

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Fifty-third Legislature                  HB 2604

Second Regular Session                               Version 6: Chaptered

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