PREFILED    JAN 10 2019

REFERENCE TITLE: U.S. Senate candidates; legislative action

State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-fourth Legislature First Regular Session 2019

HCR 2003

Introduced by Representative Fillmore

 

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 

proposing an amendment to the constitution of Arizona; amending article VII, sections 10 and 17, constitution of Arizona; relating to legislative nomination of candidates for United States Senate.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of Arizona, the Senate concurring:

1.  Article VII, section 10, Constitution of Arizona, is proposed to be amended as follows if approved by the voters and on proclamation of the Governor:

START_STATUTE10.  Direct primary election law; U.S. Senate; partisan primary

Section 10.  A.  The Legislature shall enact a direct primary election law, which shall provide for the nomination of candidates for all certain elective State, county,  and city offices, including candidates for United States Senator and for Representative in Congress.  for candidates for United States senator, the members of each political party caucus of the Arizona house of representatives shall separately meet with the members of the political party caucus of that same political party from the Arizona senate and designate by a majority vote of the assembled members of each political party caucus two nominees from each political party.  If a political party does not have one or more members in the legislature, that political party shall submit a list to the legislature of potential political party nominees and two persons on that list shall be nominated by a majority vote of each chamber of the legislature.  Those two nominees for each political party shall appear on the general election ballot as candidates for united States senator.  A candidate with no party preference may be nominated as otherwise provided by law.

B.  Any person who is registered as no party preference or independent as the party preference or who is registered with a political party that is not qualified for representation on the ballot may vote in the primary election of any one of the political parties that is qualified for the ballot. END_STATUTE

2.  Article VII, section 17, Constitution of Arizona, is proposed to be amended as follows if approved by the voters and on proclamation of the Governor:

START_STATUTE17.  Vacancy in Congress

Section 17.  There shall be a primary and general election as prescribed by law, which shall provide for nomination and election of a candidate for United States Senator and for Representative in Congress when a vacancy occurs through resignation or any other cause.  when a vacancy occurs in the office of United States senator through resignation or any other cause, there shall be a general election as PRESCRIBED by law and the nominees for the general election ballot shall be designated by the legislature as prescribed by section 10 of this article. END_STATUTE

3.  The Secretary of State shall submit this proposition to the voters at the next general election as provided by article XXI, Constitution of Arizona.