ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Fifty-fifth Legislature First Regular Session
	Senate: GOV DP 4-3-1-0 | 3^rd Read 16-14-0-0

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SB 1531: petition signatures; description; invalidity

Sponsor:  Senator Mesnard, LD 17

Committee on Government & Elections

Overview

Stipulates that a petition circulator must either read aloud the petition description to the qualified signer or give the person sufficient time to read it.

History

Current statute outlines the form for referring to the people an initiative or referendum petition and the information that must be included on the forms.  A circulator of such petitions must state whether the circulator is paid or volunteer by checking the appropriate line on the petition form before circulating the petition for signatures.  Signatures that are obtained on initiative and referendum petitions in violation of statute are void and must not be counted in determining the legal sufficiency of the petition (A.R.S. §§ 19-101, 19-102).

Within 20 days, excluding weekends and legal holidays, after the date of filing of an initiative or referendum petition and issuance of the receipt, the Secretary of State is required to remove certain sheets and signatures based on requirements outlined in statute that were not followed (A.R.S. § 19-121.01).

Provisions

1. Requires an initiative or referendum petition circulator to either:

a) Read the initiative or referendum description aloud to each person signing before the person signs; or

b) Allow the person sufficient time to read the description before signing. (Sec. 1, 2)

2. Directs the circulator to inform the person that reading the description is required so the person may understand the petition. (Sec. 1, 2)

3. Stipulates that each person signing must affirm that the person has heard or read and understood the description before signing the petition. (Sec. 1, 2)

4. Specifies that for any person who signs without either hearing or reading the description, the circulator must draw a line through the person's signature and the signature is void and must not be counted. (Sec. 1, 2)

5. Instructs the Secretary of State to remove signatures on petition sheets that have a line drawn through them by the circulator for failing to read the description aloud and failing to allow the signer to read the description. (Sec. 3)

6. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1, 2)

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10.                   SB 1531

11. Initials SJ  Page 0 Government & Elections

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