ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-sixth Legislature

First Regular Session

House: MOE DPA 6-4-0-0

HCR2033: primary elections; eligible candidates

Sponsor: Representative Smith, LD 29

Caucus & COW

Overview

Prohibits any election law in Arizona that is contrary to the direct primary election law as outlined in the Arizona Constitution.

History

A regular primary election is the first Tuesday in August in any year that a general election or special election is held and at which candidates for public office are to be elected. At least 120 days before the date of a regular primary election, the Secretary of State must prepare and transmit the state and federal offices for which candidates are to be nominated for at the primary election to the Board of Supervisors of each county (A.R.S. §§ 16-201, 16-202).

Ranked choice voting allows each voter to rank multiple candidates for the same office on a ballot in order of preference rather than making a single choice. After the ballots in the election have been counted, if a candidate is a majority of the electorate’s first choice, that candidate is the winner of the election (CRS Report).

Provisions

1. Clarifies that the direct primary election law of Arizona supersedes any contrary law of any charter, law, ordinance, rule, resolution or policy of any city or town. (Sec. 1)

2. Requires the direct primary law to be conducted in a manner that allows each qualified political party to nominate a number of candidates equal to the number of available positions in a given office. (Sec. 1)

3. Adds that all eligible candidates who are nominated in the primary are to be placed on the ballot for the subsequent general election. (Sec. 1)

Amendments

Committee on Municipal Oversight and Elections

1. Makes a technical change.

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5. HCR 2033

6. Initials JH/IG Page 0 Caucus & COW

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