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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, Second Regular Session
REVISED
AMENDED
candidates; electronic signatures; limit
Purpose
An emergency measure that specifies that petition signatures collected through an electronic petition with the August 6, 2024, primary date that comply with the statutory requirements are valid. Effective January 1, 2025, allows outlined candidates to collect up to 125 percent of the number of required nomination petition signatures by using the online signature collection system (online system). Contains requirements for enactment for initiatives and referendums (Proposition 105).
Background
Statute outlines requirements relating to the nomination of candidates on the official ballot of a general or special election. Statute prescribes the minimum number of signatures that a nomination petition must include as follows: 1) at least one-fourth of the qualified signers in the state, for the office of U.S. senator or a state office excluding members of the Legislature; 2) at least one-half of one percent of the qualified signers in the district, for the office of U.S. Representative; 3) at least one-half of one percent of all the qualified signers in the district, for the office of Arizona senator or representative; 4) at least one percent of the qualified signers in the county or district, for a county office or superior court judge; 5) at least two percent or 10 qualified signatures of the same party in the precinct, for a county precinct committee; and 6) at least five percent of the qualified signers in the city or town, for a city or town office. The Secretary of State must provide a system for the qualified signers to sign the nomination petition for candidates for a congressional office, legislative office, city or town office, county office and the office of the precinct committeeman through a secure internet portal. The online system must allow only the qualified electors who are eligible to sign a petition for a particular candidate to sign the petition and provide a method to verify the elector's identity. A candidate may collect up to the minimum number of required nomination petition signatures through the online system (A.R.S. Title 16, Chapter 3).
Laws 2024, Chapter 1 moved the 2024 primary election date from August 6, 2024, to July 30, 2024.
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Increases, beginning January 1, 2025, from 100 to 125, the percentage of the number of required nomination petition signatures a candidate may collect using the online system, including a candidate for:
a) U.S. Congress;
b) city office;
c) town office;
d) county office; or
e) precinct committeeman office.
2. Increases, beginning January 1, 2025, the number of required nomination petition signatures or contribution qualification forms that a candidate for legislative or state office may collect using the online system, from 100 percent to 125 percent of the minimum number of required signatures, subject to the affirmative vote of at least three-fourths of the members of each house of the Legislature (Proposition 105).
3. Requires any election item that was duly called by a city, town or county for the August 6, 2024, primary election to be placed on the ballot for the newly designated primary election date of July 30, 2024.
4. Prohibits a filing officer from rejecting signatures or petitions based solely on the date of the primary election that is on a petition form.
5. Specifies that a person does not have to file a new or amended statement of interest based solely on the change to the 2024 primary election date.
6. Specifies that signatures collected through an electronic petition with the August 6, 2024, primary date and that otherwise comply with the requirements provided by law are valid signatures.
7. Requires the voter of a conditional provisional ballot to provide proof of identification to the county recorder or other officer in charge of elections by:
a) the fifth business day after a primary, general or special election that includes a federal office; or
b) the third business day after any other election.
8. Specifies that the city or town clerks' offices that must be open during the prescribed timeframes are upon an agreement with a county to be used as a location at which a voter may submit proof of identification.
9. Specifies that the regular business hours for city, town and county offices must be at least 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
10. Contains an applicability clause.
11. Makes technical changes.
12. Becomes
effective on the signature of the Governor, if the emergency clause is enacted.
Amendments Adopted by Committee of the Whole
1. Requires any election item that was duly called by a city, town or county for the August 6, 2024, primary election to be placed on the ballot for the newly designated primary election date.
2. Prohibits the filing officer from rejecting signatures or petitions based solely on the date of the primary election that is on a petition form.
3. Specifies that signatures collected through an electronic petition with the August 6, 2024, primary date and that otherwise comply with the requirements provided by law are valid signatures.
4. Requires the voter of a conditional provisional ballot to provide proof of identification to the county recorder or other officer in charge of elections by:
a) the fifth business day after a primary, general or special election that includes a federal office; or
b) the third business day after any other election.
5. Adds an emergency clause.
6. Specifies that the city or town clerks' offices that must be open during the prescribed timeframes are upon agreement of a county to be used as a location at which a voter may submit proof of identification.
7. Makes conforming changes.
Revisions
· Corrects the provisions to reflect the accurate effective date.
Senate Action
ELEC 2/12/24 DP 6-0-2
Prepared by Senate Research
February 29, 2024
AN/HS/cs