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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, Second Regular Session
presidential preference; parties; voting methods
Purpose
Requires a political party that chooses to select a nominee for president by a vote that is open to the entire political party membership to provide a method of voting that allows for a person with a disability or uniformed services or uniformed overseas citizens to vote.
Background
A presidential preference election (PPE) gives qualified electors the opportunity to express the elector's preference for the presidential candidate of the political party as indicated on the elector's voter registration. A PPE must be held on the Tuesday immediately following March 15 in each year in which the U.S. President is elected. An eligible political party may choose not to participate in the PPE if the state party's chairperson notifies the Secretary of State (SOS) in writing by September 1 of the year preceding the PPE. The presidential nominee of eligible parties who opt out of the PPE may appear on the general election ballot so long as the party chairperson nominates presidential electors as prescribed by statute and by the statutory deadline (A.R.S. §§ 16-241 and 16-344; SOS Candidate Nomination Petition Procedures and Challenges).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires a political party to provide for a method of voting in the PPE that allows a person with a disability or uniformed services or uniformed overseas citizens to vote if the political party:
a) chooses not to participate in the publicly administered PPE; and
b) chooses to select a nominee for U.S. President by a vote that is open to the entire membership of the party.
2. Allows the political party to choose the means of voting.
3. Specifies that the requirements for voting in the PPE does not obligate a political party to hold a PPE or select a nominee for U.S. President by popular vote.
4. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
ELEC 1/24/24 DPA 5-4-0-0
3rd Read 2/6/24 31-24-2-0-3
Prepared by Senate Research
February 29, 2024
AN/cs