 |
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, Second Regular Session
VETOED
AMENDED
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 an absent uniformed services voter or overseas voter 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 absent uniformed services voters or overseas voters as defined in the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Voting Act (UOCAVA) 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. Stipulates that if the political party chooses not to participate in the publicly administered PPE and holds a vote open to the entire membership of the party, then the party may 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.
Amendments Adopted by Committee of the Whole
1. Specifies that a political party may choose the means of voting only if the political party chooses not to participate in the publicly administered PPE.
2. Extends the requirement that a political party must provide for certain persons to vote in the PPE to UOCAVA voters.
Governor's Veto Message
The Governor indicates in her veto message that if the State of Arizona were to change the manner in which political party elections are held, it would be important to reflect bipartisan agreement.
House Action Senate Action
MOE 1/24/24 DPA 5-4-0-0 ELEC 3/4/24 DP 5-2-1
3rd Read 2/6/24 31-24-2-0-3 3rd Read 3/27/24 16-12-2
Final Read 4/4/24 31-28-1
Vetoed by the Governor on 4/10/24
Prepared by Senate Research
April 12, 2024
AN/cs