ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Fifty-seventh Legislature First Regular Session
	Senate: JUDE DP 4-2-1-0 | 3rd Read 17-11-2-0

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SB1441: school districts; partisan elections

Sponsor: Senator Werner, LD 4

Committee on Education

Overview

Makes school district governing board (governing board) elections partisan beginning January 1, 2026.

History

For governing board elections, a county school superintendent may cause separate ballots to be prepared, or the names of the governing board candidates may be included as part of the regular ballot. Regardless, the ballot must contain the names of all individuals whose petitions have been filed, along with the title of the office being sought. Statute prohibits the governing board candidate's partisan designation from being included on the ballot (A.R.S. § 15-422).

Examples of candidates that are placed on the nonpartisan ballot include candidates for: 1) the Arizona Supreme Court; 2) the court of appeals; 3) the superior court; and 4) governing boards. Examples of candidates that are placed on a partisan ballot include candidates for: 1) presidential electors; 2) Congress; 3) state offices; 4) county offices; and 5) precinct offices (A.R.S. § 16-502).  

Provisions

1. Requires each governing board candidate's partisan designation to appear on the ballot. (Sec. 1)

2. Provides that a governing board candidate's partisan designation is the political party of which the candidate is a qualified elector 150 days before the primary election for the election cycle in which the person is a candidate. (Sec. 1)

3. Applies the governing board candidate partisan designation requirement to governing board elections held beginning January 1, 2026. (Sec. 3)

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

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                  SB 1441

Initials CH/LN    Page 0 Education

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