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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, First Regular Session
ballot order; names; parties; rotation
Purpose
Modifies, beginning in 2027, requirements for the rotation of political party candidates on the ballot for a general election.
Background
Statute requires the lists of political party candidates in a general election to be arranged in descending order according to the number of votes cast for Governor in that county in the most recent gubernatorial general election. In the case of political parties that did not have candidates on the ballot in the last general election, the parties must be listed in alphabetical order below the parties that did have a candidate on the ballot in the last general election. Candidates who are not registered with any political party must appear in single column below that of the recognized parties (A.R.S. § 16-502).
For primary elections, when there are two or more candidates for nomination, the names of all candidates must be so alternated on the ballots used in that election that the name of each candidate appears at the top, bottom and intermediate places of the list or group of parties a substantially equal number of times. This requirement does not apply to precinct committeemen (A.R.S. § 16-464).
If the number of candidates seeking office is fewer than or equal to the number of offices to the filled, the rotation of names on the ballot is not required and the names must be placed in alphabetical order (A.R.S. §§ 16-464; 16-465; 16-468; and 16-502).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires, beginning in 2027, the parties on the ballots used in each election precinct for a general election to be so alternated that each party appears at the top, bottom and intermediate places of the list or group of parties a substantially equal number of times.
2. Removes the requirement that candidate names only be placed on the ballot alphabetically when the number of candidates seeking office is fewer than or equal to the number of offices to be filled.
3. Makes technical changes.
4. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
FMAE 1/22/25 DP 7-0-0-0
3rd Read 2/4/25 59-0-1
Prepared by Senate Research
March 3, 2025
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