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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, First Regular Session
JPs; constables; signatures
Purpose
Requires a nomination petition for a candidate for justice of the peace or constable, in a county with a population of fewer than 1,000,000 persons, to receive either 300 signatures or at least one percent of the number of qualified signers in the precinct, rather than requiring the candidates to receive at least one percent of qualified signers in the precinct.
Background
Statute requires nomination petitions to be signed by a
number of qualified signers equal to a prescribed percentage of the population
of qualified signers within a county, district or precinct, or a predetermined
number of signatures, based on the office the candidate seeks as follows: 1) a
candidate for the office of member of the Legislature requires at least
one-half of one percent but not more than three percent; 2) a candidate for a
county office or superior court judge requires at least one percent but not
more than ten percent, except that if for a candidate from a county with a
population of 200,000 persons or more, at least one-fourth of one percent but
not more than ten percent; 3) a candidate for county precinct committeeman,
requires at least two percent but not more than ten percent of the party voter
registration in the precinct or ten signatures, whichever is less; and 4) a
candidate for justice of the peace or constable requires at least one percent
but not more than ten percent of the number of qualified signers in the
precinct (A.R.S.
§ 16-322) .
Qualified signer means any of the following: 1) a qualified elector who is a registered member of the party from which the candidate is seeking nomination; 2) a qualified elector who is a registered member of a political party that is not entitled to continued representation on the ballot; or 3) a qualified elector who is registered as independent or no party preferred. A qualified elector is a person who is qualified to register to vote and who is properly registered to vote, if the person is at least 18 years of age on or before the date of the election and has provided satisfactory evidence of citizenship (A.R.S. § 16-121 and 16-321).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires a nomination petition for a candidate for justice of the peace or constable, in a county with a population of fewer than 1,000,000 persons, to be signed by at least 1 percent but not more than 10 percent of the number of qualified signers in the precinct, or 300 signatures, whichever is less.
2. Specifies that a candidate for justice of the peace or constable in a county with a population of 1,000,000 persons or more must still have a nomination petition signed by at least 1 percent but not more than 10 percent of the number of qualified signers in the precinct.
3. Makes conforming changes.
4. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
FMAE 2/23/25 DP 4-2-1-0
3rd Read 2/20/25 33-25-2
Prepared by Senate Research
March 3, 2025
ZD/AW/ci