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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, First Regular Session
school elections; county administration; recorder
Purpose
Effective January 1, 2026, requires school elections to be conducted by the county recorder and county officer in charge of elections in the same manner as prescribed for county elections.
Background
A school district governing board election is held at the time and place, and in the same manner as a general election. A school district governing board may, and upon petition of 15 percent of the qualified electors, must call an election to: 1) locate or change the location of school buildings; 2) purchase or sell school sites or buildings, or to construct school buildings; 3) decide whether bonds may be issued or sold for outlined purposes; 4) lease school buildings or grounds for more than 20 years; or 5) change the list of purpose of capital projects previously authorized by voter approval to issue bonds. Elections held by a school district as outlined must be held on the same consolidated election dates prescribed for other county elections, except that bond elections that may require the assessment of secondary taxes must be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November (A.R.S. §§ 15-424; 15-491; and 16-204).
The county school superintendent (superintendent) must contract with the county board of supervisors (county BOS) to conduct all regular school district elections and is responsible for all special school district elections, in cooperation with the governing board and county BOS. For a school district or community college district election, the superintendent must administer the election by appointing poll workers to each election precinct and conducting the tally and canvass with the county BOS in the same manner as a general election. The superintendent is also the designated filing officer for nominating petitions pertaining to school district and community college district board elections. The superintendent may prepare separate ballots for a governing board election, or include the candidate's names as part of the regular ballot (A.R.S. §§ 15-302; 15-422; and 15-426).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires the county recorder, for all school elections, to assume and maintain the voter registration rolls.
2. Requires the county recorder and the county officer in charge of elections to conduct school elections in the same manner as prescribed for county elections.
3. Requires the county officer in charge of elections to be the filing officer for all school elections.
4. Requires the Legislative Council Staff to prepare proposed legislation conforming the Arizona Revised Statutes for consideration in the Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session.
5. Makes technical and conforming changes.
6. Becomes effective on January 1, 2026.
House Action
FMAE 2/5/25 DP 7-0-0-0
3rd Read 2/13/25 54-0-6
Prepared by Senate Research
March 3, 2025
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