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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, Second Regular Session
school districts; partisan elections
Purpose
Requires, beginning January 1, 2025, school district governing board (governing board) elections to be conducted using a partisan primary election followed by a general election.
Background
A regular election for a governing board is held at the time and place, and in the manner, of a general election. A governing board election not held concurrently with a general election must be called 180 days before the date of holding the election. Nominating petitions must be filed with the county school superintendent and be signed by a specified number of qualified electors in the school district. The county school superintendent may prepare separate ballots for the election, or include the candidate's names as part of the regular ballot. The name of each person whose petition has been filed must appear on a ballot and may not include partisan or other designation except the title of the office (A.R.S. §§ 15-422; 15-424 and 16-226).
Elections with partisan races on the ballot include elections held for: 1) presidential electors; 2) U.S. senator; 3) representatives in the U.S. Congress; 4) the several state offices; and 5) the several county and precinct offices. Elections with nonpartisan races on the ballot include elections held for: 1) Arizona Supreme Court justices; 2) Arizona Court of Appeals and superior court judges; and 3) school district officials (A.R.S. § 16-502).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires all elections for governing board members to be conducted using a partisan primary election followed by a general election in the form substantially similar to that used for countywide or statewide elections.
2. Applies the requirement to governing board elections held on or after January 1, 2025.
3. Makes technical and conforming changes.
4. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
January 22, 2024
MH/slp