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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, Second Regular Session
AMENDED
school districts; partisan elections
Purpose
Requires, beginning January 1, 2025, school district governing board (governing board) election ballots to include each candidate's partisan designation as specified.
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 a governing board election ballot to include each candidate's partisan designation and the title of office being sought.
2. Requires the partisan designation to be the political party of which the candidate is a qualified elector 120 days before the day of the primary election for the election cycle in which the individual is a candidate.
3. Applies the requirement to governing board elections held on or after January 1, 2025.
4. Makes technical and conforming changes.
5. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by Committee of the Whole
1. Removes the requirement to conduct a governing board partisan primary election.
2. Requires the partisan designation to be the political party of which the candidate is a qualified elector 120 days before the day of the primary election for the election cycle in which the individual is a candidate.
3. Reinstates the requirement that nomination petitions for governing board elections be filed with the county school superintendent as prescribed by statute.
4. Makes conforming changes.
Senate Action
ED 1/24/24 DP 4-3-0
Prepared by Senate Research
February 15, 2024
MH/slp