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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, Second Regular Session
candidates; electronic signatures; limit
Purpose
Allows outlined candidates to collect up to 125 percent of the number of required nomination petition signatures by using the online signature collection system (online system). Contains requirements for enactment for initiatives and referendums (Proposition 105).
Background
Statute outlines
requirements relating to the nomination of candidates on the official ballot of
a general or special election. A person who wishes to become a candidate at a
primary election for a political party or a candidate at any nonpartisan
election must file a nomination paper that includes a minimum number of
required nomination petition signatures. Statute prescribes the minimum number
of signatures that a nomination petition must include as follows: 1) at least
one
-fourth of the qualified signers in the state, for the office of U.S. senator
or a state office excluding members of the Legislature; 2) at least one-half of
one percent of the qualified signers in the district, for the office of U.S.
Representative; 3) at least one-half of one percent of all the qualified
signers in the district, for the office of Arizona senator or representative;
4) at least one percent of the qualified signers in the county or district, for
a county office or superior court judge; 5) at least two percent or 10
qualified signatures of the same party in the precinct, for a county precinct
committee; and 6) at least five percent of the qualified signers in the city or
town, for a city or town office. The Secretary of State must provide a system
for the qualified signers to sign the nomination petition for candidates for a
congressional office, legislative office, city or town office, county office
and the office of the precinct committeeman through a secure internet portal.
The online system must allow only the qualified electors who are eligible to
sign a petition for a particular candidate to sign the petition and provide a
method to verify the elector's identity. A candidate may collect up to the
minimum number of required nomination petition signatures through the online
system (A.R.S.
Title 16, Chapter 3).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Increases from, 100 to 125, the percentage of the number of required nomination petition signatures a candidate may collect using the online system, including a candidate for:
a) U.S. Congress;
b) city office;
c) town office;
d) county office; or
e) precinct committeeman office.
2. Increases the number of required nomination petition signatures or contribution qualification forms that a candidate for legislative or state office may collect using the online system, from 100 percent to 125 percent of the minimum number of required signatures, subject to the affirmative vote of at least three-fourths of the members of each house of the Legislature (Proposition 105).
3. Makes technical changes.
4. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 8, 2024
AN/HS/cs