ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Fifty-seventh Legislature First Regular Session
	House: FMAE DP 4-2-1-0 | 3^rd Read: 33-25-2-0 Senate: JUDE DP 5-2-0-0 | 3^rd Read: 18-12-0-0 Final Read: 41-16-3-0 |Chapter: 147

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HB 2391: JPs; constables; signatures

Sponsor: Representative Carter N, LD 15

Signed by the Governor

Overview

Alters the number of signatures a candidate for justice of the peace or constable must collect.

History

A nomination paper is a form filed with the appropriate office by a person, declaring their intent to become a candidate for a particular political office.  The requirement for the number of qualified signatures a candidate must collect differs based on the office they are running for.  A qualified signer is a qualified elector who is: 1) a registered member of the political party from which the candidate is seeking nomination; 2) a member of a party not entitled to continued representation; or 3) registered as an independent (A.R.S. §§ 16-311, 16-321).

Only certain candidates can collect their nomination petition signatures through E-QUAL, a secure internet portal maintained by the Secretary of State, including candidates for statewide and federal legislative offices, judicial offices requiring a nomination petition, municipal offices, county offices, office of the clerk of the superior court and precinct committeemen (A.R.S. §§ 16-316, 16-317, 16-318, 16-319, SOS Website).

Provisions

1. Requires a candidate for justice of the peace or constable, in a county with a population of 1,000,000 persons or more, to collect at least 1% but not more than 10% of the number of qualified signers in their precinct. (Sec. 1)

2. Specifies that in a county with a population less than 1,000,000 persons, a candidate for justice of the peace or constable must collect at least 1% but not more than 10% of the number of qualified signers in their precinct or 300 signatures, whichever is less. (Sec. 1)

3. Makes conforming changes. (Sec. 1)

4. Requires, in a county with a population of less than 1,000,000 persons, the filing officer for candidates of county offices to:

a) Publish the revised signature requirements for candidates for justice of the peace and constable for 2026; and

b) Provide notice of the revised signature requirements to all candidates who file a statement of interest for justice of the peace or constable and all persons requesting a candidate information packet for these offices. (Sec. 2)

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                        HB 2391

Initials JH/SR           Page 0 Signed by the Governor

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