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ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session |
House: FMAE DPA 5-2-0-0 |
HB 2022: elections; July primary; curing; observers
Sponsor: Representative Kolodin, LD 3
Caucus & COW
Overview
An emergency measure that changes the primary election date to the last Tuesday in July. Changes, for elections that include a federal office, the ballot signature cure deadline to five calendar days. Expands the locations at which party representatives may observe and challenge. Allows nomination and local initiative petition forms circulated with the former August primary election date to remain valid for the July primary election.
History
Currently, political subdivisions in Arizona that conduct both a primary election and a general election may only hold candidate elections during even-numbered years and on the following dates:
1) beginning in 2020 and later, the first Tuesday in August for the primary election; and
2) the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November for the general election.
Political subdivisions that conduct only a single candidate election may hold that election on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Special and recall elections may be held on these same dates and, in addition, on the second Tuesday in March and the third Tuesday in May of an even-numbered year. As currently enacted, the next primary election for many political subdivisions is scheduled for August 4, 2026 (A.R.S. § 16-204).
The county chairman of each political party may designate, for each precinct, party representatives and alternates to observe and act as challengers only at polling places located within the precinct (A.R.S. § 16-590).
Provisions
1. Changes the primary election date from the first Tuesday in August to the last Tuesday in July. (Sec. 1, 2 and 3)
2. Modifies, for elections that include a federal office, the deadline to cure missing or mismatched ballot signatures from 5 business days to 5 calendar days. (Sec. 4)
3. Broadens the location types that may be observed and challenged by party representatives and alternates to include ballot replacement locations, voting centers, in-person early voting locations and emergency voting locations (Sec. 5 and 6)
4. Allows, as session law, nomination and local initiative petition forms circulated before the effective date of this act that list the former August 4, 2026 primary election date to remain valid for the July 28, 2026 primary election. (Sec. 7)
5. Contains an emergency clause. (Sec. 8)
6. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 4 and 6)
Amendments
Committee on Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections
1. Changes from ten to six calendar days after a general election and from five business to five calendar days after a federal office election, that an elector's new residence may be validated. (Sec. 1)
2. Allows electronic petitions submitted with the former primary election date to remain valid. (Sec. 8)
3. Prohibits clerical errors to invalidate any petitions for the 2026 primary election. (Sec. 8)
4. Permits city, town or county initiative petitions circulated on or after the effective date with the former 2026 primary election date to remain valid, in addition to those circulated before the effective date. (Sec. 8)
5. Allows statements of interest submitted with the former primary election date to remain valid. (Sec. 8)
6. Requires any election item duly called by a city, town or county for the former primary election date, to be placed on the ballot for the newly designated primary election date of July 28, 2026. (Sec. 9)
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10. HB 2022
11. Initials GK/AI Page 0 Caucus & COW
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