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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 the ballot signature cure deadline for elections that include a federal office. Expands the types of voting 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, 3)
2. Modifies, for elections that include a federal office, the deadline to cure missing or mismatched ballot signatures to no later than five calendar days after the election. (Sec. 4)
3. Allows the county chairman of each party, for each ballot replacement location, to designate by written appointment a party representative and alternates to serve as observers. (Sec. 5)
4. Specifies that such a party representative must be a resident of Arizona and registered to vote in Arizona. (Sec. 5)
5. Broadens the types of voting locations for which a county chairman may designate either a party agent or a party representative, together with the alternates for that designee, to act as challengers for the party. (Sec. 6)
6. Allows, as session law, nomination and local initiative petition forms circulated before the effective date of this act that list the former primary election date to remain valid for the July primary election. (Sec. 7)
7. Contains an emergency clause. (Sec. 8)
8. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 6)
Amendments
Committee on Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections
1. Modifies the ballot signature curing deadline for general elections that include a federal office to within six calendar days after the election.
2. Moves the ballot signature curing deadline for any elections other than general elections that include a federal office to within five calendar days after the election, rather than business days.
3. Clarifies, as session law, that nomination paper forms and electronic petitions with the former primary date of August 4, 2026, are valid and may be lawfully submitted for the 2026 primary election to be held July 28, 2026.
4. Prohibits, as session law, lawfully collected signatures that have the newly designated primary election date from being ruled invalid due solely to the changed primary date or any clerical error by election officials.
5. States, as session law, that the act does not require a person to file a new or amended statement of interest based on the change in the 2026 primary election date.
6. Requires, as session law, that any item duly called by a municipality or county for the August 4, 2026 primary election date must be placed on the ballot for the newly designated primary election date of July 28, 2026.
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10. Initials GG HB 2022
11. 1/21/2026 Page 0 Caucus & COW
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