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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
presidential electors; presidential candidates; vacancy
Purpose
Requires presidential electors to cast electoral college votes for a successor candidate who is nominated by the party of the winning candidate in the event of a winning candidate for U.S. President or U.S. Vice President dying or withdrawing before the date that the presidential electors meet.
Background
After the Secretary of State (SOS) issues the statewide canvass containing the results of a presidential election, the presidential electors of the state must cast their electoral college votes for the candidate for U.S. President and the candidate for U.S. Vice President who jointly received the highest number of votes in the state as prescribed by statute. A presidential elector who knowingly refuses to cast the elector's electoral college vote is no longer eligible to hold the office of presidential elector and the office is deemed vacant. The chairperson of the state committee of the political party represented by the elector must appoint a person who is otherwise qualified to be a presidential elector. The replacement presidential elector must cast the elector's electoral college vote as outlined. The nomination and affidavit of qualification for the replacement presidential elector may be completed and filed with the SOS as soon as practicable after the elector's appointment (A.R.S. § 16-212).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
2. Specifies that a presidential elector who refuses to cast that elector's electoral college vote, rather than knowingly refuses, is no longer eligible to hold the office of presidential elector.
3. Deems a presidential elector's office vacant if the elector is not present to vote at the meeting of electors.
4. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
January 21, 2026
AN/TR/ci