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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
AMENDED
legislature; district residency
Purpose
Subject to voter approval, constitutionally requires a member of the Legislature to be a resident of the district, rather than the county and a member of the political party from which the member is elected for at least one year before the election.
Background
The Arizona Constitution prescribes qualifications for a member of the Legislature by requiring that a member: 1) is a citizen of the United States at the time of the election; 2) is at least 25 years old; 3) has been a resident of Arizona for at least three years; and 4) has been a resident of the county from which the member is elected for at least one year before the election (Ariz. Const. art. 4, pt. 2 § 2).
Any person desiring to become a candidate at a primary election for a political party and to have the person's name printed on the official ballot must be a qualified elector of the party and file a nomination paper with: 1) the person's actual residence address; 2) a description place of residence and post office address, if the person does not have an actual residence address; or 3) a post office box or private mailbox address in the candidate's district or precinct, if the person's actual residence address is protected. The filing of the nomination paper must be filed between 120 and 150 days before a primary election. A candidate for public office must be a qualified elector at the time of filing and must reside in the county, district or precinct that the person proposes to represent (A.R.S. § 16-311).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires a member of the Legislature to be a resident of the district, rather than the county, from which the member is elected for at least one year before the election.
2. Requires a member of the Legislature to be a member of the political party from which the member is elected for at least one year before the election.
3. Requires the Secretary of State to submit the proposition to the voters at the next general election.
4. Becomes effective if approved by the voters and on proclamation of the Governor.
Amendments Adopted by Committee of the Whole
· Requires a member of the Legislature to be a member of the political party from which the member is elected for at least one year before the election.
Senate Action
GOV 2/11/26 DP 7-0-1
Prepared by Senate Research
February 26, 2026
AN/KP/ci