ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Phoenix, Arizona
election law
amendments
Allows election officers to provide required sample ballots in an alternative format to voters who are not registered with a party entitled to continued representation on the ballot. Requires candidates and political committees to forward early ballot requests within 10 business days of receipt to the entity conducting the elections and within 96 hours (excluding weekends and holidays) if received within 33 days of the election.
Election officers, at least 45 days prior to primary elections, are required to prepare a proof of a sample ballot, submit the sample ballot proof to county political party chairpersons and mail the sample ballot proof to each candidate on the ballot. After the sample ballot has been finalized, the board of supervisors are required to mail a sample ballot of each political party to each household containing a registered voter of that party at least 11 days prior to the election. If a registered voter is not registered with a party that continues to be represented on the ballot, a sample ballot from each continuing political party must be sent.
Candidates and political committee are allowed to distribute early ballot request forms to voters. Presently, candidates and political committees are required to transmit any received early ballot request forms to the political subdivision conducting the election as soon as practicable; this legislation establishes a specific period by which such request must be transmitted.
This legislation has no fiscal impact to the state general fund.
1. Stipulates that the greatest portion of assessed valuation, rather than area, of property in a special district determines which county must run special district formation elections and must be notified of the purpose of special district elections.
2. Requires special district governing bodies to notify the officer in charge of county elections, in addition to the board of supervisors, of the purpose of special district elections.
3. Clarifies that an actual address or description of place of residence must be provided by individuals filing for candidacy and alters signature portion of petitions to reflect this clarification.
4. Clarifies that prohibitions on candidates who didn’t win the primary election or failed to provide a sufficient number of signatures for the preceding primary from filing for elections applies only to general elections and that candidates who fail to obtain a sufficient number of signatures for a primary election cannot file in that primary election.
5. Allows election officers to provide required sample ballots in an alternative format to voters who are not registered with a party entitled to continued representation on the ballot.
6. Requires candidates and political committees to forward early ballot requests within 10 business days of receipt to the entity conducting the elections and within 96 hours (excluding weekends and holidays) if received within 33 days of the election.
7. Allows early ballot tallies to be released before all precincts have reported or one hour after the close of polls, whichever occurs first.
8. Requires election officials to confirm with the Secretary of State that election equipment passes the logic and accuracy test prior to counting early ballots.
9. Requires governing bodies of fire districts, community park districts and sanitary districts to send its order changing the boundaries of the district to the officer in charge of elections.
10. Makes technical changes.
11. Provides for a general effective date.
JUD 1/23/01 DP 10-0-0-0-0
3rd Read 2/13/01 57-0-3-0
Prepared by Senate Staff
March 29, 2001