ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Phoenix, Arizona
referendum; required signatures
Allows municipalities to utilize the whole number of qualified electors on the date of the last preceding municipal election as an alternative basis for computing the number of necessary signatures required to file a referendum petition.
Presently, the number of votes cast at the last preceding municipal election at which a mayor or councilman was chosen are the basis on which the required number of electors of the municipality to file a referendum petition is calculated. This legislation essentially allows municipalities to use the total number of registered voters for any most recent election as a basis for determining petition signature requirements as opposed to the total number of votes cast at the most recent election of a mayor or councilman.
This legislation has no direct fiscal impact to the state general fund.
1. Allows municipalities to utilize the whole number of qualified electors on the date of the last preceding municipal election as an alternative basis for computing the number of necessary signatures required to file a referendum petition.
2. Clarifies that changes made by a municipality to the laws or procedures governing initiative and referendum petitions that occur after an initiative or referendum petition is filed do not apply to that petition.
3. Provides for a general effective date.
JUD 2/20/01 DPA 5-0-5-0-0
3rd Read 3/08/01 46-13-1-0
Prepared by Senate Staff
March 29, 2001