The proposed bill would amend existing statutes regarding the rotation of political party candidates on ballots for general elections. Currently, the law requires that when there are two or more candidates for a nomination, their names must be alternated on the ballot, but if the number of candidates is equal to or fewer than the number of offices to be filled, their names are placed in alphabetical order. The bill would remove this alphabetical ordering requirement and instead mandate that starting in 2027, candidates from different political parties must be alternated on the ballot so that each party appears at the top, bottom, and in intermediate positions an equal number of times.

Additionally, the bill would make technical changes to the language of the statutes, including clarifying that the rotation requirement applies to all candidates, not just those of the same political party. It would also specify that through 2026, the order of parties on the ballot will be based on the number of votes cast for governor in the most recent election, while beginning in 2027, the parties will be alternated as described. Overall, these changes aim to enhance the fairness and visibility of candidates on ballots in Arizona elections.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 16-464, 16-465, 16-468, 16-502
House Engrossed Version: 16-464, 16-465, 16-468, 16-502