If enacted, this bill would amend several sections of the Arizona Revised Statutes related to the conduct of elections, specifically regarding the rotation of political party candidates on ballots. 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, the 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 intermediate positions a substantially equal number of times.

Additionally, the bill would modify the arrangement of political party names on the ballot. Under current law, parties are listed in descending order based on the number of votes cast for governor in the most recent election, but beginning in 2027, the bill would require that parties be alternated on the ballot in a manner similar to candidates, ensuring equal representation across the ballot. The bill also includes technical changes to clarify language and ensure consistency in the statutes.

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