If enacted, this bill would amend current statutes regarding school district governing board elections by requiring that candidates' political party affiliations appear on the ballot. Currently, as per statute, the names of school district governing board candidates appear on the ballot without any partisan designation. The bill introduces new language that mandates the inclusion of each candidate's partisan designation alongside their name and the title of the office being sought. This change aims to provide voters with clearer information about the political affiliations of candidates. Additionally, the bill specifies that the partisan designation will reflect the political party of which the candidate is a qualified elector 150 days prior to the primary election. It also establishes that these amendments will apply to elections held on or after January 1, 2026, as indicated in the new provisions added to sections 15-422 and 16-502 of the Arizona Revised Statutes. Overall, the bill seeks to transition school district elections from a nonpartisan to a partisan format, aligning them more closely with other electoral processes.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 15-422, 16-502, 16-322, 16-314
Senate Engrossed Version: 15-422, 16-502, 16-322, 16-314