This bill proposes significant updates to the current statutes regarding the appointment of presidential electors in Arizona. Under the current law, presidential electors are elected on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November and are required to cast their electoral college votes for the candidates who received the highest number of votes in the state as prescribed in the statewide canvass. The bill would amend this process by stipulating that electors shall be appointed by popular vote and would require them to cast their votes for the candidates nominated by the political party that nominated them, or for candidates who qualify for the ballot under specific conditions. Additionally, the bill introduces a new section that outlines the procedures for appointing electors based on a national popular vote agreement, including the determination of the national popular vote total and the designation of the national popular vote winner.

Furthermore, the bill establishes a new chapter in the Arizona Revised Statutes that formalizes the agreement among states to elect the president by national popular vote. This chapter includes provisions for membership, the rights of voters in member states, and the manner of appointing presidential electors. It specifies that each member state must conduct a statewide popular election for president and vice president, and it outlines the responsibilities of the chief election officials in determining and certifying the national popular vote totals. The bill also includes definitions for key terms and establishes that the agreement will take effect when a majority of states with electoral votes enact it. Overall, these changes aim to align Arizona's electoral process with a national popular vote framework.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 16-212, 16-341, 16-344, 16-1201