Signed by Governor Doug Ducey

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends state ballot initiative requirements regarding signature collection.

Highlights:

• Requires a person who may be a candidate for office to file a statement of interest with the appropriate filing officer for that office. The statement shall contain the name of the person, the political party, if any, and the name of the office that may be sought (Sec. 1). 

• Specifies that any nomination petition signatures collected before the statement of interest is filed are invalid unless the candidate is running in a special taxing district, for the office of precinct committeeman, or for president or vice president of the United States (Sec. 1). 

• Requires a circulator registration application be completed by all nonresident circulators (Sec. 3). 

• Requires the circulator registration application to contain the following (Sec. 3):

• The circulator’s full name, residence address, telephone number, and email address;

• The initiative or referendum petition on which the circulator will gather signatures;

• A statement of the circulator’s consent to the jurisdiction of the courts in resolving any circulation-related disputes;

• The address of the committee in the state for which the circulator is gathering signatures; and

• An affidavit from the registered circulator that is signed by the circulator before a notary public.

• Requires the Secretary of State to register and assign a circulator registration number to the circulator within 5 business days after submission and review of a complete and correct circulator registration application (Sec. 3). 

• Prohibits a person from registering as a circulator if the person (Sec. 3): 

• Has had a civil or criminal penalty imposed for a violation of title 16 preceding 5 years;

• Has been convicted of treason or a felony and has not been restored to civil rights; or

• Has been convicted of any criminal offense involving fraud, forgery, or identity theft.

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends state ballot initiative requirements regarding signature collection.

Highlights:

• Requires a person who may be a candidate for office to file a statement of interest with the appropriate filing officer for that office. The statement shall contain the name of the person, the political party, if any, and the name of the office that may be sought (Sec. 1). 

• Specifies that any nomination petition signatures collected before the statement of interest is filed are invalid unless the candidate is running in a special taxing district, for the office of precinct committeeman, or for president or vice president of the United States (Sec. 1). 

• Requires a circulator registration application be completed by all nonresident circulators (Sec. 3). 

• Requires the circulator registration application to contain the following (Sec. 3):

• The circulator’s full name, residence address, telephone number, and email address;

• The initiative or referendum petition on which the circulator will gather signatures;

• A statement of the circulator’s consent to the jurisdiction of the courts in resolving any circulation-related disputes;

• The address of the committee in the state for which the circulator is gathering signatures; and

• An affidavit from the registered circulator that is signed by the circulator before a notary public.

• Requires the Secretary of State to register and assign a circulator registration number to the circulator within 5 business days after submission and review of a complete and correct circulator registration application (Sec. 3). 

• Prohibits a person from registering as a circulator if the person (Sec. 3): 

• Has had a civil or criminal penalty imposed for a violation of title 16 preceding 5 years;

• Has been convicted of treason or a felony and has not been restored to civil rights; or

• Has been convicted of any criminal offense involving fraud, forgery, or identity theft.

Full Bill Text