superior court judges; petitions; addresses

HB4035 - 572R - I Ver

REFERENCE TITLE:
superior court judges; petitions; addresses

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

HB 4035

Introduced by

Representative
Bliss

AN
ACT

amending sections 16-311, 16-314, 16-333
and 16-344, Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to nominating procedures.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Section 16-311, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE
16-311.

Nomination papers; statement of interest; filing; definitions

A. Any person desiring to become a candidate at a
primary election for a political party and to have the person's name printed on
the official ballot shall be a qualified elector of the party and, not less
than one hundred twenty nor more than one hundred fifty days before the primary
election, shall sign and cause to be filed a nomination paper giving the
person's actual residence address or, if the person does not have an actual
residence address, a description of place of residence and post office address,
or, if the person's actual residence address is protected pursuant to section
16-153, a post office box or private mailbox address in the candidate's
district or precinct, as applicable for a district or precinct office, naming
the party of which the person desires to become a candidate, stating the office
and district or precinct, if any, for which the person offers the person's
candidacy, stating the exact manner in which the person desires to have the
person's name printed on the official ballot pursuant to subsection
G
H
of this section, and giving the
date of the primary election and, if nominated, the date of the general
election at which the person desires to become a candidate.� Except for a
candidate for United States senator or representative in Congress, a candidate
for public office shall be a qualified elector at the time of filing and shall
reside in the county, district or precinct that the person proposes to
represent.� A candidate for partisan public office shall be continuously
registered with the political party of which the person desires to be a
candidate beginning
no
not
later
than the date of the first petition signature on the candidate's petition
through the date of the general election at which the person is a candidate.

B. Any person desiring to become a candidate at any
nonpartisan election and to have the person's name printed on the official
ballot shall be at the time of filing a qualified elector of the county, city,
town or district and, not less than one hundred twenty nor more than one
hundred fifty days before the election, shall sign and cause to be filed a
nomination paper giving the person's actual residence address or, if the person
does not have an actual residence address, a description of place of residence
and post office address, or, if the person's actual residence address is
protected pursuant to section 16-153, a post office box or private
mailbox address in the candidate's county, city, town or district and ward or
precinct, as applicable for a county, city, town or district and ward or
precinct office, stating the office and county, city, town or district and ward
or precinct, if any, for which the person offers the person's candidacy,
stating the exact manner in which the person desires to have the person's name
printed on the official ballot pursuant to subsection
G
�H
of this section and giving the date of the
election. A candidate for office shall reside at the time of filing
in the county, city, town, district, ward or precinct that the person proposes
to represent.

C. Notwithstanding subsection B of this section, any
city or town may adopt by ordinance for its elections the time frame provided
in subsection A of this section for filing nomination petitions. The
ordinance shall be adopted not less than one hundred fifty days before the
first election to which it applies.

D. All persons desiring to become a candidate shall
file with the nomination paper provided for in subsection A of this section a
declaration, which shall be printed in a form prescribed by the secretary of
state. The declaration shall include facts sufficient to show that,
other than the residency requirement provided in subsection A of this section
and the satisfaction of any monetary penalties, fines or judgments as
prescribed in subsection
J
K

of this section, the candidate will be qualified at the time of election to
hold the office the person seeks, and that for any monetary penalties, fines or
judgments as prescribed in subsection
J
K
of this section, the candidate has made complete payment
before the time of filing.

E. The nomination paper of a candidate for the
office of United States senator or representative in Congress, for the office
of presidential elector or for a state office, including a member of the
legislature, or for any other office for which the electors of the entire state
or a subdivision of the state greater than a county are entitled to vote, shall
be filed with the secretary of state
no
not

later than 5:00 p.m. on the last date for filing.

F. The nomination paper of a candidate for superior
court judge or for a county, district and precinct office for which the
electors of a county or a subdivision of a county other than an incorporated
city or town are entitled to vote shall be filed with the county elections
officer
no
not
later than 5:00 p.m.
on the last date for filing as prescribed by subsection A of this
section. The nomination paper of a candidate for a city or town
office shall be filed with the city or town clerk
no
not
later than 5:00 p.m. on the last date for
filing. The nomination paper of a candidate for school district
office shall be filed with the county school superintendent
no
not
later than 5:00 p.m. on the last date for filing.

G. ON THE FILING OF THE DECLARATION
PRESCRIBED BY SUBSECTION D OF THIS SECTION AND THE STATEMENT OF INTEREST
PRESCRIBED BY SUBSECTION I OF THIS SECTION BY A CANDIDATE FOR SUPERIOR COURT
JUDGE WHO IS AN INCUMBENT AND WHO HAS PROVIDED A RESIDENCE ADDRESS wITHIN THE
COUNTY, THE FOLLOWING APPLY:

1. THE FILING OFFICER SHALL SEAL THE
STATEMENT OF INTEREST FROM PUBLIC DISCLOSURE AND THE INCUMBENT CANDIDATE IS
PRESUMED TO BE A RESIDENT OF THE COUNTY.

2. IN ANY CHALLENGE TO THE
QUALIFICATIONS OF THE INCUMBENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 16-351, THE CHALLENGER
SHALL DEMONSTRATE GOOD CAUSE TO BELIEVE THAT THE INCUMBENT IS NOT A RESIDENT OF
THE COUNTY BEFORE THE FILING OFFICER MAY DISCLOSE THE STATEMENT OF INTEREST.

G.

H.
The
nomination paper shall include the exact manner in which the candidate desires
to have the person's name printed on the official ballot and shall be limited
to the candidate's surname and given name or names, an abbreviated version of
such names or appropriate initials such as "Bob" for
"Robert", "Jim" for "James", "Wm." for
"William" or "S." for "Samuel".� Nicknames are
permissible, but nicknames, abbreviated versions or initials of given names may
not suggest reference to professional, fraternal, religious or military titles
and may not include a slogan, a promotional word or phrase or any word that
does not actually constitute a nickname. No other descriptive name
or names shall be printed on the official ballot, except as provided in this
section. Candidates' abbreviated names or nicknames may be printed
within quotation marks.� The candidate's surname shall be printed first,
followed by the given name or names.

H.

I.
Not
later than the date of the first petition signature on a nomination petition, a
person who may be a candidate for office pursuant to this section shall file a
statement of interest with the appropriate filing officer for that office. The
statement of interest shall contain the name of the person, the political
party, if any, and the name of the office that may be sought. Any nomination
petition signatures collected before the date the statement of interest is
filed are invalid and subject to challenge.� This subsection does not apply to:

1. Candidates for elected office for special taxing
districts that are established pursuant to title 48.

2. Candidates for precinct committeeman.

3. Candidates for president or vice president of the
United States.

I.

J.
A
person who does not file a timely nomination paper that complies with this
section is not eligible to have the person's name printed on the official
ballot for that office.� The filing officer shall not accept the nomination
paper of a candidate for state or local office unless the person provides or
has provided all of the following:

1. The financial disclosure statement as prescribed
for candidates for that office.

2. The declaration of qualification and eligibility
as prescribed in subsection D of this section.

J.

K.
Except
in cases where the liability is being appealed, the filing officer shall not
accept the nomination paper of a candidate for state or local office if the
person is liable for an aggregation of $1,000 or more in fines, penalties, late
fees or administrative or civil judgments, including any interest or costs, in
any combination, that have not been fully satisfied at the time of the
attempted filing of the nomination paper and the liability arose from failure
to comply with or enforcement of chapter 6 of this title.

L. For the purposes of subsection G
of this section, "iNCUMBENT" MEANS A JUDGE OF THE SUPERIOR COURT WHO
HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN ELECTED TO THAT OFFICE AS PRESCRIBED BY THIS CHAPTER, who
HAS HELD THAT OFFICE CONTINUOUSLY SINCE ELECTION AND who IS SEEKING REELECTION
TO THAT SAME OFFICE.

K.

M.
For
the purposes of this title:

1. "Election district" means this state,
any county, city, town, precinct or other political subdivision or a special
district that is not a political subdivision, that is authorized by statute to
conduct an election and that is authorized or required to conduct its election
in accordance with this title.

2. "Nomination paper" means the form filed
with the appropriate office by a person wishing to declare the person's intent
to become a candidate for a particular political office.
END_STATUTE

Sec. 2. Section 16-314, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE
16-314.

Filing and form of nomination petitions; definition

A. Any person
desiring
who desires
to become a candidate at any election and to have
the person's name printed on the official ballot shall file, not less than one
hundred twenty nor more than one hundred fifty days before the primary election
and with the same officer as provided by section 16-311, a nomination
petition in addition to the nomination paper required.

C.
B.
Nomination
petitions shall be captioned "partisan nomination petition" or
"nonpartisan nomination petition", followed by the language of the
petition in substantially the following form, except that if the candidate does
not have an actual residence address, the candidate may use a description of
place of residence and post office address, or, if the candidate's actual
residence address is protected pursuant to section 16-153, a post office
box or private mailbox address in the candidate's political division or
district from which the nomination is sought is sufficient:

Partisan Nomination
Petition

I, the undersigned, a qualified elector of the county of
______________, state of Arizona, and of (here name political division or
district from which the nomination is sought) and a member of the
_______________ party or a person who is registered as no party preference or
independent as the party preference or who is registered with a political party
that is not qualified for representation on the ballot, hereby nominate
___________ who resides at _____________ in the county of ____________ for the
party nomination for the office of _______________ to be voted at the primary
election to be held _______________ as representing the principles of such
party, and I hereby declare that I am qualified to vote for this office and
that I have not signed, and will not sign, any nomination petition for more
persons than the number of candidates necessary to fill such office at the next
ensuing election. I further declare that if I choose to use a post
office box address on this petition, my residence address has not changed since
I last reported it to the county recorder for purposes of updating my voter
registration file.

Nonpartisan Nomination
Petition

I, the undersigned, a qualified elector of the county of
_______________, state of Arizona, and of (here name political division or
district from which the nomination is sought) hereby nominate _______________
who resides at _______________ in the county of _______________ for the office
of ______________ to be voted at the _______________ election to be held
_______________, and hereby declare that I am qualified to vote for this office
and that I have not signed and will not sign any nomination petitions for more
persons than the number of candidates necessary to fill such office at the next
ensuing election.� I further declare that if I choose to use a post office box
address on this petition, my residence address has not changed since I last
reported it to the county recorder for purposes of updating my voter
registration file.

D.
C.
The
nomination petition of a person seeking to fill an unexpired vacant term for
any public office shall designate the expiration date of the term following the
name of the office being sought.

D. A CANDIDATE FOR SUPERIOR COURT
JUDGE WHO IS AN INCUMBENT MAY USE THE CANDIDATE'S DUTY POST ADDRESS IN PLACE OF
THE CANDIDATE'S RESIDENCE ADDRESS ON THE NOMINATION PETITION AND SHALL INFORM
EACH QUALIFIED ELECTOR WHO SIGNS THE PETITION THAT THE CANDIDATE HAS LISTED A
DUTY POST ADDRESS IN PLACE OF THE CANDIDATE'S RESIDENCE ADDRESS.� FOR the
PURPOSES OF THIS subSECTION, "INCUMBENT" MEANS A JUDGE OF THE
SUPERIOR COURT WHO HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN ELECTED TO THAT OFFICE AS PRESCRIBED BY
THIS CHAPTER, who HAS HELD THAT OFFICE CONTINUOUSLY SINCE ELECTION AND who IS
SEEKING REELECTION TO THAT SAME OFFICE.

B.
E.
For
the purposes of this title, "nomination petition" means the form or
forms used for obtaining the required number of signatures of qualified
electors, which is circulated by or on behalf of the person wishing to become a
candidate for a political office.
END_STATUTE

Sec. 3. Section 16-333, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE
16-333.

Preparation and filing of nominating petition for certain
judicial offices; exception;� definition

A.
Any nominating petition for
a candidate for judge of the superior court, judge of the court of appeals or
justice of the supreme court to be voted on at any election shall be prepared
and filed in accordance with
the provisions of
this
chapter. Any petition filed by a candidate for any such court
which
that
does not comply with
the provisions of
this chapter shall have no force or effect at
any such election.

B. THIS SECTION AND SECTION 16-314 DO
NOT APPLY TO A CANDIDATE FOR JUDGE OF THE SUPERIOR COURT IF THE CANDIDATE FOR
JUDGE OF THE SUPERIOR COURT MEETS ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:

1. THE CANDIDATE IS THE INCUMBENT.

2. THE CANDIDATE HAS COMPLIED WITH
SUBSECTION A OF THIS SECTION IN A PREVIOUS ELECTION.

3. THE CANDIDATE HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY
ELECTED TO THAT OFFICE UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THIS CHAPTER.

4. NO OTHER CANDIDATE FOR JUDGE OF
THE SUPERIOR COURT HAS FILED A STATEMENT OF INTEREST PURSUANT TO SECTION 16-311
AT LEAST ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DAYS PRIOR TO THE FIRST DATE AT WHICH THE
NOMINATING PETITIONS MAY BE FILED UNDER SECTION 16-314.

C. FOR the PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION,
"INCUMBENT" MEANS A JUDGE OF THE SUPERIOR COURT WHO HAS PREVIOUSLY
BEEN ELECTED TO THAT OFFICE AS PRESCRIBED BY THIS CHAPTER, HAS HELD THAT OFFICE
CONTINUOUSLY SINCE ELECTION AND IS SEEKING REELECTION TO THAT SAME OFFICE.
END_STATUTE

Sec. 4. Section 16-344, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE
16-344.

Office of presidential elector; appointment by state committee
chairman

A. The chairman of the state committee of a
political party that is qualified for representation on an official party
ballot at the primary election and accorded a column on the general election
ballot shall appoint candidates for the office of presidential elector equal to
the number of United States senators and representatives in Congress from this
state and shall file for each candidate with the secretary of state, not more
than ten days after the primary election, by 5:00 p.m. on the last day for filing:

1. A nomination paper giving the candidate's actual
residence address or, if the person does not have an actual residence address,
a description of place of residence and post office address, or, if the
person's actual residence address is protected pursuant to section 16-153,
a post office box or private mailbox address, naming the party of which the
candidate desires to become a candidate, stating his candidacy for the office
of presidential elector, stating the exact manner in which the candidate desires
to have his name printed on the official ballot pursuant to section 16-311,
subsection
G
H
, and stating
the date of the general election at which he desires to become a candidate.

2. An affidavit including facts sufficient to show
that the candidate resides in this state and will be qualified at the time of
the election to hold the office of presidential elector.

B. The nomination paper and affidavit of
qualification pursuant to subsection A of this section shall be printed in a
form prescribed by the secretary of state.
END_STATUTE