ARIZONA STATE SENATE
RESEARCH STAFF
TO: MEMBERS OF THE SENATE
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
DATE: March 22, 2022
SUBJECT: Strike everything amendment to H.B. 2540, relating to legislative district
committees; political parties
Purpose
Specifies that a political party entitled to representation on the ballot, notwithstanding any
provision in a political party's bylaws, may establish a district party committee for any legislative
district in a county with a population of more than 400,000 persons.
Background
A political party that is entitled to representation on the ballot may establish a district party
committee for any legislative district as prescribed by law. A district party committee must consist
of the precinct committeemen elected and residing in the district. If the boundaries of any district
are changed because of legal action, each district party committee in that district must meet and
organize according to the boundaries that result from the legal action. On organization, all prior
district organizations are dissolved (A.R.S. § 16-823).
A political party is entitled to representation on the ballot by filing a petition with the
Secretary of State signed by a number of qualified electors equal to at least one and one-third
percent of the total votes cast for Governor at the last general election electing a Governor. From
this number, at least five different counties must be included as the county of registration among
the required total of qualified electors and at least 10 percent of the required total of qualified
electors must be registered in counties with populations of fewer than 500,000 persons (A.R.S.
§ 16-801).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
legislation.
Provisions
1. Specifies that a political party entitled to representation on the ballot, notwithstanding any
provision in a political party's bylaws, may establish a district party committee for any
legislative district in a county with a population of more than 400,000 persons.
2. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
HANNAH WILLES
ASSISTANT RESEARCH ANALYST
ZACK DEAN
LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH ANALYST
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
Telephone: (602) 926-3171