Assigned to GOV FOR COMMITTEE
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fifth Legislature, Second Regular Session
FACT SHEET FOR S.C.R. 1025
initiative; referendum; legislative districts; signatures
Purpose
Subject to voter approval, constitutionally requires a statewide initiative petition to be
signed by 10 percent of the qualified electors for an initiative measure or 15 percent of the qualified
electors for a constitutional amendment in each Legislative District, rather than in the state as a
whole.
Background
The Arizona Constitution grants the people the power to: 1) propose laws and constitutional
amendments; 2) enact or reject laws and amendments at the polls, independent of the Legislature;
and 3) approve or reject any item, section or part of any act of the Legislature at the polls. The
initiative power allows 10 percent of the qualified electors to propose any measure and 15 percent
of qualified electors to propose any constitutional amendments. Any initiative measure becomes
law when approved by a majority of votes cast in an election and upon proclamation of the
Governor.
In order for an initiative to be proposed, a sufficient number of qualified electors must sign
initiative petitions meeting statutory and constitutional requirements. All initiative petitions must
be filed with the Secretary of State (SOS) at least four months prior to the election
(Ariz. Const. art. 4, pt. 1, § 1). Every qualified elector signing a petition must do so in the presence
of the person who is circulating the petition (A.R.S. § 19-112). After signature verification by the
county recorder, the SOS must determine the total number of valid signatures. If the number of
valid signatures equals or exceeds the minimum number required, the SOS must notify the
Governor that a sufficient number of signatures have been filed and that the measure must be
placed on the ballot (A.R.S. § 19-121.04).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires statewide initiative petitions to be signed by:
a) 10 percent of the qualified electors from each Legislative District, rather than 10 percent
of the qualified electors in the state as a whole, to propose any statewide measure; and
b) 15 percent of the qualified electors from each Legislative District, rather than 15 percent
of the qualified electors in the state as a whole, to propose any constitutional amendment.
2. Requires the affidavit of the person circulating an initiative sheet or petition to set forth that in
the belief of the affiant each signer of a statewide initiative measure is a qualified elector of
the appropriate Legislative District. FACT SHEET
S.C.R. 1025
Page 2
3. Makes technical and conforming changes.
4. Requires the SOS to submit the proposition to the voters at the next general election.
5. Becomes effective if approved by the voters and on proclamation of the Governor.
Prepared by Senate Research
January 26, 2022
MH/slp