Assigned to ELEC FOR COMMITTEE
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, Second Regular Session
FACT SHEET FOR S.B.1668
school elections; county administration; recorder
Purpose
Effective January 1, 2025, requires school elections to be conducted by the county recorder
and county officer in charge of elections in the same manner as prescribed for county elections.
Background
A school district governing board (governing board) election is held at the time and place,
and in the manner, of a general election. To be eligible for election to a governing board, a person
must be registered to vote in Arizona and be a resident of the school district for at least one year
preceding the election. The term of office for an elected governing board member is four years
(A.R.S. §§ 15-421 and 15-424).
A governing board may, and upon petition of 15 percent of the qualified electors, must call
an election to: 1) locate or change the location of school buildings; 2) purchase or sell school sites
or buildings, or to construct school buildings; 3) decide whether bonds may be issued or sold for
outlined purposes; 4) lease school buildings or grounds for more than 20 years; or 5) change the
list of purpose of capital projects previously authorized by voter approval to issue bonds. Elections
held by a school district as outlined must be held on the same consolidated election dates prescribed
for other county elections, except that bond elections that may require the assessment of secondary
taxes must be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November (A.R.S. §§ 15-491 and
16-204).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires for all school elections:
a) the county recorder to assume and maintain the voter registration roles;
b) the county recorder and the county officer in charge of elections to conduct school elections
in the same manner as prescribed for county elections; and
c) the county officer in charge of elections to be the filing officer.
2. Includes school district in the definition of election districts.
3. Directs Legislative Council Staff to prepare proposed conforming legislation in the Fifty-
Seventh Legislature, First Regular Session.
4. Becomes effective on January 1, 2025.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 8, 2024
AN/KS/cs