Assigned to ED FOR COMMITTEE
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, First Regular Session
FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1041
school board candidates; electronic signatures
Purpose
Includes school district governing board candidates on the list of elected offices for which
the Secretary of State (SOS) must provide the means for qualified electors to electronically sign
nomination petitions using the online signature collection system (E-Qual).
Background
Statute requires the SOS to provide E-Qual for qualified electors to electronically sign a
nomination petition for candidates for city or town office, county office and the office of precinct
committeeman through a secure internet portal. E-Qual must: 1) allow only qualified electors who
are eligible to sign a petition for a particular candidate to sign the petition; 2) provide a method to
verify the qualified elector's identity; and 3) provide for the SOS to transmit those filings to the
officer in charge of elections for the appropriate office. A candidate for city or town office, county
office or office of the precinct committeeman may collect up to 110 percent of the minimum
number of required nomination petition signatures by use of the electronic system (A.R.S. § 16-
317).
A person is eligible for election to a school district governing board if the person: 1) is a
registered voter of Arizona; 2) has been a resident of the school district for at least one year
immediately preceding the day of election; and 3) is not subject to registration as a sex offender in
Arizona or in any other jurisdiction. A school district governing board candidate's nomination
petition must be signed by a number of qualified electors equal to: 1) one-half of one percent of
the total voter registration in the school district, if the board members are elected at large; or
2) one percent of the total voter registration in a single member district, if governing board
members are elected from single member districts. Statute caps the total number of required
signatures for a school district governing board at 400. A school district governing board candidate's
nomination petition must be filed with the county school superintendent (A.R.S. §§ 15-421; 15-422;
and 16-322).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Adds school district governing board candidates to the list of elected offices for which the SOS
must provide the means for qualified electors to electronically sign a nomination petition using
E-Qual.
2. Makes conforming changes.
3. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
January 17, 2025
MH/KK/ci