Arizona lawmakers propose changing primary election date

TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – On Tuesday, Feb. 6, Arizona lawmakers met in a joint session to talk about changing the primary election dates.

It could alter the dates for this year but will happen in 2026 at the latest. The lawmakers have said they will have a final decision by the end of the week.

The discussion is due to SB 1008, a piece of legislation that was passed in 2022.

Normally, a recount is done in Arizona whenever the difference in a race is .1 percent of the total votes cast. SB 1008 changed that margin to .5 percent.

In a race with 3,000,000 people voting, the leader needs 3,000 more votes than everyone else or a recount would be required. With the change to .5 percent, the winner would need 15,000 more votes or there would be a recount.

With the primaries on the way leading up to the presidential election in November, officials will need more time to conduct their recounts if needed.

“This perfect storm of issues is slated to rise a couple more times over the next couple of decades,” said Rep. Jacqueline Parker (R-15). “And so, moving the primary up in the future to May is a long-term solution to that.”

HB 2785 and SB 1733 are virtually the same, each being introduced in their respective chambers. They both call for future primary elections to be held on the second Tuesday of May, starting in 2026.

But what about this year?

Lawmakers are proposing to move it up one week from Aug. 6 to July 30, the date when voters may head to the polls instead. However one lawmaker representing Tucson has concerns that all counties and Native American tribes have not been fully informed.

“The counties may be in support, but we never want to forget our tribal nations, and we want to make sure they have been appropriately consulted, and in this case, we are understanding significantly that the Navajo Nation indicated some concern and alarm,” said Sen. Priya Sundareshan (D-18).

Pima County Recorder Gabriella Cázares-Kelly also raised concerns about the proposed bills, citing the voter verification guidelines, and changing the cure deadline from business to calendar days.

“For those who live in areas where postal mail takes extra days to reach them, internet and/or phone services are unreliable, there’s a lack a public transportation infrastructure, and a greater dependence on public computers and public Wi-Fi, taking a day away from a cure period could have a significant impact,” Cázares-Kelly said in a statement.

Both SB 1733 and HB 2785 were passed during Tuesday’s joint committee and will head to the full Senate for a vote.

To fully give counties and tribes time to prepare, state lawmakers are pushing for a final decision this week.

Be sure to subscribe to the 13 News YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@13newskold

Copyright 2024 13 News. All rights reserved.