|
|
|
ISSUE 15 - April 20, 2012
|
|
Consolidated elections
On Thursday, April 19, the Senate passed HB 2826 (consolidated election dates; political subdivisions) by a vote of 16-13. The bill had previously been defeated in the Senate by a vote of 11-17. The legislation has now been approved by each chamber with the bare minimum number of votes required for passage.
The League strongly opposes the bill (which requires that local elections be held in the fall of even-numbered years) as an unconstitutional and unfunded mandate on cities and towns. This position is reinforced by the recent Supreme Court decision in Tucson v. Arizona, which unambiguously identifies municipal elections as a matter of purely local concern. The League also opposes the bill for a number of other reasons, including: prospective ballot length and voter fatigue; increased costs and voter confusion; unnecessary and harmful delays for certain types of elections; and difficulties associated with all-mail ballots.
The bill now returns to the House, which will be asked to approve the legislation as amended by the Senate. The League urges all cities and towns to contact their representatives to urge a NO vote on HB 2826 when it is brought to the House for a final vote.
|
Legislative Bulletin is published by the League of Arizona Cities and Towns.
Forward your comments or suggestions to league@azleague.org.
|
|
|
|