Arizona candidates must meet signature rules to seek nomination

Candidates must gather the number of valid signatures required for their office. The rules cover candidates for state, congressional, county, city, town, school, community college, and special district offices. The number depends on the office and location. For example, the maximum is 1,000 for community college district races and 400 for school and career technical education district races. For most offices, voter registration figures reported on January 2 of the general election year set the basis for the count.

Candidates must use the stated voter or election figures to calculate signature requirements. These calculation rules apply to signature percentages for covered offices. Cities use the vote for mayor at the last election for mayor. Towns use the highest vote for an elected town official at the last election for a town office. The January 2 count in the year of the general election supplies the voter registration figures.

Candidates must use the specified district or precinct figures when boundaries change before nomination petitions are due. The rule covers congressional and legislative districts, supervisorial districts, justice precincts, and election precincts. For new congressional or legislative boundaries, the January 2 district count applies. For new supervisorial districts, justice precincts, or election precincts, the count from the effective date of the new boundaries applies. The rule applies when the new boundaries take effect after January 2 of a general election year and before the relevant petition filing deadline.