ArizonaBill would let people withdraw city and town referendum petitions before the measure qualifies for the ballot
Anyone who files a referendum petition with a city or town clerk could withdraw it in writing before the measure qualifies for the ballot, and votes on withdrawn measures would not be counted.
What it does
A person or group that files a referendum petition with a city or town clerk could withdraw it by filing a written notice with the clerk before the measure qualifies for the ballot.
The rule would reach back to withdrawal notices filed since December 31, 2025, and votes on referendums with such notices could not be tallied or canvassed.
Argument forA clear withdrawal process could let petition filers stop a referendum they no longer want, which may save a city or town the cost of running that vote.
Argument againstApplying the rule back to December 31, 2025 and blocking vote counts could erase voters' choices in referendums already under way, even where a clerk rejected the withdrawal.
More detail
A new section of state law would let the filer of a city or town referendum petition withdraw it with a written notice to the clerk. It covers any person or organization that files a referendum petition with a city or town clerk. The notice must be filed before the measure has qualified for the ballot under section 19-121.04. The rule applies "notwithstanding any other law." The new section would be repealed from and after July 31, 2027.
Cities and towns would not be allowed to count or officially certify votes on any referendum for which a withdrawal notice was filed. It covers withdrawal notices filed with a city or town clerk from and after December 31, 2025, whether the withdrawal was accepted or rejected. The bill applies retroactively to notices filed from and after December 31, 2025. It is labeled an emergency measure, operative immediately.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 19Vetoed by Governor Katie HobbsLatest
- Jun 11Transmit to GovernorTo Governor
- Vote recorded Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded failed to pass. Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Jun 11PASSEDMajor
- Jun 11PASSEDMajor
- Jun 11FAILEDMajor
- Jun 11PASSEDMajor
- Apr 21Transmit to House
- Vote recorded Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 21PASSEDPassed Senate
- Apr 20DPAMajor
- Vote recorded do pass amended. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 9DPAMajor
- Vote recorded do pass amended. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 25DPA/SEMajor
- Mar 10Senate Second ReadingMinor
- Mar 9Senate First ReadingMinor
- Feb 26Transmit to Senate
- Vote recorded Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 26PASSEDPassed House
- Feb 24DPMinor
- Vote recorded do pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 9House Placed on Consent Calendar
- Feb 4DPMinor
- Jan 21House Second ReadingMinor
- Jan 20House First Reading.Introduced
Civil Rights & VotingGovernment & Ethics