Arizona State Senator Karen Johnson won informal consent from the State Senate on February 24 to add a amendment to SB1205. Current law requires a new party to submit a petition signed by 1.33% of the last vote cast. Her amendment would change the base of the percentage, to the last vote cast in a gubernatorial election. Arizona elects Governors in mid-term years, and the turnout in mid-term years is always far lower than in presidential years. If passed, the Amendment will reduce the 2006 new party petition from 26,835 signatures, to 16,348 signatures. However, the amendment would have no effect on new party petitioning in presidential years, such as 2008. It would only make petitioning easier in mid-term years.