The Arizona Supreme Court will decide on October 25 whether to hear the state’s appeal in State of Arizona v City of Tucson, cv11-0150. The issue is whether the Arizona Constitution protects the ability of cities to decide for themselves whether to hold partisan or non-partisan city elections. In 2009 the legislature passed a bill requiring all cities to use non-partisan elections. Tucson voters have consistently voted in favor of partisan city elections. Earlier this year, the city won a lawsuit in the State Court of Appeals against the new state law, but the State hopes the State Supreme Court will reverse that decision.

Tucson is the only city in Arizona with partisan elections.