On the evening of March 5, the Arizona Senate Judiciary Committee passed HB 2379, which is the Secretary of State’s omnibus election law bill. Among other things, it imposes a requirement that presidential primary candidates need 1,000 signatures, unless they have qualified for primary season matching funds or are already on the ballot in the presidential primaries of 20 other states. For parties which have a presidential primary but have fewer than 50,000 registered members, any registered voter can sign the 1,000-signature petition. But for parties with over 50,000 registered members, only party members may sign.

Current law lets anyone on a presidential primary ballot who applies and who certifies that he or she has an Arizona campaign committee.