Arizona HB 2826 passed the House on March 1, and passed the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 12. It would eliminate all elections for public office in Arizona, except in August and November of even-numbered years.
The bill, if signed into law, would likely be held unconstitutional, as applied to vacancies in the U.S. House that occur in the first nine months of odd-numbered years. The law might also be held to violate the Arizona Constitution, which has protections for referenda and recall. The bill applies to all local jurisdictions, even those with a Charter. See this article. If the bill is signed into law, it would not cancel odd-year elections in 2013, but would cancel them in 2015 and future odd years. Thanks to Joshua Spivak for the news.
Boy, that sounds like fun campaigning outside polling booths in August in Arizona. Phoenix…here I don’t come!
Sorry – NO time limit specified in U.S.A. Const. Art. I, Sec. 2 about vacancy elections for U.S.A. Reps.
Any time stuff about referenda and recalls must be specificed in a State Const — otherwise the party hacks can play standard games with them.
Where is that Model Constitution ??? — NOT permitting the gerrymander party hacks to attack Democracy.
Is there some sort of bet about how many stupid laws one state can pass in a year that Arizona is trying to win?
I don’t think the article or your summary is at all accurate.
The section that is being modified (16-204) is for political subdivisions only (cities, school districts, counties, special districts). Special elections for congressional vacancies are in 16-221.
The current version of 16-204 has 3 dates throughout the year, and requires all elections, including special elections to be held on those dates (a recall election is a special election).
The revised version applies to regular elections (those that elect the officers of the political subdivision), and specifically excludes special elections.
Yuma currently holds its elections in odd-numbered years. So they are upset about changing.
Much of the election date chaos goes back to the old territory regimes — i.e. local village and city regimes holding elections at different dates.
What percentage of the GDP in each regime is spent on having elections ??? Even 0.1 percent (rounded up) ???