Arizona SB 1609: antidiscrimination; housing; employment; public accommodations.

Bill Text

SB1609 - 572R - I Ver 

 REFERENCE TITLE: new political parties; party name

 State of Arizona

 Senate

 Fifty-seventh Legislature

 Second Regular Session

 2026

 SB 1609

 Introduced by 

 Senator 
 Shope

AN 
ACT

amending sections 16-462, 16-502, 
16-801 and 16-802, Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to political parties.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Section 16-462, Arizona Revised 
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE16-462. Form of paper ballot

The ballots for a primary election shall be printed with a 
different color designation for each political party that is included on the 
ballot. Unless otherwise provided by law, the ballot shall be printed, 
"official ballot of the __________ party, primary election (date), 
___________ precinct, county (or city or town) of __________, state of 
Arizona".� The name used to identify each political party 
on the primary ballot shall be prescribed by sections 16-801 and 16-802.� Below 
the heading shall be placed the title of each office to be voted for, and an 
instruction to the voter as to how many are to be voted for for the particular 
office, thus: "vote for not more than __________" (insert the number 
to be elected), under which shall be placed alphabetically and alternated, as 
provided by law, the names of all the party's candidates to be voted for in 
each precinct of the county or precinct or ward of the city or town for whom 
nomination papers have been filed for such office, leaving as many blank lines 
as there are offices under that title to be filled, followed by a place for the 
voter to make a mark to indicate the voter's choice either to the right or the 
left of the candidate's name, and of the blank line.� Double or more columns 
may be arranged on the ballot.� In other respects the ballot shall conform as 
nearly as possible to the ballot prescribed for general elections. END_STATUTE

Sec. 2. Section 16-502, Arizona Revised 
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE16-502. Form and contents of ballot

A. Ballots shall be printed with black ink on white 
paper of sufficient thickness to prevent the printing thereon from being 
discernible from the back, and the same type shall be used for the names of all 
candidates.� The ballots shall be headed "official ballot" in bold-faced 
plain letters, with a heavy rule above and below the heading.� Immediately 
below shall be placed the words "type of election, (date of 
election)" and the name of the county and state in which the election is 
held.� The name or number of the precinct in which the election is held shall 
be placed on the ballot in a uniform location for all ballots.� No other matter 
shall be placed or printed at the head of any ballot. Instructions to the voter 
on marking the ballot may be printed below the heading as follows:

1. Put a mark according to the instructions next 
to the name of each candidate for each office for whom you wish to vote.

2. If you wish to vote for a person whose name is 
not printed on the ballot, write such name in the blank space provided on the 
ballot and put a mark according to the instructions next to the name so 
written.

3. Put a mark according to the instructions next 
to the word "yes" or "for" for each proposition or question 
you wish to be adopted.� Put a mark according to the instructions next to the 
word "no" or "against" for each proposition or question you 
wish not to be adopted.

B. Immediately below the ballot instructions shall 
be placed the following:

Section One

Partisan Ballot

C. Immediately below the heading for section one 
there shall be placed in columns the names of the candidates of the several 
political parties. Next to each candidate's name there shall be 
printed in bold-faced letters the name of the political party, which shall be prescribed by sections 16-801 and 16-802.� At 
the head of each column shall be printed the names of the offices to be filled 
with the name of each office being of uniform type size.� At the head of each 
column shall be printed in the following order the names of candidates for:

1. Presidential electors, which shall be in a list 
and next to the list shall be printed in bold type the surname of the 
presidential candidate, and the surname of the vice presidential candidate who 
is seeking election jointly with the presidential candidate shall be listed 
directly below the name of the presidential candidate. The indicator 
for the selection of the presidential and vice presidential candidates shall be 
directly next to the surname of the presidential candidate, and one mark 
directly next to a presidential candidate's surname shall be counted as a vote 
for each elector in the list next to the presidential and vice presidential 
candidates.

2. United States senator.

3. Representatives in Congress.

4. The several state offices.

5. The several county and precinct offices.

D. The names of c