Arizona
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STARTING A POLITICAL PARTY IN ARIZONA:
METHOD: PETITION
VALID SIGNATURES NEEDED: 20,086
VALID SIGNATURES NEEDED: 20,086
Create a New Political Party
New Party Petition Form (PDF)
New Party Affidavit of 10 qualified Electors Form (PDF)
- Register a New Party Committee
- Submit Statement of Organization to Secretary of State
- Circulate Petitions
- Submit Petitions along with the affidavit of 10 qualified electors
- Secretary of State verifies signatures
New Party Petition Form (PDF)
New Party Affidavit of 10 qualified Electors Form (PDF)
Qualifying for ballot access
To establish a recognized political party in Arizona, the group wishing to qualify as a party must file a petition with the Arizona Secretary of State. This petition must contain signatures from registered voters equal to at least 1.33 percent of the total votes cast for governor at the last general election.
In order to gain statewide recognition, signatures must come from at least five counties.
In addition, at least 10 percent of the total number of signatures must come from registered voters in counties with populations of less than 500,000 people.
This petition must be filed 180 days before the primary election.
If the secretary of state determines that the party has submitted enough valid signatures, the party will be recognized. Once recognized, the party will be represented by its own ballot in the next regularly scheduled primary election and accorded its own column on the general election ballot.
Maintaining ballot access
Once recognized, a new political party will be qualified through the next two regularly scheduled general elections. After those two elections, the party will no longer be recognized unless it qualifies for continued recognition or files a new petition for recognition. To qualify for continued recognition, the party's candidate for governor must receive at least 5 percent of the votes cast in the gubernatorial election. Alternatively, 0.66 percent of all registered voters in the state must have affiliated with the party by October 1 in the year preceding the general election.
Convention requirements
The state committee of a political party must meet no later than the fourth Saturday in January following a general election. At this meeting, a chairman, secretary, and treasurer must be elected from the party's membership. The current chairman of the state committee must notify all state committee members of the time and place of the meeting at least 10 days before the meeting will be held.
To establish a recognized political party in Arizona, the group wishing to qualify as a party must file a petition with the Arizona Secretary of State. This petition must contain signatures from registered voters equal to at least 1.33 percent of the total votes cast for governor at the last general election.
In order to gain statewide recognition, signatures must come from at least five counties.
In addition, at least 10 percent of the total number of signatures must come from registered voters in counties with populations of less than 500,000 people.
This petition must be filed 180 days before the primary election.
If the secretary of state determines that the party has submitted enough valid signatures, the party will be recognized. Once recognized, the party will be represented by its own ballot in the next regularly scheduled primary election and accorded its own column on the general election ballot.
Maintaining ballot access
Once recognized, a new political party will be qualified through the next two regularly scheduled general elections. After those two elections, the party will no longer be recognized unless it qualifies for continued recognition or files a new petition for recognition. To qualify for continued recognition, the party's candidate for governor must receive at least 5 percent of the votes cast in the gubernatorial election. Alternatively, 0.66 percent of all registered voters in the state must have affiliated with the party by October 1 in the year preceding the general election.
Convention requirements
The state committee of a political party must meet no later than the fourth Saturday in January following a general election. At this meeting, a chairman, secretary, and treasurer must be elected from the party's membership. The current chairman of the state committee must notify all state committee members of the time and place of the meeting at least 10 days before the meeting will be held.
As of May 2017, Arizona officially recognized four political parties: the Democratic, Green, Libertarian, and Republican parties.
Democratic Party of Arizona Link Party platform
Green Party of Arizona Link Party by-laws
Libertarian Party of Arizona Link Party platform
Republican Party of Arizona Link Party by-laws
Green Party of Arizona Link Party by-laws
Libertarian Party of Arizona Link Party platform
Republican Party of Arizona Link Party by-laws
See statutes: Title 16, Chapter 5 of the Arizona Revised Statutes