New law to change city elections

The city of Maricopa will likely have to move its elections from March and May to a primary in August and a general election in November if a bill signed into law Monday by Gov. Jan Brewer is approved by the U.S. Justice Department.

The U.S. Justice Department has jurisdiction over Arizona elections through the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which was enacted during the Civil Rights era to ensure minorities are fairly represented in elections in southeastern states, Arizona and Alaska.

House Bill 2826 is intended to increase voter turnout and reduce costs by consolidating municipal elections with fall elections held for county, state and federal offices. Cities and towns that hold elections in odd-numbered years would have to hold them in even-numbered years. The law, which would take effect in 2014, would preempt all local laws.

Pinal County Elections Director Steve Kizar said special jurisdictions that hold elections for board members, such as flood control and water improvement districts, are exempt from the legislation.

“This legislation would affect all municipalities in Pinal County,” Kizar said. “Maricopa, which holds its elections in March and May, would have to move its elections to August and November.”

Further, Kizar said, it would be unlikely the city could continue to hold its elections with all mail-in ballots as it did for the first time in its March primary. A general election was not held in May because all the seats were decided during the primary.