Ballot Access Petition process
The Arizona Green Party was founded in May 1990. We have previously achieved ballot status 7 times in our party history: 1992, 2000, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2016 & 2018. We have more than 6,400 registered Greens statewide, and have active county chapters in Maricopa and Pima County.
In order to retain ballot status for the 2020 General Election the Arizona Green Party will need to apply as a new political party. This process is one that has been successful in the past, and we believe that we will be successful again. The steps are described on the Arizona Secretary of State website, and we would encourage everyone participating in the petition drive to read and be familiar with the process. Below is a Quick Start Guide to collecting signatures for this petition drive.
- Print the Petition for Party Recognition Form
- Make sure to use the correct date of the Primary: August 4, 2020. And make sure the General Election date is November 3, 2020.
- Fill in the county in Arizona where the petition signers are registered voters. Only one county per sheet, so it is vital to ask petition signers which county they currently are registered to vote in. (For example: if you are collecting signatures in Mohave County, and a registered voter wants to sign who lives in Coconino County then you will need to have them sign on a sheet with Coconino County listed at the top of the page.)
- Keep clipboards handy for multiple counties. Each registered voter must sign the petition with his/her county of registration listed on the top of the petition form.
- Before turning in the petition form, validate the signatures by attending the election office for your county.
- Submit the validated petition forms to one of the AZGP Ballot Access Committee members before the deadline of November 27, 2019.
- Who can sign the petition? Any registered voters in Arizona.
- Where to find registered voters? Anywhere! Farmers markets, street festivals and even the grocery store. Good luck and thank you for participating in our petition drive.
The 2nd step in this process is a long term goal to raise the membership of the Arizona Green Party. In order to maintain ballot access for future elections and avoid the need for petition drives we will need raise our Registered Green Party membership from 6400 to 27,000+. Achieving ballot access through membership is described in Arizona Statute Title 16-804-B (see below for exact language).
16-804-B. Continued representation on basis of votes cast at last preceding general election or registered electors.
B. In lieu of subsection A, a political organization is entitled to continued representation as a political party on the official ballot for state, county, city or town officers if, on October 1 of the year immediately preceding the year in which the general election for state or county officers and for city or town officers one hundred fifty-five days immediately preceding the primary election in such jurisdiction, such party has registered electors in the party equal to at least two-thirds of one per cent of the total registered electors in such jurisdiction.
So while we are gathering petition signatures the additional goal is to reach individuals seeking a political party that stands for true representative democracy. Encouraging individuals to register as a Green helps us meet the goal of raising green party membership. This is an easy process by directing individual voters to www.servicearizona.com and click on the “Voter Registration” button.
The Four Pillars of the Green Party are: Grassroots Democracy, Social Justice, Ecological Wisdom and Non-Violence. If you would like to help us build and grow an alternative, progressive political party here in Arizona, get involved and join us. Attend our next state meeting, make a donation, and/or volunteer!
Arizona Ballot Access Coordinators
Liana West, email: [email protected]
Mike Cease, email: [email protected]
Amee Beck, email: [email protected]
Please contact any one of the Arizona Ballot Access Coordinators for any additional questions.
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2020 Signature Requirements For New Party Recognition
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New Party Minimum Signatures - 30,894 |
References:
https://azsos.gov/elections/information-about-recognized-political-parties
https://azsos.gov/elections/arizona-election-laws-publications