Arizona's Presidential Preference Election Ballot Order Determined

PHOENIX  – At a public meeting held this morning in Phoenix, Secretary of State Ken Bennett certified the candidates and determined their respective ballot position for the upcoming Arizona Presidential Preference Election on February 28, 2012.

The Republican and Green parties were the two—of Arizona's five— recognized parties who chose to participate in the Presidential Preference Election (PPE). Notably, "open primary" provisions do not apply to the PPE. In order to vote the elector must be registered with a participating party. Additionally, there is not any rotation of names on the ballot. The order decided today is the order in which each party’s candidates will be listed on the ballots around the state.

"Our office has certified 29 candidates for the upcoming PPE, and this morning we determined their respective position on the ballot," said Secretary Bennett. "I'm glad that we had so many of the candidates or campaigns present to participate in the event."

Participants drew their position by selecting a number from a historic trophy that was given by the employees of the New York Navy Yard to the U.S.S. Arizona at the launching of the ship on June 19, 1915.

The Secretary of State's office certified 23 Republicans and 6 Green candidates but rejected over twenty candidate nomination papers. Of those rejected, only a handful successfully refiled.

"We were unable to accept over twenty nomination papers for a variety of reasons. In some cases, we rejected candidates who indicated they were not members of the party from which they were seeking the Presidential nomination. For others, incomplete paperwork was a common error. The requirements to be placed on the PPE ballot are straightforward and prescribed by state statute. Our office is required to accept complete and authentic nomination paperwork by the deadline. During the three week filing period, we work with candidates to rectify mistakes, but we strictly adhere to statutory deadlines.

"It's our understanding that ballots will start being printed this evening so they can be mailed to military and overseas voters this weekend. Any delay jeopardizes their ability to participate in the PPE, and runs afoul of federal law."

For an official listing of the ballot order, visit www.azsos.gov/upcomingelections.

The last day to register to vote in the PPE is Monday, January 30th at midnight. Early voting begins February 2nd and the last day to request an early ballot is on February 17th. The Secretary of State's office will perform its official canvass on Monday, March 12, 2012 at 1:30 p.m.