The Legislature changed that law earlier this year to allow independents to sign the nominating petitions of party candidates. But that change doesn't go into effect until August, leaving questions about signatures collected this spring for the Sept. 12 primary. Last week, a Maricopa County judge threw Democrat Sandra Kennedy off the ballot for an Arizona Corporation Commission seat because she relied on independents' signatures on her nominating petitions. The issues raised in Johnson's case are nearly identical to those considered by that judge. Lee, though, also has been asked to rule on whether Johnson's opponents can legally raise those issues in their challenge.
State law requires that lawsuits challenging nominating signatures identify specific objections.
The suit filed by Johnson's opponents accused him of relying on people who weren't registered to vote and didn't raise issues of party identification.