reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Arizona Revised Statutes › Title 19 - Initiative, Referendum and Recall › § 19-102 - Initiative petition; circulators

19-102.
Initiative petition;  circulators
A. The form of petition for a law or amendment to the constitution of this state or county legislative measure,  or city or town ordinance,  or amendment to a city or town charter proposed by the initiative to be submitted directly to the electors,  shall be substantially in the form prescribed in section 19-101,  except that the title and body of such petition shall read:
Initiative description
(Insert a description of not more than two hundred words of the principal provisions of the proposed measure or constitutional amendment.)
Notice: This is only a description of the proposed measure (or constitutional amendment) prepared by the sponsor of the measure. It may not include every provision contained in the measure. Before signing,  make sure the title and text of the measure are attached. You have the right to read or examine the title and text before signing.
Initiative Measure to be Submitted Directly to Electors
We,  the undersigned,  citizens and qualified electors of the state of Arizona,  respectfully demand that the following proposed law (or amendment to the constitution,  or other initiative measure),  shall be submitted to the qualified electors of the state of Arizona (county,  city or town of ____________) for their approval or rejection at the next regular general election (or county,  city or town election) and each for himself says: (terminate form same as a referendum petition.)
B. Each petition sheet shall have printed on the top of each sheet the following:
" It is unlawful to sign this petition before it has a serial number."
C. Each petition sheet shall have printed in capital letters in not less than twelve point bold-faced type in the upper right-hand corner of the face of the petition sheet and below the statement prescribed in subsection B of this section the following:
" ___________ paid circulator"  "  ______________ volunteer" .
D. A circulator of an initiative petition shall state whether the circulator is a paid circulator or volunteer by checking the appropriate line on the petition form before circulating the petition for signatures.
E. Signatures obtained on initiative petitions in violation of subsection D of this section are void and shall not be counted in determining the legal sufficiency of the petition. The presence of signatures that are invalidated under this subsection on a petition does not invalidate other signatures on the petition that were obtained as prescribed by this section.
2023 Arizona Revised Statutes › Title 19 - Initiative, Referendum and Recall › § 19-102.01 - Initiative petitions; standard of review

19-102.01.
Initiative petitions;  standard of review
A. Constitutional and statutory requirements for statewide initiative measures must be strictly construed and persons using the initiative process must strictly comply with those constitutional and statutory requirements.
B. The secretary of state shall make available a sample initiative petition that strictly complies with the requirements of section 19-121. Any committee that uses the sample initiative petition provided by the secretary of state shall be presumed to have strictly complied with the requirements of section 19-121.
2023 Arizona Revised Statutes › Title 19 - Initiative, Referendum and Recall › § 19-111.01 - Text review; legislative council; recommendations

19-111.01.
Text review;  legislative council;  recommendations
A. At any time after a person or organization submits an application for initiative petition or referendum petition for a proposed law or constitutional amendment,  a political committee that intends to support the measure or a political committee that intends to oppose the measure may submit a copy of the text of the proposed law,  referral or constitutional amendment to the director of the legislative council.
B. No later than thirty days after receipt of the text of the measure,  the legislative council staff shall review the proposed measure. The legislative council staff shall limit its consideration to errors in the drafting of the measure,  confusing,  conflicting or inconsistent provisions within the measure and conflicts with other state laws and federal law and shall consider and may prepare recommendations to improve the text of the proposed measure.
C. The person or organization proposing the law or constitutional amendment may accept,  modify or reject any recommendations made by the legislative council staff regarding the text of the measure solely in its discretion.
2023 Arizona Revised Statutes › Title 19 - Initiative, Referendum and Recall › § 19-113 - Withdrawal of petition signature; payment of remuneration; violation; classification

19-113.
Withdrawal of petition signature;  payment of remuneration;  violation;  classification
A. A person who has signed a petition prescribed by statute for any candidate nomination,  initiative,  referendum,  recall or formation or modification of a county,  municipality or district may withdraw the person's signature from the petition not later than 5:00 p.m. on the date the petition containing the person's signature is actually filed. A person who has signed a recall petition may withdraw the person's signature from the petition not later than 5:00 p.m. on the date the petition containing the person's signature is actually submitted for verification pursuant to section 19-203.
B. To withdraw a petition signature,  a person may do any of the following:
1. Verify the withdrawal by signing a simple statement of intent to withdraw at the office of the filing officer.
2. Mail a signed,  notarized statement of intent to withdraw to the filing officer.
3. Draw a line through the signature and printed name on the petition.
C. A signature withdrawn pursuant to subsection B of this section and received by the filing officer within the time provided for in subsection A of this section shall not be counted in determining the legal sufficiency of the petition.
D. A person who knowingly gives or receives money or any other thing of value for signing a statement of signature withdrawal pursuant to subsection B of this section is guilty of a class 1 misdemeanor.
2023 Arizona Revised Statutes › Title 19 - Initiative, Referendum and Recall › § 19-114 - Prohibition on circulating petitions by certain persons; statement of organization

19-114.
Prohibition on circulating petitions by certain persons;  statement of organization
A. No county recorder or justice of the peace and no person other than a person who is qualified to register to vote pursuant to section 16-101 may circulate an initiative or referendum petition and all signatures verified by any such person shall be void and shall not be counted in determining the legal sufficiency of the petition.
B. Signatures obtained on initiative and referendum petitions by a political committee proposing the initiative or referendum or any of its officers,  agents,  employees or members prior to the filing of the committee's statement of organization are void and shall not be counted in determining the legal sufficiency of the petition.
2023 Arizona Revised Statutes › Title 19 - Initiative, Referendum and Recall › § 19-114.01 - Prohibition on signing petition for profit; classification

19-114.01.
Prohibition on signing petition for profit;  classification
Any person who knowingly gives or receives money or any other thing of value for signing an initiative or referendum petition,  excluding payments made to a person for circulating such petition,  is guilty of a class 1 misdemeanor.
2023 Arizona Revised Statutes › Title 19 - Initiative, Referendum and Recall › § 19-115 - Unlawful acts; violations; classification

19-115.
Unlawful acts;  violations;  classification
A. Every qualified elector of the state may sign a referendum or initiative petition upon any measure which he is legally entitled to vote upon.
B. A person who knowingly signs any name other than his own to a petition,  except in a circumstance where he signs for a person in the presence of and at the specific request of such a person who is incapable of signing his own name or printing his own name and address because of physical infirmity,  who knowingly signs his name more than once for the same measure or proposed constitutional amendment at one election,  who is not at the time of signing a qualified elector of this state or who knowingly fills out the name and address portion of the petition with the intent to commit fraud,  or any officer or person who knowingly violates any provision of this chapter,  is guilty of a class 1 misdemeanor unless another classification is specifically prescribed in this title.
2023 Arizona Revised Statutes › Title 19 - Initiative, Referendum and Recall › § 19-116 - Signing petitions; coercion; intimidation; false description; classification

19-116.
Signing petitions;  coercion;  intimidation;  false description;  classification
A. A person who knowingly coerces any other person by menace or threat,  or threatens any other person to the effect that the other person will or may be injured in his business,  or discharged from employment,  or that he will not be employed,  to sign or subscribe,  or to refrain from signing or subscribing,  his name to an initiative or referendum petition,  or,  after signing or subscribing his name,  to have his name taken therefrom,  is guilty of a class 1 misdemeanor.
B. A person who is a circulator of an initiative or referendum petition and who induces any other person in the circulator's presence to sign the initiative or referendum petition by knowingly misrepresenting the general subject matter of the measure is guilty of a class 1 misdemeanor.
2023 Arizona Revised Statutes › Title 19 - Initiative, Referendum and Recall › § 19-117 - Initiative and referendum petition; changes; applicability

19-117.
Initiative and referendum petition;  changes;  applicability
Notwithstanding any other law,  any change in the law or procedure adopted by a governing body with respect to circulation or filing of an initiative or referendum petition after an initiative or referendum petition application is filed pursuant to section 19-111 does not apply to the initiative or referendum petition.
2023 Arizona Revised Statutes › Title 19 - Initiative, Referendum and Recall › § 19-118.01 - Signature collection; prohibited payments; violation; classification

19-118.01.
Signature collection;  prohibited payments;  violation;  classification
A. A person shall not pay or receive money or any other thing of value based on the number of signatures collected on a statewide initiative or referendum petition. Signatures that are obtained by a paid circulator who violates this section are void and shall not be counted in determining the legal sufficiency of the petition.
B. A violation of this section is a class 1 misdemeanor.
2023 Arizona Revised Statutes › Title 19 - Initiative, Referendum and Recall › § 19-119 - Deceptive mailings; civil penalty

19-119.
Deceptive mailings;  civil penalty
A. In an attempt to influence the outcome of an election held pursuant to this title,  an individual or committee shall not deliver or mail any document that falsely purports to be a mailing authorized,  approved,  required,  sent or reviewed by or that falsely simulates a document from the government of this state,  a county,  city or town or any other political subdivision.
B. An individual or committee that violates this section is liable for a civil penalty equal to twice the total of the cost of the mailing or five hundred dollars,  whichever is greater. The attorney general,  the county attorney,  the city or town attorney or other legal representative of the political subdivision,  as appropriate,  may assess the civil penalty.
2023 Arizona Revised Statutes › Title 19 - Initiative, Referendum and Recall › § 19-119.01 - Petition signature fraud; classification; list of prohibited persons

19-119.01.
Petition signature fraud;  classification;  list of prohibited persons
A. For the purposes of this title,  a person commits petition signature fraud if the person does either of the following with the intent to defraud:
1. Intentionally collects for filing petition signature sheets with the knowledge that the person whose name appears on the signature sheet did not actually sign the petition.
2. Uses any fraudulent means,  method,  trick,  device or artifice to obtain signatures on a petition.
B. A person paid by a political committee to employ or subcontract with persons who fraudulently obtain petition signatures or who obtain petition signatures through other unlawful means is not guilty of a violation of subsection A if the person does both of the following:
1. Reports the suspected unlawful or fraudulent signature collection to the filing officer.
2. Refuses to file the suspected unlawful or fraudulent signatures.
C. A person who violates subsection A is guilty of a class 1 misdemeanor,  except that a person who engages or participates in a pattern of petition signature fraud is guilty of a class 4 felony and shall be prohibited from participating for five years in any election,  initiative,  referendum or recall campaign. For the purposes of this subsection,  " pattern of petition signature fraud"  means that the person employs or subcontracts with persons to obtain signatures and at least five of the employees or subcontractor's employees have been convicted of a violation of this section for one or more elections or recall campaigns in an election cycle.
D. The secretary of state shall maintain a list of persons who have been convicted of participating in a pattern of petition signature fraud in violation of this section and who are barred from participating in any election,  initiative,  referendum or recall campaign for five years from the date of conviction. The list shall be published on the secretary of state's website. The secretary of state shall remove a person from the list on expiration of the five-year prohibition. If a member of the public requests a copy of the list,  the secretary shall provide it.
2023 Arizona Revised Statutes › Title 19 - Initiative, Referendum and Recall › § 19-119.02 - Initiative, referendum and recall handbook; secretary of state

19-119.02.
Initiative,  referendum and recall handbook;  secretary of state
Each election cycle the secretary of state shall prepare and publish an initiative,  referendum and recall handbook that provides guidance on interpreting,  administering,  applying and enforcing the laws relating to initiative,  referendum and recall. The secretary of state shall make the handbook available to the public on the secretary of state's website.
2023 Arizona Revised Statutes › Title 19 - Initiative, Referendum and Recall › § 19-121.02 - Certification by county recorder

19-121.02.
Certification by county recorder
A. Within fifteen days,  excluding Saturdays,  Sundays and other legal holidays,  after receiving the facsimile signature sheets from the secretary of state pursuant to section 19-121.01,  the county recorder shall determine which signatures of individuals whose names were transmitted shall be disqualified for any of the following reasons:
1. No residence address or description of residence location is provided.
2. No date of signing is provided.
3. The signature is illegible and the signer is otherwise unidentifiable.
4. The address provided is illegible or nonexistent.
5. The individual was not a qualified elector on the date of signing the petition.
6. The individual was a registered voter but was not at least eighteen years of age on the date of signing the petition or affidavit.
7. The signature was disqualified after comparison with the signature on the affidavit of registration.
8. If a petitioner signed more than once,  all but one otherwise valid signature shall be disqualified.
9. If a petition signer's signature is determined to be invalid after a comparison is made between the signature and handwriting on the petition and the petition signer's voter registration file.
10. If the person circulating the petition was a justice of the peace or a county recorder at the time the person circulated the petition.
11. For the same reasons any signatures or entire petition sheets could have been removed by the secretary of state pursuant to section 19-121.01,  subsection A,  paragraph 1 or 3.
B. Within the same time period provided in subsection A of this section,  the county recorder shall certify to the secretary of state the following:
1. The name of any individual whose signature was included in the random sample and disqualified by the county recorder together with the petition page and line number of the disqualified signature.
2. The total number of signatures selected for the random sample and transmitted to the county recorder for verification and the total number of random sample signatures disqualified.
C. The secretary of state shall prescribe the form of the county recorder's certification.
D. At the time of the certification,  the county recorder shall:
1. Return the facsimile signature sheets to the secretary of state.
2. Send notice of the results of the certification by mail to the person or organization that submitted the initiative or referendum petitions and to the secretary of state.
2023 Arizona Revised Statutes › Title 19 - Initiative, Referendum and Recall › § 19-121.03 - Judicial review of actions by county recorder; venue

19-121.03.
Judicial review of actions by county recorder;  venue
A. If the county recorder fails or refuses to comply with the provisions of section 19-121.02,  any citizen may apply,  within five calendar days after such failure or refusal,  to the superior court for a writ of mandamus. If the court finds that the county recorder has not complied with the provisions of section 19-121.02,  the court shall issue an order for the county recorder to comply.
B. Any citizen may challenge in the superior court the certification made by a county recorder pursuant to section 19-121.02 within five calendar days of the receipt thereof by the secretary of state. The action shall be advanced on the calendar and heard as a trial de novo and decided by the court as soon as possible. Either party may appeal to the supreme court within five calendar days after judgment.
C. An action commenced under this section shall be brought in the county of such recorder,  except that any such action involving more than one recorder shall be brought in Maricopa county.
2023 Arizona Revised Statutes › Title 19 - Initiative, Referendum and Recall › § 19-121.05 - Special fund for reimbursement of county recorders

19-121.05.
Special fund for reimbursement of county recorders
A. The secretary of state shall establish a separate fund from which he shall reimburse a county recorder for actual expenses incurred by the county recorder for performance of his duties under the provisions of section 19-121.02,  but not to exceed the rate of fifty cents per signature.
B. A county recorder who claims to be entitled to reimbursement under the provisions of this section shall submit a claim therefor to the secretary of state.
C. The special fund established under the provisions of this section shall be exempt from the provisions of section 35-190 relating to lapsing of appropriations.
2023 Arizona Revised Statutes › Title 19 - Initiative, Referendum and Recall › § 19-124.01 - Judicial information

19-124.01.
Judicial information
Not later than sixty days preceding the regular primary election,  the commission on judicial performance review shall prepare and file with the secretary of state the following information relating to justices of the supreme court and judges of the court of appeals for publication electronically:
1. Biographical information on each justice or judge,  including length of time serving in a judicial capacity and educational background. This information shall not exceed three hundred words in length.
2. A listing of published decisions in which the justice or judge declared a statute constitutional or unconstitutional and the provision of the constitution relied upon.
2023 Arizona Revised Statutes › Title 19 - Initiative, Referendum and Recall › § 19-126 - Counting and canvassing votes; governor's proclamation

19-126.
Counting and canvassing votes;  governor's proclamation
A. The votes on measures and proposed constitutional amendments shall be counted,  canvassed and returned by the officers of the election boards as votes for candidates are counted,  canvassed and returned,  and the abstract made by the clerks of the boards of supervisors of the several counties of votes on measures and proposed constitutional amendments shall be returned to the secretary of state on separate abstract sheets in the manner provided by law. The total vote shall then be canvassed and proclamation of the results made in the manner prescribed by the constitution.
B. If two or more conflicting measures or amendments are approved at the same election,  the governor shall proclaim which of the measures or amendments received the greatest number of affirmative votes.
2023 Arizona Revised Statutes › Title 19 - Initiative, Referendum and Recall › § 19-127 - Preservation and publication of approved measures

19-127.
Preservation and publication of approved measures
A. If a measure or proposed constitutional amendment,  at the ensuing election,  is approved by the people,  the preserved copies with the sheets,  signatures and affidavits,  and a certified copy of the governor's proclamation declaring them to have been approved by the people,  shall be bound together in such form that they may be conveniently identified and preserved.
B. The secretary of state shall cause every measure or constitutional amendment submitted under the initiative and approved by the people to be printed with the general laws enacted by the next ensuing session of the legislature,  with the date of the governor's proclamation declaring them to have been approved by the people.
2023 Arizona Revised Statutes › Title 19 - Initiative, Referendum and Recall › § 19-129 - Destroying, suppressing or filing false initiative or referendum petition; classification

19-129.
Destroying,  suppressing or filing false initiative or referendum petition;  classification
A person filing an initiative or referendum petition or measure who,  at the time of filing the petition or measure,  knows it is falsely made,  or who knowingly destroys or suppresses an initiative or referendum petition or measure,  or any part thereof,  which has been duly filed with the officers of the state,  or of any political subdivisions thereof,  as provided by this chapter,  is guilty of a class 1 misdemeanor.
2023 Arizona Revised Statutes › Title 19 - Initiative, Referendum and Recall › § 19-143 - Initiative petition in cities; action of council; amendment of charter

19-143.
Initiative petition in cities;  action of council;  amendment of charter
A. The whole number of votes cast at the city or town election at which a mayor or councilman was chosen last preceding the submission of the application for an initiative petition is the basis for computing the number of qualified electors of the city or town required to sign the petition unless the city or town by charter or ordinance provides an alternative basis for computing the number of necessary signatures.
B. If an ordinance,  charter or amendment to the charter of a city or town is proposed by initiative petition,  it shall be filed with the city or town clerk,  who shall submit it to the voters of the city or town at the next ensuing election. The council may enact the ordinance or amendment and refer it to the people or it may enact the ordinance or amendment without referring it to the people,  and in that case it is subject to referendum petition as other ordinances. The mayor shall not have power to veto either of such measures.
C. Amendments to a city or town charter may be proposed and submitted to the people by the council,  with or without an initiative petition,  but they shall be filed with the clerk for submission not less than sixty days before the election at which they are to be voted upon,  and no amendment of a charter shall be effective until it is approved by a majority of the votes cast thereon by the people of the city or town to which it applies. The council may by ordinance order special elections to vote on municipal measures.
2023 Arizona Revised Statutes › Title 19 - Initiative, Referendum and Recall › § 19-161 - Challenges to legislative referenda

19-161.
Challenges to legislative referenda
A. A challenge to the legal sufficiency of any referendum measure or any proposed amendment or amendments to the constitution ordered by the legislature to be submitted to the people at the polls must be filed within:
1. Twenty days after the referendum is filed with the secretary of state if the referendum is filed in an odd numbered year.
2. Ten days after the referendum is filed with the secretary of state if the referendum is filed in an even numbered year.
B. An action filed pursuant to this section shall be advanced on the calendar and heard and decided by the court as soon as possible. Either party may appeal to the supreme court within five days after judgment.
C. The superior court in Maricopa county shall have jurisdiction over actions filed pursuant to this section.
D. In any action filed pursuant to this section the president of the senate or the speaker of the house of representatives shall be entitled to be heard and may,  in their discretion,  intervene as a party,  may file briefs in the matter or may choose not to participate.
2023 Arizona Revised Statutes › Title 19 - Initiative, Referendum and Recall › § 19-201 - Officers subject to recall; number of petitioners

19-201.
Officers subject to recall;  number of petitioners
A. Every public officer holding an elective office,  either by election,  appointment or retention,  is subject to recall from such office by the qualified electors of the electoral district from which candidates are elected to that office. Such electoral district may include the whole state. A number of qualified electors equaling twenty-five percent of the number of votes cast at the last preceding general election for all the candidates for the office held by the officer,  even if the officer was not elected at that election,  divided by the number of offices that were being filled at that election,  by recall petition,  may demand the officer's recall. For a public officer elected at a nonpartisan election,  the last preceding general election is the last preceding election at which the public officer who is the subject of the recall was declared elected.
B. In the case of a public officer holding office in a newly created division or district of an elective office,  either by election or appointment,  a number of qualified electors equaling twenty-five percent of the number of votes cast at the last preceding general election for all those who were candidates for other divisions or districts of the same office held by the officer in that county or city divided by the number of offices that were being filled at that election,  by recall petition,  may demand the officer's recall.
C. If the elective officer to be recalled was appointed to the office or was deemed elected after an election was canceled due to the absence of opposing candidates as provided in section 15-424,  15-1442,  16-822,  48-802,  48-1012,  48-1208,  48-1404,  48-1908,  48-2010,  48-2107 or 48-2208,  the recall petition must be signed by the number of qualified electors that is equal to at least ten percent of the number of active registered voters in the jurisdiction or district represented by that elective officer as determined on the date of the last general election.
2023 Arizona Revised Statutes › Title 19 - Initiative, Referendum and Recall › § 19-201.01 - Legislative finding and intent; strict compliance

19-201.01.
Legislative finding and intent;  strict compliance
The legislature recognizes that recall overturns the determination of the qualified electors and therefore finds and determines that strict compliance with the constitutional and statutory requirements for recall and in the application and enforcement of those requirements provides the surest method for safeguarding the integrity and accuracy of the recall process. Therefore,  the legislature finds and declares its intent that the constitutional and statutory requirements for recall be strictly construed and that persons using the recall process strictly comply with those constitutional and statutory requirements.
2023 Arizona Revised Statutes › Title 19 - Initiative, Referendum and Recall › § 19-202 - Recall petition; limitations; subsequent petition

19-202.
Recall petition;  limitations;  subsequent petition
A. A recall petition shall not be circulated against any officer until the officer has held office for six months,  except that a petition may be filed against a member of the legislature at any time after five days from the beginning of the first session after the member's election. The commencement of a subsequent term in the same office does not renew the six month period delaying the circulation of a recall petition.
B. After one recall petition and election,  no further recall petition shall be filed against the same officer during the term for which the officer was elected unless the petitioners signing the petition first,  at the time of application for the subsequent recall petition,  pay into the public treasury from which such election expenses were paid all expenses of the preceding election.
2023 Arizona Revised Statutes › Title 19 - Initiative, Referendum and Recall › § 19-202.01 - Application for recall petition

19-202.01.
Application for recall petition
A. A person or organization intending to file a recall petition,  before causing the petition to be printed and circulated,  shall submit an application setting forth the following:
1. The person's name and address or,  if an organization,  its name and address and the names and titles of its officers.
2. The person's or organization's intention to circulate and submit a recall petition.
3. The text of the general statement required by section 19-203 and a request for issuance of an official number to be printed on the signature sheets of the petition.
B. The application and petition shall be submitted as a single document to the office of secretary of state if for recall of a state officer,  including a member of the state legislature,  or a member of Congress,  and with the county officer in charge of elections if for a county or district officer or superior court judge,  with the city or town clerk if for a city or town officer and with the county school superintendent if for a governing board member of a school district. At the same time and place as submitting the application and petition,  the person filing the application shall submit to the filing officer a separate electronic copy of the general statement required by section 19-203 in the format prescribed by the filing officer.
C. On receipt of the application and petition,  the filing officer shall assign a number to the petition that shall appear in the lower right-hand corner on each side of each signature sheet and shall issue that number to the applicant. The filing officer shall maintain a record of each application received,  of the date of its receipt and of the number assigned and issued to the applicant.
D. When the application is received by the filing officer and marked by the filing officer with an official date and time of receipt,  the time-and-date-marked application,  including the general statement required by section 19-203,  constitutes the official copy of the text of the recall and shall be used in all instances as the text of the recall. For any subsequent change in the text of the recall by the applicant,  including any change in the general statement required by section 19-203,  the applicant shall file a new application,  shall receive a new official serial number and shall use as the text of the recall the time-and-date-marked text that accompanied the new application,  and any signatures that are obtained on the prior recall petition are invalid for the new recall petition.
2023 Arizona Revised Statutes › Title 19 - Initiative, Referendum and Recall › § 19-203 - Recall petition; contents; submission for verification; nonacceptance

19-203.
Recall petition;  contents;  submission for verification;  nonacceptance
A. A recall petition shall contain a general statement of not more than two hundred words stating the grounds of the demand for the recall. The petition shall be submitted for verification of signatures to the appropriate filing officer as prescribed by section 19-202.01.
B. A recall petition is not considered filed for purposes of this chapter until the verification process is complete and the petition is filed pursuant to section 19-208.03,  subsection A,  paragraph 1.
C. A recall petition shall not be accepted for verification if more than one hundred twenty days have passed since the date of submission of the application for recall petition as prescribed by section 19-202.01.
D. The filing officer's time-and-date-marked copy of the application,  including the general statement of the grounds for recall,  constitutes the full and correct copy of the recall text and is the only valid copy for circulation for signatures. Signatures that are collected with any copy of the recall text that is not a facsimile of the time-and-date-marked copy with the complete text that is identical to the time-and-date-marked copy issued by the filing officer are invalid.
2023 Arizona Revised Statutes › Title 19 - Initiative, Referendum and Recall › § 19-204.01 - Sample recall petitions; strict compliance

19-204.01.
Sample recall petitions;  strict compliance
The secretary of state shall make available a sample recall petition that strictly complies with the requirements of section 19-204. Any person or organization that uses the sample recall petition of the secretary of state is presumed to have strictly complied with the requirements of section 19-204.
2023 Arizona Revised Statutes › Title 19 - Initiative, Referendum and Recall › § 19-205 - Signatures and verification

19-205.
Signatures and verification
A. Every qualified elector signing a petition for a recall election shall do so in the presence of the person who is circulating the petition and who is to execute the affidavit of verification on the reverse side of the signature sheet. At the time of signing,  the qualified elector shall:
1. Sign and print the elector's first and last name.
2. Write in the appropriate spaces following the signature the elector's residence address,  giving street and number or,  if the elector has no street address,  a description of the elector's residence location,  and the date on which the elector signed the petition.
B. The person before whom the signatures were written on the signature sheet shall in an affidavit subscribed and sworn to by that circulator before a notary public verify that each of the names on the sheet was signed in the circulator's presence on the date indicated,  that the name and address were printed by the signer on the date indicated and that in the circulator's belief each signer was a qualified elector of the election district on the date indicated in which the recall election will be conducted. All signatures of petitioners on a signature sheet shall be those of qualified electors who are registered to vote in the same county. If signatures from more than one county appear on the same signature sheet,  only the valid signatures from the same county that are most numerous on the signature sheet shall be counted.
2023 Arizona Revised Statutes › Title 19 - Initiative, Referendum and Recall › § 19-205.02 - Prohibition on circulating of petitions by certain persons

19-205.02.
Prohibition on circulating of petitions by certain persons
No county recorder or justice of the peace and no person other than a person who is qualified to register to vote pursuant to section 16-101 may circulate a recall petition,  and all signatures verified by any such unqualified person are void and shall not be counted in determining the legal sufficiency of the petition.
2023 Arizona Revised Statutes › Title 19 - Initiative, Referendum and Recall › § 19-205.03 - Prohibition on signing petition for profit; classification

19-205.03.
Prohibition on signing petition for profit;  classification
Any person who knowingly gives or receives money or any other thing of value for signing a recall petition,  excluding payments made to a person for circulating such petition,  is guilty of a class 1 misdemeanor.
2023 Arizona Revised Statutes › Title 19 - Initiative, Referendum and Recall › § 19-205.04 - Withdrawal of petition signature; payment of remuneration; violation; classification

19-205.04.
Withdrawal of petition signature;  payment of remuneration;  violation;  classification
A. A person who has signed a recall petition may withdraw the person's signature from the petition not later than 5:00 p.m. on the date the petition containing the person's signature is actually submitted for verification pursuant to section 19-203.
B. To withdraw a petition signature,  a person may do any of the following:
1. Verify the withdrawal by signing a simple statement of intent to withdraw at the office of the filing officer.
2. Mail a signed,  notarized statement of intent to withdraw to the filing officer.
3. Draw a line through the signature and printed name on the petition.
C. A signature withdrawn pursuant to subsection B of this section and received by the filing officer within the time provided for in subsection A of this section shall not be counted in determining the legal sufficiency of the petition.
D. A person who knowingly gives or receives money or any other thing of value for signing a statement of signature withdrawal pursuant to subsection B of this section is guilty of a class 1 misdemeanor.
2023 Arizona Revised Statutes › Title 19 - Initiative, Referendum and Recall › § 19-206 - Coercion or other unlawful acts; violation; classification

19-206.
Coercion or other unlawful acts;  violation;  classification
A. Every qualified elector of this state may sign a recall petition on any officer for whom the elector is qualified to vote.
B. A person is guilty of a class 1 misdemeanor if the person knowingly induces or compels any other person,  either directly or indirectly or by menace or threat that the person will or may be injured in the person business or be discharged from employment or that the person will not be employed,  to sign or to refrain from signing the person's name to a recall petition or,  after signing the person's name,  to have the person's name taken from the petition.
C. Unless another classification is specifically prescribed in this title,  a person is guilty of a class 1 misdemeanor if the person knowingly does any of the following:
1. Signs any name other than the person's own to a petition,  except in a circumstance where the person signs for another person,  in the presence of and at the specific request of that person,  who is incapable of signing the person's own name because of physical infirmity.
2. Signs the person's name more than once for the same recall issue,  at one election.
3. Is not at the time of signing a qualified elector of this state.
4. Fills out the name and address portion of the petition with the intent to commit fraud.
5. Violates any provision of this chapter,  whether or not the person is an election officer.
2023 Arizona Revised Statutes › Title 19 - Initiative, Referendum and Recall › § 19-206.01 - Recall petition signature fraud; violation; classification; list of prohibited persons; definition

19-206.01.
Recall petition signature fraud;  violation;  classification;  list of prohibited persons;  definition
A. For the purposes of this chapter,  a person commits recall petition signature fraud if the person does either of the following with the intent to defraud:
1. Intentionally collects for filing recall petition signature sheets with the knowledge that the person whose name appears on the signature sheet did not actually sign the petition.
2. Uses any fraudulent means,  method,  trick,  device or artifice to obtain signatures on a recall petition.
B. A person who is paid by a person or organization to employ or subcontract with persons who fraudulently obtain recall petition signatures or who obtain recall petition signatures through other unlawful means is not guilty of a violation of subsection A of this section if the person does both of the following:
1. Reports the suspected unlawful or fraudulent signature collection to the filing officer.
2. Refuses to file the suspected unlawful or fraudulent signatures.
C. A person who violates subsection A of this section is guilty of a class 1 misdemeanor,  except that a person who engages or participates in a pattern of recall petition signature fraud is guilty of a class 4 felony and shall be prohibited from participating for five years in any election,  initiative,  referendum or recall campaign.
D. The secretary of state shall maintain a list of persons who have been convicted of participating in a pattern of recall petition signature fraud in violation of this section and who are barred from participating in any election,  initiative,  referendum or recall campaign for five years from the date of conviction. The list shall be published on the secretary of state's website. The secretary of state shall remove a person from the list on expiration of the five-year prohibition. If a member of the public requests a copy of the list,  the secretary of state shall provide it.
E. For the purposes of this section,  " pattern of recall petition signature fraud"  means that the person employs or subcontracts with persons to obtain signatures and at least five of the employees or subcontractor's employees have been convicted of a violation of this section for one or more elections or recall campaigns in an election cycle.
2023 Arizona Revised Statutes › Title 19 - Initiative, Referendum and Recall › § 19-207 - Notice to officer; statement of defense

19-207.
Notice to officer;  statement of defense
Upon filing the petition as prescribed by section 19-208.03,  subsection A,  paragraph 1,  the officer with whom it is filed shall within forty-eight hours,  excluding Saturdays,  Sundays or other legal holidays,  give written notice to the person against whom it is filed. The notice shall state that a recall petition has been filed,  shall set forth the grounds thereof,  and shall notify the person to whom it is addressed that the person has the right to prepare and have printed on the ballot a statement containing not more than two hundred words defending the person's official conduct. If the person fails to deliver the defensive statement to the officer giving notice within ten days thereafter,  the right to have a statement printed on the ballot shall be considered waived.
2023 Arizona Revised Statutes › Title 19 - Initiative, Referendum and Recall › § 19-208 - Resignation of person

19-208.
Resignation of person
If a person against whom a recall petition is filed desires to resign,  the person may do so by filing a written tender thereof with the officer with whom the petition demanding the person's recall is filed within five days,  excluding Saturdays,  Sundays and other legal holidays,  after the filing of the petition as prescribed by section 19-208.03. In such event the person's resignation shall be accepted and the vacancy shall be filled as provided by law.
2023 Arizona Revised Statutes › Title 19 - Initiative, Referendum and Recall › § 19-208.02 - Certification by county recorder

19-208.02.
Certification by county recorder
A. Within sixty days after receipt of the facsimile of the front and back of the signature sheets from the filing officer,  the county recorder shall determine the number of signatures or affidavits of individuals whose names were transmitted that must be disqualified for any of the following reasons:
1. The signature is illegible and the signer is otherwise unidentifiable.
2. The signature was disqualified after comparison with the signature on the affidavit of registration.
3. A petition signer's signature is determined to be invalid after a comparison is made between the signature and handwriting on the petition and the petition signer's voter registration file.
4. If a petitioner signed more than once,  all but one otherwise valid signature is disqualified.
5. The individual was not a qualified elector of the district on the date of signing the petition.
6. The individual was a registered voter but was not at least eighteen years of age on the date of signing the petition or affidavit.
7. A residence address or description of residence location is not provided.
8. The address provided is illegible or nonexistent.
9. A date of signing is not provided.
10. Any other reason a signature or entire petition sheet could be removed by the filing officer pursuant to section 19-208.01.
B. The county recorder shall certify such number to the filing officer in the form prescribed by the secretary of state.
C. At the time of certification,  the county recorder shall:
1. Return the facsimile copies of the signature sheets to the filing officer and obtain a dated,  signed receipt for the copies.
2. Send notice of the certification results by mail or electronically to the person or organization that submitted the recall petitions and to the filing officer.
2023 Arizona Revised Statutes › Title 19 - Initiative, Referendum and Recall › § 19-208.03 - Disposition of petition; date of filing

19-208.03.
Disposition of petition;  date of filing
A. Within five days,  excluding Saturday,  Sunday and legal holidays,  after the county recorders have certified the number of qualified signatures to a petition,  or sooner if a sufficient number of signatures have been certified to qualify for placement of the recall on the ballot,  the filing officer shall total the number of signatures certified,  and:
1. If the number equals or exceeds the minimum number required by the Constitution of Arizona,  the filing officer shall immediately officially file the petition and notify the governor and each county recorder affected,  stating that no more signatures need be checked,  and the recall shall be placed on the ballot in the manner provided by law.
2. If the number is insufficient to qualify for calling a recall election the filing officer shall follow the procedure prescribed by section 19-208.01,  subsection C.
B. The date of filing the petition as provided for in subsection A,  paragraph 1 of this section is the date of filing referred to in sections 19-207,  19-208 and 19-209.
2023 Arizona Revised Statutes › Title 19 - Initiative, Referendum and Recall › § 19-208.04 - Judicial review of actions by county recorder

19-208.04.
Judicial review of actions by county recorder
A. If the county recorder fails to comply with the provisions of section 19-208.02,  any elector may apply,  within ten calendar days after such refusal,  to the superior court for a writ of mandamus to compel him to do so. If the court finds that the county recorder has not complied with the provisions of section 19-208.02,  the court shall issue an order for the county recorder to comply.
B. If an elector wishes to challenge the number of signatures certified by the county recorder under the provisions of section 19-208.02,  he shall,  within ten calendar days after the receiving officer has notified the governor and the county recorders of the number of certified signatures received by him,  commence an action in the superior court for a determination thereon. The action shall be advanced on the calendar and heard and decided by the court as soon as possible. Either party may appeal to the supreme court within ten calendar days after judgment.
C. An action filed in the superior court under the provisions of this section against a county recorder shall be filed in the county of such county recorder,  except that when any such action involves more than one county recorder such action shall be filed in Maricopa county.