Opinion ID: 2608890
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Effect of Untimely Filing with Respect to Later Elections

Text: Citizens argue alternatively that, even if the petition was untimely filed for the March 6, 1990 election, the initiative measure should be submitted to the voters at a later election. Citizens base their argument on provisions of the City Charter and on A.R.S. § 19-143(A). Citizens contend that because the City Charter does not limit the council to placing an initiative measure at only primary or general elections, the measure should be submitted to the voters at a special election. See City of Flagstaff Charter, art. 9, § 1(a), (b), (c), (d). [2] Accordingly, Citizens posit that although the petition is untimely for the March 6, 1990 general election, it is timely for placement on the ballot at a special election to be called by the city council, to be held concurrently with the statewide November general election or at some other reasonable time. Citizens also base their argument, in part, on A.R.S. § 19-143(A), which provides that the city clerk shall submit the initiative petition to the voters at the next ensuing election held therein. The next ensuing election under § 19-143(A), Citizens argue, is a term sufficiently expansive to include the November general election, a special election, or some other general city election. Citizens' interpretation renders A.R.S. § 19-121(D) superfluous. That statute provides: Initiative petitions which have not been filed with the secretary of state as of five p.m. on the day required by the constitution prior to the ensuing general election after their issuance shall be null and void.... A.R.S. § 19-121(D). Citizens contend that A.R.S. § 19-121(D) is inapplicable to municipal elections. However, as we have noted, general state statutes on initiatives indeed apply absent controlling local ordinances. To accept Citizens' argument would result in no effective deadline because any filing would be timely for some election. We hold that A.R.S. § 19-121(D) governs on local initiatives, absent a conflicting local ordinance. Under A.R.S. § 19-121(D), initiative petitions are null and void if not filed by 5:00 p.m. on the day required prior to  the ensuing general election after their issuance. (emphasis added). The petitions in this case were issued on August 7, 1989, and filed on November 21, 1989, less than four months prior to the March 6, 1990 general election. Therefore, the petitions are null and void by the express terms of the statute, and may not be considered for some other, later election.