Republicans listed first on ballot (Arizona)

[DesertRat]

If you look very carefully at the ballot this election, you may notice that in Maricopa County, the Republican Party gets precedence.

In every race for every office, regardless of alphabetical order or incumbency, Republicans are listed first, followed by Democrats, then Libertarians and other candidates.

Yvonne Reed, spokeswoman for the Maricopa County Election Office, explains that it's not part of a vast right-wing conspiracy but a little-known state law. The law requires that the ballot order be based on whichever party's candidate won the previous gubernatorial contest in that county, she says.

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/1105ballotfatigue-box1106.html

[rusty charly]

1. "The Incumbancy Law"?

never heard of it...

[Pacifist Patriot]

2. Seems like a rather stupid law, but I did notice that...

"In left-leaning Pima County, the Democrats are listed first because Napolitano won there in 2002."

Your headline made it seem as if this is a state-wide phenomenon. I'm somewhat relieved this is an idiotic state law with individual county implications. Still, I would encourage folks in Arizona to talk to their state legislators about this.

[blondeatlast]

3. I believe I will talk to my legislator about this.

Of course, we are talking about the inane AZ state legislature, but nonetheless.

It seems to me like that is an awful lot of extra work for the ballot preparers and those who count the votes.

I wish I could say this is the dumbest thing our state legies have ever done, but far from it in the home of the alternative fuel Hummer law. Gah.

[DesertRat]

5. Maricopa County is by far the largest in the state

And the 4th largest county in the country.

[zbdent]

4. I notice they don't show "which" law ...

and a quick glance at Arizona's state constitution (they said a state law) didn't say ... a closer look might show ..

Have them state the number of the law ...

[AZCat]

6. That'd be A.R.S. 16-502(E)

ARS 15-502. Form and contents of ballot




On Edit: Whoops, typo.