Election Information

A fair electoral system ensures that each citizen’s vote has equal value and that voters have equal representation. Citizens vote for leaders to represent them and their ideas, and the leaders are answerable to their constituents if they do not support the citizens’ interests. Elections promote accountability among the leaders, help to politically protect different groups in society, and serve to legitimize the government. 

Political Affiliation

Candidate elections held at the state and federal level are partisan. There are four political parties that are recognized in Arizona. Voters can register with a political party or as no party designated (independent). A voter’s affiliation determines which elections they can participate in and what type of ballot they receive.

The Presidency 

Every 4 years, Americans elect our President, a position that carries huge power. The President enforces laws, directs where money and resources go when communities are in need, leads our nation in times of crisis, and represents our country in important matters around the world. No single elected office is more significant; a President’s decisions and policies affect the direction of the country every single day.

Congress 

Voters elect Senators and Representatives to serve them in the two houses of Congress. We call these “lawmakers” because Congress writes and votes on the laws that the President enforces. These officials also have an important say in the way the government spends tax dollars, including whether tax dollars are invested in your community. Senators and Representatives can also help their constituents with problems relating to government service programs.

State Government 

The election of state officials includes these state offices: Governor, Secretary of State, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Mine Inspector, Treasurer, and Attorney General. The Corporate Commission is a regulatory agency with five elected members.  

The Arizona Senate and House of Representatives are elected by citizens living in each legislative district. There are 30 Senators and 60 Representatives. 

Judges serving on the Arizona State Supreme Court are initially appointed by the Governor; at the end of their terms, voters decide whether to retain them for another term.

Local Government

In municipal areas, the Mayor and the City or Town Council are the lawmakers elected by voters in the respective cities or towns. Each county elects members of its County Board of Supervisors, which has jurisdiction that covers the county and unincorporated areas. Other elected officials serving the county are: Sheriff, Constable, County Recorder, Treasurer, Assessor, Attorney, Clerk of the Court, School Superintendent, and Superior Court Judges for the county.

Unique to Arizona is the Central Arizona Water Conservation District which serves an area including Maricopa, Pima, and Pinal counties. The District is managed by a 15-member board, elected by voters from those three counties. This government entity was created to manage the 336-mile canal that brings water from the Colorado River to Central and Southern Arizona (known as the Central Arizona Project).

Learn more about Elected Officials and How Government Works