(A) Power reserved; time of election.
(1) There is reserved to the qualified electors of the town the power of the initiative and the referendum as prescribed by the State Constitution.
(2) When a referendum or initiative election is required to be placed on the ballot, the Council shall do so at the next regularly scheduled state primary or general election. Alternatively, the Council may, at its discretion, call a special election to be held on any date authorized by A.R.S. § 16-204 to place a referendum or initiative election on the ballot.
(B) Number of signatures.
(1) The total number of registered voters qualified to vote at the last municipal election, whether primary, general or special, immediately preceding the date upon which any initiative petition is filed shall be the basis upon which the number of qualified electors of the town required to file an initiative petition shall be computed.
(2) The basis upon which the number of qualified electors of the town required to file a referendum petition shall be as determined by state law.
(C) Time of filing.
(1) Initiative petitions shall be filed at least 120 days prior to the date of the election at which the proposed measures are to be voted upon.
(2) Referendum petitions shall be filed within 30 days of the adoption of the ordinance or resolution to be referred. If the Town Clerk is unable to provide the petitioner with a full and correct copy of the ordinance or resolution signed by the Mayor at the time of application for an official number or on the same business day the application is submitted, the 30-day period shall be calculated from the date such ordinance or resolution is available.
(D) Sample ballots and publicity pamphlets. The procedures relating to sample ballots and publicity pamphlets shall be as set forth in state law.
(E) Circulators. In addition to other requirements set forth in state law, only qualified electors of the town, persons who are both qualified to register to vote in the town and who are properly registered to vote in the town, may circulate municipal initiative and referendum petitions.
(Ord. 01-93, passed 2-11-1993; Ord. 03-2013, passed 11-14-2013)