Candidate Debates

R2-20-107. Candidate Debates A. The Commission shall sponsor debates among statewide an d legislative office candidates prior to the primary and general elections. Except as set forth in the subsection below, th e Commission shall not be required to sponsor a debate if ther e is no participating candidate in the election for a particular office. B. In the primary election period, the Commission shall sponsor political party primary election debates for every office i n which: 1. There are more candidates appearing on the ballot tha n nomina- there are seats available for the political party’s tion for general election candidates, and 2. At least one of the candidates is a participating candidate. C. The following candidates will not be invited to participate i n debates as follows: 1. In the primary election, write-in candidates for the priaffilia- mary election, independent candidates, no party tion or unrecognized party candidates. 2. In the general election, write-in candidates. pri- D. In the event that there is no participating candidate in a mary or general election but there is an election involving candidates who are not unopposed, a candidate may request that the Commission sponsor a debate pursuant to this rule. If th e requesting candidate is the sole participant in the debate th e format shall be as prescribed in R2-20-107(K). pur- 1. A nonparticipating candidate who requests a debate suant to this rule shall complete and return the invitatio n form sent to the candidate by the Commission by th e deadline identified on the form. Forms received by th e Commission past the deadline may still be considered at the discretion of the Commission. Commission staff shall notify all invited candidates if a debate will be sponsore d by the Commission and which candidates will participate. 2. If a candidate requests that the Commission sponsor a candi- debate and fails or refuses to attend the debate, or a date agrees to participate in a debate and subsequentl y fails or refuses to attend the debate sponsored by th e Commission, each candidate who fails or refuses t o attend the debate shall reimburse the Commission for th e cost of debate preparations not to exceed $10,000 for a non-participating candidate for the legislature an d $25,000 for a non-participating candidate for statewid e office. In the event that a candidate requests a general elec- election debate or agrees to participate in a general tion debate but does not advance to the general election, the candidate shall not be liable for the reimbursement. E. Pursuant to A.R.S. § 16-956(A)(2), all participating candidate s certified pursuant to A.R.S. § 16-947 shall attend and participate in the debates sponsored by the Commission. No proxie s candi- or representatives are permitted to participate for any Supp. Administrative Code ADMINISTRATION ELECTIONS COMMISSION date and no statements may be read on behalf of an absent candidate. partici- F. Unless exempted, if a participating candidate fails to pate in any Commission-sponsored debate, the participatin g candidate shall be fined $500.00. For purposes of this Section, each primary or general election shall be considered a separat e election. G. A participating candidate may request to be exempt from participating in a required debate by doing the following: 1. Submit a written request to the Commission at least on e week prior to the scheduled debate, and 2. State the reasons and circumstances justifying the request for exemption. H. After examining the request to be exempt, the Commissio n will exempt a candidate from participating in a debate if at least three Commissioners determine that the circumstance s are: 1. Beyond the control of the candidate; or 2. Of such nature that a reasonable person would find th e failure to attend justifiable or excusable. I. A participating candidate who fails to participate in a require d debate may submit a request for excused absence to the Commission. 1. The candidate's request for excused absence shall: a. State the reason the candidate failed to participate i n the debate, and b. State the reason the candidate failed to request a n exemption in advance, and c. Be submitted to the Commission no later than fiv e candi- business days after the date of the debate the date failed to attend. 2. After examining the request for excused absence, th e Commission may excuse a candidate from the penaltie s imposed if at least three Commissioners determine that the circumstances were: a. Beyond the control of the candidate; or b. Of such nature that a reasonable person would fin d the failure to attend justifiable or excusable. J. When a participating candidate is not opposed in the general election, the candidate shall be exempt from participating in a Commission-sponsored debate for the general election. pri- K. In the event that a participating candidate is opposed in the mary election or general election but is the only candidate taking part in a primary election period or general election perio d debate, as applicable, the debate will be held and will consist of a 30-minute question and answer session for the single participating candidate. If more than one candidate takes part i n the debate, regardless of participation status, the debate will b e held in accordance with the procedures established by th e Commission staff. Historical Note New Section adopted by exempt rulemaking at 6 A.A.R. 1567, effective June 21, 2000 (Supp. 00-2). Section repealed; new Section made by exempt rulemaking at 8 A.A.R. 588, effective October 17, 2001 (Supp. 02-1). Section repealed by exempt rulemaking at 11 A.A.R. 4518, effective May 28, 2005 (Supp. 05-4). New Section made by exempt rulemaking at 12 A.A.R. 758, effective February 15, 2006 (Supp. 06-1). Amended by exempt rulemaking at 13 A.A.R. 2434, effective August 27, 2007 (Supp. 07-2). Amended by exempt rulemaking at 15 A.A.R. 1156, effective August 31, 2009 (Supp. 09-2). Amended by exempt rulemaking at 19 A.A.R. 1690, effective October 6, 2011 (Supp. 13-2). Amended by 26-1 March 31, 2026 Arizona CHAPTER 20. CITIZENS CLEAN exempt rulemaking at 19 A.A.R. 4213, effective November 21, 2013 (Supp. 13-4). Amended by final exempt rulemaking at 21 A.A.R. 1627, effective July 23, 2015 (Supp. 15-3). Amended by final exempt rulemaking at 23 A.A.R. 119, effective December 15, 2016 (Supp. 16-4).