Elections

The Town of Carefree will hold elections in the Fall of 2018. For incoming results click Election Results on the left panel.

No Town matters are currently on the ballot for the Spring of 2018

Click here for Call of the Election
Click here for Town Council Candidates for Primary Election August 28th, 2018

Primary Election       Deadline to Register
August 28, 2018          July 30, 2018

General Election      Deadline to Register
November 6, 2018     October 9, 2018

Note: All voter registration deadlines are pursuant to A.R.S. §§ 16-120 & 16-134.

Early Voting Opportunities:
Maricopa County Elections Office will hold early election voting opportunities at our Town Council Center located at 33 Easy Street on the following dates:

FOR PRIMARY
August 22nd thru the 24th from 8:00am to 5:00pm
then
August 28th from 6:00am to 7:00pm

FOR GENERAL
October 31th thru November 2nd from 8:00am to 5:00pm
then
November 6th from 6:00am to 7:00pm

Citizens from any precinct can cast a ballot at this location.
Mail in ballots can be dropped off at this location as well.

In addition to the six council seats and seat for mayor for the Town of Carefree, there will be several federal, state and municipal elections as well.

Detailed information can be found at https://ballotpedia.org/Arizona_elections,_2018

Map of the Carefree Precinct boundaries at www.carefree.org/DocumentCenter/View/2589/Carefree-Precinct-Voting--Boundaries-12-27-2017

Election Information

Elections for Mayor and Town Council are held in even-numbered years. The next Primary Election will be held in the fall of 2018.

The Planning and Zoning Commission is 7 members appointed by the Council who serve at the Council's pleasure. The Board of Adjustment is the same as the Planning and Zoning Commission.

Mayor

For Mayor, if any mayor candidate receives a majority of the votes at the Primary, they are declared elected as of the date of the General Election, and no General Election is required.

Town Council

For Town Council, if at least 6 candidates receive a majority of the votes at the Primary, they are declared elected as of the date of the General Election, and no General Election is required. By state law, Town elections are non-partisan.

Candidate Requirements

The Mayor and all 6 Council members are up for election every 2 years.

To be eligible to run for the office of Mayor or Town Councilperson you must:

Be 18 years of age or over

Be a registered voter

Have been a resident of the Town for 1 year

File a nominating petition signed by at least 5% and not more than 10% of the highest vote cast for an elected official of the town at the last preceding election

The Town Council also sits as the Board of Directors of the Utilities Communities Facilities District/Carefree Water Company.

You will find the Candidate Packet which has the information and forms required to run for the above offices under Election Forms.

Understanding Carefree Term Limits
June 6, 2018

Last week, Maricopa County Superior Court ruled that a Carefree Town ordinance adopted in 2011 imposing term limits is in violation of the State Constitution and State law.

The Court found that Towns, such as Carefree, do not have the power to impose term limits. Furthermore, whether the imposition of the term limit is by an act of Council or by voter approved initiative, it is in violation of State law. This is why no other Town form of government within the State has a limitation on terms served by Mayor or Town Council Members and why term limits were never included in the original Town Code.

Background
Carefree Vice Mayor John Crane has served three terms, one by appointment and two by election. Therefore, pursuant to the Carefree term limit ordinance, Councilman Crane did not have the right to run for another term. In April, after pulling nominating petitions, the Town advised Councilman Crane that should he submit nominating petitions to run for another term, his petitions would be rejected by the Town. As a result, Councilman Crane engaged an attorney, at his expense, and filed suit in the Superior Court claiming that the current Town ordinance was in violation of State law and violated his right to seek another term of office. Although the Town defended the ordinance, the Judge found the ordinance was in violation of State law. The Judge ordered that the Town must process John Crane’s petitions and that the County is required to print his name on the ballot. His nominating petitions were submitted on time and processed. The voters will now have the right in the upcoming election to vote for Councilman Crane if they wish to do so. If re-elected, John Crane cannot be barred from continuing to volunteer and serve an additional two-year term.
Looking further ahead, the Town must rewrite the ordinance to comply with State law and the Superior Court decision and remove term limits from the Town Code.

Voter Registration Questions?
http://recorder.maricopa.gov/elections/assistance.aspx