AZ HB2831

Amends procedures for the Secretary of State to determine valid initiative and referendum petition signatures by removing the requirement to subtract signatures found ineligible by county recorders from the total before calculating the random sample percentage.

Modifies voter registration verification standards to use the general county register version current at the time of filing a court challenge as the official record, while allowing county recorders to examine the register version from the petition signing date to determine signature validity.

Separates challenges to petition validity into two categories: challenges based on Secretary of State or county actions cannot include challenges to individual petition signatures, and signature challenges cannot be consolidated with administrative action challenges.

Requires persons filing validity challenges to do so within five calendar days after the Secretary of State's actions and specifies jurisdiction for different types of initiative and referendum disputes (Maricopa County Superior Court for statewide measures; county of location for local/special district measures).

Preserves existing provisions allowing citizens and county/district attorneys to seek writs of mandamus to compel filing of petitions and allowing courts to expedite hearings and appeals on petition challenges.