PHOENIX — A candidate in Cochise County is challenging the decision of state lawmakers to move up the date of this year’s primary by two weeks — or, at least, the way they did it.
Eli Dalton-Webb, who is running to be the county clerk of superior court, does not dispute the Arizona Constitution permits lawmakers to enact new laws with an “emergency clause.” That means a measure takes effect on the signature of the governor.
What it also does is sidestep the normal process under which anything approved by the legislature takes effect 90 days after the end of the session. That 90-day period gives anyone who disagrees with what lawmakers did the time to gather enough signatures to hold up enactment until voters statewide get a chance to ratify or reject it.
