campaign finance; penalties; suspensions; terminations

SB 1617 amends Arizona's candidate filing requirements for all state and local offices. It requires candidates to file a "statement of interest" with their political party and target office before collecting petition signatures, making prior signatures invalid. The bill also specifies strict rules for how candidate names appear on ballots (limiting to surnames, given names, or approved nicknames in quotes) and mandates submission of financial disclosure statements and qualification declarations. These changes directly affect all candidates seeking office in Arizona elections, ensuring procedural compliance before ballot access.