Former Governor Symington had a vision that it would be great for the state of Arizona to have our citizens become players in the selection of presidential candidates.

He advocated a presidential preference election and thought it would be great for tourism, knowing it would expand the horizons of our beautiful sunsets to bring business and national recognition across the nation.

Governor Symington solicited key legislators to move a bill through the Legislature to fund such an election and was obviously successful in this endeavor. Governor Symington had also hoped that the early election date in Arizona would help a particular candidate.

In 1995, Democrats opposed the public funding of what had traditionally been a political party expense. This was not the prevailing opinion and the bill was made into law. Democrats railed, “Republicans are playing politics.” Can you imagine anyone thinking that was happening?

The state of Arizona conducted presidential preference elections in 1996 and 2000 but only the Republican and Libertarian political parties participated. Democrats did not participate in these elections because of national party rules. The Democratic Party continued conducting its own election without taxpayer expense.

I would be remiss if I did not mention that by the time the 1996 Arizona presidential preference election took place Governor Symington’s candidate was no longer in the hunt. It should also be noted that in the 1996 election, the Democratic Party had only one candidate seeking the presidency, the incumbent president seeking reelection. The Democratic Party election would not have been contested, so using public funding for a single name on the ballot would have been a waste.

As the 2004 Arizona presidential preference election begins to unfold, refinements have been made to this event. In fact, the circumstances are almost an exact reversal from the 1996 election. Governor Napolitano, as authorized by state law, moved the election date up to Feb. 3, 2004, three weeks earlier than in the past. Changes in the Democratic Party rules now allow candidates to participate in earlier primary election dates.

However, the Arizona Republican Party has notified the state of Arizona they will not be participating in the Arizona 2004 presidential preference election. The Republicans have only one candidate seeking the presidency in 2004, the incumbent president seeking reelection. The Libertarian Party has also decided not to participate in this election in 2004.

During the 2003 Legislative session, legislation was introduced to do away with the presidential preference election. Both chambers of the Legislature passed the bill. The vote was split along political party lines. Republicans railed, “Democrats are playing politics.” Governor Napolitano did as she had forewarned and issued a veto of the bill when it reached her desk. Her veto message followed the same theme that former Governor Symington expressed in 1995. The state would reap the benefits of being a player on the national political stage. Can you imagine Republican and Democratic governors agreeing on such a cause?

Same road, new twist? Here we go again — first we had to explain to Democrats during the 1996 and 2000 presidential preference election that they were not permitted to vote in the election and that the Democratic Party was conducting its own caucus. Many Democratic voters wanted to vote for Senator John McCain in the 2000 presidential preference election, but only Republicans could legally vote. Now for the 2004 election, we have to explain to Republicans that the 2004 presidential preference election is for only Democratic Party voters and the Republican Party will be holding its own convention. Don’t worry; I have not forgotten those that are registered Independent and No Party Preference.

Now for those registered as Independent, No Party, or as members of a small political party. Under Arizona law, you may vote in regular primary elections. However, citizens who are registered as Independent, No Party or as a member of a small political party cannot vote in the presidential preference election. In fact, the Independents have never been allowed to vote in any presidential preference election in Arizona.

The Feb. 3 election is a presidential preference election not a Primary Election. So if you are registered Independent, No Party or a member of any political party other than Democratic and you want to vote in the 2004 presidential preference election, you must re-register and change your party affiliation to the Democratic Party.

After this brief historical story, I think you can begin to appreciate why this is a difficult election process to explain to voters. The 15 county recorders from Flagstaff to Yuma to Tucson do not always have a say when the Legislature passes laws. However, when legislation becomes the law it is up to all of us to implement the process of conducting elections. We did not create this election but are required to follow Arizona State Statutes. It is the law.

F. Ann Rodriguez is the Pima County Recorder. Her Web page is www.recorder.az.us.pima.us .

The deadline to register for the 2004 presidential preference election is Jan. 5. Contact your local county recorder for further information. Arizona presidential election is referred to as PPE.