San Tan Valley, Arizona, Proposition 495, Town Incorporation Initiative (August 2025)

San Tan Valley Proposition 495
Election date August 5, 2025
Topic Incorporation, merging, and boundaries of local jurisdictions
Status Approved
Type Initiative

San Tan Valley Proposition 495 was on the ballot as an initiative in San Tan Valley on August 5, 2025. It was approved.

A "yes" vote supported incorporating the area described in the petition as a town called San Tan Valley.

A "no" vote opposed incorporating the area described in the petition as a town called San Tan Valley, thereby keeping the area as an unincorporated part of Pinal County.

Election results

San Tan Valley Proposition 495
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		10,133	66.59%
No		5,083	33.41%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Overview

What did Proposition 495 do?

See also: Text of measure

The ballot measure established the town of San Tan Valley in Arizona. Before the vote, San Tan Valley was an unincorporated community southwest of the Phoenix Metro area, between the towns of Queen Creek and Florence. San Tan Valley became the 92nd incorporated municipality in Arizona. As a town, San Tan Valley is able to create a town government, pass legislation, supply public works to the residents, and participate in other governing activities like other cities in the state.

The ballot measure specifically stated that San Tan Valley would become a town and not a city. According to the Arizona League of Cities and Towns, the only substantive difference between a town and a city in Arizona is that a city may adopt a charter and a town may not. A charter is a constitution-like document that sets the governing procedures for a city's local government.

What are the proposed boundaries of San Tan Valley, Arizona?

See below for the proposed boundaries of San Tan Valley, provided by STV Inc.:

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for the amendment is below.

“

Shall the area described in the legal description included with Petition No. INC-20241028 be incorporated as a town under the name of "San Tan Valley, Arizona" pursuant to Arizona Revised Statutes § 9-101? A "Yes" vote shall have the effect of authorizing the incorporation of the town of "San Tan Valley, Arizona". A "No" vote shall have the effect of not authorizing the incorporation of the town of "San Tan Valley, Arizona".

”

Full text

The full text of the ballot measure is below:

Support

San Tan Valley Inc., abbreviated as STV Inc. led the campaign in support of initiative.

Supporters

Officials

• Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke (Nonpartisan)

Former Officials

• Former Phoenix City Councilmember Sal DiCiccio (Nonpartisan)
• Former Mesa Mayor John Giles (Nonpartisan)

Organizations

• San Tan Valley Inc.

Arguments

• Former Mesa Mayor John Giles: "Incorporation is a smart move that will enhance regional collaboration, empowering San Tan Valley residents to shape their community according to their unique needs, values, and aspirations."
• Former Phoenix City Councilmember Sal DiCiccio: "As someone who has fought for transparency and fiscal responsibility in Phoenix, I can tell you this: it makes zero sense for San Tan Valley residents to send over $10 Million of their tax dollars every year to a city that’s miles away and doesn’t represent them. That money should be building your roads, your parks, and your families – not funding the politics and priorities of Phoenix. It’s time for San Tan Valley to invest in itself."
• San Tan Valley Inc.: "The status quo is that government is already getting all of your tax money and YOU ARE NOT. Incorporation creates an opportunity to retain 100% of our tax revenue locally. Currently, the tax revenue generated in San Tan Valley—estimated at $51.3 million to $65 million annually from state sales tax, state income tax, fees, and other sources—does not return to directly fund our neighborhoods, roads, or community needs. Instead, this revenue goes to the county or other cities and towns across the state. You are funding other projects and roads other residents get to drive on daily in their communities. Incorporation ensures that all of this money stays in our community, supporting local projects, infrastructure, and improvements that directly benefit San Tan Valley residents."

Opposition

Opponents

Ballotpedia did not locate a campaign in opposition to the ballot measure.

Arguments

You can share campaign information or arguments, along with source links for this information, at editor@ballotpedia.org.

Path to the ballot

See also: Laws governing local ballot measures in Arizona

In Arizona, as of 2025, state law requires supporters of incorporation to collect signatures from at least 10% of registered voters in the proposed area. If the county board of supervisors confirms that the petition meets the signature requirement and the area satisfies population and other legal criteria, the board is required to schedule an election within 180 days, to be held on one of the state’s consolidated election dates.

Stages of the ballot initiative

The following is the timeline of the initiative:

• August 6, 2024: The Gilbert City Council passed a resolution granting its approval of the proposed municipality.
• August 19, 2024: The Mesa City Council passed a resolution granting its approval of the proposed municipality.
• October 28, 2024: STV Inc., the committee supporting the initiative, submitted the initiative petition to the Pinal County Board of Supervisors.
• October 30, 2024: The Pinal County Board of Supervisors approved the request to circulate petitions to gather signatures.
• April 18, 2025: STV. Inc submitted over 10,000 signatures of individuals that supported the initiative. The Pinal County Elections Board later verified over 6,107 signatures, which was sufficient to place the initiative on the ballot.

How to cast a vote

See also: Voting in Arizona

See below to learn more about current voter registration rules, identification requirements, and poll times in Arizona.

How to vote in Arizona

Poll times

In Arizona, all polling places are open from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.

Registration

Check your voter registration status here.

To vote in Arizona, one must be a citizen of the United States and a resident of an Arizona county. A voter must be 18 years or older on or before Election Day. Arizona also requires voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship to vote for state and local elections

To be eligible to vote in an election one must register at least 29 days prior to the election. Individuals can register online, in person at the county recorder's office, or by mail.

Automatic registration

Arizona does not practice automatic voter registration.

Online registration

See also: Online voter registration

Arizona has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.

Same-day registration

Arizona does not allow same-day voter registration.

Residency requirements

Arizona law requires 29 days of residency in the state before a person may vote.

Verification of citizenship

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

Arizona requires voters to submit proof of citizenship with their voter registration application to vote in state and local elections. According to the Arizona Secretary of State's website: "A registrant who attests to being a citizen but fails to provide proof of citizenship and whose citizenship is not otherwise verified will be eligible to vote only in federal elections (known as being a 'federal only' voter)." Accepted proof of citizenship include:

• An Arizona Driver's License/Identification Number
• Indian Census Number, Bureau of Indian Affairs Card Number, Tribal Treaty Card Number, or Tribal Enrollment Number
• A photocopy of U.S. naturalization documents
• A photocopy of a birth certificate and supporting legal documentation (i.e., marriage certificate) if the name on the birth certificate is not the same as your current legal name.
• A photocopy of a U.S. passport.
• A photocopy of a Tribal Certificate of Indian Blood or Bureau of Indian Affairs Affidavit of Birth.

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment. Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. One state, Ohio, requires proof of citizenship only when registering to vote at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles facility. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

Verifying your registration

The Arizona Voter Information Portal, run by the Arizona Secretary of State's office, allows residents to check their voter registration status online.

Voter ID requirements

Arizona requires voters to present photo identification or two forms of non-photo identification while voting.

The following were accepted forms of identification as of October 2025: Click here for the Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission's page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.

Voters can present one of the following forms of ID that contain the voter’s photograph, name, and address:

• Arizona driver’s license
• U.S. federal, state, or local government-issued ID, issued with printed name and address
• Arizona ID card
• Tribal enrollment card or other form of tribal ID

If a voter does not have one of the above forms of ID, the voter can present two of the following forms of ID that contain the voter’s name and address:

• Utility bill in the voter's name that is dated within 90 days of the election
• Bank or credit union statement that is dated within 90 days of the date of the election
• Valid Arizona vehicle registration
• Arizona vehicle insurance card
• Indian census card
• Property tax statement
• Recorder's certificate or voter registration card
• Tribal enrollment card or other tribal ID
• Valid U.S. federal, state, or local government-issued ID with a printed name and address or
• Any mailing in the voter's name that is labeled "official election material"  

Additionally, if a voter presents photo ID that does not list an address within the precinct in which he or she wants to cast a vote, that person may present the photo ID with one non-photo identification material from the second list above. The identification material should include the voter’s address.

See also

Local measures

• Local measures in 2025
• Incorporation, merging, and boundaries of local jurisdictions on the ballot

• Pinal County measures

Arizona

• Arizona 2025 local measures
• Local ballot measures, Arizona
• San Tan Valley, Arizona

News and analysis

• State and local preemption conflicts
• Measures advancing national agendas

External links

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