100% of primary decisions are made by...
< 20% of voters in the Republican primary and < 15% of voters in the Democratic primary
Who really gets a seat at the table?
What's so unfair about our current system?
Arizona's current electoral system encourages partisan influence, and unequal representation of independent voters, and authorizes the use of taxpayer funds to support private political party primaries.
What are we proposing?
PROP 140:
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Eliminates taxpayer funding for partisan elections
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All candidates can run and will appear on the same ballot
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Same signature requirements for all candidates
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No funding for Partisan Presidential Primary unless unaffiliated voters are included
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Every voter can participate in every election
Proposition 140 creates an open primary.
What is an open primary?
In an open primary, all candidates will appear on the same ballot and compete under the same rules, and all registered voters will use that same ballot to cast their vote for their preferred candidate(s). In an open primary, the use of taxpayer funds to pay for private political party primaries would be prohibited. *Most Arizona cities/towns already use open nonpartisan primaries to elect Mayors and Council.
What changes?
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Every Voter, Every Election: any registered voter can vote in any election for any candidate they want.
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Currently: the partisan primary system, paid for by all taxpayers, excludes voters not affiliated with a political party from participating. A voter who does not belong to a party must select a party ballot to vote in a Primary election.
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Competition Produces Better Choices: makes elected officials accountable to most voters and leads to better choices, better results, and a stronger Arizona.
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Currently: 70% of Arizona voters DO NOT believe our elected officials are focused on the issues they care about most.
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Stop Politics of Division – Build Consensus: encourages candidates to be responsive to all constituents and combats the politics of division and incentivizes candidates to prioritize the issues we agree upon.
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Currently: our system of voting for the lesser of two evils rewards elected politicians that do not focus on the issues we care about most.
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Your Voice and Your Vote Matter: open elections will give voters equal opportunity to weigh in on who is elected. Your vote will always matter even if your first choice is eliminated.
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Currently: our summer primary election system is by far the most visible way we have turned power over to our most partisan, polarized citizens.
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Equal Treatment: treats all candidates and voters equally by allowing them to compete under the same rules.
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Currently: unaffiliated candidates must collect more than 6x the number of signatures and do not appear on the primary ballot.
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Prop 140 Fact Check:
Prop 140 does not increase or expand the Legislature's authority beyond what it already has; rather, it would constrain the Legislature.
Here is how Prop 140 would restrain the Legislature:
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Require all candidates for office to have the same qualifying signature requirements.
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Ensure all voters have the right to sign a candidate nominating petition regardless of their political affiliation or that of the candidate.
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Institute voter rankings if the Legislature decides to send more than two candidates to the general election
Prop 140 limits the Legislature’s authority in critical ways, forbidding lawmakers to: -
Spend public funds administering political party elections (including the Presidential Preference Election)
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unless Independent and minor-party voters may also vote.
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Curtail a citizens’ right to vote on account of political party affiliation.
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Deny any person a ballot based on political party affiliation.
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Exclude voters from voting in primary elections based on the voter’s or any candidate’s party affiliation.
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Change, more than once every six years, the number of candidates who advance from the primary to the general election.
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Prop 140 intentionally left the general election format flexible so that it could evolve over time, reflecting voters’ preferences. Not locking a specific method into the Constitution allows for change to occur more easily if that’s what citizens want.
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Arizona’s partisan primary system is paid for by all taxpayers and does not treat unaffiliated voters or candidates fairly. IND/unaffiliated voters are required to compromise their principle of non-affiliation and must select a party ballot to participate in the primary election.
Independent and unaffiliated candidates running for statewide office must collect nearly 6x as many signatures and they do not appear on any primary ballot.
70% of Arizona voters DO NOT believe our elected officials are focused on the issues they care about most.
69% of Arizona voters DO NOT believe that politicians are delivering the results they want, need, and deserve.
