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Home News & Events Center for the Future of Arizona Announces Support for Make Elections Fair Ballot Initiative

Center for the Future of Arizona Announces Support for Make Elections Fair Ballot Initiative

Posted on September 23, 2024 • Category: News Release

Center for the Future of Arizona (CFA) today announces its official endorsement of Proposition 140, the Make Elections Fair ballot initiative. This initiative aims to create a more inclusive and representative election process in Arizona by establishing a single, open primary system that allows all voters, regardless of party affiliation, to participate equally in primary elections.

CFA's decision to support the Make Elections Fair initiative reflects its longstanding commitment to listening to Arizonans and working collaboratively to build a brighter future for our state. By endorsing this initiative, CFA is supporting what it sees as a significant step towards bridging the gap between what Arizona voters want and the outcomes of our elections and governance.

“The Make Elections Fair initiative is a critical step to ensuring that the voices of all Arizonans are heard and that our leaders are representative of the broad majority of voters,” said Sybil Francis, Ph.D., Chair, President & CEO of Center for the Future of Arizona. “Our public opinion research has consistently shown that Arizonans agree on more than we disagree on when it comes to key issues. However, the current partisan primary system often leads to outcomes that don’t reflect these shared priorities. This initiative will help to address that disconnect.”

Over 15 years of conducting rigorous public opinion survey research, CFA has found that Arizonans agree more than we disagree on important issues like education, jobs, health care, and more. The data show that large majorities of Arizonans agree on shared public values and are not nearly as polarized and divided as is often believed.

Additionally, CFA’s surveys of Arizona voters have shown concern about the divisiveness and partisanship in our politics across all affiliations. And the vast majority of voters agree that:

  • Democrat, Republican, independent, non-affiliated, or others registered - should have equal access to voting.
  • All candidates, regardless of party affiliation, should have the same signature requirements to qualify for a particular elected office.
  • Our partisan primary system rewards the most extreme candidates who then need to keep their narrow base of primary voters satisfied while they are in office so they can get reelected. We need to make changes to our primary system, so we elect leaders who represent more than just a small segment of voters.

The Make Elections Fair initiative, Proposition 140, proposes key changes to Arizona's electoral system:

  • Establishing a Single, Open Primary: All candidates will appear on the same ballot, and every voter, regardless of party affiliation, will use that same ballot to vote. This ensures that every voter has an equal opportunity to participate in the primary election.
  • Eliminating Taxpayer Funding for Partisan Primaries: The initiative proposes eliminating taxpayer funding for partisan primary elections unless unaffiliated voters are included, ensuring a more equitable use of public resources.
  • Equalizing Signature Requirements for Candidates: All candidates, regardless of party affiliation, will be required to meet the same signature requirements to qualify for the ballot, promoting fairness and inclusivity.

Read the full details on the Secretary of State website, azsos.gov/elections/ballot-measures, or makeelectionsfairaz.com.

CFA's support for this initiative aligns with its nonpartisan mission and dedication to fostering an environment where leaders are accountable to the broad majority of voters rather than catering to narrow partisan interests. This decision to endorse Make Elections Fair was made with careful consideration and the backing of CFA’s Board of Directors, underscoring the importance of this initiative to the future of Arizona.

“Make Elections Fair is an important step to ensuring that the voices of Arizona voters are better represented in our elections. This initiative does not favor any political party. It favors voters,” said Dr. Francis.

CFA’s official statement of support for the Make Elections Fair initiative is included in the Arizona Voter Guide. CFA encourages voters who are concerned about extreme partisanship and want to see election outcomes that are more representative of Arizonans to vote for Make Elections Fair (Prop 140).

In addition to the statement in the AZ Voter Guide, CFA will actively communicate its support through various channels, including social media, op-eds, and public discussions. Dr. Francis recently engaged in a conversation with CFA Senior Fellow and podcast and news radio host Steve Goldstein to discuss the importance of the Make Elections Fair initiative for Arizona.