Arizona Republic: Arizona Voters Want Convenience, Accuracy, Access Over Faster Election Results

Waiting for anything can be frustrating. But what's ultimately more important: The outcome or the speed?

That's the central question of Arizona’s growing debate over how quickly election results are reported.

In recent weeks, the Arizona Legislature advanced election reform bills, including a bill proposing to cut short early ballot drop-offs before Election Day to speed up final results. The governor vetoed this measure, which also included requiring mail-in voters to request a ballot for each election. Since then, there has been significant debate and discussion and lots of claims about what voters want and about what comes next. But what do voters really want when it comes to speed vs. convenience?

This is precisely the kind of question the Center for the Future of Arizona regularly poses to likely voters through its nonpartisan public opinion survey research. Our goal is to center the voices of Arizonans in public policy and ensure they have a seat at the table on key issues facing the state—including this one.

So, we asked likely voters whether they prioritize faster results or the ability to drop off early ballots up to and on Election Day, and the results were clear.

Voters overwhelmingly prioritize convenience and access over speed
CFA’s newest statewide survey, conducted by Noble Predictive Analytics, found that 69% of likely voters believe it should be easy and convenient for eligible citizens to vote − even if it means waiting longer for results rather than cutting off early ballot drop-offs to speed up results.

A majority across party lines − including 56% of Republicans, 72% of independent and unaffiliated voters, and 82% of Democrats − prefer continuing to allow voters to drop off their early ballots up to and on Election Day, believing it’s worth waiting for results to ensure every voter has the chance to participate.

We’d all like faster results, but the debate has been framed as a binary choice: Speed or convenient access. The fact that voters across the political spectrum like the convenience of dropping off their ballots through Election Day does not mean they wouldn’t also like the results sooner, but not at the expense of the convenience they enjoy.

What would it look like to finalize results more quickly and maintain convenience and access?

Looking for solutions to that question would align with the pragmatic views Arizonans have consistently voiced in our research through the years.

Election administration has become a flashpoint, but at its core, the importance of this debate is deeper: Trust.

Arizonans are concerned about the state of democracy. Our polling shows that 70% believe democracy is at risk. At the same time, however, they trust local officials to administer elections fairly by a 58% to 34% margin. That trust is essential and needs to be nurtured, not eroded. Responsiveness to the will of the people is paramount.

As polarized as we are, voters want leaders to work across the aisle
Through nearly twenty years of research, we’ve discovered seven shared public values that define what Arizonans agree on and want for the future − enduring shared values that hold strong even in today’s seemingly polarized climate.

Among these public values are civic engagement and a democracy that works for all. That means, in part, ensuring every eligible voter has a fair, secure and accessible means of participation. Our research has consistently found majority support across party lines for:

• Offering early in-person voting over multiple weeks leading up to Election Day.
• Ensuring it remains easy to vote while prioritizing election security – and not creating barriers to participation that disproportionately hurt certain communities.
• Ensuring that all candidates, regardless of party affiliation, have the same signature requirements to qualify for a particular elected office.
• Ensuring that all voters-Democrats, Republicans, independents, and non-affiliated have equal access to voting.
• Making changes to our primary system so we elect leaders who represent more than just a small segment of voters.

Beyond elections, two-thirds of Arizonans say the want leaders who work across the aisle to solve problems. They recognize that meaningful progress doesn’t come from ideological battles but from collaboration, compromise and a focus on real solutions.

When something matters, it's worth putting in the time to listen to what is important to voters. This moment presents an opportunity to pursue policies that deliver what voters want. Arizonans have been clear about their priorities and the results are in. Will they be heard as this debate continues?

The disconnect between what Arizona voters want and the outcomes our systems produce is real. Too often, decisions are made without substantive input from the people they impact.

Sybil Francis, Ph.D., is chair, president & CEO of Center for the Future of Arizona, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that brings Arizonans together to create a stronger and brighter future for our state.