ARIZONA NEWS

Proponents debate over dueling election-related ballot measures

Sep 26, 2024, 9:03 PM | Updated: Sep 27, 2024, 11:34 am

propositions 133 140 voting ballot elections Arizona...

Proposition 133 and Proposition 140 were the focus of a debate on Thursday. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)

(AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)

PHOENIX – Two ballot propositions that will affect how Arizona runs its elections was the topic of debate on Thursday night.

Proposition 140 and Proposition 133 are two measures that aim to address partisan primaries. Prop 140, also known as the Make Elections Fair Arizona Act, aims to establish open primaries in Arizona.

Prop 133 is the exact opposite, it would keep elections as they are now.

Paul Johnson, Prop 140 co-chair and ex-Phoenix mayor, and Brennan A.R. Bowen, associate with the firm Holtzman Vogel, faced off in the debate.

Throughout the debate, Johnson focused on the way Prop 140 would empower independent candidates and voters. It would allow independents to vote in state primaries by eliminating separate ones for Republicans and Democrats and instead create a single open primary with every party’s candidate on a single ballot for every voter.

In Arizona, there is not a primary for independents, voters not affiliated with the two major parties must choose which of the two they want to vote in. Additionally, because independent candidates can’t be voted on in the primary, they require a larger amount of signatures to end up on the November ballot than Republicans and Democrats. Prop 140 aims to resolve this by requiring all signature requirements to remain equal for all parties.

“I am a huge supporter of our system and I am actually a supporter of both parties but by including independents, by including unaffiliated voters we won’t make them [Republicans and Democrats] weaker, we’ll make them stronger because they will have to compete for them [independents],” Johnson said.

On the other side, Bowen attacked the measures ranked-choice option and insisted that the proposition would create a complicated system.

His criticism comes from an element of Prop 140 that would allow ranked-choice voting in general elections if three or more candidates advance from the primaries.

This means that voters would rank their top choices in November. If their first choice doesn’t have enough votes, that candidate would eliminated and the votes would go to the voter’s second choice until a majority winner is decided.

While Bowen admitted that the current election system isn’t ideal, he was firm in believing that Prop 140 was not the answer.

“It is a cure worse than the disease, the problems facing us are real and we do need comprehensive answers to them but Prop 140 is not that answer,” Bowen said.

Johnson was adamant that 140 was not focused on ranked choice voting and did not require it in the general election. If passed, the state legislature would be the ones to decide how many candidates are on the general election ballot.

The role the state would play in deciding how many candidates appear on the November ballot was a concern for Bowen, who feared it would put new power in the hands of politicians.

Bowen also pushed back that the measure would empower voters. Instead, he feared that there could be situations where the candidates who came out of the single primary system were either of one party or that a certain party may be excluded. For example, a Republican could not be on the general election ballot if the top three candidates coming out of the primary were two Democrats and an independent.

Johnson said the possibility of a one-party ballot wouldn’t happen but that the single primary system would force Republicans and Democratic candidates to reach out to voters not affiliated with their party, hopefully creating less division.

“If we’re going to fix the problems that we have in our society, we have to learn to listen to people who don’t think like we think and an open primary definitely assures that happening,” Johnson said.

Instead of Prop 140, Bowen said there are other solutions out there to allow more voters and candidates a chance at taking part in elections.

“If for instance, you wanted to give independents a larger vote, there are much simpler ways to do that. You can make it easier for independent candidates to qualify for the ballot,” Bowen said.

But Johnson was pessimistic that Democrats or Republicans would create a system to make it easier for independents to vote in primaries.

Voters will have both Prop 133 and Prop 140 to choose from in November. If both pass, whichever one has the most votes between the two will win out.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.

Arizona News

fentanyl pills, fentanyl bust Phoenix...

KTAR.com

Weekend Wrap: Here are the biggest Phoenix news stories from Feb. 7-9

Here are some of the top Valley news stories from Feb. 7-9, including a Phoenix man being pulled over with more than 100,000 fentanyl pills.

49 minutes ago

Economists foresee labor shortages in construction and agriculture as a result of President Donald ...

Matthew DeWees and Katrina Michalak/Cronkite News

Donald Trump’s mass deportations could mean higher costs and labor shortages in Arizona

Deportations ordered by President Trump could hit Arizona’s agriculture and construction sectors hard, pushing up prices for shoppers.

5 hours ago

Immigration Arizona criminal charges 565 people USAO...

Payne Moses

More than 500 charged with immigration-related crime in Arizona over recent 2-week period

From Jan. 21-Feb. 3, a total of 565 people were charged with illegal immigration activity by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona.

7 hours ago

Two Valley freeway ramps will be closed for the next two months....

Kevin Stone

2 Valley on-ramps closing for 2 months as part of freeway improvement projects

A couple of metro Phoenix freeway ramps are closing for the next two months as part of ongoing improvement projects.

11 hours ago

Honeywell Aerospace...

Collin Huguley and Jeff Gifford/Phoenix Business Journal

Phoenix-based Honeywell Aerospace to go its own way amid company split

Phoenix-based Honeywell Aerospace Technologies is going to become a separate entity now that Honeywell International Inc. plans to follow through with a major shake-up.

12 hours ago

fatal shooting southeast Phoenix one man dead...

Payne Moses

Police investigating fatal shooting that left 1 man dead in southeast Phoenix

Phoenix police are investigating a fatal shooting in southeast Phoenix on Friday that left one man dead. The incident is being viewed as an act of self-defense.

20 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

...

Bright Wealth Management

How IRAs are a helpful tool in retirement planning

When it comes to retirement planning, individual retirement accounts (IRAs) can be a great tool for income growth.

...

Fiesta Bowl Foundation

Join us for the 52nd annual Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade

The 52nd annual Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe returns on Saturday, December 28, at 10 a.m.

...

Sanderson Ford

Sanderson Ford’s Operation Santa Claus: Spreading holiday cheer through pickleball

Phoenix, AZ – Sanderson Ford, a staple in the Arizona community, is once again gearing up for its annual Operation Santa Claus charity drive.

Proponents debate over dueling election-related ballot measures