Arizona rejects additional voter ID requirements in Prop 309

PHOENIX – Arizonans turned away a controversial ballot measure on Wednesday that would have changed the ID requirements for voting by mail and in person.

No votes led Proposition 309 by 19,206 when The Associated Press called the race because so few outstanding ballots remained.

The measure would have required voters to write their birthdates and add state-issued voter identification numbers, driver’s license numbers or partial social security numbers to early ballots rather than just signing and dating them.

The failed measure also would have made photo ID necessary for in-person voting. Under existing laws, in-person voters without photo IDs can provide two alternate documents — such as a utility bill, bank statement or voter registration card — that bear their name and address.

Prop 309 also would have required the signed envelopes that contain completed early ballots to be inserted into another envelope.

Opponents said that citizenship and other requirements for voting are already done during the voter registration process and that the changes would lead to more mail-in ballots being rejected and people being turned away at the polls.

Proponents said the changes were needed to make elections more secure.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

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