Arizona in some ways serves as a brilliant example of democracy in action, specifically its propensity towards ballot initiatives. Granted, the bar is high for a specific issue to be codified into law via a public vote, most notably the need for proponents to get a few hundred thousand signatures to get on the ballot. But it is the purest form of direct democracy which has been used rather liberally in our state.
This election will provide a number of very impactful votes which could have a significant impact on our state’s future. So what should you be looking out for?
By far, the biggest one that could upend the way we elect politicians is the initiative to do away with partisan primaries; they would be replaced by an initial election with candidates of all parties where all registered voters could participate, after which the top two, regardless of party, would face off in the general election.
Partisan primaries often reward the candidates on both wings of the parties, the ones who appeal purely to the party’s base instead of the general electorate. For instance, without this the last gubernatorial election could have easily been Karrin Taylor-Robson against Katie Hobbs in the general election; Taylor-Robson had more moderate appeal but didn’t engage Republican primary voters as well as Kari Lake, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Republicans in the legislature have put forth a competing measure to guarantee the right for one candidate from each party to make it to the general election, but it comes off as more attempting to have a semblance of control over this subject.
Having candidates that speak to all of us instead of 10-20% of the populace would be welcome, and our government could use more collaborative types over combative types. This ballot initiative (not the one foisted upon us by the Legislature) deserves your attention.
Next is an additional $2 raise to the minimum wage, and also makes it a hard $18 minimum wage for restaurant workers pre-tip. Yes, costs have gone up quite a bit in this state, but Arizona already has a fairly progressive minimum wage law, and one that is tied for inflation. This seems like a solution looking for a problem.
Lastly, the pro-abortion initiative spearheaded by abortion access groups in the state, most notably Planned Parenthood. This was started during the furor from when the state reverted back to the 1864 abortion law, but legislators have since reversed that and codified a 15 week limit on abortions now. This initiative would codify abortion as a right until the time of “fetal viability” (which has a nebulous definition but is probably near the 8th month of gestation). If the options were this initiative versus the 1864 bill, this initiative wins, but it’s harder to see the need for it in opposition to a fairly reasonable 15 week rule.