The Bipartisan Arizona Legislative Council has issued its approval to an analysis of pending measures for voters to consider, proposition and initiative numbers have been assigned, and in total there will be 11 ballot referrals and three petition-based initiatives up for public vote this November. As reported by The Center Square, several controversial measures are set to appear before Arizona voters including a wide-ranging border and immigration bill passed by the legislature as House concurrent Resolution 2060 the Secure the Border Act, now rechristened Prop. 314. If passed by voters, it would make illegal immigrants entering Arizona a state crime, and ramp up penalties for possession and distribution of fentanyl.
The outlet also pointed to the historically notable Prop. 137, which would scrap judicial retention elections entirely. The move would be significant considering that the admission of Arizona to the union as the 48th state was nearly derailed by the inclusion of judicial recall in the state constitution. Admission of Arizona was vetoed by President William H. Taft, and the Territorial legislature removed the provision, only for Arizonans to promptly restore it after statehood was approved. Arizona’s unique approach to regulating the judiciary was so vital that territorial leaders effectively did an end-run around the President to keep it.
The heavily reported abortion access ballot initiative was also included in the approved list after a lengthy debate over the language published in the “publicity pamphlet” to be distributed by the Secretary of State’s Office per the legislature. Democrat Rep. Stephanie Stahl-Hamilton of Tucson reportedly led a failed amendment push to alter the initiative’s language from “unborn human being” to “fetus.” Fellow Democrat Rep. Nancy Gutierrez claimed, “Fetus is the correct medical term.”
Supporters of the Arizona abortion rights ballot initiative have subsequently launched a lawsuit arguing that the term is politically charged according to ABC News.
Leisa Brug, manager of the opposing It Goes Too Far campaign, argued that the term is appropriate telling reporters in a statement, “It shouldn’t read like an advertisement for the amendment. It should provide voters with a clear understanding of what current law states and what the amendment would do if passed.”
The approved list of Propositions and Initiatives includes:
With voter confidence at an all-time low, state and county elections officials have their work cut out for them to run the 2024 polls effectively and restore the faith. However in Pinal County, with just weeks left before the Arizona primary, a small mistake could have large repercussions and does not build voter confidence.
As reported by SanTanValley.com, early ballots sent out July 3 for the 2024 primary election taking place July 30 were mailed, missing a “critical update regarding the return instructions.” The outlet reported that the county, in an effort to alleviate confusion between neighboring Maricopa County’s ballots and its own, switched from using green ballot return envelopes to “buff-colored” envelopes… without altering the instructions to the voter. So the written instructions that accompanied the ballot instruct the voter to use an envelope they weren’t sent.
In a statement reported by The Apache Junction/Gold Canyon Independent, the county said, “Unfortunately, the directions did not update the change from green to buff. Postcards with updated instructions will be mailed to all voters who received an early ballot. A notice will also be placed on the Pinal County Recorder’s website. The Republican and Democrat Party Chairs have been notified as has the Secretary of State’s office.”
Unfortunately, the directions did not update the change from green to buff.
To be clear, step 3 should read, “Place the WHITE affidavit envelope into the BUFF return envelope addressed to the Recorder and seal.”
The Pinal County Elections Department and the Pinal County Recorder’s Office provided the corrected instructions via a shared X account, which should have read:
Step 3: Place the WHITE affidavit envelope into the BUFF return envelope addressed to the Recorder and seal.
Ballots have arrived for the primary election! 🗳️
Are you ready for election day? Check your voter registration status by visiting https://t.co/rogGYJpQ7T.
The Arizona Republican Party posted an update regarding the error to X writing, “PINAL COUNTY VOTERS See Message from Recorder’s Office Error on Early Voting Ballot Printed Envelopes. The instructions call for a ‘GREEN’ return envelope but the color of the return envelope is ‘BUFF’ color. Follow these guidelines so that your ballot is processed timely: 1. Place your ballot into the WHITE affidavit envelope. 2. Sign and seal the WHITE affidavit envelope. 3. Place the WHITE affidavit envelope into the BUFF return envelope addressed to the Recorder and seal.”
🚨PINAL COUNTY VOTERS🚨 See Message from Recorder's Office Error on Early Voting Ballot Printed Envelopes
The instructions call for a "GREEN" return envelope but the color of the return envelope is "BUFF" color.
Follow these guidelines so that your ballot is processed timely:…
— Republican Party of Arizona (@AZGOP) July 7, 2024
Comments on the post revealed expressions of concern, dismay, and even dubiousness with one X user noting, “These mistakes don’t help anyone.” Another X user added, “Oh gee, who’d have guessed Pinal County messed up again?”
Paz Phillips an “AZ, Precinct & State Committeeman,” according to her bio asked, “Didn’t Pinal County just go through election problems and had to replace people?”
Didn’t Pinal County just go through election problems and had to replace people?
As noted by the commenters on X, and the AJ/GC independent, in the widely criticized 2022 primary election cycle, Pinal County suffered multiple printing errors on its early ballots and critical shortages of ballots at voting precincts on election day which contributed to massive erosion in voter confidence. As a result, the county elections department underwent a very public and costly revamp. However, this 2024 error is clearly not building voter confidence.
Arizona’s Congressman for the 2nd District, Eli Crane, definitively and vociferously professed his support this week for the SAVE Act, stating in a post to X that “American citizens are the only ones who should be voting in American elections.”
The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, or SAVE Act, would require that voters provide “documentary proof of United States citizenship” to vote in federal elections, and that the states “shall remove an individual who is not a citizen of the United States from the official list of eligible voters.”
American citizens are the only ones who should be voting in American elections.
Essentially the law would federalize and answer in broad scope the controversy across the states which has seen illegal immigrants suspected of voting illegally in federal elections, by providing a common, overarching standard each state must meet.
Despite it’s straightforward and obviously constitutional construction, the SAVE Act has been met with unremitted hostility and vehement opposition from both the Biden White House and Congressional Democrats. House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-MA) sent voting instructions to her House Caucus telling them they are “urged to VOTE NO” on the bill, according to a report by Axios. Clark’s office claimed that the bill would “prevent Americans from registering to vote with their drivers’ license alone,” would make a passport the “only acceptable standalone form of identification,” and suggested it would create what they called an “extreme burden for countless Americans” and “further intimidate election officials and overburden states’ abilities to enroll new voters.”
But the Democrats have drawn open scorn and rebuke from a broad host of prominent Americans who see the bill as a much needed step to rebuild faith in the American electoral system.
Responding to a report by Axios that “House Democratic leadership is bringing out the big guns against a Republican bill set to be voted on next week that would require proof of U.S. citizenship to vote in federal elections,” Tim Pool of Timcast News commented in a post to X, “What? Why? Who disagrees with this?”
Mr. Pool, a prominent, classically liberal voice in American politics drew responses from Elon Musk who replied directly, “Because they want to cheat.”
The Redheaded Libertarian observed, “Every voting amendment is clear. Blocking the SAFE Act is shirking their oath to defend the Constitution,” and provided basis for this in the Fifteenth, Nineteenth, Twenty-Fourth, and Twenty-Sixth Amendments citing their use of the words “citizens of the United States.”
Every voting amendment is clear. Blocking the SAFE Act is shirking their oath to defend the Constitution pic.twitter.com/CWIsYUdlu2
— The Redheaded libertarian (@TRHLofficial) July 8, 2024
Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) also noted in a video posted to X, “Biden let in millions of illegal aliens. Now he’s opposing the SAVE Act, which would prevent noncitizens from voting in federal elections. Tell your members of Congress: pass the SAVE Act!”
The Libs of TikTok commentary account of Chaya Raichik responded matter-of-factly, “Only traitors are against the SAVE Act!”
At the end of June, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) released a report making the case for the SAVE Act.
The report points out: “There is ample evidence that noncitizens are voting in U.S. elections:
A 2014 study that analyzed the 2008 and 2010 elections concluded that not only had noncitizens illegally voted in U.S. elections but also that the votes of noncitizens likely determined the outcome in certain races.
In states like Massachusetts, Ohio, and Virginia, noncitizens have recently been removed from the voting rolls – and many of those noncitizens had voted.
The Arizona Secretary of State website is currently falsely promoting the idea that individuals who fail to present proof of citizenship when registering will ‘be eligible to vote in federal elections.'”
The report calling for the passage of the SAVE Act concludes, “The evidence is overwhelming. Many noncitizens are able to obtain a Social Security Number. Over the past three years, the Biden Administration’s policies have encouraged illegal immigration and aided a large number of noncitizens in obtaining an SSN. Loopholes in federal law could allow noncitizens to register to vote. An SSN alone is ineffective to prevent noncitizen registration and noncitizen voting. Noncitizens have been illegally voting in federal elections and have, according to one study, even affected the outcome of elections. Noncitizen voting is a threat to election integrity. Congress must pass the SAVE Act to close the loopholes that have allowed noncitizen voting, to enhance election security, to reduce the risk of foreign election interference, and to restore Americans’ confidence in U.S. elections.”
A new study released by the ASU Center for an Independent and Sustainable Democracy found that while Generation Z voters have become frustrated with the current state of American politics, there is still major motivation to participate in the 2024 election.
The survey, published by Noble Predictive Insights, polled Arizona registered voters from 20-30 years old and showed that 66% of them say they will “definitely” participate in the 2024 election but are wildly dissatisfied with the political parties as they exist today. 80% said they feel that the major political parties are “out of touch” with their generation and that there should be more choices on the ballot.
According to the poll, several conclusions stood out. Notably, the cohort predominantly identifies as independent with 49% of them eschewing membership in either major party.
The pollsters added, “they are profoundly frustrated with the political world that has been handed down to them. Only 20 percent of this group feels that the current political system works for their generation and 80 percent feel that both the Democratic and Republican parties are out of touch with people their age. Well over half feel that all politicians are corrupt.”
Thom Reilly, professor and co-director for ASU CISD explained, “Arizona’s Gen Z voters are sending a clear message that they are dissatisfied with the political status quo. They’re rejecting traditional party affiliations in favor of a more independent stance. Still, they haven’t given up on the democratic process. They are looking for alternatives and believe in their power to affect change through voting.”
Our recent survey of 1315 registered Gen Z voters: 2 out of 3 in Arizona say they will vote in November; 4 in 5 say the 2 major parties don’t represent them ; 49% are registered as independent ; top issues: economics , abortion, fair and secure elections https://t.co/ecsdYzVIKl
The poll indicated that by far the most pressing concerns of the Generation Z voters are economically and resource driven with the cost of living, affordable housing, and the protection of the water supply as most important, followed by healthcare, free and fair elections, jobs, and abortion.
Co-director Jacqueline Salit added, “Understanding these priorities is crucial for any candidate or party hoping to engage with Gen Z voters. These young Arizonans are deeply concerned about their economic futures, but they’re also engaged with broader social issues like healthcare access, election integrity, and reproductive rights.”
Clean Elections Executive Director Tom Collins told ASU News, “Understanding how Gen Z voters see our electoral system is particularly important for outreach to build and sustain democratic principles.”
Conversely, lowest on the agenda for Generation Z voters according to the survey are the potential ban of Tiktok, the U.S. role in the Russo-Ukrainian war, student loan debt, and LGBTQ+ rights.
Noble Predictive Insights found that the broad issue revealed by the poll is political disengagement in addition to a general dissatisfaction with the existing political status quo. Mike Noble, NPI Founder & CEO noted, “Young voters are giving us a clear message: ‘Show me that you care about what I care about.’ The data from this survey can act as a roadmap for political campaigns and civic organizations to motivate young voters.”
He added, ”What we’re seeing is a generation that’s rejecting political labels and traditional party loyalties. They’re independent-minded, issue-focused, and deeply committed to their principles. Any candidate or party that hopes to succeed with these voters will need to speak to their unique concerns and values and engage with them on the digital platforms where they’re getting and communicating information and opinions.”
Rep. Alexander Kolodin (R-AZ03) and Republicans for National Renewal issued “America First Platform Planks” on July 5 and put forth a call for them for to be adopted by the Republican National Convention, which is scheduled to meet July 15-18, 2024 in Milwaukee, WI. In a post to X, Republicans for National Renewal challenged RNC Chairman Michael Watley and co-chair Lara Trump to support their proposal.
@RNRenewal has been working with RNC delegates to craft strong America First platform planks.
— Republicans for National Renewal (@RNRenewal) July 5, 2024
Rep. Kolodin reposted the statement writing that he, “was proud to help with the drafting of these America-First proposed planks for our party platform!” The RNR document shared via X outlines eight platform planks:
Restricting Mass Immigration
The First Amendment: Freedom of Expression; Defeating the Deep State and its Weaponization of the U.S. Government
Fighting Racism and Defending the Individual Rights of Americans
The U.S. Territories; Our Nation’s Capital
Voting Rights
Against Interventionism and Unconstitutional War in Ukraine
In Support of the “Defend the Guard” Act
Sound Money in the Digital Age
Under the heading “Restricting Mass Immigration,” the proposal explains that, “If a person comes into the country and/or stays in the country in violation of the country’s laws, that person, no matter what their motivations or personal circumstances are, has absolutely no business being in the country, nor does this country have any obligation to show these lawbreakers any leniency.”
The proposal posits that many illegal immigrants who by definition break the laws of our nation merely by being here “continue to break other laws while here. This has led to an explosion in crime, severely underreported by the media, that is felt in border towns and across the country,” and recommends a policy of eliminating welfare benefits to illegal immigrants, and an overall end to mass immigration in the form of a pause or reasonable reduction in immigration overall.
Regarding the Weaponization of Government, the RNR has suggested that the next of President of the United States, “ensure the survival of the First Amendment by prioritizing and aggressively dismantling the deep state and its pervasive weaponization of our government.” They add, “Cutting this weaponization off at the roots is not optional; it must be utterly thwarted, or else our society is not free, our citizens are not free, and our Constitution is just lofty words on paper.”
The proposal addressing racism and individual rights also offers a direct rebuke to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion narratives and Critical Race Theory saying, “Terrifyingly, the Democratic Party is waging war with the egalitarian ideals of the Civil Rights Movement. Pervasive and anachronistic critical race theory (CRT) dogma, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) mandates in the workplace and in government, and the racialization of every facet of daily life have had the effect of undoing the progress achieved by the Civil Rights Movement.” The RNR specifically calls out the simultaneously much maligned and willfully ignored rising specter of “anti-white racism and hatred,” describing it’s insidious rise as, “something that would be considered beyond the pale if it were directed at literally any other community in this country, is becoming increasingly commonplace in every institution.”
In addition, the platform rejects the non-Constitutional notion of statehood for Washington, D.C., and the admission of U.S. territories such as Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico to the union as states. It further recommends aggressive voting security measures, the abolition of mail-in-voting and Ranked-choice voting, and the use of electronic voting machines as well as a requirement of photo ID and proof of citizenship for all voters.
Finally, the recommendations breaks from many establishment voices in Washington, D.C. by arguing strongly against interventionism and American participation in the Russo-Ukrainian War. It also calls upon President Trump to enact his avowed support for market-driven crypto-currency and rejects central bank digital currencies or CDBCs.
