An Arizona advocacy group is pushing to radically change the way primaries are run in the state, by gathering signatures to place an initiative on the November ballot that seeks to open up primaries to all voters, regardless of party affiliation. The initiative, dubbed the Make Elections Fair Act, would effectively overhaul the closed primary system and allow voters to select from all candidates in a consolidated ballot. According to a report by AZPM, the group has collected over half a million signatures, well exceeding the requirement to qualify for the ballot.
Former Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard has emerged as a vocal proponent of the initiative. His critique of the current primary system is sharp; he argues that it breeds extremism and hinders any type of bipartisan cooperation. "They have given us a system of partisan gridlock. Where any compromise is considered treasonous by the side that you happen to be on," Goddard told AZPM. Advocates like Goddard believe to firmly change the status quo is critical for a healthier political climate.
The momentum for primary system reform is driven by the discontent with Arizona's traditionally low voter turnout in primaries. Chuck Coughlin, the group’s treasurer, highlighted this concern, stating, "Anything is better than the current system where 80% of people run unopposed. It’s lunacy if we allow that to continue and we believe that’s the shared value with Arizona voters," in a discussion with AZPM.
However, opposition looms as Republican lawmakers have introduced a countermeasure also aiming for the November ballot, which seeks to block open primaries. They contend that open primaries and ranked-choice voting could unnecessarily complicate the voting process for constituents. If both measures are approved by voters, the one with the majority of the votes will be instituted as law. Meanwhile, Better Ballot Arizona, a group that had been supporting a push for ranked-choice voting, has decided to withdraw their own efforts in favor of the Make Elections Fair Act—a move indicative of the shared guidelines amongst reformers to ensure a unified approach this coming election, Coughlin revealed to AZPM.
The submission of signatures by the Make Elections Fair Act initiative marks just the beginning of what is sure to be a heatedly contested lead-up to the November elections. Challenges to the validity of these signatures are expected, as noted by the initiative's backers, setting the stage for a robust debate about the future of Arizona's electoral process.
