Your voice is crucial in Arizona elections debate

Sybil Francis

Submitted photo/Claudia Johnstone

Across political parties, age groups and regions of the state, Arizonans agree far more than they disagree about what makes for a good election. A majority trusts election administration, and there is broad consensus on the principles that should guide how elections are conducted. They want elections that are accurate, trustworthy, transparent, safe and accessible.”

OPINION — When we talk about elections, the conversation often turns to the national stage. We hear debates about politics, candidates and controversy. But for most Arizonans, elections are something much closer to home.

They happen at the kitchen table when a voter fills out a ballot. At a neighborhood vote center. In county election offices, where ballots are verified and counted. Through the work of election administrators and volunteers who help make the process possible.

Elections shape the future of our state and country, but they are experienced locally.

And while election outcomes matter, so does how elections are conducted. The way elections are designed and administered shapes whether they are accessible, secure, transparent and worthy of public confidence.

In recent years, there has been a lot of debate and discussion about how our elections are working, whether Arizonans trust our election system and if changes are needed.

These are important questions. Rather than assume what voters think, we decided to ask them directly: What do Arizonans believe makes for a good election, regardless of party, candidate or outcome?

Center for the Future of Arizona’s most recent survey set out to answer that question.

The answers were encouraging.

Across political parties, age groups and regions of the state, Arizonans agree far more than they disagree about what makes for a good election. A majority trusts election administration, and there is broad consensus on the principles that should guide how elections are conducted.

They want elections that are accurate, trustworthy, transparent, safe and accessible.

They want every eligible voter to be able to participate. They want ballots counted correctly. They want election processes that are fair and understandable. And they want leaders to protect those principles regardless of who wins or loses.

Our research also found strong support for maintaining convenient voting options, including voting by mail and other methods that help people cast their vote in ways that fit their lives. For example, 81% of Arizonans across the political spectrum support early voting by mail and want it to continue. Nearly 70% of voters across the political spectrum believe it should be easy and convenient for eligible citizens to vote. 

Those shared values matter because Arizona voters will soon be asked to consider changes to how our elections are conducted. One example is House Concurrent Resolution 2001, a proposed constitutional amendment that would require voters to provide government-issued identification when voting by mail, a significant change from Arizona's current process. In Arizona’s current system, a voter’s identity and eligibility are verified during voter registration, and mail ballots are protected through multiple safeguards, including signature verification, voter authentication and chain-of-custody procedures designed to ensure that ballots are securely handled and accurately counted.

While HCR 2001 establishes a new identification requirement for mail voting, it does not specify how voters would provide that identification, leaving those implementation details to future legislation. Regardless of where one stands on the proposal, it is important that voters understand both what the measure would change and what questions would remain if it is approved.

Our research found that voters value both secure elections and convenient access to voting. Arizonans are looking for solutions that strengthen confidence in elections while preserving the accessibility they have come to rely on.

As Arizona considers changes to its election system, voters deserve clear, factual information about both the proposals before them and how elections are administered today. Public debate often centers on concerns about election integrity and confidence in election results, making transparency and voter education more important than ever. When people understand the safeguards already in place and how proposed changes would affect the voting process, they are better equipped to evaluate those changes.

That is why Center for the Future of Arizona conducts our research. We have worked to understand what Arizonans care about, identify where common ground exists and ensure that those voices inform public debate. Our Good Elections research is part of that effort.

We are a nonpartisan organization that seeks to elevate the voices of Arizonans and inform leaders, public debate and policies on issues that matter to Arizonans. In this case, we are seeking to bring the voices of Arizonans to the table on an issue that is critically important to the future of our state: Elections.

As Arizona continues to discuss elections and how they can be strengthened, we should begin with the people those elections serve. What impact will a proposed change have on the experiences of Arizonans across the state as they participate in what they agree is vital to democracy?

Arizona's election system will continue to evolve, as it always has. There will be debates about voting methods, election administration, security measures, transparency and how results are reported.

Those debates are part and parcel of our democratic process.

But before we make any changes to how elections work, we should be informed about and understand what Arizonans themselves value most.

The Good Elections research doesn't end the conversation. It helps ground it. It provides a shared reference point for leaders, policymakers, election officials and communities as they consider the future of Arizona’s elections.

Elections begin at the kitchen table, where Arizonans make among the most important decisions of civic life. As we consider the future of our election system, their voices deserve a seat at every table where those decisions are made.

Sybil Francis, Ph.D., is chair, president and CEO of Phoenix-based Center for the Future of Arizona, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that brings Arizonans together to create a stronger and brighter future for the state. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.