It is always a good idea to read the text of laws under consideration before deciding whether to support or oppose them. This is exponentially more important when it comes to voting on ballot measures, because once approved, the laws created or amended this way are voter-protected and it is almost impossible to make any changes once they have been enacted. If we get it wrong, we will be stuck with a bad law for a long time, possibly forever.
Since these ballot measures, by their own nature, are nearly always controversial and complicated, there is never a shortage of people who give advice. Their opinion may not always be based on the content of the measure, but on their own biased interpretation.
For this reason, smart voters follow Ronald Reagan’s motto of “trust but verify.” Although he said this in connection with negotiations with the Soviet Union, his words are equally applicable here. No matter how much we trust the opinions of others, there is no substitute for reading and understanding the material, and verifying that the opinions given are supported by the text of the measure.
This is important because most laws, including the ones enacted by voters, are eventually subject to interpretation. That interpretation is carried out by a handful of people in black robes. Those people in black robes will not care about the opinions expressed by anyone today. They will make their case based on the written language of the law.
That is why it is so important to read and understand the language within the measure. Any opinion, interpretation, suggestion, or advice that is not supported by the measure’s language should be ignored and discarded.
Reading this material is often not easy, but it is easier than most people think. Here are some tips that may help.
MEASURES CREATED BY LEGISLATIVE ACTION. All 11 propositions referred by the legislature are amendments to existing laws. The language therein is relatively easy to read and understand because it is color coded. Text in BLUE AND ALL UPPER CASE is text that the measure adds to the existing law. Text in red and overstricken is text from the original law that the measure removes. Text in black is text from the law that is currently in effect and will not be affected whether the measure passes or fails. One common mistake is to judge a measure based on the text in black. Any opinion regarding a proposition must be based on the red text and or the BLUE TEXT. Nothing else matters because nothing else will be affected by the outcome of the vote on the measure.
MEASURES CREATED BY INITIATIVE. The text of these propositions is considerably sloppier, because they do not go through the rigorous process of committee hearings and votes, debates, amendments, etc. Trying to find a clean copy of what the law will look like if approved, is quite challenging. Ballotpedia did better than most. That is why Ballotpedia is being used as the source for information on the full text of the two initiative-created ballot measures.
PROPOSITIONS REFERRED TO VOTERS BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE
These are concurrent resolution bills. They are treated exactly like any other bills, except that the final approval or rejection is done by the voters, not the governor. All these bills passed with 100% Republican support and nearly 100% Democrat opposition. Click on link to read full text.
Proposition 133: Require partisan primaries
https://www.azleg.gov/legtext/56leg/1R/laws/hcr2033.pdf
Proposition 134: Signature distribution requirement for initiatives
https://www.azleg.gov/legtext/56leg/1R/laws/scr1015.pdf
Proposition 135: Governor’s Emergency powers limitations
https://www.azleg.gov/legtext/56leg/1R/laws/hcr2039.pdf
Proposition 136: Legal challenges to constitutionality of initiatives
https://www.azleg.gov/legtext/56leg/2R/laws/scr1041.pdf
Proposition 137: Judicial Retention Elections
https://www.azleg.gov/legtext/56leg/2R/laws/scr1044.pdf
Proposition 138: Wages for tipped workers
https://www.azleg.gov/legtext/56leg/2R/laws/scr1040.pdf
Proposition 311: First responder additional benefit
https://www.azleg.gov/legtext/56leg/1R/laws/scr1006.pdf
Proposition 312: Property tax refund – Public nuisances enforcement
https://www.azleg.gov/legtext/56leg/2R/laws/hcr2023.pdf
Proposition 313: Life sentence for child sex trafficking
https://www.azleg.gov/legtext/56leg/2R/laws/scr1021.pdf
Proposition 314: Immigration and border law enforcement
https://www.azleg.gov/legtext/56leg/2R/laws/hcr2060.pdf
Proposition 315: Rulemaking; legislative ratification; regulatory costs
https://www.azleg.gov/legtext/56leg/2R/laws/scr1012.pdf
PROPOSITIONS INTRODUCED VIA PETITION SIGNATURES
Prop 139 got on the ballot by presenting an ample number of valid signatures. Prop 140 got on the ballot by counting nearly 40,000 fraudulent signatures. As of the time of this writing, there was still some pending legal action regarding Prop 140 aimed at preventing votes on this proposition from being counted. Until and unless that is settled, it is a good idea to vote as one normally would. Click on link to read full text.
Proposition 139: Right to abortion initiative
https://rb.gy/lqcu6r (Scroll down to “Text of Measure”)
Proposition 140: Single primary for all candidates
https://rb.gy/x9j17w (Scroll down to “Text of Measure”)
