The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Oct. 18, 2023
Today’s Script
(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)
You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.
In the 2024 election, Arizona voters may have the opportunity to adopt single ballot open primaries and ranked choice voting, if organizers of two competing proposals succeed in gathering enough signatures.
The Arizona Daily Independent reports that both Better Ballot Arizona and Make Elections Fair filed in September to begin the signature-gathering process to add their proposals to the November 2024 ballot.
Both initiatives would change the state constitution to allow for single ballot open primaries: “Open” because Democrats, Republicans, third party supporters and unaffiliated voters could all participate in the primary process. Unaffiliated and third party voters comprise almost 36% of the state’s voters.
Better Ballot Arizona’s proposal would have the top five candidates move forward to the general, where ranked choice voting would decide the election, similar to Alaska’s system. The Make Elections Fair proposal would have the legislature create law stipulating how many candidates move to the general election, rather than mandating the number of candidates and the use of ranked choice voting.
In addition to allowing unaffiliated voters to participate in primaries, open primaries allow voters more choices than just the dominant party candidates, and gives third party or independent candidates an opportunity to compete. More candidates in the general can also mitigate the election of extreme candidates.
Signatures must be submitted by July 3rd.
We have more on these proposals and the groups taking action at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
Daily Independent – Two initiatives seek to change Arizona primary, general election choices
KJZZ – Creating open primary system in Arizona is goal of 2 proposed initiatives
Arizona Mirror – Campaign launches to open AZ primary elections
Axios Phoenix – Proposal would overhaul Arizona elections with nonpartisan open primaries
Groups Taking Action:
Better Ballot Arizona/Voter Choice Arizona, Open Primaries Arizona, Make Elections Fair, FairVote, Open Primaries
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#Democracy #DemocracyNews #ArizonaPolitics #BetterBallotAZ #OpenPrimaries #RankedChoiceVoting