Arizona’s Supreme Court has ruled that a ballot initiative for ranked-choice voting (RCV) will proceed, despite concerns over nearly 38,000 duplicate signatures that were discovered during the signature verification process. The decision has left conservative groups questioning the integrity of the state’s election procedures.
The controversy centers around Proposition 140, a measure that would amend Arizona’s Constitution by introducing an open primary system and potentially adopting RCV for general elections. Under RCV, voters rank candidates by preference, with the lowest-ranked candidates eliminated until one earns a majority.
The Arizona Free Enterprise Club (AZFEC) challenged the measure, arguing that the discovery of the duplicate signatures placed the initiative below the threshold needed to qualify for the ballot. Despite this, the state’s Supreme Court allowed votes on the measure to be counted in the November election.
Scot Mussi, president of AZFEC, voiced his frustration with the ruling, claiming that the supporters of the measure deliberately delayed the review of the signatures. Mussi said, “They knew about the duplicates and yet delayed the review to ensure it stayed on the ballot.”
Election integrity advocates have also expressed concerns over the potential confusion RCV could cause for voters. Critics argue that the process is too complicated and could lead to voter disenfranchisement. Jordan Kittleson from the America First Policy Institute warned that ranked-choice voting “sews chaos into the tabulation process” and goes against the principle of “one person, one vote.”
The Arizona Supreme Court has yet to fully explain its ruling, but an opinion is expected soon. In the meantime, Arizonans will cast their votes in November, with many watching closely to see how Prop 140 will fare.