Every election cycle, Center for the Future of Arizona (CFA) conducts public opinion surveys of Republican, Democratic, and independent/unaffiliated likely voters to explore their perspectives on the election, issues facing the state, and determine what the vast majority of voters want candidates to address.
The new 2024 Arizona Voters’ Agenda survey found significant agreement among voters regarding their current outlook and preferences.
For instance, 52% of voters are not confident that Arizona is prepared for future growth.
Sixty percent of all voters do not believe that current political candidates are addressing the key issues that matter to them, and 62% prefer candidates who are willing to compromise and seek collaboration across party lines to tackle the state’s challenges over those who refuse to compromise.
Additionally, an overwhelming 85% of voters feel that the media has created more political division.
There is immense opportunity in the issues that matter to the majority of voters. The recent survey also found strong agreement across the political spectrum on essential issues in education, state spending, immigration, and housing, which make up the 2024 Arizona Voters’ Agenda thus far. CFA will conduct another survey in August 2024, which will include additional important topics to voters, such as water, elections, etc. The results will be updated on this website this fall.
The Arizona Voters’ Agenda consists of specific policy items and value statements on which the majority of voters across political affiliations and generations agree. See the survey methodology and how the agreement is defined.
EDUCATION
Policy Items
Ensuring teachers are trained in the most effective approaches to teaching reading.
| All Likely Voters | Republican | IND/Oth. | Democrat | Age 20-29 | Age 30-39 | Age 40-49 | Age 50-64 | Age 65+ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strong Support | Total Support | Total Support | Total Support | Total Support | Total Support | Total Support | Total Support | Total Support | Total Support |
| 79% | 94% | 93% | 91% | 96% | 95% | 98% | 88% | 96% | 93% |
Ensuring that every student can access dual-enrollment or other early college opportunities to earn college credit while in high school.
| All Likely Voters | Republican | IND/Oth. | Democrat | Age 20-29 | Age 30-39 | Age 40-49 | Age 50-64 | Age 65+ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strong Support | Total Support | Total Support | Total Support | Total Support | Total Support | Total Support | Total Support | Total Support | Total Support |
| 78% | 93% | 91% | 94% | 95% | 95% | 96% | 92% | 90% | 94% |
Private schools that receive state funding should be held to the same standards as public schools when it comes to financial reporting requirements, academic reporting requirements, and employment standards.
| All Likely Voters | Republican | IND/Oth. | Democrat | Age 20-29 | Age 30-39 | Age 40-49 | Age 50-64 | Age 65+ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strong Support | Total Support | Total Support | Total Support | Total Support | Total Support | Total Support | Total Support | Total Support | Total Support |
| 66% | 80% | 71% | 77% | 91% | 72% | 86% | 82% | 73% | 85% |
Increasing funding for K-12 public education.
| All Likely Voters | Republican | IND/Oth. | Democrat | Age 20-29 | Age 30-39 | Age 40-49 | Age 50-64 | Age 65+ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strong Support | Total Support | Total Support | Total Support | Total Support | Total Support | Total Support | Total Support | Total Support | Total Support |
| 63% | 79% | 66% | 79% | 93% | 82% | 86% | 82% | 74% | 75% |
Increasing need-based state financial aid to encourage more students to enroll in Arizona's public universities and community colleges after high school.
| All Likely Voters | Republican | IND/Oth. | Democrat | Age 20-29 | Age 30-39 | Age 40-49 | Age 50-64 | Age 65+ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strong Support | Total Support | Total Support | Total Support | Total Support | Total Support | Total Support | Total Support | Total Support | Total Support |
| 56% | 77% | 66% | 76% | 91% | 82% | 88% | 74% | 74% | 74% |
Value Statements
Every school should have the resources necessary to deliver quality education that prepares every child for the future, no matter their skin color, background, or zip code.
| All Likely Voters | Republican | IND/Oth. | Democrat | Age 20-29 | Age 30-39 | Age 40-49 | Age 50-64 | Age 65+ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strong Agree | Total Agree | Total Agree | Total Agree | Total Agree | Total Agree | Total Agree | Total Agree | Total Agree | Total Agree |
| 89% | 96% | 95% | 96% | 96% | 95% | 95% | 95% | 97% | 96% |
STATE SPENDING
Policy Items
Cuts to K-12 Education to balance the state budget.
| All Likely Voters | Republican | IND/Oth. | Democrat | Age 20-29 | Age 30-39 | Age 40-49 | Age 50-64 | Age 65+ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strong Oppose * | Total Oppose * | Total Oppose | Total Oppose | Total Oppose | Total Oppose | Total Oppose | Total Oppose | Total Oppose | Total Oppose |
| 73% | 87% | 79% | 90% | 94% | 85% | 95% | 87% | 86% | 84% |
Cuts to Public Safety to balance the state budget.
| All Likely Voters | Republican | IND/Oth. | Democrat | Age 20-29 | Age 30-39 | Age 40-49 | Age 50-64 | Age 65+ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strong Oppose * | Total Oppose * | Total Oppose | Total Oppose | Total Oppose | Total Oppose | Total Oppose | Total Oppose | Total Oppose | Total Oppose |
| 64% | 82% | 88% | 79% | 78% | 78% | 79% | 77% | 84% | 87% |
Cuts to Healthcare to balance the state budget.
| All Likely Voters | Republican | IND/Oth. | Democrat | Age 20-29 | Age 30-39 | Age 40-49 | Age 50-64 | Age 65+ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strong Oppose * | Total Oppose * | Total Oppose | Total Oppose | Total Oppose | Total Oppose | Total Oppose | Total Oppose | Total Oppose | Total Oppose |
| 61% | 81% | 69% | 83% | 92% | 83% | 84% | 77% | 80% | 82% |
* The Arizona Voters’ Agenda identifies key areas where voters across all subgroups consistently align. While most items on the Agenda reflect widespread support for certain ideas, it is important to note that one specific item stands out for its strong consensus in opposition—specifically, against certain proposed spending cuts.
Value Statements
A robust transportation infrastructure system, including investments in our freeways, streets, and transit throughout the State of Arizona, is critical to moving people, goods, and services throughout the state and essential to our long-term economic success.
| All Likely Voters | Republican | IND/Oth. | Democrat | Age 20-29 | Age 30-39 | Age 40-49 | Age 50-64 | Age 65+ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strong Agree | Total Agree | Total Agree | Total Agree | Total Agree | Total Agree | Total Agree | Total Agree | Total Agree | Total Agree |
| 60% | 90% | 88% | 91% | 92% | 90% | 89% | 89% | 91% | 92% |
Arizona is expected to reach 8 million residents by 2030 and 9 million by 2040. It will take higher levels of planning and preparedness to ensure we have the resources and infrastructure to support that growth and maintain our high quality of life.
| All Likely Voters | Republican | IND/Oth. | Democrat | Age 20-29 | Age 30-39 | Age 40-49 | Age 50-64 | Age 65+ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strong Agree | Total Agree | Total Agree | Total Agree | Total Agree | Total Agree | Total Agree | Total Agree | Total Agree | Total Agree |
| 57% | 87% | 84% | 88% | 89% | 90% | 88% | 83% | 88% | 86% |
Arizona families are struggling to find affordable and reliable childcare. Without dependable access to childcare, caregivers may miss work or leave the workforce altogether. Arizona should invest more in childcare assistance programs for qualifying families.
| All Likely Voters | Republican | IND/Oth. | Democrat | Age 20-29 | Age 30-39 | Age 40-49 | Age 50-64 | Age 65+ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strong Agree | Total Agree | Total Agree | Total Agree | Total Agree | Total Agree | Total Agree | Total Agree | Total Agree | Total Agree |
| 53% | 77% | 64% | 79% | 90% | 80% | 86% | 73% | 70% | 79% |
The Arizona Voters' Agenda points to important questions for leaders and candidates to address as part of a productive and informative electoral process. Use the following questions, based on the 2024 Arizona Voters’ Agenda, to support meaningful discussions on the topics voters care about.
EDUCATION
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“How do you plan to address support for increased K-12 funding amidst Arizona's budget deficit?” |
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“What should Arizona do to ensure every school has the resources needed to deliver quality education that prepares every child for the future?” |
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“What will you do to ensure more students succeed in reading and math?” |
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“How will you ensure public and private schools getting state funding are held equally accountable to financial and performance requirements and employment standards?” |
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“How will you expand access to post-secondary education, including opportunities for dual enrollment for all students while in high school and expanded need-based financial aid for students to attend colleges, universities, and trade schools?” |
STATE SPENDING
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“What are your plans to ensure that Arizona's infrastructure can support the state's anticipated growth, particularly in the context of a financial deficit?” |
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“Voters strongly believe Arizona needs higher levels of planning and preparedness to ensure we have the resources and infrastructure to support projected growth and maintain a high quality of life. How will you balance the budget and address the projected deficit?” |
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“Arizona has to balance its budget. Voters want to invest in infrastructure and childcare programs and don’t want to cut education, healthcare, or public safety. What do you think the state should do about the projected deficit?” |
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“Acknowledging the critical role of transportation infrastructure and childcare in Arizona's economic success, how do you plan to prioritize these areas despite the budget deficit?” |
The Arizona Voters’ Agenda utilizes a rigorous agreement threshold that requires 50% or more strong agreement from all voters and 50% or more agreement across every political affiliation and age group. See the details.
METHODOLOGY
The first of two Arizona Voters’ Agenda surveys was conducted among likely voters ahead of the 2024 election, on March 4-11, 2024, with a random sample of 500 people. The poll surveyed likely Arizona 2024 General Election voters with a history of electoral participation and was balanced to model the likely turnout of voters across party, age, region, and gender. The live interview surveys of voters were conducted in English and Spanish by HighGround, Inc. to landline and cell phone users. Based on previous election trends, the partisan advantage was set at +4% GOP. The margin of error is ±4.3%. Percentages may not total 100 due to rounding.
SURVEY DEMOGRAPHICS
DEFINITIONS OF SUBGROUPS
All demographics are based on current voter registration files.
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Republican: those currently registered with the Republican party, based on the party registration currently in their voter file at the time of survey | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Democratic: those currently registered with the Democratic party, based on the party registration currently in their voter file at the time of survey | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Independent/unaffiliated: this group is made up of all other registered voters who are not registered as a Republican or Democrat. Currently, this group is made up of “Other” as defined by the Secretary of State (which includes those who wrote in “independent” or “no party” or “party not declared”) as well as the other recognized parties that represent less than 2% of registered voters in the state (Libertarian: 0.77%, No Labels: 0.68%, and Green 0.07%). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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All age groups reflect the current age of voters at the time of the surveys.
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There are two surveys conducted during each election cycle to inform the Arizona Voters’ Agenda.
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March 2024 Survey Questions |
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Survey 2 Coming This Fall |
To clearly define a high threshold of agreement, issues on the Arizona Voters’ Agenda meet all the following criteria:
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Strong agreement is 50% and above among All Likely Voters |
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Total agreement (i.e., the sum of somewhat and strong agreement) is 50% and above among every political affiliation (Republican, independent/unaffiliated, and Democratic) and age group (20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-64, 65+) of voters surveyed |