Daily Independent: Prop 144 Promises Secure and Speedy Elections but Raises More Questions Than Answers

Your vote matters. Voting is one of the rituals and privileges of our democracy. When changes are being proposed to how you vote, shouldn’t you know what you are voting for? Proposition 144, if approved, would make constitutional changes to how you vote, but leaves many details to be determined by the legislature. Prop 144 leaves too many questions unanswered and should give you pause before you vote.

Prop 144 brings several election issues together into a single constitutional amendment. Understanding what current election law already requires, what would change, and what would be decided later takes some unpacking.

Prop 144 Proposes Changes to Current Voter ID Requirements

Let’s break down the Prop 144 provisions as they relate to voting in person or voting by mail:

Voting in Person: Under current Arizona law, voters who cast their ballots in person at the polls can provide one qualifying photo ID, such as a driver's license, or two qualifying forms of identification. Prop 144 would limit acceptable documentation to government-issued ID exclusively, eliminating the provision allowing for two forms of other qualifying ID. However, the proposition does not define what constitutes an acceptable government ID, leaving that to be determined by the legislature. This means that eligible voters could lose the ability to vote if they lack the documentation that will be determined later.

Voting by Mail: Currently, the identity of those who vote by mail is verified by comparing the signature on their ballot envelope with the signature on their voter registration form, which itself requires a voter to verify their citizenship. But under Prop 144, a voter voting by mail would have to “show” their government-issued identification when casting a ballot. Prop 144 does not specify how a voter would “show” their ID when voting by mail or which forms of ID would qualify. The full impacts on voting by mail are unknown.

Prop 144 introduces uncertainty into voting by mail by leaving vital details unspecified and to be determined by the legislature. CFA’s survey research shows that voting by mail is very popular in Arizona: 81% of Arizona ballots were cast by mail voting in 2024. And 81% of Arizonans support continuing the option to vote by mail. Do we really want to change voting by mail without knowing what those changes are?

Protecting Our Vote Deserves Our Attention

Our vote is more than an administrative act. It is how each of us participates in shaping the public decisions that shape our lives. And while our right to vote is protected in both federal and state law, many of the rules that determine how we vote are established here in Arizona.

Center for the Future of Arizona has done extensive survey research on issues important to Arizonans, which is why this proposition concerns us. As a nonpartisan nonprofit organization, we believe that the voices of Arizonans should be the starting point in any discussion of public policy, including and especially elections. We know that 97% of Arizonans believe fair and secure elections are essential to a healthy democracy, and four in five believe their vote can change things for the better. Ninety-three percent say voter access matters to a good election, and 83% value having multiple ways to vote.

Prop 144 puts many of the things voters value into contention. In addition to changing how voters vote, it would also change county election administration practices, requiring tabulation machines at all voting locations so that voters could have their votes counted right away. In theory, this could speed the reporting of final election results. In practice, it would incur significant expense for counties without the desired outcome. Additionally, Prop 144’s proposed constitutional language, according to the official ballot description, “may make it harder to challenge election laws.” In short, unanswered questions and challenges around implementation loom large in this initiative.

We do not need to know every implementation detail of a ballot measure before we vote. And there is always room for improvement in our elections. But Prop 144 leaves voters with too many unanswered questions. It promises secure and speedy elections but raises more questions than it answers. As the saying goes, “look before you leap,” and understand what could be at stake when voting on this proposition.

Sybil Francis, Ph.D., is chair, president & CEO of Center for the Future of Arizona, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that brings Arizonans together to create a stronger and brighter future for our state.