Current Arizona law requires ballot initiatives to obtain signatures from 10% of all eligible voters to propose a law, and 15% of all eligible voters to propose a constitutional amendment. Proposition 134 alters this long-standing rule by requiring a citizen initiative to obtain the respective thresholds from eligible voters in all thirty legislative districts across the state. This will significantly drive up costs and deter future citizen initiatives.
Proponents argue this will give each legislative district an equal say in the initiative process – but we already have an equal say. Any person or community can initiate a citizen initiative and we all have the opportunity to vote on those that make the ballot. Proposition 134 simply drives up the costs for citizen initiatives to reduce the power of the public.
Arizonans first established the citizen initiative process in 1912 to give the public a direct voice in our government. Through the citizen initiative process, Arizonans have proven that they are in the best position to decide what is right for Arizona.
Proposition 134 will make it harder for all Arizonans – rural or urban, Democrat, Republican, or Independent – to have a voice in our democracy. At a time when the legislature is more committed than ever to making government work only for the few, Proposition 134 reduces the power of every Arizonan and makes it harder to have a government for the people, responsive to the people. The ACLU of Arizona urges a NO vote.
