As Arizona moves forward into an election year, a new statewide survey finds voters across the political spectrum share a striking level of agreement on what makes a “good election” and are willing to invest in it.
The nonpartisan survey, released by the Center for the Future of Arizona, shows overwhelming consensus on the importance of fair, accurate and secure elections, broad support for early voting and Election Day ballot drop-off, and unexpected willingness among voters to increase funding for election administration, even if it means higher taxes.
The findings come as election policy debates intensify nationwide and in Arizona, where recent years have brought close races, legal challenges and heightened scrutiny of election officials. Researchers and election administrators say the data offer a baseline for evaluating proposed changes ahead of the 2026 cycle.
“This survey gives us a shared reference point,” said Sybil Francis, president and CEO of the Center for the Future of Arizona. “It tells us what Arizonans expect a good election to deliver, regardless of party affiliation or who wins.”
Near-universal agreement on election fundamentals
The survey, conducted Nov. 3-8, 2025, by Noble Predictive Insights, sampled more than 1,000 Arizona adults in English and Spanish and was weighted to reflect the state’s population. The margin of error is plus or minus 2.9 percentage points.
Its most striking finding: 97% of Arizonans agree that fair and secure elections are essential to democracy, with more than eight in 10 saying they strongly agree. Agreement ranged from 95% to 98% across Democrats, Republicans and Independents, the highest level of consensus the organization says it has ever recorded in its two decades of statewide research.
Nearly eight in 10 respondents also said their vote can make a difference, a belief researchers say underpins participation and trust.
“These numbers set the foundation for everything else,” said Ian Dowdy, CFA’s director of strategic data initiatives. “They show that, despite polarization, Arizonans fundamentally agree on the value of elections.”
What voters say matters most
When asked to evaluate nine principles of election quality, at least 83% of respondents rated every principle as important or essential. When forced to prioritize, four consistently rose to the top: accuracy, transparency, trustworthiness and voter access.
Speed of results ranked lower. While still considered important, only about half of respondents said fast results were “essential,” far below the emphasis placed on accuracy.
“That’s an important message heading into 2026,” said Bill Gates, executive director of Arizona State University’s Mechanics of Democracy Lab and a former chair of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors. “Arizona voters want accuracy first. Speed matters, but not at the expense of doing it right.”
Gates said the finding runs counter to political rhetoric and social media pressure that often demand election-night outcomes.
“Sometimes there’s this push to rush results,” he said. “But voters are telling us they’re OK waiting if it means the process is accurate and transparent.”
Strong support for early voting and ballot drop-off
The survey found 81% of Arizonans support continuing early voting by mail, a method heavily used in the state. In 2024, about 81% of ballots were cast through early voting, including mail ballots returned by mail or dropped off in person.
Nearly seven in 10 respondents said Arizona should continue allowing mail ballots to be dropped off through Election Day, even if it delays results.
“People like the convenience,” Gates said. “They don’t want to be forced to vote in person on Election Day, and some want the option to wait until the last moment if new information comes out.”
Researchers said the finding is especially relevant as some lawmakers consider proposals to limit ballot drop-off or move deadlines earlier in the name of faster results.
Appetite for changing primaries
The survey also highlights growing dissatisfaction with Arizona’s partisan primary system.
While only 21% of respondents said primaries should remain as they are, 72% favored some form of change, including open primaries or expanded access for independent voters.
Independents can vote in Arizona primaries only if they request a party ballot, even though primaries are funded by taxpayers and often determine the outcome in heavily partisan districts.
“This isn’t just about administration,” Francis said. “It’s about whether the design of our elections feels fair and representative to voters.”
Willingness to pay more for better elections
One of the most surprising findings: 76% of respondents supported increasing public funding for election administration even if it requires a small tax increase.
Support rose to 87% when respondents were asked about increasing funding generally for improvements such as hiring more workers, upgrading equipment or improving ballot processing.
Support was broad across party lines, including about 85% of Republicans and independents and 90% of Democrats.
“I had to rub my eyes when I saw those numbers,” Francis said. “We’ve never seen this level of willingness to invest in elections.”
Gates said the result underscores how deeply voters value election integrity.
“You can’t put a price tag on democracy,” he said. “People understand that accuracy, security and professionalism require resources.”
Additional funding, Gates said, could help speed results by expanding tabulation capacity, improving technology and hiring more staff, without sacrificing accuracy.
Confidence outweighs distrust
Despite frequent headlines about election distrust, the survey paints a more optimistic picture of voter confidence.
About two-thirds of respondents said they trust local and state election officials to conduct elections fairly, accurately and securely. Looking ahead to 2026, 73% said they believe most Arizonans will accept the certified results, while 80% said they personally would do so.
Election officials and workers ranked as the most trusted sources of election information, ahead of media, candidates and political parties.
“The dominant public experience is not distrust, it’s confidence,” Francis said.
A roadmap for 2026
The findings arrive as Arizona prepares for a 2026 election cycle that will include races for governor and other statewide offices, control of the Legislature and a range of potential ballot measures on top of local elections.
With partisan control closely divided, election administration and voting rules are likely to remain under close watch.
Researchers and election officials say the findings provide a benchmark for evaluating election policies before the coming election cycle, rather than reacting after results are known.
“Too often, we decide what mattered most only after an election,” Gates said. “This survey tells election officials what they’ll be judged on in advance. Accuracy is number one.”
For Francis, the data offer a way to separate political noise from public values as Arizona enters another high-stakes election year.
“This isn’t about red versus blue,” she said. “It’s about what Arizonans agree on, and how we make sure our elections live up to those expectations in 2026 and beyond.”
Visit arizonafuture.org for information.
JamesGoldmeer can be reached at JGoldmeer@iniusa.org. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@inusua.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.
James Goldmeer Reporter | Goodyear & Litchfield Park
Meet James James Goldmeer joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2024, starting their career as a reporter in Goodyear and Litchfield Park.
Community: James grew up in the West Valley, calling Avondale home and going to school in Glendale and Peoria. Returning to the community after university, James plans to get involved in everything arts and culture, and civil rights.
Education: Northern Arizona University a bachelor's degree in Journalism, a certificate in Professional Communications, with a minor in English.
Random Fact: James spent half a year as an intern for the Arizona House of Representatives communication team, working with legislators to inform the public through press releases and social media.
Hobbies: James collects postcards and old books, reads memoirs and attends local jazz shows.
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