AMAC Action represents 2.2 million Americans over the age of 50, including over 70,000 residing in the state of Arizona.

Prop 140 would allow the jungle primaries and ranked-choice voting systems into Arizona’s elections despite evidence showing that these systems hurt the democratic process, especially for those over the age of 50 who have spent more than 30 years using the simple and effective one-person, one-vote system. 

Our current system’s simplicity is its strongest feature; one person has one vote for one candidate for each open office. Ranked-choice voting does the opposite by forcing voters to choose multiple candidates, including some for whom they have little information, creating confusion.

Ranked-choice voting is also more likely to lead to errors on the ballot, which creates systematic unfairness in the election. It also has been shown to delay the vote tabulation process increasing the potential for fraud. 

Ranked-choice voting is a complex system that will disenfranchise voters who are unfamiliar with how to rank their choices. It manufactures a majority by throwing out ballots and redistributing votes. Voters should be confident in their elections; ranked-choice voting degrades that confidence.

The financial impact of Prop 140 should not be ignored. Arizona has and should continue to invest in secure voting technology; however, any election using ranked-choice voting requires a much more significant investment in technology to help validate the rankings and recount the votes as candidates are removed. In addition to the technology costs, a massive voter education campaign is necessary to inform voters of the new and different voting system. 

Arizona does not need ranked-choice voting and the deprivation of choice that comes with jungle primaries. Please vote “No” on Prop 140.

Editor’s note: Nikki Colletti is a delegate with AMAC Action Glendale, which is part of a national non-partisan, issues-oriented advocacy group. Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.