Prop. 144 analysis: What Arizonans should know about proposed constitutional amendment that would change how we vote

Sybil Francis

Submitted photo/Claudia Johnstone

Prop. 144 puts many of the things Arizona voters value into contention. In addition to changing how we 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.”

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OPINION — Your vote matters. Voting is one of the rituals and privileges of our democracy. When changes are being proposed to how Arizonans vote, they should know what they’re voting for. Proposition 144, if approved, would make constitutional changes to voting in Arizona, but leaves many details to be determined by the state Legislature.

Prop. 144 leaves too many questions unanswered and should give voters pause before they vote. It 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.

Proposed changes to current voter ID requirements

Prop. 144 includes provisions that may seem sensible, such as requiring that only U.S. citizens may vote in Arizona elections and that voters present government-issued identification when casting a ballot. But Arizona already requires U.S. citizenship to participate in state elections and was among the first states to require voter identification to vote.

Under current law, voters provide identifying information when they register; voters casting ballots in person must show proof of identity; and mail ballots undergo signature verification to confirm the voter’s identity. Why do these issues need to be revisited?

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. The Center for the Future of Arizona’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 is concerning. 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 4 in 5 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 Arizona voters value into contention.

In addition to changing how we 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 and CEO of Phoenix-based Center for the Future of Arizona, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that brings Arizonans together to create a stronger and brighter future for the state. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines