New Poll Signals Trouble Ahead for Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative

By Staff Reporter |

A recent poll suggests that Proposition 140, known as the “Make Elections Fair Act,” is likely to be defeated in Arizona. The proposition aimed to implement ranked-choice voting and open primaries, but voter support appears lacking.

The Arizona Free Enterprise Club (AFEC) released the survey findings on Tuesday, which were conducted by Data Orbital. Over 500 voters participated in the poll last weekend, revealing that only 42 percent support the measure. For those who have already cast their votes, support drops to 38 percent.

Scot Mussi, president of AFEC, commented on the results, indicating a significant opposition to proposed election reforms reminiscent of those in California. “This latest poll demonstrates that Arizonans do not appreciate these special interests attempting to commandeer our elections for their radical agenda,” said Mussi. He noted that voters are becoming wary of the potential implications of Prop 140 on Arizona’s electoral landscape.

Mussi also emphasized that rejecting Prop 140 would send a clear message to “out-of-state billionaires and California liberals” that Arizona will not embrace a system controlled by a partisan election official, particularly referring to the Secretary of State. Under the proposed reforms, this official would determine how many candidates qualify for the general election ballot, which could unbalance representation in some races.

Concerns were also raised about the possibility of increased tabulation errors and longer voting lines, potentially delaying election results. Among respondents, 41 percent expressed outright opposition to the measure. Additionally, 8 percent were undecided, while 5 percent either did not recall how they had voted or chose not to answer.

The demographic data from the survey indicates a majority of respondents were 65 and older, with 33 percent falling into that age bracket. The poll had a balanced gender representation, with 261 males and 289 females participating. Regarding political affiliations, 39 percent identified as Republicans, 32 percent as Democrats, and 25 percent as independents or unaffiliated. The educational background varied, with 42 percent having some college education but no degree.

The results underscore a critical engagement from the electorate regarding the future of Arizona’s election procedures and highlight the divisions in public opinion surrounding Proposition 140.