Voters Overturn Prop 134, Thwart Tougher Initiative Petition Rules

Early voting results reveal that Arizonans are largely opposing a proposed legislative change to the voter initiative process.

As of about 8:30 p.m., Proposition 134, also known as the Distribution Requirement for Initiatives Amendment, garnered only 40.46% support while 59.54% of voters expressed their disapproval.

The controversial measure would require that signature thresholds be met across all 30 legislative districts in Arizona, rather than just achieving a statewide total, in order to qualify initiatives for the ballot.

Currently, to initiate a change in state law, petitioners must collect signatures equal to 10% of the total votes cast for governor in the last general election. For constitutional amendments, the requirement is 15%. Proposition 134 would elevate the complexity, stipulating that constitutional amendments must also meet the 15% threshold in every single legislative district.

This measure, pushed through the Legislature by Republican lawmakers in 2023, lacked any Democratic support in both the House and Senate.

While some states impose geographic distribution requirements for initiatives, none are as stringent as Proposition 134, which mandates compliance in every legislative district. Many other states adopt a more lenient approach, requiring signatures from a percentage of districts or placing limitations on the number of signatures from any one district.

Proponents argue that the amendment would promote fairness in the signature-gathering process, compelling petitioners to reach voters beyond densely populated areas like Maricopa County.

In contrast, critics assert that the proposal would effectively hinder the ability to place initiatives on the ballot, as a single legislative district could potentially block statewide voting opportunities.