Arizona Supreme Court Upholds Ballot Measure Despite Signature Issues

Arizona’s Supreme Court ruled in favor of allowing a controversial ranked-choice voting proposal to stay on the November ballot, despite evidence that thousands of signatures gathered in support of the measure were duplicates. The ruling has drawn sharp criticism from conservatives who fear the decision could undermine election integrity.

Proposition 140, which seeks to introduce ranked-choice voting (RCV) in Arizona, faced a legal challenge after it was revealed that nearly 38,000 duplicate signatures were found among the petition signatures. Opponents argued that the duplicate signatures should disqualify the measure from the ballot, but the court ultimately allowed the initiative to move forward.

Proponents of RCV argue that the system gives voters more options and reduces the likelihood of extreme candidates winning elections. However, critics claim that the system is overly complicated and could disenfranchise voters who do not understand how it works.

Scot Mussi, president of the Arizona Free Enterprise Club (AZFEC), expressed disappointment in the court’s ruling, arguing that the initiative’s supporters deliberately delayed the signature review process to keep the measure on the ballot.

In a statement, Merissa Hamilton from the Strong Communities Foundation of Arizona also criticized the ruling, claiming it sets a dangerous precedent. “If you can conceal your cheating long enough, you can fraud your way onto the ballot,” she wrote.

With the ruling in place, voters will have the chance to decide on ranked-choice voting in November, though many conservatives hope the measure will be rejected.

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