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BREAKING NEWS NOW!

Voting Right & Election Reform
  • Topics
  • Proof of Citizenship for Voter Registration

    A consent decree agreed to by the Arizona Secretary of State and Maricopa County Recorder (which will apply to other county recorders) will allow the following…
    A. State Form voter registration applications and Federal Form applications will now be treated the same! In other words, if no proof of citizenship is provided with a State Form Application, the form WILL NOT be rejected. The Motor Vehicle database will now automatically be checked to see if the applicant has a driver’s license or state ID, for which proof of citizenship was already provided, and if so, they will be registered to vote. If NO license/ID is found, then that person will still be registered to vote, but ONLY for federal candidates.
    Federal Form Applications — which do not require proof of citizenship — were already being checked against MVD records, with applicants being registered as “full ballot” voters if a driver’s license/ID was found.
    B. Subject to the availability of a new voter registration database currently being developed (by July 1, 2020), proof of citizenship will be “attached” to a voter’s record so that it will NOT need to be provided again if that person moves to another county within the state of Arizona.
    More info HERE
    Interestingly…
    Kansas law requiring proof of citizenship to vote was struck down this week as unconstitutional by a federal district judge. The judge determined that the basis for the law — wide-spread voter fraud — was not sufficiently proven, and she said the requirement in an unnecessary burden on some citizens (in violation of the 14th Amendment). The LWV of Kansas was one of the plaintiffs. The Kansas Secretary of State, Kris Kobach, will appeal the ruling. Arizona is now the only state requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration.

  • Supreme Court Decisions

    A. Gerrymandering: The good news: the Court has provided some guidance for the future. Gil er al v Whitford (Wisconsin): Using a new mathematical process that results in a measurement call the “efficiency gap,” to compare a party’s wasted voted across all districts in the state, the 12 plaintiffs charged that votes of those in their party were “wasted” statewide, beyond constitutional standards, due to district “packing” and “cracking.” In the unanimous decision, plaintiffs did not prevail because they could not adequately show an individual and personal injury int he specific districts where they themselves live. The is allowed to go back to the trial court and plaintiffs will plaintiff will likely file to do so. Justice Kagan did provide hope for a future state-wide claim. A political party might bring a case based on a first amendment right of association, i.e. an assertion that gerrymandering may provide an unconstitutional obstacle to a party’s candidates having a fair change at winning elections. A case on these grounds is already brewing in North Carolina.

    B. Ohio Voter Rolls Purge: Five of 9 Supreme Court Justices uphold Ohio’s process for purging its voter rolls.
    The state may continue to remove what it considers outdated voter registration after someone does not vote for a total of 6 years, and also does not respond to a postcard mailed to their address on file. The prevailing opinion was that this in not a violation of the National Voters Registration Act and the Help America Vote Act because the people are not being removed for failure to vote, but rather for failure to return the pre-paid postcard.
    The effect of the ruling may be a disenfranchisement of thousands of voters, but also that other states may now follow with similar rules and procedures. The Ohio governor and other governmental officials state protection from voter fraud as their motivation.
    Real Data of Voter Fraud

  • Ranked Choice Voting

    When elections are between more than 2 candidates, The League of Women Voters supports ranked choice voting as an election system that is less expensive to run (because is an all-in-one election), should encourage more civility in debates and more moderate candidates, eliminates wasted votes and ensure a majority winner.

    Maine used ranked-choice voting (RCV) in it’s June 13th primaries for statewide elections. It was the first time in the nation that a state used a ranked-choice voting system. And during that primary election, voters voted to keep the system in the future.

Empowering Voters
  • Topics
  • AZ Voter Crisis Event


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    Arizona State University Morrison Institute for Public Policy
    When:     July 17, 2018
    10:00am - 11:30am
    Where: Westward Ho, Concho Room (first floor)
    618 N. Central Ave
    Paid parking is available on East Fillmore & Central Ave

    Details:     Report: Arizona voter crisis prompts new project to better educate and engage citizen participation. While many potential voters care deeply about local and state issues, 45% of citizens of voting-age population did not vote in the last election. This report identifies reasons why only a little more than half of Arizona registered voters are casting ballots. Key research finding will be presented, followed by a panel discussion moderated by KJZZ’s Mark Brodie.

  • Save Our Schools Sticker Drive Thru!

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    Stickers for Schools

    #NoProp305 removable vehicle stickers are in!! Drive through the PBM parking lot for FREE sticker. Weather proof window writing is also available with your favorite pro-public schools phrase like, #RedForEd, #NoProp305, Protect Public Ed, Strong Schools Strong State or any other phrase advocating for public schools. Donations are very welcome, but not required.

    This is the parking lot of the UFCW Building!

  • 2020 Census Emergency!

    2020 Census Action Needed!!

    Details:     The Census Bureau is accepting public comments on its decision to add a citizenship question to the 2020 Census. The LWV vehemently opposes this measure, believing it will jeopardize fair redistricting and the determination of the allocation of resources. Also, the call for the citizenship question is anti-immigrant in nature and will further instill fear, preventing immigrants from participating fully in the Census count.

    Comments are accepted until August 7, 2018.

    Follow the link below to submit your comments.
    LINK

  • FINISH YOUR BALLOT
    Important info on voting, including dates and links.
    Barbara Sherman, Rivko Knox, Alice Stambaugh, and the LWVMP EV Tempe Team
    January 28th, 2017

    FINISH YOUR BALLOT FOR MARICOPA COUNTY
    Thank you for becoming informed and participating in our democracy!  Vote Local!


    I. Dates for Maricopa County Elections 2018

    Primary Election, August 28
    Last date to register for primary July 30. Mail-in voting begins August 1.

    General Election, November 6
    Last date to register for general October 9. Mail-in and early voting begins Oct. 10. Mail in ballot by Oct. 31.
     
    II. What County District Am I?
    See information on the election districts you live in, the listings of elected officials and your sample ballot.   See     Maricopa Recorder and Maricopa Vote.

    So Many Districts!!
    In Maricopa County, we live in congressional, legislative, county supervisory, justice of the peace and constable districts as well as a voting precinct, K-12 school, possibly high school or unified school district, technical education, community college, special health care, and maybe even a fire district or other special taxing district.  Maricopa County has over 90 special taxing districts.  By state law all are required to produce budgets, annual reports, and hold board elections in addition to their governance responsibilities.  The Clerk of the Board of Supervisors facilitates these activities.  The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors approves the budgets and tax levies.  Or, with educational and health care districts, we vote on the board members who vote on the budgets.

    III. What’s on My Ballot?
    Go to the Arizona Clean Elections Commission to see your ballot and read about Arizona’s Voter Crisis. You can change a crisis into an opportunity! Finish every ballot, every election!!

    Best Resource: Go to AZ Clean Elections and complete “Find Your Voting and Candidate Information” with your address. You will see a list of your ballot information and at the bottom, a list of Candidate Forums that will provide information on your local candidates. You may also wish to review How Government Works.

    Maricopa County Recorder’s     What’s on My Ballot?
    ​    IV. Maricopa County Midterm Elections 2018
    Maricopa County, Arizona will hold general elections for:


        Until more information is available, voters can see who is running for each office on         Ballotpedia. Political party candidates for these offices will be elected in the primary election.  The general election will determine the winning candidate.  Remember, you can see your Constable and JP districts HERE.

        Precinct committee persons for the registered political parties will be elected also.  If there are fewer candidates than allowed for a precinct, the names will not appear on the ballot and the registered candidates are elected.  If there are more candidates than allowed, the names will be listed and votes will be tallied.  (It is also possible that the Legislative District Chair may appoint precinct committee persons, one time only.)


        V. School & College Boards, Bonds & Overrides - November 6, 2018 Midterms
        The national midterm election is important to other local elections too.  

        Elementary & High School Elections and Local Override or Bond Elections
        Get information via the Maricopa County link to the Maricopa County Education Service Agency         (MCESA).

        Technical Education Boards: EVIT & West MEC
        Maricopa County is divided into two technical education districts, The East Valley Institute of Technology (EVIT) and the Western Maricopa Education Center also known as West MEC.  Both districts prepare high school and continuing education students to enter the workforce with multiple occupational career training programs.

        EVIT is divided into 9 districts, and 5 of its board members will stand for election in 2018.  See         Governing Board. Seats up for election are those of current members Norman Colbert, Robert Covington, Erwin Heimbuck, James Candland, and Matthew Wright.

        West MEC has 7 districts, and 4 board members will be up for election in 2018.  Seats up for election are those of current members Charlie Ellis, James Kaltenbach, Jim Migliorino, and Frank Straka.

        Community Colleges MCCCD - Maricopa Community College Board oversees 10 county colleges, approximately 200,000 students and has a budget of $1.2 billion for 2018 – 2109.  There is no state funding for the campuses.  Major sources of funding are tuition and local property taxes.

        The Maricopa County Community College District’s Governing Board has seven seats: five elected positions from geographical districts within Maricopa County and two at-large positions representing the entire County. Board members serve staggered 4-year terms.
        This year in addition to one at-large seat, the seats for Districts 3, 4 and 5 are up for election. A primary issue for candidates is that of funding for the colleges: should it be increased, given lack of state funding, or should expenses be reduced instead?

        Find out your MCCCD district HERE. Find out more about the Board, HERE.

        IV. Other Local Elections 2018 (Health, Water, Judges), Maricopa County
        The Maricopa Integrated Health System (MIHS), governed by the County Special Health Care District (CSHCD) Board of Directors. They oversee a hospital, two behavioral health centers, an outpatient specialty center, and 12 family health centers.  MIHS has a partnership with 770 physicians and advanced providers.  The budget approved for 2018 – 2019 is almost $500 million. Each Board member represents one of 5 districts, and each serves a 4-year term. In 2018, seats in Districts 3 and 4 are up for election.
        Board of Directors’ members and district maps. By law, MIHS cannot provide candidate information, but names of the candidates that will appear on the ballot for contested districts will be listed at the County Elections Department website once the filing deadline has passed: http://recorder.maricopa.gov/web/candcamp.aspx. That site will also allow you to access public records filed by each candidate’s campaign regarding the election, including the candidate’s statement of organization and all campaign finance filings made by a candidate’s campaign.
        The Central Arizona Water Conservation District (CAWD), which manages the Central Arizona Project. The CAWD is a special-purpose taxing district covering Maricopa, Pima and Pinal Counties, and it is responsible for financing the CAP and delivery of its water. There are 15 Board members, serving 6-year, staggered terms. Five Board positions are up for election in 2018, all from Maricopa County -- so, only Maricopa County voters will vote on them. The seats are at-large: the top 5 vote-getters win the seats.         Current CAWD Board information.
        Once the filing deadline is reached, candidates for the CAWD will appear on the County website.
        Maricopa County Superior Court Judges 
        In large counties, Superior Court, Appellate, and State Supreme Court judges stand for retention through Arizona’s acclaimed merit selection process.  The public Commission on Trial Court Appointments selects and nominates applicants to the Governor.  The Governor appoints Superior Court Judges in each county of over 250,000 and to the Court of Appeals and Arizona Supreme Court.  Each judge stands for retention after 2 years and every 4-year term.  The Commission, lawyers, litigants, jurors and staff evaluate the judge’s performance.  This information is distributed to voters so they can decide whether or not the judge should be retained.  A “no” vote means the judge loses the judgeship.

        Finish your ballot and vote the judges using the list in your Secretary of State’s information pamphlet mailed to the home of each registered voter, and         available online in September.

          
        VII. More Information on Candidates

        *        Maricopa County Recorder. See additional candidate and campaign finance information.  Candidates may file petitions until August 8, 2018.  The website will be updated daily after petitions are filed.  The County is not required by law to collect or present candidate information.

        *        Secretary of State

        *        AZ Clean Elections

        *        Ballotpedia

        *        AZ Central info on City Candidates

        *        AZCentral info on State Candidates

      • VOTE LOCAl
        Read how SCOTUS got it wrong on Ohio’s voter purge efforts
        Barbara Sherman, Rivko Knox, Alice Stambaugh, and the LWVMP EV Tempe Team
        January 28th, 2017

        Vote Local
        Why should every voter finish the ballot?  Not voting for a candidate in any government office leaves the choice of who affects our daily lives up to others.  These decisions affect you!

        How does voting affect my life? Decisions made by our elected County officials affect every person in Arizona. That includes anyone who lives in a town or county; who pays any taxes, drives roads, or goes to parks; whose kids attend school or college; who needs a driver’s license or any kind of certification; or who has ever gone to court as a defendant, litigant, witness, or juror. 
        Why are Maricopa County elections important to me? Maricopa County is one of the largest as well as the fastest growing county in the United States, spending almost $2.5 billion to maintain our services. Maricopa County supervisors and officials administer department budgets and make crucial decisions that impact all county residents via property and taxes, county services, school funding, coordinated law enforcement, health care, the courts, and all elections. 
        How do I get the information I need to vote in all elections? Visit League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Phoenix Elections http://www.lwvmetrophoenix.org/Elections/ to get links to all your voting needs on state, county, city, school, college, boards, commissions, and judicial elections. 
        Here’s your chance to make a difference in government. Vote local! To use your voice and make democracy work, get informed and vote every office, on every ballot, every time.
        Find information on how to Finish Your Ballot – Maricopa County in November 2018 at LWVMetroPhoenix.org.
        From the League of Women Voters. LWV is a non-partisan organization that provides information about the elections and candidates with links to more detailed information, so every voter can be informed and vote intelligently. LWV never supports or opposes no party or candidate. 

      • SCOTUS APPROVES OF OHIO VOTER PURGE
        Read how SCOTUS got it wrong on Ohio’s voter purge efforts
        LWVUS
        January 28th, 2017

        Washington, DC and Columbus, Ohio - Today, the Supreme Court ruled against Ohio voters by upholding the state’s purging practice for those voters who did not vote in a single election in the case of Husted v. A. Phillip Randolph Institute.

        “The Supreme Court got this one wrong.” The right to vote is not ‘use it or lose it’,” said Chris Carson, League of Women Voters US President. “The public trust in the fairness of our elections is badly shaken. This decision will fuel the fire of voter suppression across the country who want to make sure their chosen candidates win re-election - no matter what the voters say.”

        The League of Women Voter (US), the League of Women Voters Ohio, and the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law previously filed a friend of the court brief in the case, arguing the the state’s purge process which could be initiated after a voter missed a single federal election, violated the Nation Voter Registration Act. Ohio’s voter purge practice kept hundreds of thousands of eligible registered voters from participating in the 2016 elections.

        “Not only did Ohio voters not find justice today, but the high court has opened up the opportunity for extreme voter purge to continue in Ohio, which could spread to other states,” said Jen Miller, Executive Director of the League of Women Voters of Ohio. “Today’s decision further undermines the National Voter Registration Act’s protections for duly registered voters, which will increase voter confusion and provisional ballot counts in the fall. We encourage all Ohio voters to confirm their registration ahead of this fall’s elections and to join the League as volunteers register and re-register eligible voters.”

        “While this is disappointing, Ohio is one of only a few states that used failure to vote as a trigger for kicking someone off the roles,” said Myrna Pérez, Director of the Voting Rights and Elections Project at the Brennan Center for Justice. “Our worry is that other states will take this decision as a green light to implement more aggressive voter purges as the 2018 elections loom.”

        “A democracy is stronger when every voice can be heard - when every eligible voter can cast their vote and have it counted,” Carson said. “The League of Women Voters will continue to fight for voting rights, for equality at the ballot box, and equal representation in government.”

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      LWV Metropolitan Phoenix Contact Information

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