Results for Arizona's ballot propositions | 2024 Election

PHOENIX - Arizona voters have decided on a number of statewide ballot measures, some of which could have an impact on people's lives in the years to come.

Here's a look at the measures that were placed before voters in the Grand Canyon State, as well as the preliminary results.

Arizona voters decide on ballot propositions

Voters in Arizona have decided on some major propositions that were on the General Election ballot.

Proposition 133 - Political primaries

The Associated Press is projecting a defeat for Proposition 133.

Per the Arizona 2024 General Election Publicity Pamphlet, Proposition 133 aims to change the state's constitution with regards to how primary elections are run in the state.

The measure also effectively bans any towns and cities in the state from having a different direct primary system, because the measure specifically states it "supersedes any contrary or inconsistent provision of any charger, law, ordinance, rule, resolution or policy of and city." Arizona's constitution currently allows a city or town that has adopted a charter form of government to "enact and implement laws for the selection of its governing officers that may conflict with the state election laws."

Proposition 134 - Initiative signature requirements

The Associated Press is projecting a defeat for Proposition 134.

According to an analysis by the Legislative Council, the measure aims to change the signature requirements for initiative and referendum measures to the following:

Constitutional amendments: At least 15% of qualified electors in each of the state's 30 legislative districts.
Statutory amendments: At least 10% of qualified electors in each of the state's 30 legislative districts.
Referendums: At least 5% of qualified electors in each of the state's 30 legislative districts.

The analysis states that under current rule, the same requirements apply, but on a statewide basis and without regard to where the qualified elector lives within Arizona.

Proposition 135 - Governor's emergency powers

The Associated Press is projecting a defeat for Proposition 135.

According to the publicity pamphlet, Prop 135 would specify that the emergency powers granted to the state's governor during a state of emergency, except for "powers related to a state of war emergency or an emergency arising from a flood or fire," would terminate 30 days after the state of emergency was proclaimed, unless the state legislature extends the emergency powers via a concurrent resolution.

The analysis for this measure states that currently, Arizona's governor is allowed to declare a state of emergency "if the Governor finds that a disaster or other extreme peril threatens the safety of the people or property of this state."

Proposition 136 - Allowing legal challenges to ballot measures before the election (AP projection made)

The Associated Press is projecting a defeat for Proposition 136.

According to the proposition's analysis, the measure would have amended the state's constitution and allow a person to challenge a ballot measure's constitutionality at least 100 days before the day when voters will decide on the measure or measures in question.

The analysis states that currently, the courts "generally may not adjudicate challenges to the constitutionality of an initiative measure until after the initiative measure is enacted by the voters."

Proposition 137 - Judicial Accountability Act (AP projection made)

The Associated Press is projecting a defeat for Proposition 137.

The measure, per its analysis, would have made a number of revisions to the state constitution, including:

Allowing state justices and judges appointed via the merit selection process who have not reached the mandatory retirement age of 70 to serve "during good behavior."
No more automatic retention vote for justices and judges appointed via the merit selection process.
An expanded Judicial Performance Review Commission that includes a member appointed by the Arizona State House and the Arizona State Senate.
A requirement for the JPR Commission, on the written request of a state legislator, to investigate allegations that a judge or justice "engaged in a pattern of malfeasance in office," and determine that such judge or justice did not meet judicial performance standards if it is found that the pattern of malfeasance had occurred.

Had voters approved the measure, the results of this year's judicial retention election would have been nullified.

Proposition 138 - Tipped Workers Protection Act (AP projection made)

The Associated Press is projecting a defeat for Proposition 138.

The measure, according to its analysis, would have amended the state's constitution by adding a provision that regulates pay for tipped workers.

Had voters approved the measure, employers would have been allowed to pay up to 25% per hour less than the minimum wage for employees who customarily and regularly receive tips or gratuities. The employer would need to establish that the employee in question is paid at least the minimum wage plus $2 per hour, for all hours worked.

Proposition 139 - Arizona Abortion Access Act (AP projection made)

The Associated Press is projecting a victory for Proposition 139.

The measure will place a "fundamental right to abortion" in the state's constitution.

Besides declaring a fundamental right to abortion for every individual, the ballot measure also aims to ban the state from the following:

Denying, restricting, or interfering with abortion rights before fetal viability, "unless justified by a compelling state interest that is achieved by the least restrictive means."
Denying, restricting or interfering with an abortion that takes place after fetal viability that, "in the good faith judgment of a treating health care professional, is necessary to protect the life or mental health of the pregnant individual."
Penalizing any individual or entity for "aiding or assisting a pregnant individual in exercising the individual's right to abortion."

According to an article published on the National Library of Medicine's website, 24 weeks is considered to be the threshold for fetal viability in the United States.

Proposition 140 - Make Elections Fair Arizona Act (AP projection made)

The Associated Press is projecting a defeat for Proposition 140.

The measure aimed to amend the state's constitution by changing the way primary and general elections are conducted.

The measure would have mandated that all qualified candidates for an elected office would be placed on the same primary ballot, regardless of their political affiliation, and all qualified voters may vote in the primary, regardless of their political party affiliation.

Proposition 311 - Back The Blue Act (AP projection made)

The AP is projecting that voters approved Proposition 311.

The analysis for Prop 311 states the measure will establish a new state law that provides a death benefit of $250,000 for the surviving spouse or children of a first responder "who is killed in the line of duty as the result of another person's criminal act."

"Proposition 311 would establish a $20 penalty fee on every criminal conviction to provide funding for the new state death benefit. The new state death benefit and penalty fee would begin on July 1, 2025. The state death benefit and penalty fee would be repealed on January 1, 2033," read a portion of the analysis.

The analysis also states that the criminal punishment for aggravated assault against peace officers will be increased until Jan. 1, 2033, and first responders will be included in the list of possible victims for the crime.

Proposition 312 - Property tax refund

The AP is projecting that voters approved Proposition 312.

The analysis states the measure would allow a property owner to apply for a once-per-year refund for "documented, reasonable expenses" incurred for the following reasons:

Mitigating the effects of a city, town, or county maintaining a public nuisance on the property owner's real property
Mitigating the effects of a city, town or county adopting and following "a policy, pattern or practice that declines to enforce existing laws prohibiting illegal camping, obstructing a public thoroughfare, loitering, panhandling, urinating or defecating in public, consuming alcoholic beverages in public or possessing or using illegal substances and the property owner incurs documented expenses to mitigate the effects of the policy, pattern, practice or public nuisance on their real property."

Proposition 313 - Increased punishment for child sex trafficking (AP projection made)

The AP is projecting a win for Proposition 313.

Per the publicity pamphlet, the measure aims to revise Arizona law by increasing the penalty of those convicted of class 2 felony for child sex trafficking to life in prison, without the possibility of parole.

"Under current law, child sex trafficking is classified as a class 2 or a class 5 felony. Depending on the age of the victim, the nature of the offense and whether a person has previously been convicted of child sex trafficking or certain other felonies, a person who is convicted of a class 2 felony for child sex trafficking may serve a sentence that ranges from a minimum of seven years in prison to the remainder of the person's natural life without any form of release," read a portion of the Legislative Council's analysis on the measure.

Proposition 314 - Secure the Border Act (AP projection made)

The AP is projecting a victory for Proposition 314.

Per an analysis by the Legislative Council, the ballot measure aims to make changes to the Arizona Revised Statutes by:

Creating a new a class 6 felony law that bans a natural person who is not in the country legally from "knowingly submitting false documentation when applying for a federal, state or local public benefit." According to the Cornell Law School's Legal Information Institute (LII), "natural person" is a legal term for a living human being.
Creating a new crime that bans a natural person who is not in the country legally from "knowingly submitting false information or documents to an employer to evade detection for employment eligibility under the E-Verify program."
Creating a new crime that bans a person who is at least 18 years old from "knowingly selling fentanyl in violation of the current drug laws if the person knows the drug sold contains fentanyl and the fentanyl causes the death of another person."
Creating a new crime that bans a person who is an alien from "entering or attempting to enter this state directly from a foreign nation at any location that is not a lawful port of entry." Alien is defined by the LII as a legal term that refers to anyone who is not a U.S. citizen or a U.S. national.
Creating a new crime that bans a person who is an alien from "[entering] this state at a location other than a lawful port of entry and refuses to comply with an order to return to a foreign nation or the alien's nation of origin."

Proposition 315 - Rulemaking reform

The Associated Press is projecting a defeat for Proposition 315.

The measure, according to its analysis, deals with the process in which state agencies adopt rules. A state agency would be required to submit for review a proposed rule "that is estimated to increase regulatory costs in Arizona by more than $100,000 within five years after implementation."

"If [the Office of Economic Opportunity] finds that the proposed rule is estimated to increase regulatory costs in Arizona by more than $500,000 within five years after implementation, the proposed rule would not become effective until legislation is enacted to ratify the proposed rule," read a portion of the analysis.

Currently, the analysis states that a state agency seeking to propose a rule needs to open a rulemaking docket as a way to notify the public of the proposed rulemaking.

"The state agency is required to accept comments on the proposed rule for at least 30 days before submitting the final rule to the Governor’s Regulatory Review Council (GRRC) for approval," read a portion of the analysis. "The Administrative Rules Oversight Committee (AROC) may also review any rulemaking action to ensure conformity with statute and legislative intent. AROC may comment and designate a representative to testify to GRRC on whether the rule is consistent with statute or legislative intent. GRRC is required to consider the comments and testimony
AROC and may review and approve the rule or return the rule."

Proposition 479 - Maricopa County transportation sale tax extension

(From File)

The measure is specific to Maricopa County voters, and as of 10:40 a.m. on Wednesday, unofficial figures from Maricopa County are showing a lead for the "yes" vote.

If approved by voters in Maricopa County, the measure will extend a half-cent sales tax for another 20 years, until Dec. 31, 2045.

"This excise (sales) tax revenue would be used to build new freeways, widen existing freeways and highways, expand and rehabilitate the region’s arterial ‘grid’ street system, expand regional bus services, provide Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) paratransit services, and expand the region’s high-capacity transit system," read a portion of the pamphlet.

This is not a new tax that is being proposed, as people in Maricopa County have been paying the tax since the mid-1980s, after voters approved the tax.

You can find the latest results for Proposition 479 on the Maricopa County website.

The Source: Information for this article was gathered from previous FOX 10 reports, in addition to informational publicity pamphlets published by elections officials in Arizona and in Maricopa County.