Arizona "Open Government Act" Initiative (2012)
From Ballotpedia
The Arizona "Open Government Act" Initiative may appear on the November 6, 2012 general election ballot in the state of Arizona as an initiated constitutional amendment.The measure would implement a top-two style open primary system. In a top-two open primary, candidates for a government position run on the same primary ballot regardless of party affiliation. All registered voters are then able to cast their vote for the candidate of their choice. The two candidates with the most votes are then placed on the November general election ballot, regardless of party affiliation. The proposal was introduced by former Phoenix Mayor Paul Johnson.[1][2]
The measure was filed with the Arizona Secretary of State on September 27, 2011.[3]
Support
The following is information obtained from the supporting side of the measure:
- The Arizona Open Government Coalition is the group behind the measure.[4] The group is led by former Phoenix Mayor Paul Johnson.[5]
- According to Johnson, about a third of state residents are not registered with either the Democratic or Republican party. There are now more independents in the state than Democrats, Johnson says.[6]
- Johnson also stated that the 2012 initiative “is about trying to change the outcomes so that we end up with a more reasoned debate and more people are included in the process."[7]
Polls
- During the days of October 4-11, 2011, a poll was conducted by Arizona State University’s Morrison Institute for Public Policy concerning the topic of nonpartisan ballots in primaries. The survey asked state state residents if they favored a nonpartisan primary ballot system. The results of the poll follow. The margin of error was plus or minus 4 percentage points.[8]
| Date of Poll | Pollster | In favor | Opposed | Undecided | Number polled |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct. 4-11, 2011 | Morrison Institute for Public Policy | 58% | 33% | 9% | 600 |
Path to the ballot
- See also: Arizona signature requirements
In order to qualify for the 2012 statewide ballot, supporters are required to collect a minimum of 259,213 valid petition signatures by July 2012.
See also
- 2012 ballot measures
- Laws governing the initiative process in Arizona
- Arizona 2012 ballot measures
- Arizona Legislature
- List of Arizona ballot measures
Additional reading
- Initiative would switch Arizona primary to 'top 2'
- Arizona Top-Two Primary Initiative Expected to Qualify for Ballot This Year
References
- ↑ Caivn.org, "Open Government Committee launches top-two open primary ballot initiative in Arizona", August 15, 2011
- ↑ Business Journals, "Paul Johnson Ballot iniative...", Retrieved October 3, 2011
- ↑ Associated Press,"Initiative would switch Arizona primary to 'top 2'," September 27, 2011
- ↑ My Fox Phoenix, "Arizona Group Wants to Abolish Party Primaries", August 5, 2011
- ↑ The Arizona Republic,"Group seeks single primary to counter Ariz. party extremists," August 4, 2011
- ↑ Arizona Daily Star, "Arizona initiative would put all candidates in one primary", September 28, 2011
- ↑ Tuscon Citizen, "Push is on for open primary in Arizona", May 9, 2012
- ↑ Cronkite News Online, "Poll: More than half of Arizonans support a nonpartisan ballot in primaries", November 14, 2011
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