Local opinion: How Proposition 140 helps build a better Arizona

It is time to end the current primary election system that favors the most partisan participants and effectively excludes others. The choices provided by Proposition 140 are systems that work in other states and allow for more candidate choice and result in elected officials reflective of the community.

Proposition 140 requires nonpartisan open primary elections in which all voters participate equally and all candidates are treated equally. For general elections, the Legislature is required to choose between a top two run off or an election with multiple candidates and the use of candidate rankings to determine the winner. What is common to both systems is, in all primaries, all candidates will be listed on the same ballot and all voters will choose between all candidates. The open primary system is like the many nonpartisan elections that take place across Arizona, only here, the party designation does not go away.

I’ve heard the criticism that the Legislature should not decide. Fair enough. However, if there’s a time when we do not know whether the Legislature is going to be a Democratic Legislature or a Republican Legislature, it is now. And a safeguard is built into the Proposition: If the Legislature refuses to act, the Secretary of State will choose between the two (2) systems proposed.

I’ve heard the argument that opening the primaries will weaken Democrats’ influence in Tucson where we hold a significant majority. This fear is unfounded. Tucson’s progressive values will not disappear because more people are allowed to participate in elections. In fact, by engaging with a broader swath of voters, we can make our case more effectively and bring more people into the fold. This Proposition affects more than Tucson. I would ask my Democratic friends how many of them have been satisfied with a primary system that elects the current composition of our Legislature.

Under either of these systems, it is not that a Democrat is not likely to win in a Democratic majority district or a Republican will not win in a majority Republican district. There are different flavors of both Democrat and Republican. By allowing everyone to vote, the candidate who has the views that best represent all of the people, their own party and an ability to reason with and negotiate with those that think differently, should win and will make for better governance. Under our current system, an Independent voter, who is the largest body of voters in the State, must declare with the County Recorder, in advance which ballot they want. It does not seem like a big burden, however, if we are going to talk about barriers to voting, that is one. Heaven forbid, a Democrat may want to vote for a Republican or a Republican may want to vote for a Democrat or an Independent might want to vote for both, but their candidates are eliminated in a partisan primary system.

Arizona should join the many states and jurisdictions that are moving away from the closed partisan primary system.

Proposition 140 will encourage a wider array of candidates who will need to appeal to a broader electorate. That means more debate, more innovation and more accountability. When candidates have to speak to all voters, not just their parties’ base, they are more likely to focus on solutions instead of partisanship. We need an election system that excludes no one from choosing all candidates regardless of party affiliation. In a State as diverse and dynamic as Arizona, this is the right thing to do. Arizona is evolving and so should our electoral system. Proposition 140 is about making sure our elected officials are chosen by the people they will represent — all the people.

We need a political system that fosters inclusion, builds consensus, and reflects the diversity of our State. That is what Proposition 140 does and that is why I am urging you to vote yes. Our democracy is strongest when everyone has a voice. Let us open our primaries, broaden our conversation, and move Arizona forward.