By Ben Giles | Arizona Capitol Times
Arizona lawmakers may add geographic requirements for citizens who want to pass laws via the ballot, a hurdle critics warned may be insurmountable for ordinary citizens.
Any individual or organization that wants to change state law or amend the Arizona Constitution must gather a certain number of signatures to qualify their proposal for the ballot. Legislation approved by House and Senate committees this week would require specific portions of those signatures be collected from all the state’s 30 legislative districts.
Republican lawmakers and business leaders backing the measures say it’s necessary to ensure that all Arizonans are considered when laws are proposed to Arizona voters.
If approved by the House and Senate, the constitutional proposal would be sent to the Secretary of State’s Office to be placed on the 2020 ballot.
