Good example of Republicans trying to block citizens (legal, party, examples)

[Voebe]

There are already so many examples of voter suppression, so many examples of gerrymandering.

But now there's this in Arizona. Republican Mark Finchem is sponsoring a bill to require that any citizen initiative collect signatures from every single district. It's a total brush-off to the democratic idea of majority rule. Because if 95% of the population were to sign up, but one district is missing - that still wouldn't be enough.

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-sta...ection-changes

[WaldoKitty]

Originally Posted by Voebe

There are already so many examples of voter suppression, so many examples of gerrymandering.

But now there's this in Arizona. Republican Mark Finchem is sponsoring a bill to require that any citizen initiative collect signatures from every single district. It's a total brush-off to the democratic idea of majority rule. Because if 95% of the population were to sign up, but one district is missing - that still wouldn't be enough.

Wait. It says it doesn't become law unless the people of Arizona vote for it.

You left off that part.Why?

Fail

/thread.

[hbdwihdh378y9]

Originally Posted by Voebe

There are already so many examples of voter suppression, so many examples of gerrymandering.

But now there's this in Arizona. Republican Mark Finchem is sponsoring a bill to require that any citizen initiative collect signatures from every single district. It's a total brush-off to the democratic idea of majority rule.

"Majority rule" is not a "democratic idea". In fact, it's very un-democratic. Of course, it's better than the minority rule that we've had since World War II, but its far from ideal.

[rjshae]

I'll bet it's not legal under the Arizona Constitution.

"(2) Initiative power. The first of these reserved powers is the initiative. Under
this power ten per centum of the qualified electors shall have the right to
propose any measure, and fifteen per centum shall have the right to
propose any amendment to the constitution."

It doesn't say anything about being from every district; ten percent anywhere in the state is all that is needed.

[Loveshiscountry]

Originally Posted by Voebe

There are already so many examples of voter suppression, so many examples of gerrymandering.

But now there's this in Arizona. Republican Mark Finchem is sponsoring a bill to require that any citizen initiative collect signatures from every single district. It's a total brush-off to the democratic idea of majority rule. Because if 95% of the population were to sign up, but one district is missing - that still wouldn't be enough.

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-sta...ection-changes

lol It's not voter suppression.

From the article you linked.

Republicans argued that requiring the initiatives proponents to collect signatures from each legislative district allows rural Arizona voters to have a voice in what reaches the ballot.

Democrats say it would vastly change the way initiatives have reached the ballot since statehood by increasing costs of gathering signatures and allowing any one district to prevent a statewide measure from going to a vote.

Both good points but the republican hits the nail on the head. Local control is best. Nothing was said as far as to how one district can prevent another.

"He argued that most initiatives qualify for the ballot mainly with signatures from large counties surrounding Phoenix and Tucson, while small rural communities are left out of the process."

Sounds reasonable

But Democratic Rep. Diego Rodriguez said that will cut both ways because an idea that citizens in rural Arizona support will be more difficult for them to get on the ballot. And he noted that every voter gets to weigh in at the ballot box.

As it is now, the rural areas will get something but only if the larger areas want it and promote it?

Do Phoenix and Tucson lean left? If so, being against this is about the party in power wanting to retain that power. That's easy to understand.


Can someone reasonable from AZ chime in on this and give us some info?
Like how many signatures does one need? Is it hard for the smaller rural areas to have a voice?