2026 AZ Ballot Measures – A Public Health Perspective (ppt)
Now that session is over, we turn our advocacy attention toward taking positions on the various ballot measures in order to educate voters about the public health policy implications of each. There will likely be 5 ballot measures we’ll be taking public positions on by writing arguments in the voter publicity pamphlet.
It looks like there will be 11 or so propositions on the ballot. More detail on this in the coming weeks and months – but here’s a short summary of those we expect to take positions on in the voter publicity pamphlet:
SCR1004 — Photo-Enforcement Systems: Vote No
SCR1004 would make it much harder for Arizona cities and towns to use photo-enforcement systems. Communities without an existing contract by the end of 2026 would be barred from adopting the technology. Cities that already use it would need voter approval to keep their programs and would have to return to voters every 10 years.
There’s a reasonable debate about the overuse of speed cameras, especially when cities place them on roads with artificially low speed limits. But SCR1004 also covers red-light cameras. That goes too far. Properly placed red-light cameras can discourage drivers from running red lights and reduce dangerous T-bone crashes, serious injuries and deaths. Local communities should keep the ability to use this tool at high-risk intersections.
HCR2001 — AZ Secure Elections Act: Vote No
HCR2001 would make major changes to Arizona’s early- and mail-voting systems. It would require voters to provide government-issued identification when casting a ballot, including when voting by mail. It would end most early voting by 7 p.m. on the Friday before Election Day and require voters to confirm a specific mailing address before each biennial general election to continue receiving mail ballots.
Arizona’s existing mail-voting system is widely used and familiar to voters. Adding new paperwork and identification requirements would create avoidable barriers, especially for older adults, people with disabilities, rural residents and people with limited transportation options. Voting access affects whose voices are heard when elected officials make decisions about health care, education, housing and other conditions that shape community health.
Free, Fair and Secure Elections Act: Vote Yes
The Free, Fair and Secure Elections Act is a citizen initiative designed to protect access to voting in the Arizona Constitution. It would preserve voting by mail, early in-person voting and Election Day voting at county voting centers. It would also allow voters to sign up to automatically receive a ballot for each election.
The initiative would keep voter-identification requirements and specify that elections are decided only by eligible U.S. citizens. At the same time, it would prevent the Legislature from ending mail-in voting or sharply reducing the early-voting period.
Arizona voters have relied on early and mail voting for decades. Protecting that access matters from a public-health perspective because communities are healthier when eligible voters can take part in decisions affecting schools, health systems, transportation and local services.
Protect Education Act: Vote Yes
Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Account program has expanded rapidly, but the basic accountability rules haven’t kept pace. The Protect Education Act would add reasonable guardrails while preserving access for students with disabilities and others who qualified before the program’s 2022 expansion.
The measure would limit newer eligibility to families earning $150,000 or less, adjusted annually for inflation. It would prohibit the use of ESA funds for luxury and other noneducational purchases, require stronger financial transparency and establish basic safety standards. Schools and service providers receiving public money would face added oversight, including background-check requirements. Unused funds sitting in private accounts would be returned to support public education.
Education policy is health policy. Safe schools, effective education and responsible use of public resources all contribute to healthier communities.
HCR 2048 Poison Pill for Protect Education Act
On its face, HCR2048 would amend the Arizona Constitution to prohibit the state from sweeping unused ESA funds held for children of military families at the end of the year.
Although its title focuses on military families, the measure is really designed to nullify the Protect Education Act if it passes.
Current Arizona Department of Education policy already allows unused ESA funds to roll over from one fiscal year to the next for everybody who gets them.
The real reason for HCR2048 has nothing to do with military families. Its real purpose is to void the entire Protect Education Act if it passes.
Because there’s no targeted exemption for military families to keep left over ESA money, the Protect Education Act would be in conflict with HCR2048 if they both pass. At that point, the protect Education Act (which we support) would then be void