Special Master uncovers massive signature fraud in Arizona’s Proposition 140, threatening its place on the ballot.
At a Glance
- 99% of 38,000 reviewed signatures for Proposition 140 were duplicates
- Prop 140 now falls short of required signatures by over 3,300
- Initiative aimed to implement ranked-choice voting and jungle primaries
- Hearing scheduled for Wednesday to decide Prop 140’s fate
Massive Signature Fraud Uncovered
In a shocking revelation that undermines the integrity of Arizona’s ballot initiative process, Special Master Christopher Skelly has discovered an alarming 37,657 duplicate signatures on petitions supporting Proposition 140. This finding has sent shockwaves through the state’s political landscape, raising serious questions about the measure’s legitimacy and the tactics employed by its backers.
Proposition 140, which aimed to introduce a California-style election system with ranked-choice voting and jungle primaries, now finds itself thousands of signatures below the required threshold to qualify for the November ballot. This development has sparked outrage among conservative groups who have long opposed the measure as an attempt to undermine Arizona’s traditional electoral system.
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Conservative Backlash and Legal Implications
Scot Mussi, President of the Arizona Free Enterprise Club, didn’t mince words when addressing the scandal. He stated that Prop 140 lacked the necessary signatures from the start, accusing special interests behind the initiative of attempting to delay the challenge despite knowing about the duplicate signatures.
“As we knew all along, Prop 140 lacks the signatures required for this measure to even make it to the ballot in the first place, let alone be considered by voters in November,” said Scot Mussi, President of the Arizona Free Enterprise Club. “Even though they knew about the illegitimacy of these duplicate signatures, the special interests behind this initiative attempted to run out the clock on this challenge through obstruction and delay. They were caught, and now we hope the court does the right thing and enjoins the measure from tabulation in the fall.”
The scale of the fraud is staggering. Nearly 40,000 duplicate signatures were submitted, with some individuals signing multiple times – one person even signed 15 times. This brazen attempt to manipulate the democratic process has reinforced conservatives’ concerns about the potential for voter fraud and the need for stringent verification processes.
Legal Battle Continues
The Arizona Supreme Court has allowed the signature challenge lawsuit to proceed, ensuring the removal of duplicate signatures. A crucial hearing is scheduled for Wednesday in Maricopa County Superior Court, where Judge Frank Moscowitz will decide the fate of Prop 140. With the measure now falling short of the minimum signature threshold by over 3,300 signatures, its future on the November 5th ballot hangs in the balance.
The statutory calculation for the signature threshold, which has been in place for over 25 years and was upheld by the Arizona Supreme Court in Mussi v. Hobbs (2022), further solidifies the legal ground for potentially disqualifying Prop 140. This development serves as a reminder of the importance of adhering to established election laws and procedures.
Implications for Election Integrity
This scandal highlights the critical need for rigorous signature verification processes in all aspects of our electoral system. As conservatives have long argued, lax verification procedures can lead to fraud and undermine the integrity of our democracy. The Prop 140 debacle serves as a stark reminder of why vigilance is necessary to protect the sanctity of the ballot box.
