Arizona lawmakers could stuff the ballot again in 2026

Arizonans could again face lengthy ballots as state lawmakers consider sending dozens of proposals to voters for approval, from changes to the state’s election systems to rules governing how public schools treat transgender students.

Lawmakers already referred three questions to the 2026 ballot last year dealing with drug cartels, food taxes and motor vehicle fees. And they could send dozens more by the end of this legislative session.

That would result in a repeat of the 2024 general election, when the legislature sent 11 measures to the ballot, most of which failed.

Two years ago, election officials across the state cautioned that the glut of legislative referrals would result in vote counting delays by creating extra-long ballots, and that played out in Maricopa County, where employees took on extra shifts to help process ballots.

Like in 2024, most of the referrals lawmakers are considering sending to voters are partisan Republican measures designed to avoid Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs’ veto pen.

This year, lawmakers have proposed dozens of potential referrals.

In the Arizona Senate, Republican lawmakers approved five measures on Monday alone.

Schools, pronouns and gender identity 

SCR 1006 would ask voters to approve several measures previously vetoed by Hobbs, including banning public school employees from calling students by a pronoun “that differs from the pronoun that aligns with the student’s biological sex.” It would also ban teachers from calling students by anything other than their legal name without parent permission.

Sen. John Kavanagh (R-Fountain Hills), who sponsored the bill, said it would ensure that parents are involved in decisions regarding their children.

“This bill simply says you cannot call a minor in a school by a pronoun or a first name different than their biological gender without parental permission,” he said.

The measure would also require schools to offer a “reasonable accommodation,” such as a single-occupancy restroom, if a student does not want to use a restroom designed for the sex they were assigned at birth.

He argued separate accommodations are needed to make sure students aren’t forced into uncomfortable situations in locker rooms or restrooms.

But Democratic senators, who all voted against the bill, said the legislation unfairly targets transgender children.

“Whether it is a trans girl or a cis girl or a trans boy or a cis boy, they deserve privacy in the locker room, and that is how things are working. ” Ortiz said. “I'm not comfortable with any two students having to shower naked next to each other without privacy.”

Democrats also argued the measure will force school officials to inspect children before allowing them to use restrooms or locker rooms.

“It forces schools to police names, pronouns and bathroom use,” Sen. Lauren Kuby (D-Tempe said. “What are we going to have, the penis police here?”

Elections

Jean Clare Sarmiento/KJZZ

Republican senators are trying to send a number of measures to voters to change the state’s election systems. That includes pushing up the deadline for voters to return early ballots — which mirrors parts of a bill Hobbs vetoed last year.

Sen. Shawnna Bolick’s SCR 1014 would require voters turning those early ballots in to voting centers to do so by 7 p.m. on the Friday before the election rather than 7 p.m. on Election Day, which is current law. It would also let county recorders begin counting those ballots right when they are turned in rather than waiting for election night.

Voters could still turn in their early ballots by 7 p.m. on election night if they deliver them directly to the Recorder’s Office.

Bolick’s proposal would extend in-person early voting, which currently ends on the Friday before an election, through the Monday before Election Day. That would replace emergency early voting, which only allows voters who experience an emergency to request to vote in person during those days.

The measure is part of a suite of proposals backed by Republicans to speed up vote counting in Arizona.

But Democrats argue the measure itself will actually delay results by creating a lengthier ballot, like in 2024.

“And as I've said before, every ballot referral that we push onto the ballot will make our election results come in slower,” Minority Leader Priya Sundareshan (D-Tucson) said. “That's what we saw in 2024 when we had so many ballot referrals that we had to have two ballot cards in our major counties, which means double the time for tabulating.”

Senate Republicans approved another Bolick referral that would prohibit the use of foreign money to influence ballot and referendum elections. It would also ban election officials from using foreign money to fund the administration of elections.

Bolick (R-Phoenix) said the measure is needed to fill in the gaps in existing federal and state laws, which already block foreign money from going to federal, state and local office campaigns.

“This isn't a red or a blue issue,” Bolick said. “Federal courts have established that the federal ban does not apply to issue advocacy such as lobbying or spending in ballot measure campaigns.”

Democrats argued the proposal, which would allow any eligible voter to sue over alleged violations, will result in frivolous lawsuits.

Campaign finance

Kavanagh's SCR 1002 would allow more Arizonans to conceal their identifying information.

Under current law, campaigns must disclose information about anyone who contributes more than $100, including the person’s occupation, employer and — in most cases — their address. The measure, if approved by voters, would raise that threshold to $200.

Democrats claimed it is just an attempt to further erode transparency in elections by hiding who is donating to campaigns.

Impeachment

SCR 1010 would ask voters to amend the state constitution to change the charge criteria to impeach elected state officials, including the governor. Currently, those officials can be impeached for “high crimes, misdemeanors, or malfeasance in office.”

Sen. Mark Finchem (R-Prescott) wants to add to that list, by allowing lawmakers to begin impeachment proceedings against officials who fail to uphold state law or court orders.

The measure would not change the impeachment process, which requires approval from two-thirds of the Arizona Senate to remove an elected official from office.

Every measure passed the Arizona Senate on a party-line vote with only Republican support. The proposals still need to pass the Arizona House to qualify for the ballot.