A resident waits in line to vote at a polling place in Milwaukee for the April 7, 2020, primary election. Residents waited sometimes more than two hours to vote at this site, one of the few polling places open in the city after most were consolidated due to a shortage of poll workers fearful of contracting COVID-19. Photo by Scott Olson | Getty Images
Arizonans pride themselves on being an independent bunch.
We prefer our politicians as mavericks instead of sheep. We relish our ability to craft our own laws and outright reject those made by legislators.
That latter example – referenda and citizen initiatives – is what’s known in the political science arena as “direct democracy.” They are guaranteed to us in our state’s constitution, but have been under increasing attack by politicians and special interest groups who seem to believe every day Arizonans are just too stupid to legislate.
Efforts to weaken direct democracy intensified three years ago after voters approved – by a wide margin – an increase to the state’s minimum wage and a guarantee of paid sick leave for all employees.