Petition Scandal: Tens of Thousands of Duplicate Signatures Threaten Proposition 140

September 23, 2024

A staggering 99% of challenged signatures for Proposition 140 in Arizona were found to be duplicates, throwing the initiative’s future into doubt.

At a Glance

Special Master Christopher Skelly discovered 37,657 duplicate signatures out of 41,387 challenged
Proposition 140, aiming to implement ranked-choice voting, now falls short of required signatures
Some individuals signed multiple times, with one person signing 15 times
A hearing on Wednesday will decide the fate of Prop 140

Massive Duplicate Signature Scandal Rocks Arizona Initiative

In a shocking revelation that threatens to undermine the integrity of Arizona’s initiative process, Special Master Christopher Skelly has uncovered an alarming number of duplicate signatures on petitions for Proposition 140. The investigation found that 37,657 out of 41,387 challenged signatures were duplicates, casting a dark shadow over the entire signature-gathering effort.

This discovery has immediate and severe consequences for Proposition 140, which aimed to implement a California-style election system with ranked-choice voting and jungle primaries. With the removal of these duplicate signatures, the initiative now falls short of the minimum signature threshold by over 3,300 signatures, placing its spot on the November 5th ballot in serious jeopardy.

Extent of Duplication Raises Alarm

The scale of the duplication is particularly concerning. Reports indicate extreme and brazen repetition, with 250 individuals signing five or more times and one person allegedly signing the petition a staggering fifteen times. This level of duplication goes far beyond simple clerical errors and raises questions about the integrity of the entire signature-gathering process.

“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 enjoin the measure from tabulation in the fall.”

The Arizona Free Enterprise Club has been particularly critical of the “Make Elections Fair PAC” for their signature gathering efforts, calling for Proposition 140 to be invalidated. They emphasized that the duplicates were clear cases of the same name and address being used multiple times, which should have been removed under state law during the initial verification

process.

99% Of Challenged Signatures For Arizona’s Ranked-Choice Voting Ballot Initiative Are Duplicates

BY: @ShawnFleetwood

Special Master Christopher Skelly found that 37,657 challenged signatures gathered in support of Proposition 140 are duplicates.@FDRLST https://t.co/t7G6LlFHht

— Tim Gradous (@tgradous) September 19, 2024

Legal Implications and Next Steps

The discovery of these duplicate signatures has set the stage for a crucial legal battle. The Arizona Supreme Court has already allowed the signature challenge lawsuit to continue, ensuring the removal of duplicate signatures from the final count. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for Wednesday in Maricopa County Superior Court, where Judge Frank Moscowitz will decide the fate of Prop 140.

This case highlights the importance of rigorous signature verification processes in maintaining the integrity of our democratic systems. It serves as a reminder that vigilance is necessary at every step of the electoral process, from signature gathering for ballot initiatives to the final vote count.

Implications for Election Integrity

The Proposition 140 signature scandal underscores the ongoing challenges in ensuring election integrity. As more states consider implementing or expanding mail-in voting systems, the importance of robust signature verification processes becomes increasingly apparent. This incident in Arizona may serve as a wake-up call for election officials across the country to review and strengthen their procedures for validating petition signatures and mail-in ballots.

As concerned citizens await the court’s decision, this case serves as a stark reminder of the vigilance required to protect the democratic process. It highlights the need for stricter verification measures and potentially harsher penalties for those who would attempt to manipulate the system. The outcome of Wednesday’s hearing will not only determine the fate of Proposition 140 but may also shape the future of initiative processes and signature verification procedures in Arizona and beyond.