[Source: The Arizona Republic, Matthew Benson] – – Arizona’s system of ballot initiatives has become unwieldy and in need of overhaul, the Arizona Supreme Court wrote Tuesday, November 18, 2008. The growing number of signatures required for would-be citizens initiatives, and the sizable number of proposals, have overwhelmed elections officials attempting to verify measures for the ballot. Add to the equation the relatively new phenomenon of early voting and its role in shrinking the amount of time that counties and the state have to prepare ballots.
Justice Andrew Hurwitz wrote that a “thorough legislative re-examination” of the initiative process is needed. The recommendation was tacked onto an opinion issued Tuesday. But it corresponded to an earlier Supreme Court decision, issued Aug. 26, regarding a transportation initiative didn’t make the ballot. [Note: to read the full article click here.]