Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 30, 2021
CONTACT: press@secure-democracy.org
New Poll Finds Arizona Voters Strongly Approve of State Election Policies
Vast majority of Arizona voters believe state elections were fair and accurate, oppose restrictive voting policies
PHOENIX— Seventy-three percent of Arizonans feel very confident that Arizona’s 2020 elections were fair and accurate, and 84% reported a good personal experience voting, according to a new statewide poll released today by Secure Democracy and administered by The Tyson Group. The poll found widespread support for current policies that expand voting access, with 88% of voters supporting options to return their vote-by-mail ballot in person at a polling place, in the mail, or at a secure ballot drop box.
Arizona voters oppose policy changes that would restrict voting access, like barring no-excuse vote by mail, making it a felony to return a mail ballot on behalf of a family member or as someone’s caretaker, or consolidating polling locations into fewer large vote centers. Those polled were overwhelmingly less likely to vote for a legislator attempting to restrict voting access, whether in-person (76%) or by mail (64%).
The research arrives amidst a slew of proposed legislation to restrict voting access in the state. Legislators have introduced more than 25 restrictive bills, with more than half relating to voting by mail. S.B. 1713, which would require Arizonans who vote by mail to include their personal identification number with their private ballot, has passed the Arizona Senate.
Among the poll’s key findings, there is widespread support across Arizona for:
Allowing voters to return their vote-by-mail ballot in-person at a polling place, in the mail, or at a secure drop box. 88% of all Arizona voters support, 52% strongly support.
Ensuring voters can have assistance when returning their ballot if needed. 84% of all Arizona voters support, 44% strongly support.
Allowing any voter to request their ballot to be mailed to them, without an excuse. 80% of all Arizona voters support, 42% strongly support.
Arizona voters overwhelmingly oppose the following restrictions:
Requiring voters to pay a notary to sign their ballot before submitting it to be counted. 73% of all Arizona voters oppose.
Reducing the number of neighborhood polling locations and consolidating them into fewer large vote centers. 75% of all Arizona voters oppose.
Making it a felony to return a mail ballot on behalf of family or as someone’s caretaker. 79% of all Arizona voters oppose.
Barring no excuse vote by mail. 68% of all Arizona voters oppose.
“These numbers send a clear message: Arizona voters are confident in their state elections, and there may well be electoral consequences for those who attempt to restrict Arizonans’ ability to vote,” said Sarah Walker, executive director of Secure Democracy. “Arizona lawmakers should instead unite to strengthen election integrity and expand voter access throughout the state.”
"Our polling shows that Arizonans widely believe the state’s elections to be fair and accurate and support policies which bolster election integrity and expand voter access, including necessary assistance to return a ballot and no-excuse absentee voting," said Ryan Tyson, president of The Tyson Group. "On the other hand, the findings also indicate the majority of Arizonans oppose policies that would restrict voting access, such as requiring notaries for mail ballots and ending no-excuse absentee voting. Voters were also broadly against the idea of super voting sites if they replace existing precincts."
Commissioned by Secure Democracy, the survey of 600 registered voters in Arizona was administered via live callers from March 8 through March 18, 2021. The full analysis from The Tyson Group can be found here.
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About Secure Democracy
Secure Democracy is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that works to improve election integrity across the United States. We educate policymakers and the public about what it takes to safeguard our voting systems. We collaborate with state leaders, election administrators, election integrity experts, and allies to ensure that all eligible citizens have the freedom to vote how they choose.