The Arizona House and Senate are debating Wednesday on a contentious plan that makes major changes in how citizen initiatives qualify for the ballot.
The twin proposals that had been stalled since early in the session would require proponents to collect signatures from 10 percent of the voters in each of the state’s 30 legislative districts for initiatives and 15 percent for changes to the state constitution.
The Arizona Constitution currently has no geographic restriction, requiring 10 percent of all voters statewide to sign petitions to qualify an initiative for the ballot.
If they pass both chambers, the measures would be put on the 2020 ballot for voters to approve.
The proposals are backed by Republicans who hold a slim majority in both chambers. They argue rural voters’ views are ignored by initiative backers. Initiative backers say the change would allow any single district to block a measure with broad support.
The House also plans to debate proposals to toughen requirements for petition circulators and allow the attorney general to change proposed ballot language.