Article shared by Cathy L. Stewart on April 23, 2024 at 12:39 PM

Opinion: It's needlessly difficult in Arizona to vote and run for office as an independent. This ballot initiative would treat all voters the same.

By John Webster and TJ Lindberg

Originally published April 12, 2024 on azcentral.com

At the heart of American democracy is the basic right to vote. This treasured privilege has been earned through struggle and is the very foundation of our freedom.

It is the right on which all other rights hinge. 

With a combined 40 years of military service, we stand alongside many other brave Americans devoted to upholding the principles of freedom and fairness. Beyond a history of service and love of country, as many as 6 in 10 veterans proudly call ourselves independent voters.

In Arizona, systemic barriers entrenched within our electoral system are designed to disenfranchise voters like us and prevent candidates who genuinely reflect our interests from getting on the ballot. These obstacles disproportionately complicate veterans’ ability to have a say in selecting the future commander-in-chief. 

Independent voters face too many barriers

A person walks inside Burton Barr Central Library in Phoenix to vote in the Arizona primary election on Aug. 2, 2022. (Antranik Tavitian/The Republic)

Requiring independent voters to re-register with a party simply so we can exercise our right to vote in elections we pay for contradicts the very act of disassociating from a party that no longer reflects our values. 

Moreover, independent candidates are subjected to significantly higher signature requirements — up to six times more signatures than Republican or Democratic candidates — unfairly hindering their ability to qualify for the ballot.

Even if a candidate overcomes these hurdles their name will not appear on primary ballots, like R and D candidates, but instead will only appear on the general election ballot.    

Veterans have sacrificed a great deal for us. Is it fair to deny them the freedoms enjoyed by the parties they don’t identify with and expect them to sacrifice more to participate in the primary elections their taxpayer dollars pay for?

Our system should facilitate and make the opportunity to vote or run for office open to everyone. 

Change requires courage.

But we’re all too familiar with the candidates that benefit from preserving status quo. The ones that prioritize party allegiance over what’s best for their country.

It's time for Arizona to Make Elections Fair

It’s time we put the nation’s interests above party politics and reignite the spirit of cooperation and teamwork that has historically fueled our country’s success.  

The Make Elections Fair Act ensures every American can cast a vote that upholds their values without compromise by:

• Treating all voters equally by allowing them to automatically vote in every primary election for any candidate they want. 
• Treating all candidates equally by creating a single open primary election where all candidates for a given office appear on the same ballot and have the same signature requirements. 
• Restricting taxpayer money to only elections that are open to all voters and candidates, not private party elections. 

Our democracy thrives when every citizen’s voice is heard.

Let’s treat all voters and candidates equally. Join the fight for fair elections in Arizona.    

Learn more at makeelectionsfairaz.com. Where to sign a petition: www.makeelectionsfairaz.com/signapetition.

Former Lt. Col. John Webster served in the U.S. Air Force for 20 years. Former Lt. Col. TJ Lindberg served in the U.S. Army from 1995 to 2015, including tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Reach them at [email protected] and [email protected]; on X, formerly Twitter: @jawbeaver and @TravisLindberg7.