Beyond the Ballot AZ

Going into the midterms the involvement of the federal government in local elections was on the minds of many. 

This episode takes a closer look at the challenges, lessons and unanswered questions surrounding election integrity. How did federal election monitoring play out across the country? What can Arizona teach other states about protecting the voting process? And why does the way candidates handle defeat matter as much as how they celebrate victory?

Plus learn what voters should be watching as a new wave of elected leaders takes office.

Guest:

Gary Restaino, former U.S. attorney for the District of Arizona

Resources:

Clean Elections

The Brennan Center for Justice

Beyond the Ballot AZ The Heat on Arizona Voter Rolls with Gary Restaino

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Whether you are wondering why results aren't always final on election night or curious if AI has a role to play in elections this episode is for you.

Gina and Tom get into ways that election officials are supported in their work, how election processes continue to improve and what heightened public attention on elections is doing for the profession.

Plus, listeners get a behind the scenes of our state's post-election process, from signature verification and ballot curing to bipartisan ballot review as well as the official certification of results. 

Guest:

Bill Gates, Executive Director of Arizona State University's Mechanics of Democracy Laboratory

Resources:

General Election Results 

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Election officials work tirelessly to ensure every eligible vote is counted accurately and the process is more transparent than ever.

In this special election edition Tom and Gina take you to a Clean Elections Commission meeting to hear insights from Maricopa County Elections Director Scott Jarrett on the processes that keep elections secure, accurate and transparent.

From Election Day operations and ballot tabulation to signature verification and reporting results, Jarrett breaks down what voters can expect before, during and after Election Day. He also discusses projected voter turnout, election security measures and why counting every ballot takes time.

Plus tune in to find out how you can vote this weekend and on Election Day. 

Resources:

Clean Elections Commission Meeting Presentation by Elections Director Scott Jarrett

Use the Clean Elections Voter Dashboard for Customized Voting Information

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With Election Day fast approaching what's top of mind for Arizona voters? From rising costs and government accountability to data centers this conversation centers around recent polling by Clean Elections and what it reveals about local voter sentiment.

Listen to Tom and Gina get into the data from the Clean Elections Voter Poll through the lens of a veteran political journalist. Together, they unpack key findings, some surprises and explore what the results may mean for candidates.

Guest:

Hank Stephenson, founder of the Arizona Agenda

Resources:

Clean Elections Voter Poll

Clean Elections YouTube Channel where you can rewatch candidate debates

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Winning an election is just the beginning. What actually happens when a newly elected member of Congress arrives in Washington D.C. and how do promises on the campaign trail turn into legislative action?

In this episode, Gina guides a conversation about what the first 60 days in office look like for a newly elected member of Congress from how their offices are staffed to how they are organized to serve constituents. And why staying connected with elected representatives matters long after ballots are cast.

Plus you will hear firsthand why passing legislation can take years but how congressional staff help address everyday concerns in their home state as well as in D.C. 

Guest:

Steve Voeller, Vice President of Government and Community Relations at the University of Arizona

Resources:

Learn More About the U.S. House of Representatives

Find Your Representative on the Clean Elections Voter Dashboard

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Judges make decisions that impact Arizonans every day but how much do you know about the judges on your ballot and how can you learn enough about them to decide if they should be retained?

In this episode Tom and Gina get into why the Arizona Constitution requires some judges to periodically appear before voters for retention and how citizens play a role early on in this process.

With dozens of judges appearing on ballots across the state, this conversation with the Arizona Commission on Judicial Performance Review, is timely. It explains the commission's extensive review process from confidential evaluations and performance data to public input which guides their assessment of judges.

Before casting your ballot, listen to this episode to learn more about judges up for retention and where to find the commission's evaluations.

Guest:

Doug Cole, Vice Chair, Arizona Commission Judicial Performance Review

Resources:

Arizona Commission on Judicial Performance Review

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Prop. 320 would require certain Arizona school districts to direct at least 60% of their operational budgets toward direct instruction. While the measure is intended to put more resources toward teachers and classroom expenses, the conversation gets into a central question for voters: What actually counts as direct instruction?

Gina and Tom break down how this central idea in the proposition language is being defined and get into where services such as special education support, transportation and food service fit into the equation. Plus, listeners will learn about the complicated relationship between classroom spending and student  performance.

Guest:

Isabela Lisco, Education Reporter, KOLD

Resources:

Watch Isabela Lisco talk more about education on Chalk Talk.

Learn more about ballot measures and voter education at the Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission.

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Gina and Tom take a closer look at Proposition 316, a statewide measure on the Nov. 3 ballot concerning local taxes on groceries.

The conversation explains how grocery taxes are structured across Arizona communities and why some cities and towns rely more heavily on this revenue than others. Plus, the discussion gets into how reductions in revenue could affect municipal budgeting and services, from roads to senior programs.

The episode also breaks down how this proposition would affect a community's existing grocery taxes, when voter approval would be required and what voters may want to learn about their own city or town before casting their ballot on Prop. 316.

Guest:

Dale Wiebusch former Government Relations Director  for the City of Scottsdale, former Intergovernmental Affairs Director for the City of Maricopa and former Senior Legislative Associate at the League of Arizona Cities and Towns

Resources:

Learn more about ballot measures and voter education at Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission.

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Proposition 144 would require voters to provide government-issued identification when voting in each election, including when voting by mail. In this episode Gina and Tom explore how that differs from our state's current mail-ballot process which relies on the signature penned by voters located on the outside of the ballot's return envelope. 

The conversation gets into what proponents and opponents are saying about this proposition which has the potential to impact more than 80 percent of the state's electorate who vote by mail. 

Plus, the conversation touches on important changes involving Arizona's Active Early Voter List. If you are accustomed to receiving your ballot early by mail, you will want to listen to this episode. 

Guest: 

Sasha Hupka, Reporter with Arizona Vote Beat

Resources

Listen to arguments for and against Proposition 144 on the Clean Elections YouTube Channel

Learn more about the Active Early Voting List

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Arizona agriculture extends far beyond local produce—it is a cornerstone of the state’s economy, rich history, and the voter conversations surrounding one of Arizona’s most vital resources: water. In this episode Tom and Gina unpack the statewide scope of agriculture and explore the policy decisions shaping its future.

Arizona’s diverse climate enables farmers and ranchers to sustain a multibillion-dollar industry, yet agricultural producers face continuous external pressures—from supply chain logistics and labor availability to food safety regulations and water access. This discussion breaks down the role of Colorado River water rights in supporting the regional economy and explains key agricultural principles like "more crop per drop". Listen now to learn about Arizona’s water future, food security, and economic resilience.

Guest:

John Boelts, Yuma Farmer & President of the Arizona Farm Bureau

Resources:

Explore agricultural policy insights at the Arizona Farm Bureau

Learn more about ballot measures and voter education at the Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission

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